leaving Victoria alone with her thoughts. She understood she was taking a risk, but standing idly by and watching the competitors take over the market wasn’t in her nature. Victoria spent the next few days in continuous meetings and negotiations.
She personally visited the company’s training center where new flight attendants were trained to ensure service standards were met. She toured the hangars where aircraft maintenance was performed. She met with food suppliers to discuss menu improvements. But one morning, while reviewing reports, Victoria stumbled upon some strange information. Several passengers were complaining about rude treatment by the crew on flights from Nissa. This was unusual. Azur had always been known for its courteous staff.
Victoria asked Sofia to gather more details. By evening, the picture had become clearer. All the complaints concerned the same crew working the Nissan-London route. Captain David Hartley. Victoria frowned. She didn’t recognize that name among the pilots. She asked the Human Resources Department to send her his file. When the file arrived, Victoria studied it carefully. David Hartley, 42 years old, 10 years of experience in civil aviation. He previously served in the air force. He joined Asure Wings 8 months ago, hired by the regional manager in Nissan.
On paper, everything seemed clean, but something alerted Victoria. She called the head of security. “Pedro, I need an additional check on one of our captains. David Harley is based in Nisa. Gather everything you can find. I want to know who I’m dealing with.” Pedro Graves, a former police officer in his fifties, agreed without question. He had worked for Victoria’s father for over ten years and was one of the few people she trusted completely. Two days later, Pedro arrived at her office with a thick folder.
This is what I managed to unearth. He placed the folder on the table. David Harley did indeed serve in the Air Force, but he was discharged for a breach of discipline and a conflict with his superiors. The details are classified, but through unofficial channels I learned that the matter involved abuse of authority and rude treatment of subordinates. After that, he worked for a while with small charter companies. He didn’t stay long anywhere; conflicts abounded. There’s also information about his alcohol problems and how he came to us.
Victoria glanced through the documents. The regional manager at Nisa, Antonio Duboa, hired him without thorough vetting. Formally, all the paperwork was in order, the license was valid, but the references from previous employers were lacking. Pedro shook his head. Either they weren’t requested or they were ignored. Besides, Hartley and Duboa are friends. They spend time together frequently. We need to investigate. Victoria closed the folder. But I need facts, not rumors. I’ll go to Nisa myself. I’ll see what’s going on there. Victoria, that’s not your job.
Pedro frowned. “Send an inspector.” “Pedro, this is my company,” she said, looking at him firmly. “And if something bad is happening there, I want to see it with my own eyes. Besides, it’s been a while since I’ve been in the field. I need to understand how our flights really operate.” So, Victoria made the decision that would change her life. She decided to fly to Nisa incognito, not as the airline owner in a business suit and security detail, but as an ordinary passenger. She would buy a ticket on the flight commanded by Captain Harley and see how he really behaved.
Sofia was against it. Victoria, this is crazy. What if something goes wrong? What if they recognize you? No one will recognize me. Victoria was already thinking about the details. I rarely appear in public. Most employees only know me from corporate photos where I’m in business suits and have my hair done. I’ll wear jeans, a sweatshirt, my hair in a ponytail, minimal makeup. I’ll look like an ordinary tourist. Besides, I’ll be flying under my mother’s maiden name, Grant.
Victoria Grant is a common name. No one will connect the dots. But why all the fuss? Come officially, conduct an inspection. Then everyone will be on high alert, Victoria explained. Harley and her team will be angels. I won’t see the real picture. I don’t need to see them in their natural environment. Sofia sighed, realizing it was impossible to convince her boss. Fine, but at least take Pedro with you, so he can fly separately just in case. Victoria agreed. It was a reasonable compromise. Three days later, Victoria was at the Hidro airport terminal, feeling uneasy.
She was dressed in simple blue jeans, a gray hoodie, and white sneakers, her blonde hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, almost no makeup on her face, a small backpack slung over her shoulder, and in her pocket, her passport in the name of Victoria Grant, which she had obtained a year ago for private travel, using her mother’s maiden name. She really did look like an ordinary young woman flying to the French Riviera for a break. Pedro was sitting elsewhere in the waiting room pretending to read the newspaper, but Victoria knew he was watching her closely.
When boarding for the flight to Nisa was announced, Victoria joined the line with the other passengers. Her heart was beating faster than usual. It was a strange experience being a passenger on her own plane, yet remaining incognito. At the check-in counter, she handed over her ticket. The employee, a young woman in her early twenties, didn’t even look up at her; she simply scanned the boarding pass and wished her a pleasant flight. Victoria smiled to herself.
The plan was working. She boarded. Her seat was in the middle of the cabin by the window. Victoria settled in, fastened her seatbelt, and looked around. The cabin looked clean and new. This was one of the latest Airbus A320s to join the airline’s fleet six months ago. She remembered how she had been personally involved in the negotiations with the manufacturer. Flight attendants began circulating through the cabin, checking seatbelts and helping passengers stow their luggage.
Victoria watched them attentively. The girls were polite, smiling, and professional. So far, everything met the company’s standards. The plane filled up. Next to Victoria sat an elderly couple, a husband and wife in their sixties, clearly British and heading off on holiday. They were chatting amiably about what they would visit in Nisa. The engines roared. The captain’s voice came over the loudspeakers. “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. This is Captain David Hartley. Welcome aboard Asure Wings flight to Nisa.”
Estimated flight time, 2 hours 10 minutes. The weather in Nisa is sunny, 24°C. Please make yourselves comfortable and have a pleasant flight. The voice was even, professional, nothing special. Victoria leaned back in her seat, trying to relax. Takeoff was smooth. The plane gained altitude. It entered cruise control. The flight attendants began serving drinks and light snacks. Victoria ordered coffee. The girl brought it with a smile. She placed a cookie and a napkin on the tray table.
“Thank you,” Victoria said. “You’re welcome.” The flight attendant nodded and continued on her way. For now, everything was fine. Perhaps the passengers’ complaints were exaggerated, perhaps they were just isolated incidents. But about an hour after takeoff, the atmosphere on board changed. From the back of the cabin came the sound of a child crying. Victoria turned around. A young mother was trying to soothe a baby who was clearly fussy. The child was about two years old. He was screaming and squirming in his mother’s arms.
One of the flight attendants approached them. “Ma’am, you need to calm the child down,” she said sternly. “He’s bothering the other passengers.” “I’m trying.” The mother looked bewildered and tired. “He’s just fussy, he’s teething. That’s no excuse.” The flight attendant crossed her arms over her chest. “You should have prepared for the flight, brought calming toys.” Victoria frowned. The flight attendant’s tone was harsh, completely unacceptable. This is not how Asure Wings employees should behave.
The mother grew even more agitated. The child cried louder. Other passengers began to turn away. Someone clicked their tongue in disapproval. Victoria wanted to get up, approach, intervene somehow, but she stopped herself. She’s here undercover. She can’t reveal herself. No, now she needs more information. The situation was resolved when another flight attendant, older, clearly higher in rank, approached the mother and kindly offered her warm milk for the child. The little boy gradually calmed down, but a bad taste remained.
Victoria mentally noted the rude flight attendant’s name. Her name tag read Clara Mitell; she’d have to deal with her later. The flight continued. Victoria dozed, gazing out the window at the clouds. Below, the green fields of France drifted by. Then mountains began to appear—the Alps. But with about 20 minutes to go before landing, what Victoria had embarked on this whole adventure for happened: turbulence. The plane shook quite violently. The passengers gasped in fear. Victoria knew this was normal.
especially as they approached the mountainous coast. But for ordinary passengers, it’s always stressful. Captain Hartley’s voice crackled over the loudspeakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have entered a zone of turbulence. Please take your seats and fasten your seatbelts.” His tone was irritated, almost annoyed, as if the passengers were to blame for the bad weather. The plane continued to shake. Someone among the passengers laughed nervously. The elderly woman next to Victoria took her husband’s hand. “Everything will be all right, my dear,” he reassured her.
Victoria glanced mechanically at the wings. They were flapping in the air currents, but this was normal. The aircraft’s structure was designed for such loads. There was no danger, but suddenly there was a loud crack. The cabin lights went out for a moment. Then the emergency lights came on. Passengers screamed. Someone yelled. “What happened?” voices called out. The flight attendants looked bewildered. They glanced at each other, clearly unsure what to do. Victoria felt adrenaline surge through her veins.
Something went wrong. She heard the engines running. They were running smoothly, so it wasn’t critical. Possibly an electrical problem. The captain’s voice came back over the loudspeakers. This time he sounded nervous. “We have a technical issue. There is no emergency. We are preparing to land and communication has been lost.” Victoria frowned. That was terrible communication. The captain should have calmed the passengers, explained the situation, not just spouted disjointed sentences. The plane began its descent.
The turbulence intensified. Passengers gripped the armrests. Some prayed. The woman next to Victoria sobbed softly. Victoria placed her hand on her shoulder. “Everything will be all right,” she said calmly. “It’s just turbulence. The plane is perfectly fine. A couple more minutes and we’ll land.” The woman looked at her gratefully. The landing was rough. The plane touched down with a loud thud. Passengers were jolted forward. The engines roared in reverse, but within seconds the speed dropped and the plane taxied down the runway toward the terminal.
The passengers breathed a sigh of relief. Someone even applauded. Victoria sat with gritted teeth. What she had just witnessed was unacceptable. Poor communication, crew panic, rude treatment from the flight attendant. These are not Asure Wings’ standards. This is a failure. When the plane came to a stop and they announced that they could unfasten their seatbelts, the passengers began to stand up and retrieve their luggage. Victoria also stood up, picked up her backpack, and slowly made her way toward the exit. The flight attendants were waiting at the door.
They were formally saying goodbye to the passengers. Victoria looked at them closely. Young women, tired, tense. One of them, Clara Mitell herself, wasn’t even looking at the passengers; she was simply muttering mechanically to God. Victoria left the plane. The warm Mediterranean air enveloped her. The sun was shining brightly. She went down the steps and headed for the terminal. Pedro appeared beside her in a matter of minutes. “Victoria, are you alright?” he asked quietly. “Yes, but did you see what happened there?” “I saw it. It was unprofessional.” Pedro frowned.
“What are you going to do? I need to speak with Antonio Duboa.” Victoria took out her phone. He’s the regional manager here. I want to hear what he has to say. They went through passport control, gathered their things. Victoria only had her backpack, and they went out to the arrivals hall. Victoria dialed Duboa’s number. He answered after the third ring. “Hello, Antonio Duboa,” came the voice. A lively voice with a slight French accent. “Antonio, this is Victoria Holmes.” She introduced herself with her real name. “Miss Holmes.” There was surprise in her voice.
How unexpected. She’s in Isa. Yes, I just arrived. I need to meet with you. There are some questions. Of course, of course. I’m in the office. Come, I’ll wait for you. Victoria took a taxi. The Asure Wings office in Nisa was located near the airport in a modern business center. Fifteen minutes later, she was already on the third floor. Antonio Debua greeted her personally. A man in his forties, not very tall, stocky, with a neatly trimmed mustache. He was wearing an expensive suit. Cufflinks gleamed on his cuffs.
A broad smile, but it seemed fake to Victoria. “Miss Holmes, what an honor.” He shook her hand. “Please come in.” “Coffee?” “Coffee.” “Thank you.” Victoria sat down in the chair opposite her desk. Pedro stayed at the reception desk. Dubo ordered coffee from his secretary and turned to Victoria. “So, to what do I owe your visit?” he asked, sitting down in his chair. “Antonio, I came here because I received several complaints about the quality of service on flights from Nisa.” Victoria spoke calmly, but firmly.
The complaints concern Captain David Hartley and his crew. Dubo grimaced. “Oh, yes, I heard about a couple of incidents, but you know, passengers sometimes exaggerate. Captain Hartley is an experienced pilot, perhaps a little strict, but a strict professional.” Victoria raised an eyebrow. “I just flew on his flight myself. What came across was severity, rudeness, and a lack of professionalism. The flight attendants behaved inappropriately. The communication was terrible, and during turbulence, the crew simply panicked.”
Dubo’s face tightened. “Victoria, I assure you this is an isolated incident. It was probably just a rough day. You know how it is.” “I know how it shouldn’t be,” Victoria interrupted. “Our passengers pay for quality service, and we are obligated to provide it every time, without exception.” The secretary brought coffee. There was an awkward pause. When the girl left, Victoria continued. “Antonio, I want you to conduct an internal review of Captain Harley and his team. Survey other passengers, gather feedback, and if it turns out the problems are systemic, action will have to be taken, up to and including dismissal.”
Dubo paled. “Victoria, this is very serious. Firing a captain will create problems. We need pilots, especially during peak season. I need professional pilots,” Victoria interrupted. “They’re the ones who ruin the company’s reputation. Run the check. I want a report in a week.” She finished her coffee and stood up. “Thank you for your time, Antonio. I hope we can come to an understanding.” Dubo also stood up, smiling tensely. “Of course, Miss Holmes. I’ll take care of this immediately.” Victoria left the office. Pedro was waiting for her in the lobby.
“Well?” he asked. “I didn’t like that Dubo,” Victoria admitted when they stepped outside. “He’s hiding something. He’s overprotective of Hartley. We need to dig deeper. What do you suggest? Let’s stay in Nisa for a couple of days. Observe. Talk to people. Maybe we’ll find out what’s really going on here.” Peter nodded. “Okay. Let’s rent rooms in a hotel.” They stayed in a small hotel near the Promenade des Anglais. Victoria didn’t want to draw attention to herself, so she chose a modest but decent place.
She spent the next two days talking with employees of the Cinta Movistar company: mechanics, ground staff, and flight attendants. Most were happy to chat with the owner, though surprised by her informal visit. And gradually, the picture became clearer. Captain Harley wasn’t just rude and unprofessional; he was a real tyrant. He humiliated the flight attendants, yelled at the technicians, and clashed with the air traffic controllers. They feared and hated him, but no one complained openly because Dubo always defended him.
Furthermore, Victoria learned that Dubo and Hartley were friends. They frequently dined together at restaurants. They went to the casino. Dubo covered up all of Hartley’s misdeeds. “Miss Holmes, you have no idea how happy we are that you’re here,” one of the flight attendants confided. A young woman named Natalia. They were sitting in a café near the airport. Harley makes our work a nightmare. He yells, he insults. Once he made a girl cry just before takeoff, and Duboa said it was her fault, that she was too sensitive.
Victoria clenched her fists under the table. “Why didn’t anyone report this to the head office?” she asked. “We were scared.” Natalia lowered her eyes. “Duboa said that if anyone complained, he’d fire them, that he has connections, that he can make sure we don’t get hired anywhere in the aviation industry. That’s not true,” Victoria said firmly. “No one can blackmail you. Asur Wings is my company, and I won’t allow employees to feel unsafe. Thank you for telling me. I’ll look into this.” That same evening, Victoria contacted the legal department in London.
She asked them to prepare paperwork for the dismissal of Hartley and Duboa for creating a toxic work environment and abuse of power. But someone among the employees leaked the information. Hartley and Duboa learned that Victoria was conducting an investigation and planned to fire them. The next day, as Victoria was preparing to fly back to London, something unexpected happened. She arrived at the airport and checked in for her flight. Her ticket was again in the name of Victoria Grant, in economy class.
She boarded, stepped aboard, and then her heart sank. The captain greeting passengers at the cockpit entrance was none other than David Hartley. Their eyes met. Something flashed in his gaze. Recognition, suspicion. Victoria quickly looked away and went to her seat, feeling her heart pound. The plane filled. The doors closed, the engines roared. The usual pre-takeoff procedure began, but suddenly the flight attendant approached Victoria.
“Ma’am, the captain wants you to come see him in the cockpit,” she said quietly. “Why?” Victoria was on her guard. I don’t know, he just asked me to relay it to him. The girl looked puzzled. Victoria stood up slowly. She had a bad feeling. She went to the cockpit. The door was ajar. Hartley was sitting in the seat. The co-pilot was next to him. “Did you want to see me, Captain?” Victoria asked, trying to sound composed. Hartley turned to face her. His eyes were bloodshot.
He had a faint smell of alcohol. Victoria Celo had been drinking before the flight. “Your voice was husky. I know you. I saw photographs. You’re that Holmes girl who thinks she can boss me around.” Victoria understood that he had recognized her, or rather, guessed. Dubo had probably warned him that the owner was in Nisa investigating, and Hartley had connected the dots. “Captain Hartley, you shouldn’t speak to passengers in that tone,” Victoria said, trying to remain calm. “I’ll return to my seat.”
“We’ll discuss everything when we get to London. We won’t discuss anything.” Hartley stood up. He was tall, broad-shouldered. He loomed over her. “Do you think you can just fire me?” A little girl whose daddy left her a toy. She has no idea how to run an airline, she’s just playing at being a businesswoman. Captain, you’re not in your right mind. Victoria smelled the alcohol more strongly. She’d been drinking. She can’t command this flight. Hartley’s face twisted with fury. How dare she?
He grabbed her arm. The co-pilot, a young man in his thirties, stood up. “Captain, perhaps you shouldn’t,” he began. “Shut up,” Hartley interrupted. “Call airport security immediately.” “What?” Victoria couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “This woman is creating a threat to flight safety,” Harley said coldly, releasing her arm. “She infiltrated the cockpit. She tried to threaten me, accused me of drinking alcohol. This is slander and provocation. As captain of the aircraft, I have the right to remove her from the plane.”
“Is he crazy?” Victoria was in shock. “This is absurd. I—” Silence. Hartley interrupted her. His eyes blazed with mental fire. The combination of alcohol, fury, and fear of being fired made him dangerous. “Dubo promised he had connections, that he’d fix everything with the board so they’d fire you. And in the meantime, in the meantime, you’ll be out of here as the latest offender.” The co-pilot, frightened and bewildered, was already contacting ground services. Within minutes, airport security boarded the plane.
Two burly men in uniform. “What’s the problem?” one of them asked. “This woman,” Hartley said, pointing to Victoria, “violated security rules, infiltrated the cockpit without permission, and threatened the crew. I demand she be removed from the plane.” “That’s a lie,” Victoria tried to explain. “I own this airline. I have every right to do so.” The guards looked at her skeptically. A young woman in a sweatshirt and jeans with a backpack. Airline owner? Unlikely. “Ma’am, do you have any documents to back up your claims?”
“One of the guards asked. Victoria reached into her pocket and pulled out passport number 180 in the name of Victoria Grant. B. Hartley smiled. “Even the name doesn’t match. Imposter or mentally ill person. In any case, she’s creating a security threat.” “No,” Victoria tried to explain. “Grant is my mother’s maiden name. I sometimes use it for personal travel, but I’m really Victoria Holmes. Call the head office. My assistant will confirm.” “Madam, can you resolve this at the airport building?” the guard said firmly.
