Annoyed that his request had been denied, Louis put in his AirPods to avoid conversation and glanced away as Debbie settled in beside him, helping her children buckle up.
As the plane took off, Debbie’s kids, experiencing business class for the first time, couldn’t hide their excitement.
“Mom! We’re flying! Yay!” Stacey exclaimed.
Passengers nearby smiled at the child’s innocent enthusiasm—but Louis did not share their amusement.
Leaning toward Debbie, he muttered, “Listen, can you please keep them quiet? I have an important meeting. I need no disruptions.”
Debbie, always gracious, nodded and signaled to her children to lower their voices.
A Surprising Exchange
Throughout the flight, Louis remained absorbed in his meeting, mentioning fabric samples and designs—leading Debbie to suspect he worked in fashion.
When his meeting finally concluded, Debbie took the opportunity to ask, “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”
Still in high spirits after securing his deal, Louis set aside his arrogance just for a moment.
“Go ahead,” he replied.
“I saw your fabric samples and design handbook,” she said. “Are you in the clothing business?”
“Uhhh… Yeah, my apparel company is based in New York. We just closed a huge deal.”
“That’s great! Congratulations. I actually run a small boutique in Texas—family-oriented. My in-laws from New York started it, and we recently expanded.”
Louis chuckled condescendingly. “A boutique? That’s cute. My company hires the best designers and just signed with the world’s leading fashion firm—so our designs aren’t for small family businesses.”
Debbie’s smile faltered, but she stayed composed. “I understand. That must be huge for you.”
Louis smirked, shaking his head. “Huge? A poor woman like you wouldn’t understand—I just landed a million-dollar deal! And let’s be honest, you don’t look like you belong in business class. Maybe try economy next time?”
An Unexpected Announcement
Debbie was ready to respond, but before she could speak, the intercom crackled to life, announcing their arrival at JFK Airport.
Then, to everyone’s surprise, the pilot continued speaking:
“I want to take a moment to thank someone special—my wife, Debbie Brown, who is flying with us today. Your support means everything to me, Debbie.”
Louis froze, his heart racing.
