Before the woman could even respond, Jason nodded, managing a calm response. “Yes, it was just an unfortunate accident. I got startled and spilled my wine.” He gave a meaningful glance towards the woman, ensuring his message was clear.
The woman frantically dabbed at her precious handbag, and burst into tears, her earlier defiance completely shattered. For the remainder of the flight, the seat behind Jason remained still. No more kicks came. The woman’s earlier bravado and entitlement were dampened by the cold splash of reality.