Inside the pod, the atmosphere had shifted from smug victory to sheer irritation. The rigid seats were deeply uncomfortable, forcing both Julian and Beatrice to sit bolted upright like wax figures. The cheerful corporate voice continued to blare from the high-definition speakers, singing the praises of the airline’s customer service.
Eventually, Julian’s mounting frustration boiled over. He unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out into the first-class aisle, attempting to project the calm, dignified air of a gentleman who had simply stood up to stretch his legs. He managed to flag down Sarah as she passed by carrying a tray of warm nuts, offering her a strained, polite smile that barely disguised his irritation. “Excuse me, miss. There seems to be a minor software glitch inside Suite 1A. Could you reboot the system from your main panel?”