She Thought He Was a Catch

I was discreetly escorting a criminal suspect onto a plane.

Mid-flight, a flight attendant approached the suspect and started chatting him up.

I subtly warned her of the danger and requested a secluded corner away from other passengers for us.

To my surprise, the flight attendant scoffed at me.

Hey, is this your private plane? You think you can sit wherever you want? I'm just talking to a handsome guy, what are you so jealous about?

Seeing her unreasonable behavior, I called the chief flight attendant to intervene.

But the flight attendant started crying, claiming I was bullying her, which drew sympathy from other passengers.

I was utterly speechless.

What she didn't know was that this suspect wasn't an ordinary criminal; he was extremely dangerous.

During our argument, the suspect suddenly erupted, grabbed the flight attendant, and demanded the plane turn back.

I'm a female detective, and I'd spent three months undercover, pouring all my energy into finally capturing a nationally notorious criminal named Florian.

Per my superior's orders, I was secretly escorting him back to state headquarters.

Before boarding, my director repeatedly emphasized the need for complete discretion, under no circumstances revealing Florian's identity to avoid panic among passengers.

I tucked away my badge and handcuffs, then sat down next to Florian.

While warning him to behave and not pull any stunts, my gaze swept alertly over everyone in the airport, not daring to relax for a second.

As soon as the plane entered the stratosphere, a young intern flight attendant in uniform, her face still bearing a trace of childishness, pushed a meal cart down the aisle.

When she saw Florian, her eyes locked onto him, unable to move away.

The intern flight attendant deliberately slowed her pace, bypassed me, and leaned over to Florian.

Her voice was syrupy sweet: "Handsome, what would you like to drink? Water, coffee, or juice?"

Florian looked up at her, a cold smirk playing on his lips, and my heart instinctively tightened.

I immediately answered for him: "Thank you, he doesn't want anything. We're trying to rest, please try not to disturb us."

But the intern flight attendant completely ignored my presence, glancing at me dismissively.

She leaned back towards Florian, her tone even more coquettish: "Handsome, are you feeling unwell? Do you need me to get you some medicine?"

I suppressed my surging anger, my voice a few shades colder, deliberately emphasizing the "no."

"I said, we need to rest. Can't you understand not to disturb us anymore?"

I looked around the half-empty cabin and added, "Also, please arrange for us to sit in a corner, preferably away from other passengers. I'm sensitive to noise."

To my surprise, the flight attendant instantly flared up as if I'd stepped on her tail.

She slammed the water cup in her hand onto the tray table, splashing water on me without a hint of apology.

"Ma'am, I'm talking to this gentleman. What business is it of yours? Did I ask you?"

"Did your family build this plane? You think you can sit wherever you want? Why don't you sit on top of the plane then?"

My brows knitted together, and I patiently said, "I'm with him. Is it okay if I answer for him? He's not eating or drinking anything, please don't ask again."

I tried to subtly hint with my eyes, gesturing towards the silver handcuffs hidden under our jackets, but she didn't get my meaning.

Instead, she raised her voice, even more arrogant: "Stop pretending! Are you that desperate for a man in real life, getting so worked up just because I said a few words to a handsome guy!"

Her voice was so loud it drew the attention of many nearby passengers.

"Plane seats are fixed. Do you think you're the queen, just changing seats as you please?"

My eyes widened; I couldn't believe these words were coming from a professional flight attendant.

After speaking, she turned to Florian, her voice tinged with grievance: "Sir, look at her. I just wanted to show some concern, and she's being so hostile towards me."

"If she tries to complain about me after the flight, you absolutely have to put in a good word for me, okay?"

Florian looked at me playfully, then slowly said, "Gorgeous, don't worry. You're so pretty, how could I let you be reported?"

The intern flight attendant lowered her head with a shy smile, immediately pulling out a notepad from her pocket to write down her name and contact information.

"Here, this is my Twitter. My name is Claire. Remember to add me!"

I took a deep breath, gritted my teeth, and said firmly, "I said! Change our seats!"

Claire, however, stuck out her neck, a look of smug confidence on her face: "I'm not changing your seats! You can die in this seat today if you want!"

I was trembling with rage, my full fury no longer contained: "Go get your chief flight attendant! I want to ask her, is this Delta Airlines' standard of professional conduct?"

Claire scoffed: "See? Women really are jealous, always running to their boss at the slightest thing."

"Go ahead and call her! Do you think I'm scared of you?"

Whispers erupted around us, and a surge of irrational anger rushed to my head.

I'd been a detective for eight years, personally apprehending countless heinous criminals.

But I had never encountered someone so ignorant and foolish.

She had no idea that the "handsome guy" she was so desperately trying to charm was a criminal with blood on his hands.

The chief flight attendant quickly arrived, speaking humbly: "Ma'am, how may I assist you?"

Just as I was about to explain the situation, Claire stepped forward and cried out, "Aunt Levitt!"

Then she immediately covered her face and burst into tears, drawing the full attention of the entire cabin.

"Aunt Levitt, this woman is bullying me! I was just doing my job, and she randomly yelled at me, forced me to change her seat, and threatened to report me!"

She deliberately shouted "bullying" and "report" extra loud, appearing fragile and delicate.

Uninformed passengers in the front rows were instantly stirred, standing up and looking our way.

Some even pulled out their phones to record, their voices filled with sympathy for Claire.

A middle-aged man frowned, pointing at me and loudly declared, "I say, you're going too far, lady! What's wrong with a young girl working as an intern? Do you really need to threaten to report her?"

A middle-aged woman next to him nodded in agreement, her voice tinged with disdain:

"Exactly! You look so put-together, yet you're so vicious! You'll have children someday, can't you be more understanding?"

"Some people just can't stand to see others young and pretty. It's pure jealousy, plain and simple."

"Don't worry, little girl, if she reports you, we'll all write letters to the airline to vouch for you."

Another professional-looking woman impatiently took off her eye mask, glancing at me: "Can you be quiet? Are you so miserable in your daily life that you have to complain about every little thing?"

I was trembling with anger from the baseless accusations: "Are you all blind? Or is there something wrong with your brains?"

"This is completely twisting the facts! She completely ignored my repeated warnings and kept bothering him! I merely asked her to change our seats, and she turned it around on me, claiming I was bullying her!"

Seeing people taking her side, Claire cried even harder, choking out: "Thank you, everyone. The public sees clearly... I'm not twisting the facts, I'm just doing my duty! She's targeting me!"

Saying this, she feigned a bow to me:

"Ma'am, let's just say it's all my fault, okay? I apologize to you, please don't report me! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Again, sounds of "tsk tsk tsk" rippled through the cabin.

"Flight attendants are people too! Look at what she's reduced her to!"

"When will some people understand that everyone is equal? Does she really think she's above others?"

Ms. Levitt's face instantly darkened. She pulled Claire behind her, her gaze at me turning chillingly cold.

Her earlier humility was completely gone.

"Ma'am, please speak with respect. Our flight attendants are not born inferior."

"Professionally, she is my subordinate. Caring for passengers is her job, and there's nothing wrong with that."

"Personally, I'm her aunt. I've watched her grow up since childhood. I know her character better than a stranger like you."

She paused, then raised her voice: "It's 2026! We're all women, why are you so male-gaze-centric and anti-woman? Please spend more time online and less time being difficult with your own kind!"

"Me? Male-gaze-centric and anti-woman? Me, being difficult with a woman?"

It's true that when you're speechless, you sometimes just laugh.

I said, word for word: "You have the nerve to say that? You're blindly taking your niece's side without bothering to understand the truth. Isn't that also being difficult with your own kind?"

"She's an intern, I won't argue with her, but you're a chief flight attendant, in charge of the entire cabin! Didn't you receive notification about a VIP passenger? Do you know how much responsibility you'll bear if you disrupt my work?"

The discussions grew louder.

"Hmph, VIP passenger! Who does she think she is? If she's so important, why isn't she in first class? The airline would naturally prioritize her there."

"She really thinks she's the queen, huh?"

"Laughable! Sounds like it's her first time flying. Just stop talking, I'm embarrassed for you."

Claire, hiding behind Ms. Levitt, secretly flashed a triumphant smile and even gave me a provocative look.

Ms. Levitt was stunned by my words, her face immediately turning even paler: "Don't you dare try to pressure me with this 'VIP passenger' talk! I'm telling you, I have all the information about everyone on this plane, including yours!"

"If you don't want me to cause trouble for your workplace, you'd better quiet down. If you continue to be unreasonable, I'll call the air marshals to handle it!"

Just as we were at a stalemate, and my fingertips touched my badge.

Another flight attendant rushed from the rear cabin, leaning in to Ms. Levitt's ear.

She spoke quickly in a low voice: "Chief, I just checked the crew notice. There is indeed a very important passenger on this flight who needs our special attention and full cooperation. We absolutely cannot neglect them!"

Ms. Levitt and Claire's faces changed. Their earlier arrogance vanished. Ms. Levitt picked up her tablet, her fingers swiftly scrolling the screen.

Claire also leaned in, her eyes fixed on the notice on the screen.

Her triumphant expression completely disappeared, but the next second, a smirk of schadenfreude appeared on her lips.

A moment later, Ms. Levitt closed the tablet, calmly looking up at me.

She said coldly, "You're right, there is a very important passenger on this flight, but that person isn't you!"

She paused, then continued, "It's Professor Richards, our nation's top heart specialist. He's on his way to Washington for an urgent conference. We were specifically told by upper management to ensure his travel is safe and comfortable, without any disturbances!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a burst of laughter erupted in the cabin.

"She scared me! I thought she was some powerful figure, but it turns out she was just blustering."

"Didn't you hear the chief flight attendant? Professor Richards needs rest. You've been making a ruckus for so long, what if you've disturbed Professor Richards?"

Claire instantly regained her confidence, rolling her eyes dramatically at me, then looking at Florian with concern.

"Sir, I think the lady next to you might have some mental issues. For your safety, I'll arrange for you to go to first class. That way, no one will disturb our conversation."

She started to lead him away.

I completely panicked. All my forbearance shattered in that moment.

I could tolerate misunderstanding and humiliation, but Florian was a criminal. I absolutely would not allow him to leave my sight.

I pulled out my badge and shouted loudly, "I'm a detective, and I'm on duty!"

Before I could react, she snatched the badge from my hand.

Without even a glance, she ripped it to shreds.

"I can buy a whole box of these online! I'd sooner believe I'm the President than believe you're a detective!"

She immediately put on a "righteous" facade: "Don't you know that handcuffing him like this is restricting his personal freedom, it's unlawful detention! I have to save him today!"

Saying this, she grabbed the silver handcuffs connecting Florian and me, pulling with both hands, desperately tugging them apart.

She kept repeating, "Let him go! Quick, let him go! You psycho!"

I struggled to block her, my fingertips digging into the handcuffs: "Don't touch the handcuffs! You'll get everyone killed! He's a criminal, he can't be let go!"

Just as we were struggling,

Click! The silver handcuffs snapped. I stumbled backward from the sudden release.

Looking up, Florian's wrist was free.

Only half of the cold handcuff remained, still tightly locked to my wrist.