A corporate pilot never forgets who he's got in back.
Let me bring up an admittedly ancient, but perhaps relevant, example of just this situation. You have a new owner, plus a Big Wheel from the manufacturer flying over Nowhere and one, or both, want to see what the machine will do and perhaps impress the journo. So they order the pilot who says, "NO!" and then put enough pressure on him so he says, "This is definitely against my better judgement," and gives in for a few fateful minutes.
Let's go back to the Titanic. Excellent captain; owner on board, who wants to show off the ship. Captain tells him there is ice ahead; owner says, keep 'er going. Ship rolls over iceberg, slices bottom open. Captain wants to stop so pumps can keep it afloat longer; owner says, "Keep going." Prevails on captain and causes the ship to take more water and sink faster.
The people in back could have had some bearing.