Chapter 352
“You really know how to play the hands-off boss while working me to the bone,” Owen grumbled.
“I told you, once this busy period is over, you can take a real vacation p>
“You’re just stringing me along p>
“Well, you could always hire a highly competent assistant to lighten the load, right p>
“Easier said than done. Top-tier executives don’t just grow on trees. To be honest, I’m tired of Aethelgard. I prefer Melvion City p>
“You have things here you need to face. Running away won’t solve anything p>
“I know. I just don’t want to look at certain people p>
Back at the hotel, Mira packed her bags for the early morning flight. Harvey Rivers was flying back with her, while Kieran Holt and Grant Ziegler were tied up with the branch office’s launch and couldn’t leave just yet.
For their 8:30 AM flight, Mira was up by five. They grabbed a quick bite and were about to leave when Owen unexpectedly showed up.
“You didn’t have to come,” Mira said. “The driver could have taken us. Go get some rest p>
“I booked a ticket. I’m flying back with you p>
“Why p>
Owen frowned, a shadow crossing his features. “Hasn’t everything gone a little too smoothly? This isn’t Lawrence’s style. Frankly, I have a bad feeling about this p>
“You’re worried he’s planning something p>
“I can’t put my finger on it. Let’s just stay alert p>
Before leaving, they thoroughly inspected their vehicles. The drive to the airport was completely uneventful, allowing Mira to finally exhale. Her bodyguards kept a tight perimeter around them.
“We should be fine now,” Mira reassured him. “Airport security is incredibly strict p>
“Don’t lower your guard. The people working for my family might lack
actual talent, but they excel at underhanded tricks. They
ruthless
and will do absolutely anything to get what they want p>
“And the worst part is, your grandfather enables them,” Mira added.
“He doesn’t side with them; he sides with the illusion of family loyalty. The old man spent his whole life being a ruthless businessman, but his fatal flaw is his blind nepotism. He protects his blood relatives without any principles p>
“Which is exactly why they’re so arrogant. Your grandfather spoiled them rotten p>
As they passed through security and walked toward the terminal, a vendor
approached them, offering souvenir cards.
“Don’t touch it,” Owen ordered, stopping Harvey from reaching out.
“We’re in an airport, man,” Harvey said. “You think they can reach us here p>
“Lawrence’s depravity makes Shane Porter and the entire Mercer family look like saints. Plus, the Lance family owns shares in Aethelgard Airlines p>
Mira nodded grimly. She had underestimated Lawrence Lance. “If they have that kind of reach, wouldn’t it have been easier to attack us at the hotel p>
“The hotel is one of my properties. They wouldn’t dare p>
Logically, an ambush would have happened on the road. The airport was too crowded and heavily monitored. An attack on the plane seemed even more impossible. The aircraft was worth a
fortune and
risking the lives of hundreds of
passengers and crew would cause an unimaginable fallout. Even the Lance family couldn’t silence a scandal of that magnitude.
But as they boarded, Owen’s tension didn’t fade, and Mira’s heart hammered an erratic rhythm against her ribs.
They settled into their first-class seats, thoroughly checking the area around them, refusing to relax. The flight to Melvion City took three hours. About an hour in, the plane violently jolted.
It was a clear, sunny day. There was no reason for severe turbulence.
Yet, the shaking rapidly grew worse.