Chapter 463
Chapter 463:
Isolde looked at the rigid way Grayson stood, the exhaustion etched into every line of his face. She felt a brief, annoying flicker of pity, and instantly crushed it.
“Excuse me,” Isolde said coldly. “You are blocking the path p>
Belle stepped sideways, deliberately blocking her way.
“Stop pretending,” Belle sneered. “You came here to beg Grayson for forgiveness, didn’t you? Too bad. We chartered a private flight to San Francisco. There are no seats for you p>
A massive, deafening roar of jet engines vibrated through the thick glass windows of the lounge.
Everyone turned.
A Gulfstream G700 taxied slowly toward the VIP boarding gate. The sleek white fuselage bore the minimalist logo of CloudPath — significantly larger and newer than the Gulfstream G550 Grayson had chartered. The cabin door opened and the stairs folded down.
𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘯
Carter Sterling stood at the top, wearing aviator sunglasses and a leather jacket. He waved toward the lounge windows.
“Hey, Isolde!” Carter shouted over the engine noise. “Hurry up! The champagne is already on ice p>
The lounge went dead silent.
Belle’s jaw dropped. Daron stared at the G700 with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Grayson’s pupils contracted to pinpricks. Carter. Isolde was actually flying with Carter Sterling.
Isolde turned her head and looked at Belle. A slow, freezing smile touched the corners of her mouth.
“I apologize,” Isolde said. “My ride is here. It is a personal jet. Not a rental p>
Arland and Harper lifted their chins and rolled their luggage right past the stunned InnoTech team.
Isolde walked out onto the tarmac and climbed the stairs. Carter reached out and pulled her up the last step.
The sight of Carter’s hand on Isolde’s felt like a knife twisting in Grayson’s gut. He gripped Arthur’s arm for support, his knuckles turning bone white.
Daron finally found his voice.
“She definitely slept her way onto that plane,” Daron spat. “I told you she was just a high-class escort p>
Grayson snapped.
“My affairs are not for you to comment on, Daron,” Grayson said, his voice low and dangerous. “Know your place p>
Daron jumped back in shock. “Gray, why are you still defending her? The proof is right in front of us p>
Grayson felt a sharp, tearing pain in his back. He didn’t know if it was his burned skin or something else entirely.
“I said shut up,” Grayson breathed.
At the cabin door, Isolde paused and looked back over her shoulder. She saw Grayson’s furious face. She heard Daron’s filthy insult.
Carter leaned close to her ear.
“Ignore the static,” Carter murmured. “Lions don’t turn around when dogs bark p>
Isolde nodded. She stepped into the luxurious cabin. The heavy door sealed shut behind her, cutting out the noise and toxicity of the Lancaster world. The engines whined, and the massive jet climbed into the clouds — leaving Grayson standing in agony on the ground below.
The cabin of the Gulfstream G700 felt like a five-star hotel suspended in the sky.
Isolde and Carter sat across from each other at a polished mahogany conference table, its surface completely covered in complex engineering blueprints and tablet screens.