Chapter 5
Aubrie’s face shifted between anger and disbelief as she glared at me, clearly unwilling to accept the situation.
She leaned toward Leo, lowering her voice but ensuring her words were sharp enough to incite.
“Mr. Tanke, this woman only has some minor connections at the airport. Just look at how smug she is, acting like we don’t even matter!”
“If you don’t teach her a lesson, imagine the disgrace it’ll bring to the Tanke family!”
Leo’s eyes darkened at her words. He was clearly provoked, his pride acting up.
Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone and made a call to the airport’s senior management.
“There’s no way I, Leo Tanke, can’t handle this problem with a single phone call!”
His confidence was palpable. To flaunt his authority, he even pressed the speakerphone button, ensuring everyone could hear the conversation clearly, intending to humiliate me.
But when he stated his demand, the person on the other end hesitated, their voice laced with unease.
“Mr. Tanke, this… I’m afraid it’s not possible.”
Leo’s brows furrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Miss Redwood’s status has been explicitly highlighted as a special priority by Cokraind. Our airport has no authority to restrict any of her privileges…”
The moment those words fell, a wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd.
Passengers, who had merely been watching the drama unfold, began whispering among themselves, their gazes suspiciously darting toward me.
“A special priority? Who on earth is she?”
“No wonder Mr. Yellen changed his attitude earlier. Looks like he really messed with the wrong person…”
Leo’s expression darkened instantly.
Clutching his phone tightly, his lips pressed into a thin, grim line.
“Mr. Avery, you’d better reconsider. If you don’t blacklist her today, the Tanke Group will immediately pull all its investments from this airport!”
I shook my head and let out a soft laugh.
“Mr. Tanke, why trouble the staff? They’re just following orders.”
Leo abruptly ended the call, his eyes glaring daggers at me.
“Gloria, drop the act! I don’t care who’s backing you, but as long as you’re in New Rond, you answer to the Tanke family!”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Is that so?”
Glancing at my watch, I figured the timing must be about right.
After my earlier call, my captain had texted me, saying they were sending a private jet to pick me up—no need to endure such nonsense.
By now, it should’ve arrived.
And sure enough, the airport’s announcement system suddenly crackled to life.
“Ladies and gentlemen, due to special aviation protocols, all flights are temporarily suspended to clear the runway for a military aircraft. Further updates on flight schedules will follow…”
As the announcement concluded, the entire airport plunged into chaos.
I smiled, turning to Leo.
“Let’s see what happens if I don’t comply.”
Before the words had fully left my mouth, the sound of synchronized footsteps echoed from outside the VIP lounge.
A group of uniformed staff marched in quickly, led by none other than Mr. Avery, the man Leo had just spoken to on the phone.
The moment he saw me, he broke into a jog, bowing respectfully as he reached me.
“Miss Redwood, my sincerest apologies for keeping you waiting!”
The staff behind him stopped in unison, their demeanor so deferential it bordered on reverence.
Aubrie, who had been anticipating my downfall, was utterly unprepared for this turn of events. Her face paled, and her lips trembled as she failed to form a coherent sentence.
Even Leo was frozen in place, a flicker of panic finally breaking through his previously confident façade.
Mr. Avery wiped the sweat from his brow, his tone cautious.
“Miss Redwood, is there anything else you might need us to arrange?”
I didn’t respond immediately. Instead, my gaze swept over Leo and Aubrie with cool indifference.
“If I recall correctly, you were asking me to compensate you five hundred thousand dollars?”
