Chapter 3
The sound of footsteps grew closer and closer, and a tall figure strode into the room.
The man was dressed in a sharp, tailored black suit. As he approached, his entire demeanor radiated an icy arrogance that screamed “keep your distance.”
But the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew—this had to be Leo Tanke.
He didn’t spare me even a glance, heading straight to where Aubrie stood. His brows furrowed slightly as he spoke in a low, measured voice.
“What’s going on? Mr. Yellen told me you had an altercation with someone. I was in the neighboring city, so I took the helicopter over to check on you.”
The moment Aubrie saw him, the arrogance on her face faded a notch. She even feigned grievance, her tone softening.
“Mr. Tanke, it’s nothing major. Just some country bumpkin bumped into me.”
She paused, casting a deliberate, pointed glance in my direction before adding with a sly smirk, “Oh, and by the way, she claims to be your fiancée.”
“Fiancée?”
A flicker of confusion crossed Leo’s face. He finally turned his gaze toward me, his eyes cold and calculating. He gave me a once-over, his disdain unmistakable.
“You’re Gloria Redwood?”
Before I could respond, he turned his head away, dismissing me entirely.
“Alright, you can go back and tell your family we’re not a match. The engagement is off.”
Aubrie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Mr. Tanke, she’s really your fiancée?”
Leo gave a faint “Mm,” as if the confirmation itself was distasteful. Leaning closer to Aubrie, he murmured in a low voice, “But it’s just an arranged engagement from when we were kids. It doesn’t count.”
“To be my wife, one must be exceptional, a cut above the rest. Look at her—what about her could possibly measure up to me?”
He shot me a deliberate glance, ensuring I caught every word. His disdain was palpable.
“A woman who reeks of sweat every day, thinking she can climb up to the Tanke family just because of some old promise? Dream on!”
I eyed his smug expression, thinking that this woman and he truly deserved each other.
Amused, I allowed myself to study him more closely. Suddenly, I felt an intense curiosity about how this Mr. Tanke, who insisted on finding someone extraordinary, would react if he learned of my real identity.
“Mr. Tanke,” I said, my voice calm yet laced with subtle irony, “didn’t your family tell you anything about my background before sending you to meet me?”
His sneer deepened. “Why would I care about your background? It’s not like it could ever compare to the wealth and power of the Tanke family.”
“I’m warning you,” he continued, his tone sharp and dismissive, “I’ve made myself clear. Don’t cling to me. Go back to your family and call off the engagement!”
I raised an eyebrow, silently running through a mental comparison of my family’s assets versus the Tanke family’s. It was hard to keep the smirk off my face.
Who was richer? That was an interesting question.
Aubrie, noticing the faint smile on my lips, misunderstood entirely. She assumed I was smitten with Leo and jumped in.
“Didn’t you hear what Mr. Tanke said? Get lost!”
Then, turning to Mr. Yellen with an air of entitlement, she barked, “Cancel her exclusive access to the airport’s private passage. From now on, don’t let her use it!”
“Yes, yes, of course, Miss Wadsley,” Mr. Yellen replied, nodding repeatedly. “I’ll take care of it right away.”
Satisfied with his compliance, Aubrie seemed to completely forget the pain from earlier when I had dislocated her finger. She basked in her newfound triumph.
“See that? This is the power of the Tanke family.”
She paused, glancing at me with mock pity before continuing, “But looking at you, so pathetic and shabby, I’ve decided to let you off the hook.”
“Just pay me the compensation for my medical expenses, and I’ll let it slide. Otherwise… I’ll make sure you regret it!”
Watching her gloat, I didn’t feel anger—only amusement.
Leisurely, I pulled out my phone and, in full view of everyone, dialed a number. My tone was light, almost playful, as I spoke, “Hello, sir? I’d like to request your assistance with a small matter.”
“There’s a personal assistant here threatening to revoke my exclusive access to the air traffic department’s private corridor. Could you advise on how best to handle this?”
