Chapter 99
49
55 vouchers
Chloe noticed something off in Daron’s expression, quickly entered the passcode and opened his office door, then stood respectfully at the doorway.
She just hoped Daron wouldn’t blame her for messing up.
Honestly, she hadn’t expected to open the door for Marina, and she definitely hadn’t thought Daron would care about her this much.
Marina’s attention was caught by Chloe hurrying over, and she also noticed Daron not far away. She quickly straightened up, and seeing the serious look on Chloe‘ face, she couldn’t help but do the same.
‘What’s going on?‘ Marina wondered. ‘The atmosphere feels way too serious.’
Her desk was the closest to Daron’s, and with him in such a bad mood today, she couldn’t help but worry that she might be the first one to get chewed out.
Marina was feeling pretty uneasy, but Chloe looked even more nervous than she did.
Luckily, when Daron walked into his office, he didn’t say a word.
Marina inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, only to catch Chloe doing the exact same thing.
Their expressions and body language were so in sync that they both froze for a second, then shared an awkward smile.
Once Daron was inside, Chloe respectfully gestured for Marina to go ahead.
Marina, ever humble, insisted that Chloe enter first.
The two of them hesitated for a few seconds, until Daron, walking ahead, suddenly stopped. Chloe hurriedly tugged Marina into the office.
Daron glanced back at them, and the two immediately straightened up, standing off to the side with their best professional smiles.
Marina seized the chance and whispered, “I’ve still got some files I haven’t figured out yet, so I’m gonna get back to work.”
She said it quietly, then hurried off to her desk.
Seeing Marina retreat behind the divider, Chloe had no choice but to steel herself and go over to report to Daron.
“Mr. Zamora, your 12:30 PM flight to Sicester is all set. The crew just reached out for today’s passenger list to
Sicester,” she said.
Daron, expressionless, listed off a few names, and Marina’s was among them.
17:56 Sat, Dec 20
Chapter 99
…
After Chloe finished her report, she left.
On her way out, she cast a quick look toward Marina.
:
Right now, Sicester was packed with tourists, and tickets were almost impossible to get.
Daron and Garret’s tickets back to Sicester had been booked a week ago.
Two days ago, Daron suddenly added Marina’s name to the list.
49
55 vouchers
Chloe reached out to the airline, trying to get an extra ticket. She finally managed to get one for today, but it wasn’t for the same time as theirs. So Daron just told her to go ahead and arrange a separate flight.
The private jet, which was usually reserved for special occasions, ended up being used just because Marina couldn’t get a ticket for the same time as them.
Chloe was still confused, but it only made her more convinced that Daron had a soft spot for Marina.
‘Seriously, I must’ve been totally out of it today. How could I let Marina stand outside Mr. Zamora’s office for so long?‘ she mentally berated herself.
Thankfully, Daron didn’t blame her, and Marina didn’t hold it against her either.
*****
At the airport, Marina sat nervously across from Daron, unable to stop staring at the fancy food and wine spread out on the table. She was a bit taken aback by it all.
Fortunately, Daron was focused on his financial newspaper and didn’t notice her surprised expression.
Even back when her family was at the top of their game, Marina had never really experienced what it was like to fly private.
She always assumed smoking and drinking were off–limits on planes, but…
Marina caught sight of Garret with a cigarette in hand, and the flight attendant smiling at her.
“Ms. Finley, would you like some red wine or a drink?”
‘Figures. Some rules only apply to ordinary people, I’m not used to this kind of world, Marina thought.
“I’ll just have a soft drink, thanks,” Marina replied.
She’d never had a drink on a plane before, but knowing her own limits, she figured it was better to skip the
wine.
Garret grabbed the bottle from the flight attendant and poured some red wine into her glass.
“Just give it a try, it’s no big deal. This is my cousin’s private stash–he only brings it out for VIPs. It’s rare for him to be this generous, so it’d be a shame not to taste it. Who knows when we’ll get another shot at this?” he
teased.
17:56 Sat, Dec 20
Chapter 99
His cigarette was still dangling between his fingers as he poured.
Marina caught a whiff of smoke and couldn’t help but cough.
“Put your cigarette out,” Daron said, his voice low and clearly annoyed.
With his face hidden behind the newspaper, you could still hear the irritation in his voice.
Garret hurriedly put out his cigarette in the ashtray, giving Marina an apologetic look.
“Sorry, sorry. I tend to get a bit too laid–back when it’s just us,” he said.
Marina waved it off. “It’s fine, really. I’m just not really used to this, that’s all.”
55 vouchers
Daron folded up his newspaper, set it aside, then lifted his glass of red wine from the table and took a delicate sip.
After making sure all the dishes were served, the flight attendant quietly headed back to the galley.
It was Marina’s first time having a drink on a plane, and she was a total lightweight–the whole fancy setting only made it worse. She hadn’t even finished her glass before she started feeling lightheaded.
She hung in there for a few minutes, snacking on some food, hoping it would help soak up the alcohol and keep the buzz at bay.
Daron gave Marina a quick look, then, without saying a word, poured the leftover wine from her glass into his own. He then eyed the bottle Garret had pushed aside.
It was a particularly strong vintage of red wine.
Daron shot Garret a cold, frosty look.
Garret gave an awkward grin and said carefully, “Cousin, I swear I didn’t mean it. I had no idea Ms. Finley would get knocked out after just one glass… actually, make that half a glass.”
Marina rested one hand on the table, her beautiful, delicate cheeks tinged with a rosy flush. She sat there quietly, just listening to their conversation without saying a word, looking so well–behaved and docile.
Daron took one look at her and instantly knew she was already clearly drunk.
Daron gave Garret a frosty glance and said coolly, “You’re covering her work today.”
“Seriously?” Garret grumbled, shooting Daron a resentful look, clearly not thrilled about it.
If he remembered right, Marina was supposed to be doing data analysis this afternoon–a real headache, the kind of task even ghosts would run from.
Marina, groggy and barely awake, caught bits of their conversation about her work. Her eyes fluttered open and she mumbled, “I’m good, I promise I’ll finish everything.”
As soon as she said that, she slumped over the table and instantly fell asleep.
17:56 Sat, Dec 20
Chapter 99
Daron gave Garret an icy glare–the guy who’d gotten Marina drunk.
49
55 vouchers
Garret quickly cleared away the plate in front of Marina, so she wouldn’t accidentally knock it over if she moved.
But Marina was unusually quiet, and before long, her breathing became steady as she drifted off to sleep.
Garret had seen Daron handle his drinks, and even Bette–despite being a woman–could hold her liquor just fine. So he honestly didn’t think anyone would get tipsy from just one glass.
Seeing Marina quietly dozing off at the table, he gave a sheepish smile and suggested, “Cousin, maybe you should take Ms. Finley to the lounge…”
Before Garret could even finish his sentence, Daron was already up, walking over to Marina. He bent down and scooped her up into his arms, moving so gently and carefully, like he was worried about disturbing her even a little.
Garret pressed his lips together and didn’t say another word.
‘Guess I really didn’t need to say anything. Looks like he didn’t need my suggestion at all,‘ he thought.
AD
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
