Arnold beckoned to Mark and whispered something to him.
âAre you certain?â Markâs suspicions turned to doubt.
âYes, I am.â
Having his suspicions resolved, Mark snapped his fingers to summon his bodyguard and quickly departed.
Without the burly bodyguard holding her in place, Josie sat up with a sigh of relief and shook the muscle soreness away.
âHow did you get on his bad side?â Arnold asked as he entered the room.
âI find it hard to believe youâre here for work,â Josie responded without answering his question.
âWould you believe me if I said Iâm a prince, here to save the princess?â
âWell, mission accomplished. You can go now.â
As they exited the room, Josie saw the bodyguard Dexter sent to protect her still lingering outside.
When Moses saw her, he quickly announced that the plane was going to depart soon and beckoned for her to hurry.
Josie jogged to the boarding area. However, before she could hand over her boarding pass to the crew member, Arnold snatched the piece of paper away. Alarmed, she tried to wrest her paper back, but to her surprise, he had two pieces of boarding passes in his hand.
âWow, I guess weâre on the same flight!â Arnold exclaimed.
Josie was astounded, but Moses was even more disbelieving. âMr. Carter, I believe this would be inappropriate.â
Arnold grinned.
âThe plane doesnât belong to the Russells. Why canât I board the same flight?â He responded lightheartedly as he handed the boarding passes to the crew member.
After boarding the plane, Josie stole the opportunity to call someone before she had to turn. her phone on airplane mode.
âSergeant Buncho?â
Arnold nearly choked when he realized that Josie had called the police.
âI want to lodge a report. I was unlawfully detained by Mark Olsen, the head of the Olsen. family, at the airport. I have been released, but his actions deeply scarred me.â
Arnoldâs shock gave way to reverence.
âI suspect that he is complicit in my fatherâs disappearance. Do you remember that you asked me whether we had any enemies? Now you have your answer,â Josie paused to listen. Then she added, âokay, I trust you will follow the lead I just provided. Let me know if your have news.
She hung up the call and switched her phone off, but her expression remained stern.
âDid you just lodge a report against Mark Olsen?â Arnold grinned.
âCanât I do that? He detained me for around three minutes!â Josie gritted her teeth as she recalled every grueling second of her encounter with him.
âA measly sergeant wonât be able to touch Mark, you know?â
Josie burst out in laughter and tilted her head towards Arnold. âDo I look that naïve? I know that, but I relish any small inconvenience I can create for them.â
âWould you like an exposé or a press conference?â
âWould you do that for me?â
She was so excited she could burst, but Arnold merely rolled his eyes at her.
Meanwhile, Dexter watched as the planes whooshed into the sky as the cold air wrapped around his body. Wisps of smoke curled around his fingers and disappeared into the mist.
Larry, his secretary, approached him hesitantly as he watched his employer stare at the sky.
âMr. Russell, we just received news that Arnold Carter and Mrs. Russell are on the same flight.â
Dexter did not respond, as if he had already anticipated this report.
âHas the shipment at the port been delivered?â
âYes, it was delivered at the same time Mrs. Russellâs plane departed.â
Dexter huffed. âThat shipment is worth 80 million, yet they were unwilling to ship it out.
With Waveryâs authority breathing down their necks, Iâm certain those are some black- market materials. The only way they could move it was to have Arnold send it out. personally. He sure is a true business player.â
Larry nodded. âShould we inform Mrs. Russell?â
âSheâll know the moment she disembarks from the plane.â
Larry paused momentarily, adding, âWould it be dangerous for her? Arnold doesnât tiptoe around death.â
Dexter squeezed his eyebrows together. Why does my cigarette taste like bile? Where is the usual hit of dopamine?
Turning to Larry, he shook his head. âHe would never dare to hurt Josie.â