Self

Chapter 88

Rainie slipped on her shades, took a page out of Yara’s book with a sip of her coconut juice, and a satisfied smile played on her lips.

Yara

stretched her legs and flipped over. “Don’t you have a date?”

Rainie made a face. “That blond young man? All muscles! I thought he’d be impressive, but he was just a show–off, not even half as sweet as my new boy toy.”

Yara laughed. “What happened to, um, Keven?”

“Oh, he’s old news. My new guy’s a ray of sunshine–cute looks, adorable personality, and smells amazing. Plus, he can cook like a dream!”

Rainie peeked over her sunglasses with a sly grin. “Your turn. Aren’t you going to look for someone new?”

She wanted to hang all her hopes on one guy? How dull was that?

Life was spicier when she could mix it up with different dates!

Yara’s gaze drifted out to sea. “Not on my radar. I have no time or energy–there’s no point.”

“Fair enough,” Rainie mused, smacking her lips. “Guys will just mess with your studying and drag your test scores down.”

She stretched with a yawn, her eyes already wandering off. “Oh, I just spotted a cute guy with blue eyes. I’m going to go talk to him. You just enjoy yourself. Bye!”

Yara toasted to her. “Party hard.”

“Got everything sorted out?” Yale stood by the panoramic window in his office, his piercing eyes on his assistant. “No mix–ups this time, I hope?”

The assistant was visibly nervous. “My apologies, Mr. Johnson, the last time, well, that was my oversight. I’ve double–checked now, and Ms. Simmons didn’t go to Harbint; she’s in the Maldives.”

“Positive?”

“Here’s the flight manifest. Ms. Simmons’s name is on the list.”

Yale did not bother to look closer; he was confident there were no errors.

He could not entirely blame his assistant for the previous slip–up. After all, who would have guessed Shane would stoop so low, swapping Yara’s details with

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another passenger’s to throw off the investigator with false leads?

Yale said, “Book me on the first flight out.”

The assistant pulled out his smartphone and scrolled through the options. “Mr. Johnson, the earliest we can get you out is at seven tomorrow morning.”

“Book it.”

“Done. If there’s nothing else, may I be excused?”

Yale gave a dismissive wave.

The assistant left, carefully closing the door behind him with due respect.

“Mr. Lore, you’re drenched! Did Mr. Johnson give you an earful?”

Martin Lore dismissed it with a wave of his hand. “Forget it. Hey, can you get Mr. Johnson on that 7:00 A.M. flight to the Maldives? I’m running late. I have to head out.

“Got it. Go take care of Alice’s parent–teacher meeting; I’ll handle things here!”

Martin could not help but laugh. “You’ve barely been here a few days. Don’t talk big- it’s a quick way to embarrass yourself.”

“Relax, can I really mess up booking a flight? You’re underestimating me.”

‘Fine, just get it done. I can’t chat now. Alice will chew my ear off for a month if I’m late!”

The assistant whipped out her work phone and booked the tickets.

Lucky for her, the phone already had the travelers‘ info saved. When it was time to pay, it showed that she was about to book two tickets successfully.

Her gut told her to call Martin to double–check whether she should book for their boss alone or include the other passenger, Xandra, and get two tickets.

However, the call was abruptly cut off after just a couple of rings.

Too nervous to ask Yale, and with Martin’s earlier hint that the tickets were a rush job, she agonized for a moment but ended up booking two.

Her logic was solid, after all.

The trip to the Maldives was not for business, right?

It was a getaway, so he had to bring his girlfriend.

Yeah, booking two tickets was definitely the right move!