Over on his side, Nick overheard his sister on the phone. Casually, he asked, "Was that James calling you?"


    Mirabe nodded. "Yeah, he''s waiting for us in the parking lot."


    Nick''s eyes cooled a bit, but he made sure Mirabe didn''t notice. "My assistant''s car is also waiting in the parking lot," he mentioned.


    Mirabe, thinking about how Nick had been swamped with work callstely, nodded. "Alright, then you go ahead and handle your work. I''ll catch a ride with James. Just text me the addresster."


    She reached for her suitcase from him.


    Nick quickly realized his sister misunderstood and blurted, "Actually, I''m not that busy..."


    "I know you''re busy," Mirabe said, gently pushing him on the back, urging him to go.


    Nick felt like he''d shot himself in the foot: "..."


    Reluctantly, Nick made his way to Parking Lot B, where As was waiting. Seeing Nick, As waved.


    As Nick approached, As opened the car door respectfully and nced towards the exit, puzzled. "Mr. Nick, where''s the youngdy?"


    Nick''s expression darkened further as he rubbed his forehead. "She''s noting with us."


    "Oh," As said, "Why?"


    "She got intercepted by a dog," Nick muttered coldly, bending to get into the car.


    As''s lips twitched.


    A dog?


    Who was Mr. Nick referring to?


    **


    Mirabe, pulling her suitcase, walked to another part of the airport parking lot. From a distance, she spotted a man leaning against a car door.


    His cool, distinctive charm made him easy to recognize. Just standing there, he caught the eye. The parking lot was quiet, with few cars and almost no people around.


    Mirabe walked over to him.


    Having been recognized by fans at a concert before and trending on social media for a while, Mirabe had developed the habit of wearing a mask when she went out.


    As she approached, she took off her mask.


    "Didn''t you say Nick would be with you?" James asked, taking her suitcase and putting it in the trunk.


    "He got caught up with work and left first," Mirabe exined.


    James raised an eyebrow. Given the tension between him and Nick, it didn''t seem like Nick''s style to leave her behind.


    Seeing James staring at her, Mirabe blinked. "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    James smiled and shook his head, opening the passenger door for her. "Nothing, just get in the car."


    Leaning on the car door, Mirabe looked a bitnguid and teased, "Honey, you look a bit too pleased with yourself."


    She was wearing a V-neck white tee, with a delicate tinum ne around her corbone, the pendant resting just below the neckline. James nced at it, then looked away, though the corners of his mouth still turned up slightly.


    "Where are you staying?" he coughed and asked.


    Mirabe pouted, then bent over to get into the car. "Hold on, let me ask Nick."


    James hummed softly, closed the car door for her, then walked around to get into the driver''s seat.


    Soon, the car slowly drove out of the airport.


    Mirabe took out her phone and shot Nick a message on Messenger, asking for his address.


    After half a minute, he replied with an address. Mirabe handed her phone to James. "This ce."


    James looked at the address and was momentarily taken aback.


    "Goodnight, see you tomorrow!"