Ms. Mirabe''s arrival was the reason James left in such a rush. Wyatt pped his forehead, realizing he''d been so caught up that he nearly forgot this crucial event. Suddenly, meeting with the mayor of Brooksville seemed far less appealing than joining James to wee Ms. Mirabe.


    Despite feeling a twinge of regret, Wyatt quickly headed to the reception room. The Brooksville mayor had been waiting for over three hours and jumped to his feet the moment Wyatt walked in. "Where''s Mr. Marsh? Is he done with his work?"


    Wyatt looked at the mayor, thinking about his unfortunate timing, showing up on the day of Ms. Mirabe''s visit. Suppressing a sigh, Wyatt kept a straight face and said, "I''m sorry, Mr. Marsh had to leave on urgent business. I suggest youe back in a couple of days."


    The mayor''s face went through several emotions, almost desperate enough to grab Wyatt''s hands. "But I have something very important to discuss with him. I can''t wait two days."


    Wyatt held his polite smile and apologized again, "There''s nothing I can do." After a brief pause, he added, "Or you could let me know what it''s about, and I can pass the message to Mr. Marsh."


    The disappointment was clear in the mayor''s eyes. He opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. "I want to speak with Mr. Marsh directly."


    "Then pleasee back in a couple of days," Wyatt replied, unfazed by the mayor''s visible distress. With that, he nodded slightly and left the reception room. The mayor''s spirits sank further, and he took a step back, feelingpletely deted. It took him a while to finally leave the reception room, his face clouded with worry. As he headed toward the elevator, he was so lost in thought that he identally bumped into someone.


    That someone was a department head who had been aware of the mayor''s presence from the start. Seeing the mayor so downcast, he thought for a moment before courteously inviting him to his office.


    Meanwhile, Grady had already


    calcted Miss Mira''s flight arrival time. He arrived at the airport two hours early, opting to pick her up himself rather than send his subordinates. The airport wasn''t too crowded, but a fair number of


    people were waiting at the arrival gate.


    Dressed in a ck trench coat and wearing sunsses, Grady exuded an imposing presence. Even standing casually, the intensity.


    aura caused people around him his


    instinctively keep their distance. Plus, with a subordinate dressed in ck by his side, they clearly weren''t to be messed with.


    Just then, Grady''s phone buzzed in his pocket: He took it out and saw Keir''s name on the screen. He instructed his subordinate to wait there as he moved to a quieter spot


    to answer the call.


    "Keir," Grady''s voice was filled with respect.


    "Have you picked up the kid yet?" came a deep voice from the other end.


    Grady nced at his watch. "Not yet. She should arrive around six-thirty."


    "Hmm," the man on the other end responded softly, seemingly lost in thought. After a moment, he spoke again, sounding almost troubled. "Do you think she''ll be afraid when she sees me?"


    Grady cleared his throat, remembering how he once felt the same nervousness as Keir. He replied, "Miss Mira isn''t an ordinary youngdy; she probably won''t be scared of you."


    "Probably won''t be scared? So you''re notpletely sure," the man''s voice was so gentle, unlike his usual tone.