?Chapter 1362:


    The secretary hesitated for a moment before deciding to call Dani. When the call connected, Dani’s calm voice echoed through the line. “Hello.”


    Without hesitation, Alexander snatched the phone from the assistant’s hand. “Dani, hey. It’s me.”


    At 30,000 feet, Dani sat buckled in, already halfway through her flight to Oiscoll. The moment she heard his voice, her eyes darted to the caller ID. It wasn’t his number. It belonged to her secretary. Putting two and two together, she figured he must have shown up at Elite Lux headquarters.


    Her voice dropped, thick with displeasure. “What do you want?”


    Alexander approached the window, his eyes tracking the helicopter. “You flew to Oiscoll today, didn’t you? I need to get there too. Any chance you coulde back and give me a lift?”


    Herugh was short and sharp. “Alexander, you’re serious?”


    By now, her helicopter was cruising steadily. Turning around wasn’t even an option. Even if they were still grounded, she wouldn’t have done it. They weren’t on those kinds of terms—and hadn’t been for a long time.


    “I’m not messing with you. It’s my family. Someone’s dying. I need to get there before it’s toote. I know I wasn’t good to you before. I know I hurt you, but this is different. Please. Just this once.”


    Dani didn’t bother taking him off speaker.


    In the helicopter, Ryan, Lillian, and the pilot exchanged looks as Alexander’s voice echoed through the cabin, pleading. The pilot, now aware of themotion, subtly reduced their speed. He wasn’t sure they’d turn around, but he wasn’t ruling it out yet.


    Watching the helicopter slow down ever so slightly, Alexander felt a flicker of hope spark inside him. Still, he kept his voice even, almost mournful. “Dani, I know we ended badly. But that’s history now, isn’t it? I really need help. You’re already on your way. It wouldn’t be hard to swing back. I won’t ask you for anything ever again after this. Just this one thing, please.”


    Off to the side, the photographer stood frozen, clearly stunned by the exchange. All eyes were on Dani, the people around her wondering if she might finally give in.


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    “Someone in your family’s dying? In Oiscoll, of all ces? How convenient.”


    A moment passed before Alexander answered simply, “Yeah.”


    On the other end, Dani let out a shortugh. “So it just so happens that I’m flying to Oiscoll today, and you track me down right as the photographer takes off? Now you want a favor?”


    Tension red in his grip as Alexander squeezed the phone harder. By now, everyone nearby had picked up on her tone. She wasn’t buying a word of it.


    Without warning, the helicopter’s engines roared louder as the pilot nudged it back to full speed. Dani’s voice came back, cool and final. “If fate’s working so hard to line things up for you, I’m sure you’ll find another flight that fits your grand emergency. I’m not turning around.”


    Dani’s words hit Alexander like a p. Before he could form a reply, the line went dead.


    Security at Elite Lux arrived momentster, ushering both Alexander and the photographer out without a fuss.


    On the steps outside, the photographer let out an irritated groan. “You’ve got some serious nerve, man. That whole act—impressive.”


    Still facing the Elite Lux building, Alexander stared up at the steel-and-ss monolith, something sharp gleaming in his eyes. Not bothering to look back, he gave his next order calmly. “Dani’s stuck on that flight for the next twenty-four hours. Edit photos of me and Dani and send them to Hamilton. You’ve got one hour.”


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