The Billionaire's True Heiress From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 823

"But seriously, who was that guy?"

"Do you know him?" Tabitha asked, her curiosity piqued. She had never seen him before and figured he couldn't be a local from Apex.

"He's the CEO of Vertex International. They're the ones taking over the Westside Heights Project from my family and the James family."

Tabitha had definitely heard of Vertex International. Her father had ranted about them endlessly at home, mentioning that if Vertex hadn't bailed out the Westside project, it would have been a catastrophic disaster. Both the James and Byron families would have gone completely bankrupt.

The only reason the Byron family was still afloat was undeniably due to Vertex's intervention.

"So you actually know him?" she pressed. Wouldn't that be painfully awkward? If Claire was now dating their corporate savior, didn't that just prove York was an idiot for letting her go? Tabitha found the irony amusing; honestly, choosing her over Claire wasn't his brightest move.

"I don't know him," York replied flatly, refusing to claim any sort of connection. They had crossed paths briefly in boardrooms, and he was painfully aware that Dane likely didn't even remember his name.

Once settled inside the luxurious car, Claire let out a soft sneeze.

Dane immediately adjusted the climate control, turning down the chill of the air conditioning.

Her luggage had been packed and loaded into the trunk ahead of time. He drove them straight to the airport, arriving with just enough time to spare before boarding.

Rather than taking the private jet this time, they opted for first-class commercial tickets, enjoying the privacy of the spacious suite layout.

Having a man of Dane's striking looks and commanding aura in the cabin was enough to make even the most seasoned flight attendants flutter. Despite Claire sitting right next to him, his presence was a magnet for uninvited attention.

"Sir, can I get you something to drink?" a gorgeous flight attendant asked as she glided over, her voice dripping with practiced sweetness.

She cast a discreet but calculating gaze over his tailored clothes, her eyes gleaming the moment she recognized the million-dollar watch on his wrist. This man was old money. If she played her cards right, she would be set for life.

Dane didn't even bother looking up. It was a pathetic, transparent tactic, and he had absolutely zero tolerance for such cheap games.

Stung by his silence, she hesitated. As she opened her mouth to try again, Dane's expression hardened into ice. "Leave."

Knowing she had overstepped, the attendant had no choice but to retreat. She found excuses to patrol the first-class cabin two or three more times during the flight, but he completely ignored her existence. By the time they landed, she hadn't managed to say another word to him.

He gently woke Claire as they prepared to disembark. She rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep as he guided her off the plane.

Watching them walk away, another flight attendant teased, "What's wrong? Couldn't get his number?"

"He's ice cold. He was too busy doting on his sister to give anyone else the time of day." Despite her frustration, she knew men of his caliber weren't easy targets. If he were just some reckless playboy, he wouldn't possess such a commanding, untouchable aura.