Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 269

She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Townsend stared at her, at a loss for words. “You do realize this is the arrivals gate, right?”

Garrison stepped forward and took a few of the mystery boxes from Townsend’s overloaded arms.

Townsend, out of habit, tried to hand some to Ruby, but Garrison shot him a cold look that stopped him dead in his tracks. He could only obediently keep clutching them himself.

The exchange between the three didn’t go unnoticed by Gennifer and Renee, whose eyes met across the crowded terminal.

Townsend actually knows Ruby?

Renee felt as though her world had just been turned upside down.

She’d tried everything to strike up a conversation with the big shot in first class, but he’d barely spared her a glance—yet here he was, treating Ruby with such warmth and familiarity!

Anyone would feel slighted by that kind of double standard.

Gennifer’s hands clenched tightly at her sides.

How could Ruby possibly know these people? And since when had she gotten so close to all these industry elites?

No, that can’t be right.

Ruby was always the bookish type with her nose buried in legal codes and case files, and after spending a year behind bars, there’s no way she could have built such a formidable network on her own. Someone must have helped her!

Gennifer’s gaze drifted to Garrison.

He was older, but there was nothing tired or worn about him—on the contrary, he was composed, striking, and exuded a quiet authority that put people at ease.

Garrison was the COO of The Vertex Quarter at C Collective, and Townsend was their star designer. It made perfect sense that they’d know each other.

Gennifer tried to comfort herself with this explanation.

Even though Ruby had already clarified that she was Selina, Gennifer stubbornly refused to acknowledge it. And who was Selina? C Collective’s next big thing in design. Of course she’d know Townsend.

Once things finally settled down, Ruby and her group tried to make their exit, but they were blocked by someone determined not to let things go.

Gennifer bit her lip, eyes brimming with unshed tears, looking as though she might break down at any moment.

Ruby was startled by the melodramatic act and felt a sense of foreboding.

“Sis, you’re still married to Cassian. How can you shamelessly meet with strange men all by yourself?”

Gennifer’s voice was sharp, laced with indignation, as if she were personally wounded by Ruby’s behavior.

Her words carried across the terminal, drawing the attention of the bystanders waiting for loved ones.

Ruby arched an eyebrow. Predictable—here comes the drama.

“Don’t tell me big sis got caught cheating by her oh-so-righteous little sister?”

“Hey bro, since when did you moonlight as one of those handsome companions?” Townsend teased Garrison in a low whisper.

Garrison kept his easy smile, but Townsend instantly shivered.

Then Garrison’s voice drifted over, low and chilly: “I heard there’s a new mine opening in Africa. Didn’t you say you love designing jewelry?”

Townsend’s face fell. Garrison always knew how to keep him in line.

No way—please don’t send me to Africa to dig for gems!

“Sharp tongue, that one!”

Renee, seeing Gennifer’s face go pale with rage, immediately stepped in front of her, ready to fire back, but Gennifer tugged at her sleeve.

Renee turned, annoyed. “Gennifer, you’re just too kind—”

Her words caught in her throat, a chill running down her spine as the temperature seemed to drop around them.

Renee shrank back, as a tall figure in a black suit loomed like a gathering storm.

With the sound of expensive leather shoes hitting the floor, a deep voice rumbled through the tense air.

“Ten handsome companions, you say?”