My dad, who worked in a top-secret unit, had called to tell me to return home for a blind date.

According to him, the other party possessed excellent qualities, not only handsome but also a well-known entrepreneur in the region.

Before I departed, my superior had personally instructed the airline to keep my identity strictly confidential.

I boarded the plane at the scheduled time, found my seat, and was just about to sit down when someone abruptly shoved me from behind.

Before I could react, the person arrogantly pulled out a thick wad of cash. “This seat is mine now. Take the money and scram.”

I clenched my jaw and suppressed the anger boiling up in my chest. “This is the seat I reserved in advance. What right do you have to kick me out?”

Faced with my question, the other party only sneered in contempt.

“Right?”

“Because I’m President Dawson’s personal secretary. In Georgia, even the birds in the sky answer to the Dawson family. Understand?”

I stood there stunned for a moment, then slowly pulled out my phone and dialed my fiancé’s number.

“I heard from someone in your company that your family can cover the sky with one hand in Georgia. Is that true?”

——

If it hadn’t been for my dad’s sake, I wouldn’t have bothered to make this call at all.

Taking my assigned seat wasn’t something that could be resolved with money alone.

If the other party had at least shown a shred of remorse, I might have let it slide.

“I’m busy. Say what you have to say quickly.”

On the phone, my so-called blind date sounded really impatient.

“Mr. Dawson, I think you should ask your personal secretary what exactly she’s trying to pull.”

I was just about to hand the phone over when the call cut off abruptly.

I stood frozen, staring at the screen.

Were all rich people this temperamental?

Seeing my expression, the woman who had stolen my seat burst out laughing.

“Oh wow, I thought you were someone important. Turns out President Dawson couldn’t even be bothered to take your call.”

Glancing at me, dressed plainly and looking no more than twenty-something, she didn’t take me seriously at all.

“Ma’am, are you being reasonable?”

“You clearly stole my seat, and I haven’t even started holding you accountable. And now you’re mocking me instead?”

As I spoke, I pointed calmly toward the nearby flight attendant.

“There are also police officers on this plane. If you keep causing trouble, believe it or not, I’ll call them right now.”

The moment she heard I was threatening to call the police, her arrogance only grew.

“You little bitch, save your breath.”

“Even this airline belongs to the Dawson family. You think anyone here will dare help you?”

The more she rambled, the more aggressive she became until she actually spat in my face in her excitement.

I clenched my fists and instinctively took a step back.

“You keep boasting about the Dawson family. Why don’t you go ahead and tell me exactly what your relationship with them is?”

Just as I finished, she suddenly shoved me hard.

“What the hell does my relationship with the Dawson family have to do with you? Move aside!”

“If you don’t get out of my way, believe it or not, I’ll make sure you can’t even get off this plane!”

I had been stationed at my unit for years with barely any contact with the outside world, so I had no idea how to handle such a shrew.

Seeing how arrogantly she behaved, my anger flared.

“So it’s not enough that you stole my seat, now you’re threatening me too? What, do you think you’re royalty?”

The moment I spoke, the passengers around us let out startled gasps.

“Damn, this girl’s got some guts, daring to curse at Secretary Madelaine. She’s basically asking for trouble.”

“It’s just a seat. She’s not losing a limb. If she keeps provoking the wrong person, she’ll be the one paying the price.”

“She’s really unlucky. Of all the people to run into, she had to cross Madelaine. That woman is President Dawson’s right hand!”

As the murmurs around us grew louder, Madelaine looked even more smug.

“You little bitch, how dare you insult me? You’ve got a death wish!”

I wasn’t the least bit shaken by her threats. If anything, I found them almost amusing.

“Secretary Madelaine, is it? I’d suggest you watch your mouth.”

“If you really push me too far, not even your boss will be able to clean up the mess.”

“Watch your damn mouth, my ass!”

After cursing me a few more times, she still didn’t feel satisfied. She rolled up her sleeves and lunged for me again.

“What now? Secretary Madelaine, is this how you solve problems by throwing punches?”

She swung her hand at me again and again, but didn’t even brush the hem of my clothes. Each time she missed, her rage only deepened.

“You little bitch, I dare you to dodge one more time!”

“Believe it or not, I’ll call President Dawson right now!”

Even as she hurled threats and tried to provoke me, I didn’t fight back. I simply endured it all.

It wasn’t that I feared her. Before I left the unit, my superior had warned me repeatedly.

“Every word and action of yours represents the image of the unit. Once you step out there, you must never, under any circumstances, get into conflicts.”

Besides, I didn’t even know how to fight.

Either I wouldn’t lift a hand at all, or I’d strike to kill.

Seeing me stand silent, Madelaine assumed I was afraid. She raised her hand again and lunged for me.

But just then, an angry shout cut through the air behind her.

“Stop!”

“Madelaine, you’re my personal secretary, for heaven’s sake. How dare you start hitting people in public?”

A tall, broad-shouldered young man strode forward, flanked by a group of bodyguards.

“You must be Dylan Dawson?”

I studied the man in front of me carefully. I had to admit, my dad had a decent eye.

Tailored designer suit, sharp features, every inch the image of authority.

If I had to pick a flaw, it would be the chill in his eyes when he looked at me.

“Mr. Dawson, nice to meet you. Allow me to introduce myself.”

“My surname is Laurel. My given name is Lilah. I come from Flor—”

“No need.”

Before I could finish, Dylan lifted a hand impatiently, cutting me off.

“We’ve met. I don’t think we’re a good match. You can get off the plane.”

For a moment, I wondered if I’d misheard him.

I had gone through multiple levels of approval at my unit just to secure this rare half-day off.

And now, we had barely exchanged a few words before I could even finish introducing myself, and he wanted me to leave.

Was he seriously treating me like some kind of fool?

That thought alone made my temper flare.

“You must be Dylan, the blind date my dad arranged for me, right?”

“You don’t even let me finish speaking before telling me to leave? Isn’t that a bit lacking in the most basic courtesy?”

After hearing me out, Dylan let out a low sneer.

“Manners?”

“Why don’t you go find a mirror and take a good look at yourself? Did you really think you were worthy of me?”

As he spoke, his gaze swept over me with thinly veiled contempt.

“No idea what my father was thinking, trying to marry me off to a decorative vase like you.”

That single remark sent the crowd into an uproar.

“What? Is she actually President Dawson’s fiancée? That’s wild!”

“A clueless country bumpkin like her thinking she can marry into a wealthy family? She should look in the mirror first.”

“President Dawson is the dream man every woman in Georgia wants. I, Lori, am the first to oppose this marriage!”

As the chatter grew louder, I stood there, stunned.

When had I ever said I wanted to marry him?

Let’s take ten thousand steps back. Even if I truly wanted to get married, it would still have needed approval from my superiors.

“Alright, alright, I’m a vase, and you’re the young master. Happy now?”

“Since President Dawson isn’t interested in me, I’ll just head back. However…”

My tone shifted suddenly.

“My superior reserved this first-class seat through the airline. Not just anyone can sit here.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than Madelaine jumped in.

“You little bitch, still putting on an act in front of President Dawson, huh?”

“The entire plane belongs to the Dawson family. Who are you to say who can or can’t sit where?”

Watching this unfold, I finally understood what the word “bootlicker” truly meant.

“Secretary Madelaine, I only want to sit in the seat assigned to me. What does it matter to me who owns the plane?”

As soon as I spoke, Dylan’s expression darkened. He pulled out his phone without hesitation.

“It’s just a first-class ticket. I’ll pay ten times the price.”

“I’ll give you a hundred thousand, get lost, and don’t let me see you again.”

I curled my lips into a faint smile and looked straight at him.

“Since President Dawson is being so generous, I suppose I’ll just have to accept reluctantly.”

Just as I turned around, Madelaine suddenly barked at me.

“You little bitch, stop right there!”

I paused, then slowly turned back to face her.

“What? Don’t tell me Secretary Madelaine has changed her mind?”

She flashed a sinister smile and leaned close to Dylan, whispering something into his ear.

The next second, the man hailed as Georgia’s youngest tycoon erupted in fury.

“Lilah Laurel, how dare you lay a hand on my people?”

Judging by Madelaine’s expression, it was clear she must have poured every nasty accusation she could think of into his ear.

I had to admit that her way of using someone else’s hand to strike was almost flawless.

Given the impression Dylan already had of me, I knew no explanation would change anything, so I didn’t waste my breath.

“Whether I laid a hand on her or not doesn’t matter anymore. The real question is, what exactly do you plan to do about it?”

Dylan seemed surprised by how calmly I responded, a flicker of astonishment crossing his eyes.

“What else? Of course, you need to apologize!”

I raised an eyebrow, the corners of my lips curling into a faint smile.

“An apology’s out of the question. You’d better think of another solution.”

“One million!”

Before he could say anything, Madelaine stepped forward with a gleeful look.

“As President Dawson’s personal secretary, I handle multimillion-dollar contracts every day.”

“Because you shoved me just now, I’m now feeling physically unwell. You have to take responsibility!”

After hearing her words, the bystanders around us drew in sharp breaths.

Even Dylan looked a little taken aback.

“Secretary Madelaine, isn’t one million a bit excessive?”

“Even a full-body checkup wouldn’t cost that much, would it?”

Madelaine immediately waved it off with a dismissive flick of her hand.

“No, no, President Dawson, you’re thinking too simply.”

“As your secretary, being attacked on your plane doesn’t just embarrass me. It humiliates you.”

“Only asking for one million is already us showing mercy to her.”

Dylan paused, weighing it over for a moment, then gave a small nod.

“Fine. One million it is. I’ll pay.”

I didn’t give them a chance to rethink it and accepted without hesitation.

The instant I spoke, every gaze on the plane locked onto me.

Some believed I was just putting on airs, pretending to be wealthy to save face.

Some were convinced I was a hidden powerhouse quietly observing the scene.

And the rest were simply here for the spectacle.