Chapter 6

Julian paled, the arrogance completely draining from him. "I’ve suspected a mole... but we have no proof."

"It's John," Joanna said, the name striking him like a physical blow. "Your cousin. He hates you, Julian. He wants you ruined, and eventually, he’s going to try to kill you. Liquidate your assets now. Pull your money out. Don’t fight for the company."

"Even if it’s John, I can save it," Julian argued, his voice tense, though his eyes pleaded with her for answers. He was completely hooked, trusting this strange, captivating woman who held many secrets. "I have plans. I can make a comeback in two years."

"Your company cannot be saved," Joanna interrupted, her tone firm but strangely tender. "But you can be. Take your billions and convert them into food, medicine, and a ton of firearms, and solar-powered freezers. Build stashes heading west toward Evercrest. Do it in the next six months."

"Why six months?" Julian asked. He reached out, his hand hovering over hers, his eyes burning into hers with a sudden, desperate intensity.

Looking into the depths of his dark eyes, Joanna’s mind went completely blank for a second. He is so incredibly gorgeous. The raw, masculine heat radiating off him made the tips of her ears turn bright pink. She mentally backed up from those thoughts and got it together. She swallowed hard, forced to look away to catch her breath.

"Because... because money won't be worth anything in six months," she managed to say, her voice slightly breathless. "Oh, and buy emeralds. The rarer, the better. Put them in the stashes."

Julian raised his eyebrows, a faint, intrigued smirk tugging at his lips despite the gravity of her words. "Why emeralds?"

"I’ll tell you when I see you next," she teased, flashing him a knowing smile.

She could sense the plane decreasing altitude getting ready to land. “Here is another prediction. When we land, they are going to have us move to another gate to disembark the plane.” 

Right on cue, the plane tilted as it descended, tires screeching onto the tarmac. As they rolled toward the terminal, the captain's voice came over the intercom: “Folks, we have an electrical shortage at our scheduled gate, we’ll be redirecting to a different location to deplane.”

Julian went utterly rigid. He turned to Joanna, his eyes wide, staring at her as if she were a goddess dropped from the sky.

Joanna grabbed a napkin from her tray, pulled a pen from her bag, and scribbled down a set of numbers. She pressed the napkin firmly into his palm, her fingers lingering against his skin, feeling the heavy beat of his pulse.

"These are coordinates," Joanna murmured, her voice dripping with promise. "I will be there in December. Buy a property there, stockpile it, and hide your emeralds there. Secrecy is the difference between life and death. If you do this, your future will be a million times easier... once you find me."

She wanted him. Not just for his rare lightning ability, but because the raw, untapped chemistry between them was a weapon in itself. If he is on her side, her level of protection would climb that much higher. He was a powerhouse, and she was going to be the one to unleash him. His leadership and strength helped him stand out from her dream even though she only met him once. The fact that he somehow ended up sitting close to her on this flight must be some hidden thread to her journey. His life intertwined with hers earlier than expected. 

They stood up, moving down the aisle together. At the exit of the jet bridge, Julian caught her by the forearm, his grip firm but careful.

"Can I call you if I have questions?" he asked, his eyes searching hers, a sudden protective warmth in his gaze.

Joanna smiled up at him, stepping out of his grip but leaving her scent lingering in his air. "You won't have time, trust me."

She turned and began walking away, her hips swaying slightly. After a few steps, she paused, looking back over her shoulder with a devastating smirk. "Here’s a hint, Julian: Your future is going to be electric. Do what I said, and come find me."

Julian stood frozen in the crowded terminal, staring after her as she disappeared into the crowd, the napkin clutched tightly in his fist.

The bank visit went off without a hitch, playing out exactly as it had in her memories. She already had buyers lined up for her shares through a corporate lawyer she had specifically hired for this extraction.