Chapter 66: Caught on the Spot

"You..." Evelyn started to say something, but Emily cut her off.

"Alright, Evelyn, I gotta go. Boarding now! We'll talk later!" Emily quickly hung up and made her way to the boarding gate.

On the plane, Emily couldn't shake off her anxiety.

Her trip to Silverlight City was supposedly for James, but deep down, she knew she was there to stop him from harming Samuel.

She didn't buy that James was heading to Silverlight City just for work. Knowing him, there had to be more to it.

Thinking about it made Emily's chest tighten, and she struggled to breathe.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Now wasn't the time for her mind to run wild; she needed to stay focused to handle what was coming.

Two hours later, the plane touched down at Silverlight City Airport.

As Emily walked out, she spotted Samuel at the arrival gate, holding a bouquet of flowers.

'Why is he here?' she wondered.

Samuel looked as cheerful and handsome as ever, his smile warm.

When he saw Emily, his face lit up with a big smile. He walked over and handed her the flowers, speaking softly, "Emily, long time no see."

Emily felt a bit flustered. "Samuel, how did you know I was coming?"

"Evelyn told me. She said it wasn't safe for you to come to Silverlight City alone for the exhibition. She asked me to look after you," Samuel explained.

Samuel was as polite and courteous as always, but Emily couldn't help feeling a bit helpless. Evelyn had spilled the beans!

"Samuel, you're too kind. Thanks for coming all the way to pick me up," Emily said, trying to sound casual as she took the flowers.

Samuel smiled and grabbed her suitcase. "No need to be so formal with me. Come on, I've got a hotel set up for you. Let's get you there to rest."

On the way, Samuel enthusiastically talked about the local customs of Silverlight City and the big Artificial Intelligence Technology Expo.

Emily listened while subtly trying to get info about James.

"Samuel, do you know if anyone from the Smith Group is attending the expo?" she asked casually.

"Of course, the Smith Group is a big player in our industry. They sent a team, and James is leading it," Samuel paused, then added, "Actually, James seems really interested in our AI project. He even contacted me yesterday to set up a meeting for tomorrow."

Emily's heart sank, a sense of dread creeping in.

Why did James suddenly show interest in Samuel's project now? That couldn't be a coincidence.

"Really? That's awesome!" Emily forced a smile, trying to hide her unease. "Samuel, you should totally take advantage of this!"

"Don't worry, Emily, I'll give it my best shot," Samuel said confidently.

Meanwhile, in a luxury suite of a five-star hotel in Silverlight City, James sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the bustling city below.

"Robert, have you tracked down Emily?" James's voice was low and icy, like he was barely holding back his anger.

"Yes, Ms. Johnson is in Silverlight City, and she's with Samuel," Robert replied hesitantly. He knew how James felt about Emily and the complicated history between her and Samuel.

"Samuel..." James's fingers drummed lightly on the table, the sound making Robert even more uneasy.

James had expected Emily to come to Silverlight City, but he hadn't anticipated her being with Samuel right away.

"What are they up to?" James's voice was flat, devoid of any emotion, which only made Robert more nervous.

"They went to the tech expo together. Samuel showed her his project," Robert reported.

James let out a cold laugh, his eyes glinting with frost. "Looks like they're getting along just fine!"

"Mr. Smith, don't get the wrong idea. Ms. Johnson might just be..." Robert started to say.

"Enough!" James cut him off impatiently. "I don't need your explanations. You can go now."

Robert opened his mouth to say more but thought better of it. He quietly left the room.

James stared out at the endless stream of cars below, his eyes deep and unreadable.

He had thought he could handle it, but knowing Emily was with Samuel made his heart ache.

"Emily, what do you take me for?" James murmured to himself, bitterness seeping into his voice.

As night fell and the city lights flickered on, Samuel invited Emily to dinner at a rooftop restaurant in Silverlight City, offering a panoramic view of the city's nightscape.

"This place has an amazing view. I've always wanted to bring you here," Samuel said gently as he poured wine for Emily.

"Thanks, Samuel. The view is really beautiful," Emily said, raising her glass and taking a small sip, trying to mask her inner turmoil.

The dinner was relaxed and pleasant, with Emily and Samuel reminiscing about old times, almost like they were back in their carefree days.

"Hey, Emily, remember that time in the library when..." Samuel started to say, but was interrupted by a commotion at the restaurant entrance.

Emily glanced up to see James wheeling in, flanked by bodyguards, his face as cold as ice.

His sharp gaze scanned the room, finally landing on Emily and Samuel.

"Emily, what are you doing here?" James's voice was icy.

Emily's heart sank, a chill running up her spine.

James's sudden appearance created a tense atmosphere.

Samuel's relaxed smile froze for a moment but quickly returned. He raised his glass, trying to break the suffocating silence. "Mr. Smith, what a coincidence. You're dining here too? Why not join us?"

James ignored Samuel's invitation, his sharp gaze locking onto Emily, his tone cold. "Answer me, Emily."