With Arnold having dispatched all men to keep a watchful eye on the sea, the defense was rather lax. Coupled with it being the shift change, there was only one bodyguard at the far end, dozing off.
Josie moved stealthily, her nerves stretched taut. As she neared her target, the bodyguard seemed to sense something amiss. Just as he was about to turn around, Josie, wielding a stun baton, shocked him into unconsciousness. He wore a look of disbelief on his face before he collapsed.
âMy apologies,â Josie said softly. Then, with all her strength, she dragged him into the restroom, stripped off his jacket, and put it on herself.
The walkie-talkie crackled to life. âBellamy, could you get Edmund for me? I canât seem to reach him. Ms. Yowell wants some lychees. Ask him to fetch some over.â
Josie paused in changing her clothes. She then picked up the walkie-talkie, an idea suddenly forming in her mind.
She deepened her voice. âJust a moment.â
The lychees were in cold storage, so finding them wasnât difficult. With her face covered, Josie cautiously made her way there. Relying on his memory, she then went to Josephineâs room.
When she was talking with Arnold earlier, there was a loud crash, and there happened to be a wooden plank on the ground at the end of the hallway. She deduced that it must have been Dexterâs doing. She continued forward and saw a few bodyguards stationed outside a room.
âStop right there! What are you doing here?â
Josie didnât dare lift her head, merely holding the lychees out. The other person understood immediately. âYouâre not Edmund.â
Josie feigned a guttural voice. âEdmund has been held up by other matters and sent me in his stead.â
âHow troublesome. Go on in.â The man opened the door and pushed Josie into the room.
Stumbling a few steps, she entered Josephineâs boudoir. The wind howled outside, but it was a picture of gentle tranquility inside. A woman lay by the window with her long legs absurdly sprawled, gazing out at the sea.
Josephine was on the phone with her father.
âDad, nothing will happen to me with Robyn here. Donât worry. Iâll be careful. Youâre losing sleep over such a trivial matter? Iâll be back tomorrow. Yes⦠Heâs very good to me. Dad, I really like him. If you want me to have a marriage alliance, you might as well let me marry him.â
The person on the other end said something or other, and the call ended.
Only then did Josephine notice Josie. Nonetheless, her attention was on the lychees in the latterâs hand. âCome over here.â
Josie lowered her head and walked over.
âPeel the skin off.â
Words eluded Josie. Sure enough, sheâs a spoiled daughter of an elite family! She took a lychee, peeled it, and brought it to Josephineâs mouth. The latter parted her lips and bit on it, her smile nothing short of innocent.
âMy apologies. If it werenât for the rule against bringing servants, I wouldnât have had to trouble you all.â
Unexpectedly, she has impeccable manners though.
Josie cleared her throat quietly, putting on a deep voice. âItâs our job.â
Josephine glanced at her. âI havenât seen you around Robyn before. Where are you from?â
âI guard the cold stage and am hardly qualified to be around Mr. Mills.â
âDonât belittle yourself. As long as you have the ability, youâll certainly be valued by Robyn.â
Well, sheâs also quite adept at comforting others.
Josie meticulously peeled the lychees one by one, and Josephine ate them tirelessly. Gazing at the sea, she continued, âHave you ever seen Robyn? What kind of person do you think he is?â
Josieâs heart jolted. âIâve had the fortune of seeing him a few times. Mr. Mills⦠Mr. Mills⦠is a man of great capability and ambition.â
She practically spoke through gritted teeth.
Josephine couldnât help but laugh. âIndeed, he is.â
She was about the same age as Josie, yet her innocent enthusiasm remained. Somehow, Josie found herself saying more than intended. âBut for someone like you, Ms. Yowell, Mr. Mills may not be the best choice.â