Chapter 2The Seat War

I immediately went to the baggage claim office.

A staff member typed on his computer for what felt like an eternity before looking up with an apologetic expression.

"Ma'am, the system shows that your luggage was not on this flight."

Panic flared in my chest. "That's impossible! I watched the agent check it in at the counter myself!"

"I still have the claim tag right here!" I handed him my ticket and the tag.

He double-checked, his brow furrowing. "That's strange. There's no record of this bag being scanned into the system."

"It's as if… it never even made it onto the plane."

My mind reeled. I remembered Mr. Place's parting words: But you just wait.

Could he...?

"I need to see the security footage," I demanded, my voice sharp. "I want to see all the surveillance video from the check-in counter and the baggage sorting area for my flight!"

The staffer looked uncomfortable. "Ma'am, we don't have the authority to access the footage from the sorting area."

"We can file a request for the check-in counter footage, but it will take time."

"How much time?"

"If you're lucky, a day or two. If not… maybe three to five days."

I was shaking with rage. My suitcase didn't just contain clothes; it held all the crucial documents and samples for my business meeting.

If it was lost, the damages would be catastrophic.

Just as I was about to lose it, the last person I wanted to see appeared in the distance.

It was Mr. Place and the woman, whose name I now knew was Vivian. They weren't just passing by; Vivian's gaze lingered on me for a moment before her face arranged itself into a mask of innocence.

"Joanna, darling, what a coincidence! Did you just land too?" she cooed, her fake smile suggesting the unpleasantness on the plane had never happened.

I gave her the silent treatment.

She didn't seem to mind. Her eyes fell to my empty hands, and she covered her mouth in mock surprise. "Oh my, Joanna, where's your luggage?"

"Don't tell me it's lost! That's just awful. It's so inconvenient to be without your things when you're traveling."

Her little act fueled my fury. "Did you and Place have something to do with this?"

Vivian's eyes flickered. "Darling, whatever are you talking about? I don't understand."

"Mr. Place is a very busy man. He doesn't have time to worry about a little squabble on an airplane." She paused, her tone shifting to one of casual bragging. "Marcus is here to close a nine-figure deal with a titan of the industry."

"He has no time to waste on petty matters."

I stared daggers at her. "It had better be that way."

Vivian smiled, then leaned in close, her voice a conspiratorial whisper only I could hear.

"A little friendly advice, Joanna. Don't waste your energy."

"If Marcus doesn't want you to find something, you'll never find it."

She straightened up. "Sometimes, a person just has to learn what's good for them. Otherwise, you might lose more than just your luggage."

With a wink, she sashayed back to Mr. Place's side. He wrapped an arm around her waist, shot me a look of pure contempt and mockery, and they swept away.

I stood frozen, ice spreading through my veins. Anger, humiliation, and helplessness washed over me in a suffocating wave.

I pulled out my phone, my hands trembling as I dialed the airline's customer service number.

Come hell or high water, I was going to get answers.