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“Have you booked a flight yet?” I shake my head uneasily. “Well I have one already booked for later tonight to go to Miami. We can drop you off on our way if you like?”

“What? Wait, who’s we? Drop me off on the way? What?” I rambled as quickly as the questions ran through my mind.

“I have already booked a flight for me and the architect to go back to the states and review some existing facilities. You can fly with us and when we get to Miami, you can drive over to the Keys. We will of course have to part ways since we will want to get on with our own plans.” She said easing a little closer to eye me carefully.

She sounds too happy for me to be comfortable. However, the plan sounds reasonable and the flight wouldn’t be long, so whatever she has in mind can’t be too bad
and
having something booked already does save me the trouble.
“We will part ways at Miami, correct?”

“Of course Sean, I think you deserve some time to yourself but now we can share a little time on the way. I barely get to see you. You are all over the world these days and if I had not come down here, I would not get to see you at all. I mean really Sean, must they shoot in Honduras? Could they not make a set so you could stay home and work? I need to make sure you are still eating and taking care of yourself. I worry so much about you traveling all the time, not to mention those distasteful women you are always managing to find and ....”

“Mother! Fine, okay, whatever you need or want I am happy to help you.” I surrender.

“Wonderful! I will finalize plans and let you know the details later.” She kisses my brother and me on the cheek before walking out triumphantly.

“You do realize she got what she wanted to begin with right?” Ethan asked.

“What? No she wanted me to have dinner with her and that architect person.”

“Right, she wanted you to meet the architect and you are but instead of dinner you are going to be stuck on a plane with I am assuming …
her
,” he said with a sheepish grin.

“Uh no … fuck,” I sighed in defeat. “She is something else.”

“Relentless,” he said.

“So have you met this architect?”

“No, but since Mom flew this person down a few days ago she has been preoccupied until today. She is usually driving me crazy while you’re on set.”

“Huh, maybe we should hire this person full time?” I said with a wink.

“I will happily split that cost with you little brother.”

“Plus all the food you have been eating out of my fridge?” I asked.

“No, that’s part of my contract with you. You pay me to manage your life and I get to try all of your food to make sure it’s right for your career,” Ethan says grabbing an apple on his way out the door. “Have fun Sean, call me when you get back. I think I am going to take some time with Abbey. If Mom is busy following you around, then I should probably take advantage. Oh and I hope she’s hot.”

“Who?” I asked.

“Your future wife you are flying away with tonight.” I quickly throw another apple at the laughing fool.

“Too bad I missed. Asshole!” I yelled after him.

I
was so anxious to get away, I had the driver come early to take me to the airport. Luckily when I arrived there were no signs of my mother anywhere or anyone else that may be flying with us. I boarded the plane analyzing the best seat to keep my distance from any possible conversations and sat in the middle, assuming my mother will make me move anyway. Although, I am in no mood for being setup with some girl, I do not have the time for, or the want to deal with. My mother is a sucker for these sad women trying to get to me. This girl isn’t the first and I’m not sure how she pulled it off but I am going to have a private conversation with her as soon as I get the chance. She needs to understand that no matter how close she gets to my mother it won’t get her any closer to me.
She’s probably not even an architect.
I take a quick glance out the window before putting on my headphones and letting myself drift into a deep dream filled sleep. That blissful presence has become more and more present in my dreams these days, only now I can even smell her sweet scent.

“Ummm, excuse me. Um Sean, I mean Mr. Grant. HEY!” I sit straight up pissed off and jerking my headphones off before eyeing the interruption. A redhead, has to be the architect.
A redhead? Really
,
mother? I have never dated a redhead in my life. Well except for Rachel who was a lot of fun but I quickly found out she
wasn’t
a natural redhead.
“Do you talk or are you just going to stare at me?”

She is already annoying me, “what do you want?”

“I am truly sorry to bother you …” She spelled out slowly. “But I was wondering where your Mother is?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well we have taken off and she isn’t on the plane.”

“What?” I asked standing up to verify. “What do you mean she isn’t on here?” I said checking the seats in front of us and behind us. “She couldn’t have? Unbelievable!” I yelled hitting the call button for the pilot.

“Yes, sir?”

“I believe we have left one of the scheduled passengers behind,” I said knowing the intention is probably correct.

“If you are referring to Mrs. Grant, she called and said that she was unavoidably detained and to take off without her. She said she would find another flight at a later time.”

Rubbing my hands over my face, I let out an exasperated chuckle.
How in the world did I let her get me into this?
“Did she say when she was taking another flight or where she would meet us in Miami?” I asked hopeful still.

“No sir,” he cleared his throat before his muffled chuckled left his mouth.
He must have a meddling mother too.

“Thank you,” I said gritting my teeth and agonizing until I realize she is staring at me and waiting for an answer. “I’m sorry but my mother isn’t coming … on this flight anyway. Do you know where you two were supposed to go in Miami?”

“Miami?” She asked looking puzzled.

“Yes Miami, what were your plans when you got there?”
She’
s not
too bright.
“You were going to tour some Centers and meet with some people to get some ideas.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about, I thought I was going back home to introduce her to the rest of my team.”

“You live in Miami right?”

“No … Atlanta,” she said looking at me even more confused.

“Then why the hell are you going to Miami?”

“I have no idea! I didn’t make the flight plans. I was told to get on this flight so I could get back home.” She yelled back at me.

“Ahhh damn. Well it looks like my mother made plans that neither of us knew anything about but no big deal when we get to Miami I will make sure you get to Atlanta from there.”

“Why would she make plans without telling us?”

She probably deserves and explanation but there is no easy explanation for this. “It’s what she does. I can’t explain it.”

“Well since we are in this together then, my name is Ava. Ava Kelley,” she said reaching her hand out across the aisle to me. Now I am beginning to wonder how much
Miss, so called Innocent,
didn’t know about this plan.

I eye her hand suspiciously, “I don’t mean to be rude, but I got on this flight to get away from people. I am sure you are a real nice person and I am sure my mother got your hopes up that we might hit it off or some shit but I am not interested. Maybe I will take a picture with you once we get to Miami but I would really like to zone out over here and without a lot of conversation. Do you think you can do that for me sweetheart?” I said sinking back into my seat and drifting my gaze back to the seat in front of me until I realize she never replied. With a slight tilt of my head, I gaze back at her to see if she has passed out over her disappointment but instead she is eyeing me with an evil vengeance. “Are you okay? You’re not mental are you?”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” She yelled but as soon as I open my mouth to tell her, she stops me. “Yes, I know who you are but I really don’t give a shit who you think you are because no one can possibly be that wonderful. I was trying to be nice but I certainly do not care to talk to you either. I have never met anyone so full of himself. What do you think every woman on the planet will abide by your every wish because it is you? And take a picture with you? Are you kidding? Haven’t you had enough pictures of yourself taken?” I roll my head back with my eyes.
Great. She is fucking crazy.
“Don’t you roll your eyes at me, you conceded ass.”

“What the fuck lady I just wanted some privacy and I didn’t want you to get your hopes up that I might find you hot and have sex with you.” At once the death rays from her eyes singe my skin.
She is
obviously fucking nuts!

“Oh! Well thank you, I feel so much better now that I don’t have to worry about whether Sean Fucking Grant finds me HOT and doesn’t want to have sex with me. Well let me put your mind at ease
Sean
. I don’t find you good looking enough to care what you think about me and I certainly don’t find you charming enough and there is no way in
hell
, I would ever consider having sex with you. So don’t you worry princess, I don’t have any desire to have another conversation with you ... EVER!” She said with a final exhale.

I hope she doesn’t think
that is
a turn on because crazy is never a turn on.
Suddenly the cockpit door flies open and out comes, Bronzer-boy, sticking out his chest and smiling his excessively whitened teeth to a maximum. He approaches looking to impress. I am in no mood for this, a want to be actor I am sure.

“Hi, I’m one of your pilots Kevin Walker but only copiloting today though. Trying to take it easy from all my flights for some important government officials that I can’t disclose – no matter what you do to try to get me to talk,” he laughed to himself.
Seriously?
“Anyway, I thought I would come an introduce myself and let you know if you need anything … please, please let me know.” He stressed looking directly at her.
He is
trying to impress someone
all right
but it’s not
me
.

“Thank you, but I think I’m fine right now,” she said so southern sweet it causes me to look her way.

“Are you sure?” His eyes stroll from her face and all the way down to her toes while twirling his tongue in his mouth.
This guy is unbelievable.
“If you like you can come up in the cockpit and see how we fly this bird. We aren’t supposed to do that but you look like you can keep a secret,” he winks at her.
I’m
getting nauseated.

“I … I don’t think so but thank you,” she said squirming in her seat, seemingly to look for a window to jump out of.

“You’re welcome to sit in my seat. I will make sure you’re comfortable,” he says propping up one leg against the arm of the seat and flashing his broad white smile.

Coughing, choking loudly.
“Sorry, a thing in my throat.” I gesture towards my neck as they both look in my direction.

“So, what do you think?” He did not even hesitate to continue.
I am
starting to feel sorry for her.

“Thank you, but I think I am going to stay here. I am really tired,” she said emphasizing each word to his obvious displeasure.

“Okay but if you change your mind,” he smiles making some ridiculous double finger-pointing gesture towards her and then back at himself. Grimacing I sink my head into my hands.

I need a drink, although I
don’t
think there is enough alcohol in the world for this shit. Of course
,
there is also no one here to fix me one thanks to my mother.
Except her.
I look over at the redhead, who is doing her best to ignore me. “Miss, do you want a drink?” She does not even budge in my direction. “Hello.”

“I guess,” she speaks softly into the window.

“Yes?”

“Yes. That would be nice.” She finally rolls her eyes towards me.

“Good, the bar is in the back will you get me one while you’re up please?”

“Why should I get it?” She sits up straight, angry all over again and starting to amuse me.

“Because you are clearly working for my mother, which means you are working for me too, right?”

“Does everyone do what you want?” She squints an evil glare in my direction.

“Usually,” I wink at her with a smile.
The smile always works.

“What do you want princess?”
I guess she can be useful after all, not to mention entertaining.
I yell out my order as she approaches the bar in the back.

“I don’t know if any project is worth this, he’s crazy and probably an alcoholic too,” she mumbles.

“You keep talking shit about me and I am not going to let you take that picture with me.” I turn seeing her bringing me a glass and hesitating with it over my head - a little too long. “Are you going to give it to me or are you too captivated by my incredible good looks?”

“UUGgghhh! Unbelievable,” she grumbles handing me the glass. “I should have made you wear it.”

“I knew that was what you were thinking but to answer your question, I look good wet too.” Her reaction is entertaining as hell and I am waiting for her to respond but she keeps stopping herself with frustrating sighs until she seems to decide on ignoring me again. “What was your name again?” She turns even tighter to the window away from me. “You know it’s rude not to look at somebody when they are talking to you.”

She turns quickly, setting me back in my seat, “I thought you didn’t want to talk to me?”

“That was before I knew how much fun you are.”

“What do you want, because I don’t want to talk to you?”

“Oh don’t be that way, I am still going to take that picture with you.” I laugh at her snarling unappreciative sounds and lean back into my chair, putting my headphones back on. The flight will be over soon and I will make sure she gets home safely and for making me laugh, I might kiss her good-bye too. I exhale deeply thinking about my awaiting getaway until I am jolted out of my seat and with a quick glance out the window, I realize we are running right into a storm. The door to the cockpit flies open and the pilot approaches us urgently.
This is not good.