I'm at the LA airport...

With Mr. Reid sorry I mean Derick.

I know I'm supposed to be mad he's forcing me to call him by his first name but for some reason, I'm more happy than pissed.

Let's rewind to 9 AM when he came to pick me up.

I hugged Kate goodbye and wished Francis a good morning and sat down in the car, pretty normal stuff.

Me being the polite person I am wished Mr. Reid a good morning in very simple words.

"Good morning Mr. Reid"

"From now until we come back from the trip it's Derick to you"

He didn't look up from his phone...

He didn't wish me a good morning...

Nope, none of the things you do when you drag someone against their will to California.

Wait, dragging someone to California isn't even normal! It's basically kidnapping!

"If you think this is kidnapping I have proof you agreed to this willingly"

"Oh yeah? What is it? Did you hire a hidden camera man to film me or something?"

"Close, I recorded it using my phone"

Wow, finishing that sentence with a smirk just proves how evil he is.

I didn't answer instead I did what any sane person would do in this situation.

Pull out my headphones and block out the world.

But no, I can't do that either, my headphones were snatched out of my hands and thrown out the window.

I raised my eyebrows and just said

"Really?"

I'm not even surprised anymore, no I'm not surprised he just threw out my $40 headphones out the window...

No I'm not mad, I'm furious.

"I'll buy you a new pair, wireless, Bluetooth, noise canceling ones, in the meantime there's an AUX cord next to you, you can open music that way"

And just when I thought 'man, this guy is nothing like the snooty rich people out there' he starts to throw money in my face! I can't count how many times he's done that!

"I bought those headphones with my own money! I worked for these things! I put effort into getting these things and I feel pride using them, do you not understand the value of that?"

"Juliana, do you know what that fiasco you caused yesterday cost? It cost me a big amount of profit of about sixteen million dollars a year, that's the money I use to pay you, my employees, my taxes, my insurances and my f*cking gardener so never argue about knowing the value of working for something with me, do you understand?"

If I was just some random person I would have sh*t my pants, that is the tone he had never used with me...

That dark, brooding tone he uses when he's really mad, I must have seriously pushed his buttons to do that to him...

The guilt is back.

"I'm sorry"

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

"Please don't make me mad so early in the morning, I'm in no mood for a headache during a seven hour trip"

I grabbed the AUX cord from beside me and connected it to my phone.

"What do you want to listen to?"

"Something relaxing? I don't know"

"Something relaxing it is"

I played one of my many favorite songs and that's There's Nothing Holding Me Back by Shawn Mendes.

"You just turned into every typical girl out there"

"No, I just know good music, who's your favorite singer?"

"James Arthur"

"Ooh good one, mines always been Selena Gomez, for some reason I just love her music"

😍

"My turn, favorite band?"

"Coldplay"

"We almost have the same taste, Imagine Dragons"

"You look like that kind of guy"

"Do I?"

"Yeah you've got that soft rugged look to you and a hint of charming"

"Just a hint-"

"Shush stop talking this is my favorite part!"

I unconsciously started singing and just let the song drag me along.

"She pulls me in enough to keep me guessing

And maybe I should stop and start confessing

Confessing, yeah"

"You really have a good voice, you know that?"

I felt heat rush to my cheeks and I quickly looked away.

"Thanks"

"Do you wanna know what's my favorite part?"

"Hmm?"

"'Cause if we lost our minds and we took it way too far

I know we'd be alright, I know we would be alright

If you were by my side and we stumbled in the dark

I know we'd be alright, I know we would be alright"

I think I died and went to heaven.

His voice is amazing!

Mine is nothing compared to his!

"What's wrong?"

"Uh- I- You-"

I apparently also lost the ability to talk as well.

"Deep breaths Julie"

I inhaled then exhaled.

"Let's ignore the fact that you have the voice of an angel"

His laughter rumbled and I couldn't help but laugh along.

We shuffled through music and we laughed, sang along to our favorite bits, talked...

All in all, I had a great time.

We felt the car come to a stop and the door next to him opened, he got out and extended his hand out.

I took it and got out.

"Good job wearing light clothing, it's warmer in LA plus you look good"

"Thank you"

I wasn't wearing anything spectacular just normal stuff.

I was wearing a striped sweater, black pants and a small purse no jewelry other than a pair of pearl studs, I had my hair in a pony tail and that's about it.

I saw the beautiful black jet again and I was determined to at least taste that first class private jet dining I was looking for.

"We do have work to do Juliana, I have paperwork to sign and you have the job of putting them in order and responding to my emails, understood?"

"Yes sir"

"Yes?"

"Derick, sorry I'm just used to it"

"It's fine"

We spent the next few hours of the flight working on paperwork but when I got a little dizzy Derick thankfully let me take a small break.

"Here's the menu, see if you like anything"

"Thanks"

I took the menu from him and the first thing that caught my eye was the roast chicken and diced potatoes.

Yup, that's what I want.

"You're eyeing that chicken really intensely, okay, it's that and tomato juice"

"Tomato juice? Why not just some normal juice?"

I'm kind of disgusted, I like tomatoes but I don't like them enough to drink it.

"Try it, is actually really good sure on the ground, it will taste like a regular tomato but in the air it tastes a bit better and a bit more acidic which is strangely tastier"

"I am going to put my trust in you and hope you're not tricking me into food poisoning myself"

"Don't worry, I need you to be healthy for this trip" he chuckled.

When our lunch came, we went to sit in the dining seats.

I saw the juice sitting in front of the spoons, I observed it for a second and gave it a swing.

My eyes winded.

Wow.

It's decent!

"Well?"

"It's actually good"

"No throwing up on my jet, capiche?"

"Capiche, I seriously like it"

"Let me go over the agenda"

"Even a trip has to have an agenda?"

"Well I can't exactly wing anything"

"Why not? Isn't everything going to be a surprise?"

"Oh everything is going to be a surprise for you"

"Really?"

"Yes, So we'll first settle in, we're staying in my house in LA"

"You have a house in LA?"

"Can you stop asking questions?"

"Sorry" I said with a small smile.

"Just excited"

I continued looking down, slightly embarrassed.

He smiled then it turned into a smirk, cant you smile more than smirk?

"Says the girl that kept saying no to everything"

"Oh shut up"

"Anyway, let me continue, then we're going to go to the mall, because I don't think you're well prepared for this trip"

"What makes you say that?"

"Did you bring a swimsuit?"

"No, are we going swimming?"

"We're going to the beach"

"Um, how long exactly are we planning to stay?"

"A week"

"What about work?"

"Issac's got it covered"

"Poor Issac"

"He'll be fine, he owes me one"

I groaned at his way of words.

"Can't you just say he's a friend helping out instead of making it sound as though he's a slave that owes you his life?"

He chuckled and that's how the rest of the flight went, we spent the rest of our time either talking or working and I was also able to fall asleep for an hour or two.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I suddenly woke up and saw Derick (still can't get used to that) sleeping next to me.

I tried to move to drink some water but something tightened around my hand.

I looked down and saw him gripping my hand.

"Derick?"

When he didn't respond, I looked at him to make sure he's actually asleep and not just playing with me.

When he didn't move I tried to pull my hand out of his grip but he just tightened it.

I groaned and got up, I moved to get out but from the corner of my eye, I saw my dear boss smirk and pull me by my arm.

I closed my eyes and when I opened them again I found myself lying on top of my boss.

"Juliana are you trying to peruse me in my sleep?

"What?! No! I was just trying to-"

Damn you for making my cheeks red!

"You're so cute when you're flustered"

"I'm just going to the restrooms"

I got off him and rushed my way to the bathroom, which thankfully had a mirror.

"Keep it together Julie"

I splashed some cool water on my face to at least get rid of my red cheeks.

When I was done I went back and took my place in the seat.

I looked at my watch to see it's 3:27, that means we're going to land in a little while.

"Don't forget anything by the way"

"Alright, I'll just gather my stuff right away"

He nodded and a few minutes later the captain announced our landing.

After we had safely landed and gotten into the car, Derick explained our sleeping arrangements.

"Are you seriously taking me to the mall today?"

I asked exhausted.

"No, we'll go tomorrow as both you and I are tired"

"Thanks, so we're going to be behind schedule?"

"It's fine, we have an entire week all to ourselves"

"You know if you're going to smile like that for the rest of the week, I might not regret coming"

"You play dirty Ms. Downs"

"I think you like it Mr. Reid"

"Oh you bet I do"

I smiled to myself, this is going to be one hell of a trip.

⭐️💬

😘❤️✌️