I then loaded up the boxes into a cab and took off to the bar. I strategically ignored the rest of the staff and made a b-line for the office. There I found a red marker and some packing tape, labelled the boxes then left.
On my way home, I noticed it was 4 p.m. “Shit. Already messing up.” I thought out loud.
I got back to the apartment lobby and called Jay. “Hi, had to run errands for trip and missed the 3 p.m. call.”
“It’s okay. I needed some extra time anyways. The flight number is a-380 bound for Miami at 6 in the morning. A taxi is set to pick you up at 4 a.m. A courier is coming to deliver you the tickets, hotel info, cash and the phone. Please call me when you get there.”
“Okay. I will do that. Do you know when I can expect the courier?”
“Yes at …” Jay paused to calculate “probably around 6 p.m. in a couple of hrs.”
“Okay. I will check in with you tomorrow after I land.”
“Alright sounds great. Thank you Maddox.”
“okay. I’m in apartment 614.” With that I hung up the phone.
I changed into some sweats I had left in the apartment and hung up the current outfit I was wearing so that it could be re-worn tomorrow. I thought it also made a good travelling outfit.
At around 5:45 p.m. I received a buzz on the intercom. “Hello I’ve got a package for Ms. Maddox Knight.”
“I’ll be right down.”
I brought my package up and as I started unpacking the contents I felt alive. I could really see myself doing this type of work for a while.
I conjured up a fuck you letter to the landlord who was after me time after time for rent. I couldn’t wait to wake up extra early to leave this letter taped to his door along with no rent for the month. If only I could wait around to see his reaction. I didn’t care about the possible repercussions. After all, there was never a signed contract or any other piece of paper for that matter to say I was going to pay a certain amount every month to stay there.
I went to bed early and woke up at 2:30 a.m. the following morning to shower, wash my grungy hair with body soap at that, give it a quick towel dry and get dressed. It was at this time I was usually arriving home from work or an escapade. I pushed my sneakers into my already full backpack. I took the phone from the charger and found a safe spot for both in my satchel. The satchel is where I also placed my important documents, ID, money and tickets. It was 3:30 a.m. as I decided to take another last look around the apartment that would not longer be mine. There were absolutely no sentimental feelings regarding leaving the apartment.
After looking around for 10 minutes I decided to leave. I turned the lights out and locked up. I found my way to the landlord’s apartment and listened first to see if anyone was lurking around inside. After hearing no movement, I taped the letter and key to the door. Then I hurriedly made my way to the lobby. I had some time before the taxi came so paused to check if everything was in its place. I checked the phone for any text messages Jay may have sent. There was nothing. I made my way outside into the chilly morning air in time to see the driver pulling up.
“Maddox Knight?” I nodded in agreement.
“I’m here to take you to the airport.”
I stepped into the car with backpack and all and had a little nap on the way to the airport while listening to my music. The slowing down of the car is what told me to wake up. We pulled into the terminal and I got out.
I made my way through check-in fine and waited to board. I felt good. Better than I had felt in a long time. When it was time to board, I was one of the first to do so. I recalled travelling with my family when I was young. We were frequent flyers abroad to any destination thinkable. It was a lot of fun and I had some really great adventures. I missed that aspect of my life quite a bit.
I sat in the window seat to enjoy the two hour journey with ease and relaxation. The years of abuse on my body seemed to melt away with the initiation of a new beginning. Confidence built up and I felt a bit better about myself in my lone dress, tights and boots. This day I even wore a bit of eye makeup along with the lipstick. I planned on doing a bit of shopping and maybe grabbing a coffee after I checked in with Jay. Sitting by the beach would be amazing. I thought of how I could make it big and millionaires would be looking for me to do business with. However I also reminded myself that there was also a job to be done and I planned for that as well. I thought of all of the equipment I could buy and my very own office. I was verifiably beaming with pride.
“happy?” came a voice beside me. What the fuck? I forgot to plug in my ear buds. If I was happy, couldn’t this person just let me be?
I didn’t respond but I did look up once. I found one green and one blue eye beaming back at me. I didn’t know which one to gaze at so I looked in between them and then at the rest of the face.
“I just noticed you smiling from ear to ear. The word happy was the first thing that came out of my mouth looking at you. I could have possibly not thought that out well.”
The sunshine from the window streamed in onto his face and golden hair. I felt slightly different than usual but brushed it off. I felt like I didn’t want to just get into his pants but maybe just talk to him. I questioned those thoughts hard as I realized I hadn’t responded. Damned ear buds.
“No, just thinking about stuff.” I gave a thin lipped smirk.
“Oh, so you’re not happy?”
“It’s complicated. I do like to listen to music.” I showed him my golden ear buds then inserted them into my ears.
“A Sony Walkman? You’re kidding me? Where and when did you get that and how did you take such good care of it? Can I see?”
Four questions or more in one, this guy is exhausting. No wonder I stick to the sheets.
“I like to keep it in good condition so I only touch it.” I put the emphasis on the word ‘I’ then quickly turned up the volume and my back to him.
I could sense that he felt a bit thrown off and wasn’t used to rejection from women but he liked the resistance at the same time. I have a good way of reading these certain traits at times but very seldom.
He did leave me alone for the rest of the flight and I fell asleep against the window. When I woke up my head was on his shoulder. I was happy she washed her hair, even if it was just with just body soap. He smelled good. I didn’t apologize but just shifted in my seat away from him again and stayed awake. Shit, was I awake and not wanting to fall asleep on his shoulder again. I saw him motioning something and reluctantly removed my ear buds.
“I don’t want you to think I’m a weirdo. I pushed your head away, gently at that, a couple of times but you were fast asleep so I gave up. It was almost as if you were drugged.” He raised his eyebrows suggestively. What an asshole.
I rolled my eyes. “You should have done both of us a favour and woken me up then.”
“Yes I suppose but I didn’t so here we are. While you were asleep the pilot announced just 5 minutes ago that we would be landing in 30 minutes so we will be landing in approximately 25 minutes from now.”
“Do you know that you give the most meaningless information?”
“Okay. Did you know that you are an ignorant bitch?”
What the hell? I thought I was the only one with such mood swings! I grabbed my satchel, knocked the man out of the way and looked into the overhead compartment feverishly. A flight attendant approached. “Ma’am can I help you”
“Of course not, I have my backpack and I’m looking for something.” I closed the overhead compartment and grew angrier. I stormed towards the back of the plane to the washroom.
“Ma’am, where are you going?”
“I’m sitting towards the back of the plane in peace.” I was now yelling louder. Just then I felt pressure at my back and the wind getting knocked out of me as I fell over. Motherfuckers. I lay unconscious as my head hit the ground. The passengers gasped and screamed in fright. The air marshal announced who he was and put cuffs on my one hand and pulled me up off the ground forcef
ully. Two women evacuated nearby seats and I was placed in one seat with the air marshal controlling me from the seat beside. He then locked the other cuff to the armrest. I lay lifeless with some warm liquid which I assumed was blood oozing out of my head. The paramedics were informed and waiting as the plane landed.
As I regained consciousness I was on the plane still and there were paramedics around me. One medic in the window seat and one hovering over me from the seat in front. They had cleaned up my small cut and assessed my breathing and other vitals. I swooned in and out. That was quite a blow to the head. I needed some painkillers.
“What is going on?”
“Ma’am, I am air marshal Bob Winters and I had to restrain you because of a threat to air security. Now, I checked your bags and there is nothing incriminating in them.”
“I don’t understand. I was just trying to find another seat.”
“Yes but you were hostile”
“I was angry. The guy beside me was being an asshole, I was blocked in at the window and feeling claustrophobic. I had to go. You made me hit my head. It really hurts. What kind of techniques do you use air marshal Bob?” He was taken aback and said “I don’t have any explaining to do but I have questions to ask you and you will be kept in custody pending investigation.”
“And I will be filing a report against you and this airline as I was treated unfairly.”
“You can do whatever you like ma’am when you are out of custody. As for now I need you to stand up if you can after I remove this cuff from the seat and put your hands behind your back.”
“Whatever, I just want to be out of here as soon as I can with my bags.”
“Your bags will be transported safely. We had to confiscate your phone to detail it. If it clears inspection you can have it back.”
“Are you kidding me? I need to call a relative to let them know I’m alright. I promised them I would do so right away. They are going to be worried about me and will be very upset if I don’t call soon.”
I thought about telling the truth but she was never one for having to answer to authority. Especially after the fucking air marshal threw himself on top of me for switching seats. I also knew it would implicate me more if I said I was a investigating for a man I just happened to meet and he bought me a cell phone and gave me money to check on someone. I realized how crazy the whole thing sounded. I could be stuck at the Miami international airport for days while the freaking story checked out. Not to mention the story had the word terrorist imprinted all over it.
So I was taken off the plane in cuffs, all eyes on me. From there I was brought to a holding room for questioning. One call was allowed after I passed the next security detail and was written up.
“Jay speaking.”
“Jay, its Maddox. I am safe. I was just detained by security so I couldn’t call you earlier. They took the cell phone too because they’re hacking it for bugs and shit. I don’t have much time to talk and I’m calling from their phone. I just want to let you know that I’m okay.” I chose my words very carefully as I knew there would be others listening in.
“Okay Maddox. Thanks. I understand. Call me when you get out and let me know the status on the phone.”
“Bye.”
I didn’t like having to check in with him but didn’t want to mess up too. I told myself as soon as I have some leverage Jay would no longer be calling the shots.
I looked at the grey speckled carpet and moved my sneaker feet around restlessly. After two hours of waiting in a boxed off area with designated chairs, an officer approached me.
“Okay Ms. Knight. You are free to go now. Everything checks out.”
“Okay. What about my cell phone?”
“Oh, right. That has been reassembled and has been packaged up. You can pick it up at window number two along with your ID.”
I went to pick up the package and got discharged from doors out into the airport. I wrote down how I was treated, what happened to me in the plane and also took a picture of my bruise and cut along the side of my head. I was serious about filing a report and suing the airlines.
I called Jay from the cell phone while wondering if the Intel themselves had put a bug or tracking device on the phone. I explained the whole situation to him.
“That is so crazy. You have such bad luck.” Jay empathized with me but I was not interested.
“Yeah well, you know what they say. I guess I’m shit outta luck.”
Jay chuckled. “Well, if you need anything else let me know. I will help you as best as I can. The place you’re staying at is the Las Palmas Hotel. The address is 147 Mar Avenue. Grab a taxi and take it to…wait. Can you drive? I didn’t even think to ask.”
“My parents were pretty big on me getting my license so as soon as I turned 16 there I was at the DMV. Yes is the answer. Even though I don’t drive often I have a knack for motorized vehicles. Buses, cars, motorcycles, ATVs. My family was very wealthy and I had access to a lot. I like to drive. Just can’t afford… anyways.” I found myself talking a bit more than usual to Jay. I did like driving and I did have a keen interest in all types of cars. I found myself immersed in the idea like a kid in a candy store as my eyes shot over to the rental area. I knew where Jay’s thoughts were heading.
“I just think it may be more accessible for you to have a car.”
I played it cool. “Yea, okay. Should I head over to the rentals area?”
“Yes and call me when you get there.”
For the first time a smile crept across my face. This was all coming together after all. I took a shuttle to the rental office and as I walked through the doors there I found were the same multi-coloured eyes I recognized from the plane.
“What are you doing here?” I shouted out in a repulsed tone.
“Oh, I could ask you the same thing.”
I blew him off and headed to the counter.
“Wait!” He got up and followed me for a bit and I turned my body towards him and rolled my eyes. He started off with his hands in his pockets, uncomfortably. “I just want to say uh, that I’m sorry for what I said to you back there. That was uncalled for. I kinda have a problem.” He put out a really soft voice and was very gentle in his body language. “I got stuck here, to answer your question. My mom was supposed to come pick me up and then she called me back an hour after to say she forgot. So I had something to eat and then came here to rent a car. I’m waiting for the rental right now. I just got here.” He put his arms up and interlaced his fingers behind his head. As he did so, his shirt lifted up exposing chiseled hips. My interest peaked as I had a longing deep inside to hold onto those hips and round my hands to the back ever so slightly. He looked ripped. Images flashed in my head of him close to me. His delicious scent wafted in the air too as he moved. I got lost in my thoughts and had to re-focus.
“Don’t you think?” He asked
“What was that? I was a little distracted just thinking about what I have to do.” He flashed a smile and all was forgiven. He looked very clean cut she just noticed. He had a beautiful shade of long blond hair which shone in the sun and captured highlights. He wore a white dress shirt under a light grey sweater with blue jeans which hugged him really nice. I noticed he also had a satchel almost the same colour as mine.
“I should go; I have a lot to do. I still have to rent a car.”
“Well maybe I can help you out. My dad owns this rental place. I’m getting my car for free. Here take my card.”
“Really? Well, why didn’t you just take a car in the first place instead of getting your mom to pick you up?” I reached out to grab his card and shifted it into my coat pocket.
“Well, it’s not like that, so literal. I thought she missed me. I really wanted to see her. I’ve been away from home for a while and thought I would be welcomed back with open arms but it doesn’t seem so white and fluffy when a parent forgets to pick you up after you haven’t seen them for years.”
I looked at him with a blank stare and realized I didn’
t know his name. I didn’t feel sorry for him or have anything to reassure him with. All I could think about was fucking him; jumping on top of his perfect, muscle laden, beige coloured body and fucking him really hard.
“Listen, I got your card now. Maybe I can call you while I’m in town and we can grab a coffee or something?”
“Yes, how about tonight? I need to make it up to you. You know, because of what happened to you. Your head is banged up pretty bad.” ‘Did he just say banged?’ My torso was on fire and pulsating. I became instantly moist. I really wanted to stakeout Sheila tonight but maybe a quickie before? I grabbed a pen from my bag. As I jotted down the address, I offered him an invite. “This is where I’m staying. How about we both get settled and you meet me here in a couple of hours?”
“Ah, yeah. Absolutely! I will see you then!”
He looked at me as he slowly walked away backwards until he bumped into someone else. He seemed surprised. I laughed at his clumsiness and my ability to make him dumfounded. I was on cloud nine at this point. I would be driving a car on my own to a hotel and then possibly having the fuck of my life in a couple of hours. Then starting a new exciting job; this was excellent. Getting probed by the authorities was a thought long gone. I took out his card to take a look at the name while I waited for my car. It read, Austin Martin, Attorney at Law. Could it get any better than this? He’s even named after a car. I laughed out loud.
Maddox Knight Finds the Girl Page 2
