“It will soon pass, relax,” he found himself saying.
“I know, but I still hate it.”
He chuckled. “What don’t you hate?”
She leaned back, gripping both sides of the seat. He watched her from the corners of his eyes as she grimaced with each bump the craft made. It was amusing, bringing a smile to his face. As he watched her, he could not help thinking that he’d seen her somewhere before. However, it was highly unlikely. She was not his type and certainly wouldn’t be someone he’d stored in the back of his mind. So why was she so familiar to him? The feeling that he knew her niggled at him until the captain alerted them that they were landing.
Chapter 5
A snowstorm in Buffalo made for a cautious landing. All the passengers cheered as the plane came to a halt on the icy tarmac. It was a bit bumpy, and many feared the landing would result in a crash. It didn’t. The usual routine ensued before the passengers began debarking.
Zoe breathed a sigh of relief as she unbuckled. Gael had already risen from his seat and was pulling his travel bag from the overhead compartment. She stood, easing from the seat, grateful for finally being able to stretch her limbs.
She allowed him to move along before reaching for her luggage. Pulling on the handle at the side, she yanked it, but it seemed stuck. Unable to see what was preventing it from coming out, she continued pulling at it. Her frustration was beginning to rise when someone from behind her reached across and gave a hard pull.
A loud rip came from above, and a grunt sounded behind her. Twisting, she opened her mouth to protest when her eyes made four with dangerous blue ones.
“You!” she snapped. “You tore my luggage.”
“I was only trying to help,” he retorted, pulling it from overhead and setting it down. “See, now it’s free.”
“I never asked for your help.”
“Alright,” he grunted, picking up the case and lifting.
“What are you doing?”
“Putting it back,” he casually replied.
Rolling her eyes, she snagged the handle and pulled it away. “What are you … ten years old?”
“No need to thank me,” he returned, brushing past her.
She watched him walk down the aisle while putting on his scarf. Dressed in a long black coat, he seemed to swallow up even the exit of the craft. She tore her eyes away from him to her suitcase.
Heat crawled up her neck as her ire inflated at his unapologetic attitude. The jerk tore her luggage and didn’t even show remorse. She watched as he sauntered down the aisle toward the exit where a line had formed.
The icy air began seeping into the plane. Zoe knew she needed to warm up as her nostrils started to burn. She loved everything about winter except that she always got sick. Quickly, she unzipped the case and pulled from it a warm faux fur coat. This was one of the few high-priced items she actually spent her own money on since most of the clothes she wore were gifts from endorsements.
A hat matching the coat, she pulled from the deep pockets. Placing the hat on her head, she tucked the piece of hair hiding her face underneath the rim. She then pulled out her scarf and wrapped it around her neck to help warm up. Running her finger across the rip, she figured it wasn’t big enough to spill her items. The tear was about two inches long where it appeared that something small and sharp had caught it.
Zoe was almost the last one off the plane, meeting the icy NYC air. As she stepped from the craft, she pulled the coat around her, suppressing a sneeze. It was snowing heavily, slowing the pace of the passenger who had debarked the airline already. She could make out Gael close to the back of the group trudging through the heavily falling snow. A howling wind almost snatched her hat so that she had to release her hold on the coat and place the hand on her head.
It took longer to reach the building than usual. Glad that she was finally inside, she blew a hot breath on her hands as a shudder ran through her. She could feel her sinuses acting up by the urge to sneeze.
After the arrival process, she bundled into the lounge with everyone else who was waiting to leave the airport. A few minutes inside, she tried to use her cell to call Florine, but the line came back vacant. It seemed the service was down.
“Hello passengers,” a male voice came over the airport communication channel. “This is the airport administrator. Due to the inclement weather, in compliance with the aviation department, we have closed all main entrances and exits to the airport. All flights and shuttles have been postponed until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience caused; however, our objective is to keep all passengers and staff safe at this time. Please bear with us as we keep you updated.”
A noise erupted in the building, indicating the disappointment people felt at the closure of the airport. To appease the passengers, airport staff began wheeling out trolleys with hot beverages and sandwiches. It was a smart move, as the cafeteria could not handle so many people.
Soon, almost everyone was munching on the sandwiches or sipping from the hot cups. Seats were so hard to find that some people even had to make do with their luggage. Even Mr. Devil himself was lounging about. Not that she cared. It was just that she caught him staring at her as if he was seeing her for the first time.
He was quite a few meters away, or she would have asked him what he was staring at. The thought flashed through her mind that perhaps he’d recognized her. She turned away, telling herself she didn’t care whether he recognized her as the girl he rejected. Determined to put him from her mind, she found a corner to have her coffee while she waited for the weather to clear.
Chapter 6
Was it the same girl? Yes, that suitcase was the same, but she looked different, he thought. With the fur coat and the hat covering her ghastly hair, she was attractive. Her oval face with small nose and perfectly formed lips made for a pretty one. But he could not forget her brashness.
And there it was. She looked up as he was trying to figure her out. The look she gave him could roast a turkey. There was something definitely deliberate about her attitude toward him. From the moment she demanded the seat in the airport until now, she’d shown how much she disliked him. It wasn’t because of a darn bench in an airport lounge. It was more than that. Usually, something such as a female dismissing him did not bother him, but this one did, for some unfathomable reason.
Something told Gael that he knew the girl from somewhere. Perhaps she was someone from his past? Not likely, he told himself since she wasn’t old enough. She was also too old to be a love child. That was a relief. From his estimation, she was around twenty-three, give or take a couple of years.
Unwittingly his eyes strayed to her as she sipped her coffee in a corner across the room. He leaned lazily against a wall and watched her with hooded eyes. A small group of teens approached her, and he opened his eyes fully as she began signing autographs.
“What the f …?” he muttered, raising his forehead.
After she signed a couple of autographs, she allowed them to take selfies with her. She didn’t look at all pleased when the group left, but he was curious enough now to figure out who the hell she was. No ordinary person took autographs and selfies with strangers. Was she some punk rock kid? Did he flirt with her while drunk … or worse? That was the only probable reason why she gave him attitude, and why she was familiar.
Having gone through some rough moments three years ago, it was possible he’d met her at that time. His mother had suddenly shown up, divorced and broke, demanding money. He’d given her the money after she begged him to forgive her, only to learn that she’d cheated on the man she left his father to marry. The husband forgave her and took her back, but he couldn’t. Not after all she’d put their family through.
There were times when he’d drank himself sick. One place he frequented was a bar on the beach. Sometimes, when the mood struck, he’d picked up a few girls there. This punk kid certainly didn’t look like she picked up unknown men, but you never knew.
Gael tried to picture her all s
ultry and sexy, picking up strangers on the beach. All he could imagine was a feisty tomboy who would kick any man in their nuts if they ever tried that. The only way that was possible being unless she was drunk as well. Yes, that must be it. They were both drunk, and she somehow remembered.
He wondered what the hell he had promised her that she resented him so much. The need to figure this out became so much an obsession that he found it hard to banish her from his thoughts. He moved from his post and tried to find somewhere less crowded, a place where he could think clearly. Everywhere seemed jammed, as it appeared that all the passengers that should have left or arrived at the airport were stranded there.
Walking around helped to clear his mood, and by the time he reached the airport duty-free gift shop, he was in high spirits. He hadn’t bought a gift for anyone since he was a child. However, he decided to get Beth something. It was the least he could do. After all, she took care of all the gifts for his shareholders, business associates, and the staff each year.
“Hello, what can I get you?” the pleasant dark haired male clerk greeted as he walked up to the counter.
There were a number of people inside. He supposed they were as bored as he was and were looking for ways to pass the time.
“I need a gift for a female,” he replied, scanning the shelves and glass case. The items ranged from perfumes to fine jewelry.
The clerk smiled. “Yes, sir. The wife?”
“No, she’s not my wife,” he replied.
“Girlfriend?” the man asked, still holding his smile.
“No, she’s my assistant,” he told the clerk.
“Okay, now we’re getting somewhere.” The man’s eyes widened as they looked over his shoulder. “OMG, it’s her.”
“Who?” he asked, following the man’s gaze.
“My dream girl,” the young man replied.
Gael frowned, scanning the group behind him until he saw her, his enigma, the Unicorn. He glanced at the clerk who seemed star struck. What was it about this girl that he didn’t know?
It was almost surreal looking at her. She was completely different when she wasn’t looking at him. He drew back, observing her as she moved around the store. Her face softened, and her eyes sparkled, making her an attractive woman. He couldn’t understand it. What was it about him that set her off? Maybe she was in a bad mood earlier.
He turned back to the clerk. “What should I get?”
The guy had moved away, and he was left standing there like an idiot. He strolled around trying to figure out what Beth would like and came up blank. He didn’t even know anything about the assistant that worked for him for four years.
The more he thought about it, the more he agreed that he was a jerk. How could he not know anything about Beth, except that she had red hair and baby blue eyes? Was she even married? When was her birthday?
“I’m sorry about that.” The clerk returned, interrupting his mental plague.
Even more so, there was this profound need to inquire about the girl. But Gael was a man of extreme control. He pushed her from his mind and concentrated on the task at hand. He ended up getting a perfume for Beth. That was the safest bet. Woman loved sweet smelling things.
He spent a few minutes looking around just to pass the time. Being stuck in the airport was unproductive. Finding a place where he could zone out everything around him would be great. He headed for the cafeteria.
The place was full, as it seemed all the seats were taken. He was about to retrace his steps when a young woman rose from a seat, leaving her companion behind. He moved towards the seat and was about two feet away when his eyes came into contact with flaming hazel ones.
“What do you want?” she asked, her tone cold as he made a halting step to the table.
Pulling up the empty chair, Gael resolved to solve this mystery using his theory from earlier. They must have had something from some time ago, hence the hostility. The only problem was, he could not remember. He decided to wing it and see what happened.
“Okay, I give. How long has it been … three years? Don’t you think it’s time you forget all that now?”
She made a face. “What the hell are you talking about now?” she asked, followed by a sniffle.
“You … me … whatever happened between us?”
“What?” Her tone was incredulous and nasal.
“The hostility you have towards me. Did we … you know …?”
She laughed, and he liked the tone of it. “You don’t remember having sex with me?”
“Keep your voice down; this is between you and me.”
Her face fell, and he wasn’t sure if she was faking being hurt or not, but she looked at him in a pitiful manner. “I’m hurt that you’d forget something so special,” she replied, her tone mocking him. “You said you loved me!”
“Is this a joke to you?” He felt the heat of anger or perhaps embarrassment flush his skin.
“You’re not only a jerk, you’re an idiot,” she remarked.
Gael had never had anyone cut him down this way. Within the last twelve hours, he’d found himself talking more than he’d like. Usually, he avoided confrontation. However, during the past few hours, he found himself embroiled in this childish feud with this girl, and he knew not why. Since they’d met, his emotions had ranged from annoyance to confusion all because of the enigma staring at him in the form of a girl.
“Look, Mister,” she said and sniffled. “We didn’t meet three years ago, and you very well know that I ain’t your cup of tea. So don’t sprain that brain of yours trying to figure me out … A-A-A-ACHOO!”
“So it’s settled, I haven’t done anything to trigger this resentment you seem to harbor for me,” he stated, unsure if that made him feel better or worse. When she didn’t respond, he added, “That’s good. Now we can stay out of each other’s way.”
Just about then, his cell phone rang. Earlier the service was down, so it was a good sign that it was now back up. He picked the device from his left breast pocket and swiped the screen.
“Gael Matheson here,” he said.
“ACHOO!” Came from across the table once more.
“Mr. Matheson, this is Lori from Mr. Richardson’s office. We are afraid we have to postpone the meeting until the weather allows.”
“What do you mean?”
“All the roads near Buffalo are now closed, and I understand you are at the airport?” she replied.
“Yes, but isn’t there a shuttle service I can use?”
“Not at the moment. They are trying to clear the roads, but Mr. Richardson asked to postpone. He says you both will set the meeting when it’s convenient.”
There was nothing he could do about the weather; therefore, he was apt to agree. Although the cellular service was on, it took a while for him to make any calls out. He suspected that the lines were jammed due to volume of users. This usually happened during rain or snowstorms.
Since the probability of returning to California was miniscule, he knew he had to arrange a hotel. He was contemplating his next move when another sneeze caught his attention. His head jerked around to see the girl scrunching her face, trying to suppress another.
She sniffled and blew her nose in a paper napkin. “ACHOO!” came another as her eyes watered, and her nose turned pink.
“You should take care of that,” he said.
“Mind your own … A-A-ACHOO!”
The ringing of his phone drew his attention once more, and he answered it, keeping his eye on her.
“Hello?”
“Sir?” It was Beth.
“Yes, Beth. Speak to me.” The line fizzled, breaking her voice. “I can hardly hear you.”
“I arranged a vehicle for you. It’s an AWD equipped with winter tires. But all the nearby hotels are booked within a twenty-five mile radius, due to the closing of the airports.”
“What am I going to do with a vehicle then?”
“Sir, it’s Christmas,” she said.
“Yes, I know
,” he replied. ”What’s that got to do with anything?”
There was a moment’s silence before she replied, “I have a suggestion.”
“Okay, what is it?”
“I was thinking that you could go see your father.”
“What gives you the right to interfere in my personal business?” he asked, his tone hard.
“Sir, I didn’t mean to get involved; I know he lives in Buffalo …”
“Have you been checking upon me? May I remind you that you are my assistant, and I am your boss?”
“Yes, sir, I know that … but …”
“What now?”
“You forgot that you had me check on him when he was hospitalized a couple of years ago.”
“Oh. Forget what I said then,” he lowered his voice.
“I’m sorry, sir. It was just a suggestion since you won’t be able to return to Santa Cruz right away,” she apologized.
The bitter taste of resentment flooded him as he listened to Beth encourage him to visit his father. He knew well that it was only a few miles away, and the vehicle Beth suggested would be able to get him there, but he wasn’t ready to face the man.
“I understand, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Sir, the nearby hotels are all booked, and it’s just one night. Besides …” she hesitated.
“What?’
“He’s family, sir. Family should be together during the holidays. I don’t care if you fire me when you get back, but I’m going to say something, sir.”
He sighed, “Say it.”
“I know you have your differences, and I don’t know what they are. All I know is that life is short, and we need our family. Please think about what I said, sir.”
“Is that all?”
“It beats being stuck in the airport. Please, just think about it and if you change your mind, call me, and I’ll send an SUV, sir.”
“Beth …”
“Sir, just think about it, please.”
With a sigh, he replied. “Okay, I’ll give it a thought, but I can’t promise you anything.”
Whether it was allergies or the flu, Zoe knew she was going to be sick. Her joints had started aching, and her temples throbbed. The pounding in her head was like ten beating drums. Not only that, she could hardly breathe.
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