I stood awkwardly inside an unfamiliar airport, trying to get a grip on my nerves before I totally lost it.
The flight itself hadn’t been that bad. No one bothered me, and Alaric had gotten first class seating, which trumped the seats I’d sat in the last time I’d flown by a milestone.
I felt better sitting above everyone else for the simple fact if the plane were to crash, they would all die first, and then their corpses could serve as a protective shield. At least, that’s how I mapped it out in my head.
After grabbing my suitcase from the belt, I didn’t know what the hell to do next. I searched for some sign of a taxi pick-up, unsure which way to go. The airport was a cocoon of arched steel and massive windows. People milled around my frozen form. More than a few shifty eyed glares were sent my way.
“Miss Haven?” a deeply cultured voice came suddenly from my right.
I brought my bag closer to my person and turned towards a man that was only a few inches taller than I was.
“That’s me,” I replied, eyeing him without discretion. He was in his early thirties if I had to guess. Had flawless dark skin and honey brown eyes. dressed in a neatly pressed suit.
He flashed a friendly smile. “I’m Demetri, here on behalf of Mr. Schuyler. I’ll be your driver.”
This man bought me first class tickets and he had a chauffeur? Not for the first time I wondered what it was Alaric did for a living. I’d spent almost the entire flight conjuring up different versions of him, imagining what kind of man he was.
I knew he had money thanks to Chloe and Mom, just not how much. It had to be on the larger end for him to be hiring person drivers.
This new development had me pegging him as someone that wore those fancy sweaters that tied around the shoulders.
“How did you know what I looked like?”
I was in a pair of black sweats that I’d paired with a fitted white t-shirt and Nike sandals.
Unless he had specific instructions to keep an eye out for a bi-racial woman that looked like hell, and had that same emotion scrawled all over her face I didn’t know how he would have picked me out so quickly. I could’ve been any random chick at the airport if not for the pink ombre weaved through my hair.
“We should be on our way,” he replied, skipping right over my question.
“Why didn’t Alaric come himself?” I asked, reluctantly following him.
“Mr. Schuyler is a very busy man. He had a meeting, but I assure you he wanted to be here in place of me.”
That was a reasonable excuse, one that had my curiosity regarding Alaric growing even more. Outside, the sun was still sitting high in the sky. I’d forgotten about the time difference between home and here. The heat was nothing new. I could handle that just fine.
“Your bag,” Demetri implied politely, reaching back to take it from me.
“Oh, thanks.” I passed my lone suitcase off, then sped up so that I could walk beside him.
We didn’t go but a few feet beyond the entryway when he approached a Mercedes-Benz.
As he loaded my suitcase into its trunk, I could feel people staring at us, making this ordeal even more awkward.
Instead of standing around like some helpless damsel who couldn’t open her own damn door, I climbed into the backseat, instantly regretting the decision.
This felt weird. Why didn’t I get in the front? I contemplated doing just that but as I reached for the door handle, Demetri slid into the driver’s seat and started up the car.
“Do you know where the hotel is, I’m staying at?” I asked after he pulled away from the curb.
“It is my understanding you will be staying with Mr. Schuyler.”
What? “Are you sure?”
“I was told to retrieve you and bring you home. I know how to follow instructions.”
Well, okay then. From his tone I could tell he didn’t like being questioned. I sat back knowing this had to be my mother’s doing.
I’d specifically told her I didn’t want to stay at this man’s house, going as far as sending her the link to a few hotels that were close by. The woman was impossible. She wouldn’t win this, though. I’d get everything worked out after I met Alaric.
The ride was uneventful, thankfully. Demetri made sure I was comfortable, and that was that. We didn’t speak a word to one another nearly the entire duration of the drive.
I sent a text to both my mother and Chloe letting them know that I had made it safely, and then I began to take in my new surroundings. Demetri drove through a heavy tourist area with towering buildings and various shops.
Passing gated communities that contained homes large enough to hold two of mine. With each lucrative neighborhood we neared, I was certain he would turn off into one, but he simply kept going, offering no comment on how much further we would be travelling. It got to the point that I slouched down and used the door as a headrest, allowing myself to doze off.