The line went dead. Jamie would have blamed a dropped call since she was traveling in the back of the Town Car and anything was liable to happen even on her platinum data plan, but Natasha was too shady.
Everyone’s out somewhere this weekend.Monique and Helen were in Paris for the first anniversary of when they first met – well, a bit early, since Monique would soon be forbidden from flying until she gave birth in July. Kathleen was supposed to touch base with Jamie over a prospective land donor for the charity, but she was apparently in Vegas for other business. Nala canceled a game night because her girlfriend was taking her on a business trip to Seoul. Then there was the huge conference for something or other in New York that had half the millionaire sphere rushing to their planes and long-distance cars to bicker about prices and who was a “fucking bitch” over brunch cocktails.I have no idea what that’s all about.Jamie never would.
I wanna go somewhere. Etta was busy that weekend, however. It wasn’t a surprise how busy she would be. Clients and investors from Japan had flown in for business and only had that weekend to talk. Etta had cleared it with Jamie two weeks ago.“I won’t be seeing much of you this weekend. If you want, we can stay in the penthouse,and I’ll take you out when I can. Otherwise, it’s me and a bottle of sa-ke.”
Speaking of that devil in an Armani suit, her name was popping up on Jamie’s phone.
“Hello, gorgeous,” she greeted. “Got any big plans this weekend?”
Jamie sighed. “Is that code for I need to go to a business dinner with you?”
“Not at all. I was being serious. Before I confirm something, I wanted to make sure you wouldn’t be taken away from any plans you had.”
“Oh…” The Town Car made a hard left in a roundabout, the centripetal force squishing Jamie against the window. “No. I don’t have any firm plans. Boring stuff and maybe hanging out with my parents.” Cringe. Ever since Mommy and Daddy Dearest walked in on some young thing taking their daughter to Pound Town, relations had been a bit frayed in the manor. No matter how hard Luna tried to say everything was hunky-dory. Ahem.
“Good. I have a surprise for you. You’re being driven to the airport as we speak.”
“What? I was going home…”
“Not anymore. There’s a plane waiting for you at the airport. I packed a bag for your weekend trip.”
“Really? Where are we going?”
“You’ll see. I love you.” Etta hung up.
Jamie launched herself toward the front seat. “We’re going to the airport?”
The driver smiled at her in the rearview mirror. “Unless you threaten to kill me. Ms. Coleman’s orders.”
“But… where am I going? Do you know?”
“Miss, you know as well as I do that I don’t ever get told anything.”
“True.” Jamie sat back, snatching her purse and making sure she had her passport. She never took her big wallet without it tucked somewhere. Being with Etta for so long had told her that an international trip could happenanytime. Like now.
Did this mean that her plans had been canceled? Or… were they going to Japan, to meet the associates there, instead? Jamie had never been there before. She rarely had the chance to go to Asia. Most of Etta’s business dealings were in Europe or near the Middle East. Sometimes Australia. One time they went to South Africa for three days of summer in the middle of winter back home. The only times they had gone to Asia included a week in Beijing, another in Taiwan, and a quick stop in Thailand for a weekend getaway.
Or maybe the meetings had been completely canceled and they were going somewhere to get away from the parents. Etta had been the unhappiest camper since that fateful night. She had flat out told Jamie that she had never felt so embarrassed in front of someone Luna’s age. Which was hilarious, because Luna couldn’t stop making “healthy sex life” jokes around her daughter with that knowing wink and nudge.Time to throw up.
Jamie was dropped off at the airport with nothing but her purse and the coat on top of her plain day clothes. Nevertheless, she waltzed up to the private counter that Etta always went to when they traveled, hoping that this was where she could get more information.
“Ah, Ms. Joy, so good to see you again!” Jamie never remembered the name of this receptionist, but she always remembered Jamie.It’s her job to remember me.Who knows. Maybe she actually likes me too.That would be something else. “Can I help you? Last minute travel plans, or would you like to make advanced arrangements?”
“Ms. Coleman told me that I was heading somewhere. Being her, I have no idea where or what plane I should get on. I figured you guys would be the best to ask.”
“Of course.” The receptionist kept smiling as she typed something into her computer. “Ah, yes, you are scheduled for departure outside Gate P1 inforty-five minutes. I just need your passport, and then Jeanette will escort you.”
As if they had rehearsed this, Jeanette appeared, prim and pretty in her navy blue uniform and purple scarf around her throat. Her impeccable makeup shone in the natural light of the private atrium as she and the receptionist checked Jamie’s travel credentials and escorted her to the tarmac, where Jamie fully expected to see a little plane and Etta waiting for her.
She did not see either.
The plane was a lot bigger than she was used to. Jeanette casually called it a “Gulfstream,” which was a name Jamie really knew. Not that she had ever flown in one before. Etta was rich enough to afford one, but she wasn’t in the airplane game. She had a few planes on standby depending on where she had to go, but they were all rentals. A Gulfstream was something Jamie still dreamed of experiencing.
Her eyes were too busy drinking in the large private jet to see who stood in front of it, wearing a fashionable black trench coat and sunglasses as big as her face. Adele lowered her phone and shut it off the moment she saw Jamie approaching. Out of all the women who had smiled at her that day, Adele’s was the most welcoming… and disconcerting.
“You made it!” She moved to kiss Jamie on the cheek, but the welcomed woman kept her distance.What is she doing here?“Well… wasn’t sure if she could convince you to come see little ol’ me at the airport.”
Jamie looked around as Jeanette approached the Gulfstream and helped the assigned stewardess open the door. The wind here was more than a little tumultuous, and while Adele was blessed with a bun on her head, it didn’t stop stray hairs from breaking free and tickling her face. Jamie was going blind from her locks whipping against her skin.
