‘I’m not taking no for an answer.’ Isa’s beam is so huge it’s like it’s a dream come true that our inbound was walloped by a bird strike.
Nyla slides her phone in her pocket. ‘What time does it leave?’
‘When we get there. Probably in like an hour. You guys go ahead. I just need to check out and we’ll meet you there.’
Nyla grins. ‘Great, see you there!’
Bloody wonderful.
Chapter 18
TIAGO
‘Why do you look nice?’ I accuse as we get in the car.
Isa unfurls her bangs from a roller. ‘I always look nice.’
‘Did you put red lipstick on in the bathroom just now?’
Adjusting the front of her hair, she turns toward the window at the 767s lined up in their parking bays. ‘Shut up.’
She smells nice too. Usually it’s sweatpants and a holey Dolphins hoodie for travelling, but today she looks like she’s about to go shopping in Paris.
‘Why isPeroniemailing me about working with you?’ asks JC, staring incredulously at his phone as the car eases into motion.
Oh shit.
Isa’s glued to a plane taking off like she’s never seen aviation before.
‘A couple of their guys were Leone’s guests at the race.’ It’s the truth – if you sub out Leone for Jules, with the ‘guest’ part organised by Isa. ‘We had a little talk after that Q&A I did in hospitality with my engineer.’
JC looks up. ‘What does “little talk” mean?’
‘They wanted to see if I’d be open to working together. What, was I supposed to sayno?’
‘No, I just… Why didn’t you say something?’
‘I didn’t think it would come to anything.’
‘Well tell me anyway. This is… pretty big, T.’ He sounds stunned and it takes everything I have not to grin like a petty kid. He didn’t think I could do it by myself butoh was he wrong.
The G700 comes into view, our family company Grupo Inmobiliario Cabrera and a Colombian flag emblazoned on the side in case anyone doubted my dad’s patriotism. There are two figures standing at the foot of the stairs. At first glance, I think it’s the pilot and a flight attendant, but something makes me do a double take, and it… It can’t be…
‘Noo.’ I turn to my unfaithful sister. ‘You did this.’
An angelic smile. ‘I did this – for you.’
‘Nice try. You did this foryou.’
She wiggles her head from side to side. ‘Yeah, you’re right.’
‘She’s not boarding that plane.’
‘Yes, she is.’
‘Who is that?’ asks JC as we cruise to a halt.
‘HEY, IT’S JULES BUTLER!’ yells Trey over his noise-cancelling headphones.
