chapter Thirty-Eight
“Can I see you in my office?”
“Yes. Let me finish this email and I’ll be right there,” Ari said as she pressed the intercom speaker and replied to her boss. With a few strikes of the key, she finished her work and sent the document.
Rising from her seat, she stretched her arms and smiled. Her job was boring, mundane and made her want to rush back into the classroom so she could do what she truly loved, but it was a great place to work.
She had amazing benefits, worked with good people and made enough money to take care of her mother and still have some left over for savings. She may be able to get back to school within the year. That was the best case scenario.
She walked down the long hallway and knocked on her boss’s open door.
“Come in, Ari. How soon can you get home and pack a bag?”
“Sir?” She’d been told that she may have to travel, but she’d assumed she’d get a lot more notice than, go pack a bag. She wasn’t upset about going somewhere, just the opposite in fact, thinking it would be nice to get out of town, anywhere other than the Bay area, but she had to pick up her mother, tell her how much she had messed everything up, and then hopefully pick up the pieces of her mom’s shattered heart.
“The CEO requested you for a business trip to New York. The jet leaves in two hours. A car is waiting out front to take you back to your place and then get you to the airport. Will that give you enough time?”
“Yes, of course, but I don’t understand,” she hedged. “How long will I have to be gone? Why would the CEO have requested me? I don’t think I’m qualified.” She trailed off at the smile on her boss’s face.
“Don’t look so frightened, Ari. This is a good thing. It means that you do such an excellent job here in the offices that the corporate officers have taken notice of you. This could end up being a big promotion for you. I don’t want to lose you here, but I’d never hold you back. If advancement is on the horizon, then you need to reach out and grasp it,” he said with sincerity. “Headquarters didn’t say how long you’d be gone for, but I think it’s a quick trip. Normally, they’d give a lot more notice than two hours if it was anything longer than a couple days.”
“I guess I can go then… I don’t know what to say,” she answered hesitantly as shock filled her. She wasn’t sure that she wanted advancement. What if the job ended up being wonderful and then she never went back to school? She didn’t want to settle for a job just because it paid well. She wanted to finish her education and do what she was always meant to do.
“You say a heartfelt thanks and then rush home to get ready,” he replied with a chuckle.
“Thank you, Mr. Avery. I appreciate your confidence in me,” she automatically replied.
He waved her off and she turned around and went back to her desk where she gathered her coat and purse and then made her way to the bank of elevators. It didn’t take long for her to reach the lobby, and then to step outside.
A nice Bentley was parked at the curb with a driver waiting at the back door. He immediately opened the door when he spotted her and Ari slid inside without saying a word. She hoped it was the company car and not a kidnapper, not that she’d be worth kidnapping. She didn’t have a wealthy family that could post ransom. She certainly didn’t have any kind of influence with the rich and famous. She was just Ari.
“Good afternoon, Ma’am. I have your address, here. Do you need to make any other stops before we arrive at your place?”
“No, but thank you.” The conversation ceased as they drove to her apartment. It was nice not having to fight the busy city traffic or take public transportation for a change. She could seriously get used to being chauffeured around.
They reached her apartment in about fifteen minutes and she ran up the stairs to throw a few items together. She hadn’t been told anything about the trip and was unsure what she should pack. She didn’t have any dinner dresses, so that was out. She hoped she wasn’t expected to attend anything formal. If that were the case, she’d have to do some shopping.
She wouldn’t like cutting into her savings, but she would be in New York, and it would almost be a shame for her not to do at least a little bit of shopping. Her optimism rose as she took a moment to think about it.
This could be a great trip. She’d probably be sitting in on meetings during the day, taking notes, and then typing things out. She found she was fast and efficient when dictating for her boss. Her nights were most likely her own to do with what she pleased. If they were going to be there several days, maybe she’d even be able to take in a Broadway play. The best part of all was that she’d be on the other side of the country – far from Rafe. She was still unsure what his surprise visit was about yesterday.
Ari made sure she had her I.D. and a few changes of clothes, and then she double checked all her windows, making sure they were locked. Her next task of business was to call the hospital. Her fears were assuaged when the doctor assured her that her mother wouldn’t be released until at least Tuesday. She’d have plenty of time to get home. Luckily, she didn’t have any pets to worry about, so she was back down to the car within twenty minutes.
“That was much faster than I’m used to,” the driver said with a smile as he again held open her door.
“I don’t like to waste time. There’s only so much to pack,” she said as she handed him her bag and then slid into the back seat. He stowed her luggage in the back, then came around and the car was back on the road within minutes.
Ari wanted to fill the silence with conversation, but she didn’t know what to talk about, so she just sat back and enjoyed the ride. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for seeing the view out the jet’s windows as they took off.
When the driver skirted the main airport, Ari grew concerned. Just as worse case scenarios began to play out in her mind, he turned down a connecting road and approached a private facility next door.
“Why are we here?”
“This is where the corporate jets are stored. They use a separate runway.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
“Right this way, please,” he said as he helped her from the car and then led her to the building, straight through and out the back door.
Ari gasped at the size of the jet in front of her. It was as large as a commercial aircraft. This had to be the wrong one. Private jets were small and sleek.
“Is something wrong?” the driver asked.
“Is that what I’m traveling in?”
“I know, it’s a bit large. I’ve always wanted to ride in her. It’s a 747, picked up right from the factory and converted into a beautiful private jet. It has a large master bedroom, two other sleeping quarters, a conference room, general meeting area, kitchen and two more bathrooms. If you’re going to travel, this is the way to do it.”
“Wow. I had no idea the company I work for had this kind of wealth. The offices are nice, but they’re not that nice,” she said with a whistle as she started to move forward again.
She missed the incredulous look he gave her. Had she stopped and listened to him a few more moments, she never would’ve stepped inside the jet, and then never been thrown the hardest choice of her life.