Over the Line

Chapter Eight

Remi stepped off the plane with her carry on on tow. She strategically packed everything in her suitcase and the backpack she carried as her personal item, so she wouldn't have to stop at luggage claim. She weaved in and out of other travelers making her way towards pick up. Jake had insisted on picking her up at the airport even though she argued that she could get an Uber.

She recognized him right away from his pictures on Instagram and from the sign that read Tatum on it. He must have printed it off beforehand because she could see the graphic design detail. What a nice touch, she thought.

"Remi, welcome to Dallas!" He threw his arms wide in welcome. Jake reached out his hand for a proper introduction and then took her suitcase to load it into the waiting luxury SUV.

"Thanks, it's so great to be here! And thank you for having me." She replied cheerfully as she took in his appearance. He was very attractive. He towered over her at six foot some inches, had a very strong jawline, an athletic build, and shining green eyes. Jake's style was on point as well. He wore fitted black joggers that hugged his butt, an olive green T-shirt that showcased tattooed biceps, and a pair of fresh white sneakers that probably cost as much as her plane ticket.

"I should be the one thanking you for coming on such short notice." Remi couldn't help but notice that Jake was checking her out too. 

Remi has opted for a more casual outfit to travel since Jake told her they wouldn't have any formal meetings when she arrived. She donned a pair of black workout leggings that accentuated her round hips and full butt, a modest tank top that was form fitting, and her favorite pair of white sneakers to complete the look. Her honey blonde hair had been an unruly mess that morning, so she threw it in a high pony and added some diamond studs for a pop. She knew she'd be meeting Jake when she got off the plane so she did her makeup conservatively. Remi felt a little self conscious under his gaze, but she refused to show it. Working with professional athletes and being around NFL stars she had to have confidence in herself and the ability to carry herself a certain way.

Noticing cars were pulling in and out of the loading zone around them, they both hopped in the SUV. Jake quickly maneuvered the car into traffic with ease that Remi admired. She'd sometimes get nervous if she was forced to drive in larger cities because she wasn't used to the pace with so many cars around her. They quickly fell into comfortable conversation talking about themselves, June, where they grew up, why they loved sports, and how they decided what they wanted to do.

Sometime later they pulled up outside of a fairly large estate on the outskirts of the city. "Welcome to my home. I should have asked you, but things will be moving so fast this week and we'll be all over the place I just thought you could stay in the guest house. I can find you a place in the city if that would make you more comfortable, it'll just be a lot of time wasted in the car."

"No this is fine." Remi assured him. Even though she didn't really know Jake, she felt comfortable around him. She had talked with June on the phone after visiting Yvette's new apartment and felt like she knew his entire back story now.

"Thank goodness. I want to take advantage of every opportunity we have while you're here. I know this is supposed to be an interview, but I already know you're the right person for the job. I just want you to have the same confidence." Jake explained as he pulled in beside another luxury SUV which Remi thought was a little odd for him to have two.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how you do things." She smiled and got her backpack from the back seat. She could already tell she was going to like working with Jake because he cut to the chase and was no nonsense. She appreciated a boss who was straightforward with her.

"I do have a very basic contract for you to sign. I'll obviously compensate you for your time here and any contributions you make, but also there's a level of confidentiality I have to maintain for my clients protection." Jake explained as he unloaded her suitcase for her.