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You Follow Me?

Talking to Connor calmed me down a bit. He's going to contact a lawyer colleague in Portugal who will get in touch with the airport authorities and see what they need to get Kay out of this mess. Despite his daughter being arrested, he showed a level-headedness that I don't possess. Although I managed to control myself quite well, I have to admit. In another situation, they would have taken me into custody along with my friend. I usually react very emotionally. Mary told me I need to be more rational. There are many biases that distort my reality—I won't list them all, otherwise, you might die of old age.

"I booked a suite for you at the Grand Hotel Açores Atlântico. I'll call you there once I know something if you still don't have battery," Connor said. "Don't worry, it's not the first or last time something like this happens. Soon, you'll be laughing about the situation."

"Thank you. Although I feel a bit guilty, I wanted..."

"Don't think about it anymore, Athena. Relax and enjoy the island. Katherine will be with you soon," he reassured me.

I think it'll be good for me to eat something in the room while I wait for news from Connor. I'm starving. Nerves are making my stomach growl, and I can get really cranky if I don't eat anything.

The damn phone being out of battery complicates getting to the hotel. When I don't have a private vehicle, I use Uber or similar services. Otherwise, taking a taxi can result in being taken for a ride around the entire island. It has happened to me more than once, and...

"You've got to be kidding me!" I exclaim as soon as I leave the airport and see a line of at least a hundred people waiting for taxis.

This is frustrating! I don't know what could happen next—I'm even afraid to imagine it, lest I tempt fate. Yes, I know this isn't a rational way of thinking. I'm still not able to automate it. I'm just getting started with all of this!

"Hey, do you need a ride?"

I look to my right and see the same guy from before as he opens the door of the car he's in. What's wrong with him? Does he think I'll just go with him like that? I don't know him, and I don't even know if he's really in an Uber or if this is some Machiavellian plan to kidnap me. I don't have a Liam Neeson, or even Kay, coming to rescue me if that happens.

He let me use his phone, great. I'll be forever grateful for that, but that's it! C'est fini! È finito! ¡Este es el fin! Owari! Is it clear?

"Why would I go anywhere with you?"

"Sorry, if you prefer, I can leave it and order another one. My airline hired him to take me to the hotel," he says, showing me two printed papers with the hotel and vehicle reservations.

Let's rationalize, as Mary asks of me. Is there a possibility that all of this is a setup? Yes, but it's highly convoluted. True, I wouldn't be his initial target—he couldn't have known I was coming to the island—just a coincidence. Nevertheless, his kindness is very suspicious. If he intended any harm against me, he would be the dumbest criminal in the world. Everyone knows who I am, and I have numerous spotlights and resources that would complicate any plan he might have as a delinquent.

Apart from the potential risk to my safety, there seems to be an interest in helping me. Does he want to flirt with me? He has a ring on his ring finger, although that doesn't mean anything—countless married men have tried to make advances on me. If that's his goal, he's out of luck. I have a postgraduate degree in fending off creeps. Could it be that he simply wants to help me? No. He's after something. I don't believe in pure philanthropy. There's always an ulterior motive.

"Why are you helping me so much?"

Being direct usually helps me. If I don't like his response, I'll send him away and gladly wait for my taxi. I already have enough problems, and I don't need to add another one.