Free Fallin {An Owen Grady Lovestory}

Cold Beer and Chips

I looked around the suite and grinned. It was so huge and beautiful. I had an entire kitchen and a living room to myself along with two bedrooms and three bathrooms. I didn't even need any of this stuff but it being there made me glad.

I kept my suitcases down in a corner and raced towards the bedroom. I jumped on the bed and laughed as I bounced from the softness of the mattress.

"Man, this is the life" I said and looked up at the ceiling with my arms spread around me.

I was in a penthouse suite on a beautiful island amusement park.

Things couldn't get any better although recounting my conversation with Claire, they sure could get worse.

I decided not to think about that now. It would only ruin my day. So I thought of the amazing monorail ride and the adorable dinosaurs and the guy I bumped into.

I know he ruined my shirt and all but I really really hope I bump into him again sometime soon.

The phone in my room rang and I hurriedly picked it up. It was a man named Lowery.

"Hello, is this Alyssa?" He asked.

"Yes...how may I help you?" I asked and realized how hungry I was.

"Miss Dearing told me to inform you to arrive at the Raptor Paddock at seven in the morning"

"Okay" I said and hung up. That was kind of early for paddock reconstruction but I wouldn't be agruing with Claire about it.

I hopped over to the mini fridge and it was stocked with cold beer and chips.

"Thank heavens" I said and finished off three packets and one bottle before I finally went to bed.

A loud sound woke me up. I scrambled out of bed and went to my door. A woman was standing there.

"Ma'am was wondering why you hadn't arrived yet" She told me.

I looked at the time. I had overslept. Really? First day of work and I forget to set my alarm?

I was so predictable and cliche.

"Shit, just tell her I'll be there in twenty minutes" I said.

She gave me a skeptical look and I corrected myself "I'll be there in five minutes"

I had no idea how I got ready so fast and just threw on the simplest clothes I could find. I didn't have time to find an outfit to impress Claire.

Obviously, I had trouble locating the Raptor Paddock and wandered around for ten minutes before I asked someone where it was.

"Hello Claire...I had a good sleep. Yes? Thank you, I'll be sure to do that. I know I am wary of dinosaurs but I promise for it not get in my way" I practiced to myself while approaching the place. Hopefully, things would go good with her this time.

The Raptor Paddock was becoming visible and I realized I would have to meet Owen Grady. Damn it. How the hell was I supposed to impress him?

I hope he fell sick and wasn't able to meet me today.

"Miss Parker, I guess you don't have a concept of time management" Claire greeted me.

"Hello Claire. I...forgot to set my alarm" I said and looked down, embarrassed.

"Expected of you" She said "Now come on. I'll show you the paddock"
I looked at it. It was indeed very large. There were all kinds of bridges constructed over it. Nice idea.

There were four small containers which I suspect were there for the Raptors.

"So, what reconstruction does it need?" I asked Claire.

"Well, tell me do you like it?" She asked.

I was thrown by her question. Did she just ask for my opinion?

"Of course, it's very convenient. The bridges seem safe and stable. I'm guessing they are there to feed and train the raptors" I said and looked at Claire who gave me an approval nod.

"The doors seem a little rusty but work just fine" I said and looked at her again. She nodded.

"I have to fix the doors?" I asked.

"Yes, you'll have to be extra careful and precise with them" she walked towards me with her finger trailing the fence "The doors need to be safe"

"Understood. There are four containment cells, that means there are four raptors?" I asked and looked at her.

"Well Alyssa. You sure do know math. Congratulations" She smiled sarcastically.

I tried to ignore that and said "Do they have names?"

Claire huffed and said "How the hell do their names even matter to you? You're an enginee-"

"Charlie, Delta, Echo and Blue" Someone interrupted her.

"Owen" Claire said, not pleased at all to see this person. I turned around slowly, Claire had told me Owen was scarier than the Raptors and I wasn't in a hurry to face him.

I turned and felt a lightbulb go off in my head.

It was him.

The guy who had made me spill my drink yesterday.

He was wearing virtually the same clothes and he was looking intently at me.

I stared at him in disbelief and shock.

"Nice to see you again" He said, breaking the silence.

"You're Owen Grady?" I said after clearing my throat "The Raptor Trainer?"

"The one and only" He said and smirked.

I had excepted Owen to be some old creepy military dude.

But him? He was young and kind of cute.

I felt my eyes trail over his body. He seemed to be in pretty good shape, which made sense considering he worked with vicious dinosaurs.

"Alyssa?!" Claire yelled.

"What?" I said and broke eye contact with Owen to look at her.

"You stopped responding" She said and I felt my cheeks turn red.

Did this random guy I had never seen before yesterday really have that much of an effect on me?

"Sorry...I was thinking about the...paddock" I mumbled.

Claire glared at me for a minute more and then said "I have to go to a meeting, will you show her around Owen?"

He nodded and she walked away. I sighed in relief as Claire left.

She terrified me to no end.

"Alyssa, right?" Owen asked me.

"I'm sorry about that, I just get really flustered around Claire" I said to him.

He let out a chuckle which I couldn't help but notice was lovely.

"She does that to people, don't worry" He said.

"Yeah" I said awkwardly.

"Well, Alyssa. Do you want me to show you around?" He asked and extended his hand in a chivalrous gesture.

I took his hand and smiled "Sure"

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