Paragon

⊰❉⊱ 63 ⊰❉⊱

I should have called her.

The jet touched down on familiar soil. Vanilla was still in his seat rolling a piece of ice around a glass. I stared at the familiar skyline of glass towers and jumbled history. It was so different in my time yet so very unchanged. Industrialisation was a hard thing to shake off once it had you.

But those glass towers held a new familiarity in them now. One I very much liked.

In fact I could see part of the glass tower that held Quinn's old office in it. Our meeting was not ideal but the moments after that. Well...

"I won't keep you, immortal. The evening is yours."

I froze in my seat waiting for a trap. For the joke to come spiralling out or for a mortal to be thrown before me in challenge. But he simply sat there and crossed one leg over the other gesturing his hand out to the door.

"I'll be in touch."

Ah, there it was.

But to be honest. That was more than I thought I 'd get from Paragon tonight. And I had long ago recognised that you never look said gift horse in the mouth. I dropped my head in a short nod of appreciation.

"I am here to serve." I repeated for what must have been the dozenth time this week.

"I am sure you are." Vanilla drawled with a smile that showed teeth far sharper than I had seen the like of in immortality before. A shudder went through me without control.

I went for the door and passed the staff with a mumbled thank you.

A dark car waited for me on the tarmac. I could have run for it.

I opened the door swiftly and practically threw myself into it. The driver flinched ahead of me and greeted me with the usual script he had until–

"Ms Fletcher? Is that you?" Jamerson, my old driver widened his eyes in shock before a genuine smile took hold of him.

You really thought of everything didn't you? I thought, resisting the urge to check if Vanilla watched with that timeless gaze from his seat.

"Jamerson, you have no idea how good it is to see you." I answered genuinely.

He chuckled, "A long week, ma'am?"

"You have no idea. Please get me out of here." I chuckled with him, but meant it far more than he knew.

He nodded turning back with a smile and shaking his head.

"I thought that would be the last I saw of you. You left hastily." He added, glancing at me in his rear mirror.

I remembered the rushed flights. The extra large pay packets I'd given both my drivers. It was a farewell and respectful handshake. But I had to agree with him. Not a return I expected in the next decade at least. Then I remembered the orders I'd given to my staff.

"My apartment..." I ventured.

"All in storage I'm afraid."

I nodded expecting as much. Half, if not all of it was probably in my vault now–along with Quinn's. I winced.

"Miss Adams... her belongings were also stored whilst we were away weren't they?"

"Actually, Miss Adams had them returned the night before, ma'am. She used your card as verification."

"I'm sure she did." I grinned, shaking my head.

"Is that where we are heading, ma'am?"

I shook myself out of my thoughts, realising we had been driving aimlessly outside of London City airport for the last few minutes.