Sweet Addiction

Chapter Five

"I can't believe you are leaving." Nicky cried quietly as she hugged me and refused to let me go. I patted her back and looked apologetically up at Brett. He didn't look happy either but what could I do. I needed this job, I truly did. For a moment, I shoved Adrian out of my mind and concentrated on what I was really going there for. I wanted to start working again. I wanted to feel useful and earn my own money instead of relying on others.

"I will call you guys the moment I land in Bakland," I told Wellie and Anna, who quietly observed me. I knew they were both annoyed by this but they were acting mature.

"Take care, Thea." Brett pulled me into a bone-crushing hug and placed a kiss on my hair.

"Come on, you guys!" I laughed trying to sound a little cheerful but my heart was breaking. "It's Bakland for crying out loud! It's only a couple of hours from here by plane. You can come one weekend and we can go clubbing, Bakland-style, right?"

They all pursed their lips while Nicky's mascara got smudged because of her tears. I heard the last call for my flight and hurried with my goodbyes.

"Bye!" I screamed as I rushed through my gate with my large handbag. It had everything I would need during the time I was air-bone, including The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh; a book that my mother had given to me for my birthday but it had been collecting dust in my apartment for the past four months!

"Good morning, Miss." One of the pretty-looking air hostesses smiled at me and took my ticket. Her smile faltered and her eyes snapped up at me before she turned back to the ticket.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked her. Adrian had Todd get me the ticket after he left for Bakland days ago with not so much as a goodbye.

The nerve of that man.

The only message I received from him was; See you in Bakland.

"No!" She quickly shook her head and pasted her smile back on her lips. "Your seat is this way, Miss." She took it upon herself to take me to my seat.

It felt awkward when I passed the economy class into the business class...but then we passed that too and I ended up in the less populated yet spacious and very impressive first class.

"Wow..." I muttered as the hostess showed me to my intimate corner which had everything including a large screen, all for me.

"Please, enjoy your flight." She grinned at me and walked away.

I wasn't very good with technology which made it even more puzzling as to why I was taking the job at a Digital Media company in the first place. I settled down and made myself cozy as I waited for us to take off.

Thanks to all the gadgets I learned to use on the flight, it wasn't unbearably long and boring. I made my way through the Arrivals corridors in the Bakland airport and came across a whole lot of people, several holding boards with names on them while others just watched and waited quietly. I witnessed heart-warming reunions of people who hadn't seen each other for a while. I smiled but I was a little nervous because I couldn't see any familiar face...

My thoughts trailed off when I saw a brand new face but he had a board with my full name written on it; Thea Marienne Claymont! I groaned softly as I approached the man.

"That's me," I told him pointing at the board.

He smiled warmly and he looked a little relieved. He had dark brown hair and gray eyes. He was young as he took my luggage "Welcome to Bakland. My name is Harrison."

"Thank you and nice to meet you." I followed him through the sea of people to the front where there was a sleek black Mercedes waiting for me. "The Bakland hospitality doesn't have boundaries, huh?"