RUNAWAY

/ 59 \

💪HERCULES💪

After Ax left, I managed to sleep for another ten minutes before I woke up on my own. But it was fine. Since there was a mountain of tasks and a short window to complete every one. I dressed and checked on the girls before going to the prospect's bunkhouse. Before I woke the last four up, I noticed that Ax had left me with Reiko, Sunny, Mick, and Cruise. I checked my watch and counted down the seconds until their alarms rang. I watched as they simultaneously popped their heads up like meerkats in a nature documentary. They sold the image by scrambling around, as if there was a predator at their den. I couldn't hold back my laughter and left for the kitchen to give some privacy to dress. In the kitchen, I grabbed the spreadsheets I made the night before. By the short time it took to assign names, I heard footsteps. I straightened my back and crossed my arms as the four young guys stepped inside. The four lined up like soldiers,behind the large island, quietly waiting for orders.

"You've all heard an important guest is arriving today. They're set to arrive sometime this morning. So I shouldn't have to stress how crucial it is that we work quickly and efficiently. Understood?"

"YES, SIR."

"Good, here's your assignments."

"VP, sir," Mick raised his index finger.

"Yes?"

"What time will the guest arrive?"

"I don't know yet, but I know that generally, you have to wait forty minutes to an hour before boarding. Plus, from the location their flying to here is an hour and a half if on schedule. I'm thinking we roughly have about two hours to complete our tasks. Once Prez texts me, I'll let you know."

"Okay."

( ( VBBRRR ) )  ( ( VBBRRR ) )

I took out my phone and saw a text from Ax.

      5:13
<ME>
morning
love

      5:15
<AXBABE>
Ver's plane
lands @ 7:30

5:18
<ME>
goodmorning
OK

we'll be

ready

5:21
<ME>
how's her
room
coming

     5:24
<AXBABE>
good
everything is
going smoothly

      5:26
<AXBABE>
thanks for
the snack

5:27
<ME>
xx

      5:28
<AXBABE>
xx

"Mmhuukkk, Prez, said our guest's flight lands at seven-thirty."

"As we don't have time to eat, grab a granola bar." I slid the wooden basket towards them after grabbing one myself.

"Cruis?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Deliver this basket to Prez and the other prospects."

He nodded and hopped to it. The others quickly dispersed after him.

💪💪

For the past hour and a half, while the prospects cleaned and organized, I slaved in the kitchen. I made breakfast for everyone and left it crockpots to keep it warm. I organized hotdogs and hamburgers, made marinade for steaks, and chicken wings. As we'd planned to grill out to welcome Ver. After I set the meat in the garage fridge, I worked on the sides, cole slaw, potatoe, and macaroni salad. After I finished, I sat at the bar for a quick break, exhausted from all the cooking. At the time during Ax and I's decussion over the food, I'd offered to handle desert. However, Ax insisted on ordering a few sheet cakes and ice cream. As he was worried, I wouldn't have time to make everything. At the time, I felt a little wounded. I'm supposed to be his superman who gets IT done. But now that I've cooked the food, it would've been too much to bake as well.

6:30
<ME>
I'm so
fucking
grateful u
ordered cakes

I put my phone down and gulped down a glass of iced coffee.

( ( VBBRR ) ) ( ( VBBRR ) )

      6:33
<AXBABE>
yeah?

     6:34
<AXBABE>
how much
did you get
done

6:35
<ME>
all the
food

     6:36
<AXBABE>
good job
babe

     6:37
<AXBABE>
I'll reward
you tonight

6:38
<ME>
can't
wait

I got up and slid my phone into my pocket as I exited the kitchen to check on the prospect's work.

💪💪

==========

💄VERITY💄

Now that the plain was soaring, the fasten seatbelt logo lit up and dinged. I unbuckled myself and relaxed my position. I adjusted my neck pillow and took out of my tablet to settle in. As I was browsing KISSKH, one of the four flight attendees haulted their cart at my aisle. I patiently waited as there were two older ladies ahead.

"And for you, ma'am?" She asked with a warm smile.

"Ginger ale, please."

"Coming right up."

I returned to browsing till I settled on a Kdrama Gin had been begging me to watch, but I'd begged off. Honestly, I tapped on it because it was the first drama that popped up on the list. The synopsis said it's about a female surgeon and male captain and team leader of a particular team. Each episode is an hour, which is a welcome relief from boredom.

At least now you can tell her you've watched at least one episode.

About twenty minutes in, I'm actually into the plot, but I have to pause it. As that same stewardess is back. I impatiently take my drink and settle into action. However, fifteen minutes later, a different stewardess pulled up with the snacks. I opened the peanut and pretzels and chowed down as the drama unfolded. Almost thirty minutes later, another stewardess came by with only a trash bag. Ten minutes later, the above panels dinged and git everyone's attention.

"This is your captain with a quick flight update. With your cooperation and clear skies, it looks like we'll be on time. On the dot."

After the announcement, I decided to scroll through social media. As the flight had half an hour till landing. At ten minutes before the thirty minute mark, the overhead seatbelt symbol flashed and dinged. I put my tablet away and buckled in for the decent.

Thirty minutes later, we'd landed and able to get off the plane. With my tote, I navigated past the terminal gate and TSA to the train. The train took me to the connected section of baggage claim and check-in point. After I was let out, I took the escalator to go down to the main floor.

💄💄💄💄