The Urban Princesses: Pocahontas

Chapter 12

Ratcliffe's POV

"How long does it take to get me a coffee!" I demanded as Jerome rushed over and placed the cup on my desk.

"Finally." I grumbled, taking a long sip of the piping hot liquid. "Now, where is that land grant?" I looked around my desk.

"Um, sir," Jerome said timidly. "we don't have a land grant."

I glared up at him. "What? I sent Thomas and Ben the other day to get the owners of that crappy summer resort to sign over the rights."

"Sir, they didn't agree to sign it over."

I rolled my eyes. "Why didn't anyone tell me this? Go send someone to actually get them to sign it over this time!"

He turned to walk out of my hotel room but stopped and turned around. "From what I've heard, Thomas got in a fight with one of the owners and they weren't too keen on signing it over, I don't think trying again so soon would help."

"Put Thomas on insulation duty," I grumbled. "that kid can't do anything right."

I'm not asking for much, only for able bodied, obedient teenagers who don't pick fights with every person they see, yet, that's what I always get. Nothing ever went my way. I had to do all of this work to try and beat the Marriotts and nothing ever worked out the way I wanted it to. Beachside hotel? No. A net worth that beat Marriott's? Of course not. Maids that spent their time cleaning instead of hooking up with customers? Unheard of. I had twenty five hotels across the country that are nowhere near I want them to be. I wanted to install a baseball field in my backyard but thanks to not being able to lock down this property, it will have to wait.

"There has got to be something they want to give the place up for." I stroked my chin as I thought. "Send a scout out there to check up on the place, but bring him to me first."

"Yes sir." He turned to walk out.

I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my eyes. My day has been so stressful. With calling the contractor and searching the menu for decent food here (you would think the Marriott had some good filet mignon), I'm totally drained. Honestly, the last thing I want to do is talk to one of my rugrats of a teenager to check up on a property I wanted. I just wanted to sleep.

"Yes sir?" The door to my room opened and in walked a muscular boy with long blond hair.

I wracked my brain for his name. "Joe," I sat up, clearing my throat.

"It's John." He corrected.

"John," I amended. "I have a task for you."

"Yes?"

"The property we have been looking at, I need you to go over and check if everything is running smoothly. If it is, light a canoe on fire or something, I don't know. Just something to scare the customers away." I grumbled.

"Excuse me?" He asked, taken aback. "You want me to sabotage them?"

"Ugh, I hate that word. I just want you to stir up the waters a little. Just don't be seen."

"No." He said.

I raised my eyebrows at him. "No?"

He opened his mouth to retort but closed it again and took a deep breath. "I mean, of course."

"Thank you." I muttered. "Even though you should be thanking me for putting a roof over your head and food in your belly."

"Thank you, sir," He said stiffly. "for all you've done for me."

I waved him off. "Leave. I need silence. And please, get the job done."

He nodded solemnly and walked out.

I really hoped I wouldn't regret sending him.

****

Pocahontas's POV

"Have you seen John lately?" I asked Natalie, looking around the cafeteria for him.

She smirked, raising her eyebrows. "Why? Have you been flirting?"

The color drained from my face and I quickly covered up my nerves with a scoff. "Are you kidding me? No, of course not." I was a really terrible liar.

She squealed and clapped her hands. "I knew it! When you get married some day, thank me."

"Natalie! I'm not marrying him, I barely even like him."

She rolled her eyes. "Then why are you looking for him?"

I glanced over her shoulder at a blond haired kid that I thought was him. "Science question. We're lab partners."

"So were Edward and Bella-"

I put my hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "I don't like him! I need to finish my science homework!"

I wished that I was wrong. It was the far opposite of not liking him. After laying in bed for three hours last night thinking about him, I found exactly zero things about him that I didn't find appealing. Everything about him was perfect, at least for me. He was the perfect guy for me and I don't want to miss out on a perfect guy, even if it was only for a few more months.

But I haven't seen him since we kissed on Friday and I was worried I scared him away or something, it's Monday. He hadn't been answering my texts and I was nervous, maybe for the fact that he might be hurt or the fact that he didn't like me. I tried to brush the latter thoughts away, maybe it was just the boys messing with him still.

"If you see him, will you tell him I'm looking for him?" I asked Natalie.

She nodded, looking concerned. "Ok. I will."

I muttered a thank you and the bell rang as I headed reluctantly to science.

The table seemed empty without him there, which made me nervous. He hadn't missed school since it started and I can't help but feel like this is all my fault.

It's just a boy, Poca I tried to convince myself.

The bell rang and my heart sank as I began to worry even more about him, but tried to divert myself towards the lesson on the board.

I was fully immersed in the notes when the door opened and everyone's attention turned to it except mine as I scribbled down notes.

"Mr. Smith, do you have a pass?"

My eyes grew wide as I stared up at the door where John stood stoic.

"No, sorry. I overslept." He muttered, walking quietly towards our table.

I took my bag off his chair and pretended to be focusing on my notes when really I was focusing on him.

He was a few feet from the table when he turned and went to the back of the class, taking an empty seat at the back lab table.

This shocked me and I turned around, looking at him. He quickly averted his gaze from mine and scribbled down some notes.

Was he ignoring me? What was wrong? Was I a bad kisser? Did I do something?

Right now, the perfect guy didn't seem so perfect, and I was determined to find out why.