Missing Gears

Chapter 3

Three weeks later, Gordon was walking down the streets of New York City. For someone who was going to be late, Gordon was incredibly calm. He had every right to be. It had been over a month since he had been kidnapped. Over a month that he had learned to look at the world even closer. To appreciate what the world was. Sometimes, however, it was better to look at the bigger picture. Gordon was so engrossed into his thoughts that he walked right into a young doctor. This event caused the young doctor's open book bag to fall to the ground, spilling its contents.

"I'm so sorry," Gordon said, immediately dropping to the footpath.

"That's okay, it's my fault for rushing everywhere," The doctor said. Her curly brown hair was tied in a ponytail which rested over her left shoulder.

"I should have been watching where I was going," Gordon apologised, handing the female her work. The female smiled. Both looked at their watches.

"I have got to go now," The doctor said "I'm going to be late," She started running.

"And so am I," Gordon muttered as he picked up his pace.

Stassia Aulman was running through central park at 4:30pm. She normally wouldn't run this late but because she had missed her morning run, she had to make it up somehow. Of all the days for a small problem with her electricity to happen – it had to be the one where she had a very important meeting. It was her fault that she didn't own a battery powered alarm clock. Sure she had her phone but Stassia liked the digital alarm clock her foster brothers had given her when she went off to college. It had become a bit of a habit. Luckily she wasn't the only doctor late to the meeting. Apparently there were a few others who had similar problems. Landlords. The song changed from a smooth classical to a classic rock song. The intro had her hooked in. And just like the morning, Stassia managed to bump into someone.

"We have got to stop meeting like this," A semi-familiar voice said. Stassia could hear the laugh in his voice. She saw the red hair and brown eyes. The very same red hair and brown eyes from this morning.

"I'm so sorry," Stassia apologised, taking her headphones out.

"It's okay, my brothers keep telling that I'd bump into something with my running," The man said "Glad it just happened here instead of back home," Stassia laughed a little. The man smiled.

"I'm Stassia Aulman," Stassia introduced herself.

"Gordon Tracy," The red head held out his hand. Stassia smiled. She accepted his handshake.

"So what's the good doctor doing out here in this weather?" Gordon asked.

"Missed my morning run,"

"From the way you bumped into me this morning, I would have counted that as your morning run,"

"Ha ha, very funny," Stassia rolled her eyes "What about you?"

"Just needed the exercise," Gordon said "No swimming pool here in New York for me to use. And my brother's fiancé thinks it would a good idea for me to run more often,"

"Well your soon to be sister-in-law is kind of right. Running does help with your swimming a lot," Stassia explained. Gordon smiled.

"She is always right," He said "When she gets all of the facts,"

"Sounds like you like her,"

"Of course I do. She's like a cousin to me. She baby sat me when my older brothers were busy with all sorts of things," Stassia checked her watch.

"I've got to get going," She said "If I want to make it back to my apartment before it gets dark,"

"I'll see you around Stassia," Gordon said "And thanks for not freaking out about my last name," A goofy smile appeared on the face of the red haired male before he started running off. And that's when it clicked. Stassia had just meet Gordon Tracy. The fourth son of the billionaire Jeff Tracy. The Olympic gold medallist, Gordon Tracy.