Mr. Lawson's Assistant

Chapter 21

I stepped out of the taxi, after I paid my toll, and eyed the large airport in front of me. I hadn't been on a plane since I flew down to this city to get away from my step-dad. Exhaling, I made my way inside, printed my tickets, and headed to wait by my gate for the flight to Cape Trent. About an hour after I arrived, the invitation for first class passengers was extended, and I made my way onto the plane, along with the other first class customers.
I wonder if first class is any nicer than regular seating...
I thought to myself, entering the plane, and glancing around at the seats. Trying not to gape when I saw the seat I had been assigned, I slowly took my seat, and settled into the comfy chair. The setting of the seat I was currently in, was much more relaxed, and lush than any plane seat I'd ever ridden on. Actually, I didn't even know they made airplane seats this nice! I was excited to start the trip.
Feeling like a little kid, I smiled when the flight attendants ushered the rest of the crowd in politely, and offered us their names while seating the rest of the first class passengers.
"I guess that means I don't get the window seat."
I froze.
Turning, I looked up to see Damon Lawson half-smiling down at me, while a flight attendant stored his carry-on over my seat. Every thought in my head spun into chaos. Damon sent a dashing smile in the direction of the flight attendant, and took his seat, all while I sat there, shocked to the core. Slowly, my thoughts started to make sense, and my blood started boiling in my veins. 
"What are you doing here?!" I exclaimed, quickly finding my tongue. Damon buckled his seatbelt calmly, glancing over when he was finished, as if I had asked a stupid question.
"Taking you to Cape Trent, where my house is." He raised his eyebrows, and immediately I realized what was happening.
"Oh, no." My jaw locked, and I reached for my seatbelt. Damon reached over and grabbed my wrist, as the pilot came over the intercom, telling us to buckle our seatbelts and prepare for our two hour flight. "Don't touch me." I spit, jerking my hand away from him, and fumbling for my seat belt.
"It's too late to get off, you're going to have to wait until we land." Damon told me, and I mustered up every ounce of anger inside me into one long glare, as the plane started moving towards the runway.
Finally I burst. "You tricked me!" I accused, but Damon shook his head.
"No, I didn't."
"Your brother never said you were coming with me; had I known, I'd never have set foot on this plane!" I grit my teeth, fisting my hands, and shifting all the way over towards the window.
"I imagine that's why he didn't tell you." Damon retorted.
I wanted to shove my hand down his throat.
The plane began picking up speed, and within moments, we were soaring high above any escape route I might have had. I was murderous.
I ignored everything Damon said or did for the entire first hour of our trip, but, unfortunately, after the first hour, I needed to use the bathroom.
When I stood up and unbuckled, Damon just glanced up at me in mock innocent confusion.
I would have rather forcibly shoved his legs to the side, but I wasn't stupid, so I asked him to move.
His brother is the reason I'm in this mess, why didn't he come instead?
I angrily sulked in the bathroom, as long as I could, before returning to my seat to sit down. I would have stayed in the bathroom the entire res of the plane ride, if it didn't smell so bad, and if I couldn't feel every single jolt and twist that the plane made.
Damon didn't attempt any more conversation with me for the next hour, rather he resorted to flirting with the young flight attendant. She then found herself serving us- him drinks every ten minutes after that.
"I'll be back when you're finished." She smiled, and Damon returned the favor, winking at her as she left. I gagged to myself, at the thought of being played so easily.
I hadn't known it was possible for me to suddenly hate someone so much.
For what?
Having to stay in a house with a total stranger- for two weeks!
Pulling out my phone, I used the plane's WiFi to send a message to David, but before I hit the send button, I hesitated.
There was no way I could willingly put his life in danger, just because I was upset about my situation. If worst came to worst, I would stay in a hotel nearby for two weeks, and request different seating on the plane. Shoving my phone back into my carry-on, I lay back against the seat and tried to focus on falling asleep for the rest of the hour.
*
I woke to a sudden grinding underneath me, and upon flinging my eyes open, I realized that we were landing in Cape Trent.
"Good morning, sunshine." Damon chuckled, when my face soured at the thought.
I ignored the urge to slap him across the face, and focused on getting my things together for the exit. Within the next ten minutes, I was moving down the plane ramp, and into the airport, trying to lose myself in the crowds of people, as I searched for the correct door. The text I had recieved from Mr. Lawson said that the rental car would be waiting at parking lot A.
Finally, I found the right door, and made my way into parking lot A, searching for lot number thirteen. I reached the lot after briskly walking up and down a few rows, then stopped to gape at the car in front of me. A beautiful, blue Corvette sat before me, shining under the humid southern sun.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Damon came up behind me, pulling a single suitcase behind him, and sporting a pair of sunglasses.
My mood was instantly ruined.
"What? Does my presence upset you that much?" He smirked, clicking the keys, as the trunk glided open. Setting my suitcase inside, I glared at the side of the car, before I pulled open the door and climbed inside.
I ignored the posh interior of the car, and focused on the window, while Damon slid into the driver's seat. I didn't plan on staying at his house- wherever it was, but I needed a ride into whatever town it was in, so I could find a hotel. I knew that if I told Damon of my plan to stay somewhere else, he would refuse, so I said nothing. After a while, I started checking my phone time, and realized that we'd been driving for over an hour.
Shifting sideways to glance at Damon I said, "Where are you going?" I muttered.
Damon smiled faintly at the road. "To my house." He answered, and I clenched my jaw.
"How much longer?"
"Ten minutes."
*
When we arrived, I realized that the house was nestled into its own private section of the never-ending sand dunes, with beach frontage. Unfortunately, though a few houses could be seen from the driveway, there was no town in sight.
Taking the key I had been given, I left Damon to get his own suicase, and stepped inside. The house was much smaller than the Lawson's actual home, but it was by no means small.
I was immediately impressed by the marble floors, white furniture, and big windows, as I climbed up the winding staircase to the main level. The kitchen was primarily white and black, and it was relatively the same shape and size of the kitchen at the Lawson's other home. The dining room consisted of a glass table, and four chairs, sitting centered so that all who were seated could face the giant glass wall that covered half of the main room's far wall. I could see the ocean from where I stood at the head of the staircase.
I observed the living room. The white, beachy furniture fit well with the airy, costal theme that flowed throughout the house, and I noted that there was no TV. My observations were cut short when I heard Damon climbing up the stairs behind me. Moving past the kitchen and down the single hallway, I came to the second bedroom on my right and stepped inside. I would have gone into the first, had it not been decorated and furnished like a man's room.
This room was painted a beautiful sea green, with seashells and little trinkets littered over the two or three shelves that lined the walls. There was also a bookcase that was neatly arranged beside the balcony doors. The little balcony that looked out over the western sand dunes, practically sealed my decision to stay here...that and the idea of walking however many miles it was to find a hotel. To top it off, in the middle of the room, there was a queen-sized bed.
Sighing, I carted my suitcase over to the tan dresser to the right of the bed, and began setting my things neatly into the drawers. When I was finished unpacking, I dressed into a pair of sporty shorts and a breezy tank top, hoping to go explore the beach. All thoughts of leaving for a hotel had left my mind.
I stood beside my door until I heard Damon shut his own room door, before I headed down the hall, and down to the main entrance. Circling the house, by means of the gravel pathway that was in place, I began the short walk to the beach. As soon as the gravel turned to sand, I pulled off my shoes, and sank my toes into the warm sand. Inhaling a breath of the salty air, I admired a seagull overheard, before I took off at a jog towards the waves. The minute the bubbling, cold water hit my feet, I let out a small squeal and dove backwards, not expecting the cool tempature that swirled over my warm feet. Laughing at myself, I stepped back into the water, holding my breath, as another wave brushed it's way around my ankles, and I felt a sharp shell dig into my foot. Bending down to grab the shell, I jumped when I saw that it wasn't a shell, but rather a crab.
"Careful, those things can seriously hurt."