A shot of the Unexpected

Chapter 3 : The Family Business

As we pulled up to the hotel, I had made a list of ideas on how to shoot the scenery, Brazil was known for their beaches but their buildings were just as beautiful. As I walked into the hotel, the staff greeted me like a VIP and had welcomed me at the front door, I hated the treatment and I know why hate it? For me, it felt like I would never get away from the life my parents built up and I preferred the shadows to the limelight but it's hard to stay in the shadows when your parents were a power couple listed in the Forbes top 10. 

My mother Sophia Hayes, who I work for, owned a Travel Magazine called Traveloryx which had features for many different countries as their tourism guides. It had hit #1 in sales 5 years ago and maintained that spot. My father Calix Dukas was a Hotelier. He owned a Hotel chain called Summit Hotels. It had been in out family for generations and my older brother Keelan was next in line to take over. My parents had gotten divorced when I was 13, there was no hate between the two just too many differences to make it work, they ended their marriage on a happy note and are still friends. I mainly lived with my mother due to me being a teenage girl and then afterwards the whole career path thing. My father remarried a few years later and my stepmother Amara was sweet and kind unlike most step mothers depicted in fairytales. Amara was widowed and has one son; Adonsei. He was my older step-brother who I treated as if we had no blood differences. Sei was only 2 years older where as Keelan was 4 years older than me but Sei took care of me like I was his blood related younger sibling and we got along well. Keelan was the opposite and had fought with Adonsei a-lot when dad had gotten re-married. Over time Keelan warmed up to Sei and accepted him as family.  

The hotel I was staying in was one of my dads, so I knew that I would have to let the staff know to just leave my room be, as I would be there for two weeks and I would make sure to call down for anything. As I waited for the concierge to grab my room key, I felt someone standing behind me. Whoever it was, they were a bit too close for my comfort. As I was about side step at the front desk, a pair of hands wrapped around my waist. I screamed and turned in shock to see my brother Keelan. 

"You scared the bejesus out of me!" I told him as I smacked him in the shoulder. 

"What are you doing here Keelan? I thought you would be in New York if Dad was here."

"I needed to be here for the merger documents to be signed. He said as he smiled at me. 

"Sei is taking care of things in New York till I get back, it's good practice for him since he's going to be taking over the European division in a few years. Anyways I heard from Alex that mom sent you here for a shoot and I thought we could grab dinner. You always travel now, so I barely get to see you. 

"Says you, your always so busy even if I do visit, you have enough time for a "hi"and "bye" before ur caught up in more work! It's a miracle Allison is still with you." I retorted.

"Hey..." he started off but the concierge had cut him off. 

Ma'am, here is your key and your bags have already been brought up. The note has been added into the system about your room specifications, if there is anything else we can do for you please let us know. 

 "Thank you..." I quickly glanced at his name-tag "...Afonso." as I took the key, I turned to my brother "Lets meet at 9 in the lobby, I need an hour to shower and change and then set up my equipment."

"Ok, sounds good. I will let dad know as well. I have something that I want to get your thoughts on tonight. He said, he hugged me goodbye and walked towards the front entrance of the hotel.