Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 117

"Do you mind if we just leave? I'm sorry about the mess, but I need to go. It's important."

"Yeah, man," Dillon said. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I said. "I'll tell you about it later."

"John's out front with the car, but he says the mob is still out there. The other two are prepping to clear a path for you," Chloe said.

I fist-bumped Dillon and gave him an appreciative smile, and then we made our way to the front.

"Cool. Just a heads-up," I said to my bodyguard, my voice low as I kept a vigilant eye around the room, but I couldn't see any sign of my would-be assassin. "Some guy just tried to pull a gun on me in the bathroom."

"Fuck," Chloe cursed under her breath. Her hand disappeared underneath her jacket.

As we approached the door, I gave her a brief account of what happened in the men's room, not skimping on any of the details. Erin and Helen had stressed the need for Chloe to have as much information as possible, and now was starting to understand why it was so important. After what just happened, I'd probably let her watch me take a piss

When we reached the front, Chloe muttered to the man she called Ray, "We have a broken arrow. Target's MIA. Male. Roughly six feet. Scar on his face and wearing a brown canvas jacket. He's armed. Just get him to the car."

I thought my bodyguards were professional before, but the speed and efficiency with which they moved showed me that I hadn't seen anything yet. Between all three of them, every step and movement was calculated as they exited the Strange Mudd. The two men flanked me, keeping their hands hidden under their Jackets. Chloe was in front, firmly pushing any paparazzi back who tried to get too close as she escorted me roughly thirty feet to where my car was idling with the other John sitting in the driver's seat.

Within moments, Chloe was in the car with me, and we drove away. The other two would follow behind in a different car.

"I shouldn't have let you go alone," Chloe said after a few moments of silence.

"It's not your fault," I said, though I supposed technically it was. I glanced down at my hands and noticed they were shaking. I suddenly felt lightheaded and laid my head back on the seat, shutting my eyes. The excitement and adrenaline must have been wearing off now that the immediate danger was over.

"It's one hundred percent my fault," she retorted.

"You had your hands full, and I'm fine."

"That doesn't matter! There were four of us there, sir! If we'd done our jobs properly, at least one of us should have been in the bathroom with you. Instead, you got your ass pulled out of the fire by that brainless gold-sniffer, Carla fucking Tanaka."

She was right, but I could tell she was beating herself up over it, so there wasn't any point in piling onto whatever she was working through. I kept my eyes shut and tried to calm down.

"Where are we going?" John asked.

That was a good question. Between the ambulance chasers, the gold diggers, and the men trying to kill me, I wasn't sure where I would be safe from harassment, let alone murderers. My apartment? Sure, but couldn't stay there indefinitely. Chloe and Erin claimed the paparazzi would die down in about a week. While that wouldn't solve all my problems, it was a start. Maybe I needed a change of scenery to clear my head anyway

"Out of town," I muttered.

Tuesday 1:33 pm

"I don't understand why I can't just take first class."

Erin looked at me, her hands on her hips. "You're kidding."

"I'm not. The house is an extravagance, but I get it. This feels like a whole other level of being extra," I said, waving a hand around the interior of the private jet we were viewing. "Especially when I want to leave today. There has to be a lot that goes into buying a plane."

"Yeah. That's why brought the small army with us," Erin replied. "Test flight, inspection, appraisal, insurance, jurisdiction... I have it all covered."

She turned and stuck her head out the door. "We're going to be a little while. Mr. Upton wants to make sure it meets all his needs," I heard her say.

"Please! Take all the time you need!" our salesman, Sam, said from the steps just out of view.

"Thanks! I'm just going to shut this so we can get the full experience. I promise we won't take off or anything," Erin sing- songed that last bit and slid the door shut, cutting off what sounded suspiciously like sounds of protest from Sam. It moved similarly to the door on a van but much bigger and came with a massive handle that Erin had to move with both hands to seal it.

I glanced at Helen, and she smiled at the younger woman's antics. "She's right, you know. Aside from saving you time and a headache, it's safer."

Erin had suggested Helen accompany us for the purchase, and I agreed, though for very different reasons than what imagined Erin had. Helen's team was vital in this purchase, but was sure Vikram or someone else could have handled it for her. I wanted her there because I had questions that needed answers

"I know I'd feel a lot better about it," Chloe said, her arms crossed over her chest as she reappeared from one of the rooms just down the hall. After what happened earlier at the coffee shop, she insisted on checking every room before letting me explore the plane. So far, I'd seen the cockpit, a kitchen, dining room, den, massage room, bathroom with a jacuzzi tub, and two bedrooms. I was amazed private planes could hold all this and still manage to get off the ground but considering the weight of so many people on commercial airliners, maybe it didn't seem so outlandish.

"Yeah," I said. It's just between the apartment and the plane, it's a lot of money to blow in a week"

"Speaking of which," Helen said. "The company that owns the Liberty Elite building called back. They appreciate the offer but aren't interested in selling at this time."

"Damn," I said and walked past Chloe to look down the hallway she'd just emerged from. The door on the right opened to a nice bathroom that would have looked like one you'd find in a nice home if you didn't know any better. "Was the offer good?"

"Maximum appraisal value, Helen replied as she followed me down the hall,

"See if they'll accept fifteen million more," I said, walking into the largest bedroom I'd seen on this plane. The entire plane was set up to show off like an open house, and the bed had been made with a nice spread and decorative pillows. I tested the mattress, pushing on it with my hands. It was more comfortable than anything I'd ever slept on before two weeks ago.

"Why do you want to buy it?" Erin asked, following Helen into the room.