Chapter 12

The drive to the airport was unexpected. When Bo parked the Hummer some woman opened her door – obviously staff since she wore the same outfit as Bo did - and ushered her onto the backseat with a great show of courtesy. Sitting in the back of her Hummer in her working clothes was weird to say the least. But damn comfy. Her couch could learn a thing or two.

„Miss Dennis."

The door on the other side opened and closed as her Boss was sitting right next to the brunette. Pictures from that night in the cab flashed across her retina.

„Miss Lewis."

The blonde looked amazing as always. Her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders and her business suit just complimented her body in every way possible.

Bo was openly staring for a second or five. She just wasn't used to seeing her Boss in that angle and that close next to her. If the brunette reached out only a little bit their fingers would touch. But of course she didn't.

This other woman, the one that made Bo sit in the back, drove them to the airport. Bo's eyes twitched with every step on the gas-pedal. Too harsh.

She felt physically ill with every push of the breaks. Too hard.

And let's not talk about that this person, who obviously won her driver's license in some online lottery, drove way to close to other cars.

Bo's left hand was holding the armrest of the door pretty tightly and her thumb was stroking over the leather ever so slightly.

‚I am so so sorry.'

She had a silent conversation with the Hummer. Her car. They became partners over the weeks and one just didn't treat a compadre like that. Yes, she knew, she had made fun of that dude who gave her the keys that first day if work.

That dude that said ‚blah blah... end of production, blooh blooh… treat her like a lady.' But Bo did feel connected to that heavy steel horse. So, shush! That's how it was. One could change their mind, okay?

Bo could see the blonde watching her every now and then from the corner of her eyes. The brunette didn't once peak. She mentally patted herself on the shoulder for that. She also liked it that her Boss was looking at her.

Now she was wondering how often the blonde might have done that in the past. While Bo was in her cockpit. Maybe that rear-view mirror was their connection point.

They arrived at the airport and went through the big hall full of people. There was a very tall, very lanky, overly friendly young man who took their luggage and placed it on one of those airport wagons. He reminded Bo of Adam that boy in ninth grade. His name wasn't really Adam they just called him like that because he looked very much like that butler from the Adam's Family.

„No, thanks I keep this."

The man nodded when Bo kept a tight grip on her black backpack. The blonde was already a few steps ahead of them. And damn, what a view. Bo shook her head and needed to speed up her own steps to keep up with her Boss. Just now she realized they never actually went anywhere together by foot. Well, not ever since that one drunken night. Thanks images in her head. That was just what she needed to boost her pleasure center. Distraction please!

„Are we not going through security?"

Her Boss walked on.

„No, that is not necessary."

The brunette didn't know what to think about that. They arrived at the far end of the airport where another man was already waiting for them.

„Miss Lewis."

He tapped his hat and showed the two women the way through a heavy glass door. The Lewis company seemed to have their staff everywhere. Outside the sun greeted them with its warm beams. A heavy contrast of the air-conditioned airport hall. A small plane was standing on the tarmac. The logo on its side said L&L in big blue letters.

„A private jet?"

Bo whistled in awe. She had never been on a private jet or used anything else but economy-class. She felt little butterflies in her guts or maybe she just needed to pee.

After they climbed up the small gangway a stewardess greeted them with a toothy grin. Some people were better faking a smile than other's and this woman really needed to practice more. The blonde didn't give the impression as if she noticed or she just didn't care much. Bo didn't either. Care much. She just wasn't a fan of fake people in general. Rather be an ass but be your true self than that unreal personification of an avatar.

Her Boss sat down in one of the dark brown leather chairs to the left at the window. Bo wasn't quite sure where to sit or what to touch. Everything screamed money and she really felt put of place.

„You can sit next to me then I can brief you in."

The blonde pointed on the chair to her right.

Uh-oh. Again so close.

Bo sat down. She was a tit nervous. Not only because of the very small tin can she was about to be flying a few hundred meters above solid ground with. Not that she was afraid of flying or anything, she just respected gravity. She also had absolutely no idea what the next week would have in petto.

Aside from the two of them there was that toothy-grin of a stewardess, a business suit of a man with his head deep down in some wall-street journal on the other end of the plane and an older woman in a very colorful jumpsuit in one of the chairs on the right side next to them. Her curious green eyes where scanning Bo from head to toe and back.

The brunette shifted uneasily on her leather chair. After a few minutes the hope faded away that this bird of paradise – that's how colorful that jumpsuit was - would find something or someone else more interesting. Those green orbs were still glued on Bo, scanning her up and down.

„Why is she staring at me like that?"

Leaning sideways to her Boss, the brunette whispered while eyeballing the woman who was basically boring her gaze into the brunette.

„Why are you staring at me like that?"

Patience wasn't Bo's friend right now and the blonde didn't respond fast enough, so no fucks given the brunette took it in her own hands to find out.

A soft chuckle came from the brunette's left side. Sweet, sweet melody in the brunette's ears. For a second she forgot what she was so agitated about.

„She is taking your measurements."

Bo cocked her head so hard towards her Boss, her spine made a cracking sound.

„My what now?"

Confusion was written all over Bo's expression and her gaze was searching the blonde's face for answers. When a small smile appeared around her Boss' mouth and amusement was shining out of those hazel eyes Bo's question went into the back of her head and sat down in the waiting area like the rest of her rational mind. There was a time for everything and right about now it was time to relish those rare moments of watching those delicate features shifting from iron mask into expressively joie de vivre.

See? That's how to French. Or did that have a whole different meaning? Anyway, that's how one poetry-ed.

How she had missed this look on the blonde's face. Never would she ever admit anything like that but who cares about pride right now when Miss Lewis turned into Lauren in front of her.

Oh, boy, that Lauren.

„Your measurements. For your wardrobe."

„Ooooh."

A light dawned on the brunette. The dress-code. Bo had almost forgotten about that. But just, how could she think about anything when there was this humanized image of mother earth in all her glory looking at her like that. All sun beams and shit. Bo was almost melted into a puddle when she made out movements to her right.

„Hello, darling. I'm Petra the designer. I didn't mean to be rude."

The woman introduced herself with a wave. Bo snapped out of her dreamy state. She hated Petra for that. Although hate was a strong word. Especially because this Petra seemed to be a genuinely nice person. So Bo just swallowed hard to escort Miss Lust and Miss Longing from her tongue back behind the depth of Miss Self-Control.

„You could have just asked for my size, you know?"

A hearty laugh escaped the designer and with a shaking head she sat back down.

„Where is the fun in that, my dear?"

The pilot's voice filled the cabin telling them they would start soon. Bo put on her seatbelt even though she didn't quite understand why that was necessary. Let's be honest here, if they crashed what would a seatbelt help anyway? Protecting her from bumping her head while she would burn in her seat?

Bo wasn't afraid of flying! No! Why?

Even though the start went smoothly, the brunette lived through two mini heart attacks caused by air-holes deeper then the Niagara falls. No kidding, she had seen the waterfalls so she knew what she was talking about.

After another rather big sip of that Irish coffee in her hand the pressure in Bo's ears finally disappeared and her pulse found its way back to ‚okay' after being on ‚spinning class' for the past thirty minutes. Finally she could focus on the job at hand. The brunette had just ordered coffee with milk but by the color of Bo's face Petra purred a quite unhealthy amount of clear liquid into the brunette's cup.

Miss Lewis was already halfway into telling Bo how to use the calendar-app on Sally and what she needed to know about synchronizing hers and the blonde's schedule.

Good thing Bo was the queen of multitasking. She just couldn't stop looking at her Boss. Well, of course not all out in the open, straight into her face. Nah-ah! But very subtile. She was steeling glances every chance she would get.

As much as it loosened her up, the alcohol, it also morphed her into this staring creature again.

The way the blonde's long and elegant fingers moved over the screen and how her blouse was wrapped up all the way to the elbow and reviled that soft skin of her forearm. How those suit pants clung to these well formed thighs and the way those lips were forming the words that touched Bo's eardrums like a soft summer breeze swept through the leaves. Words that she didn't understand because she was way to focused on the growing excitement in her body.

„Now, show me what I just explained to you."

Oops. Multitasking much?

„Uhm."

‚Okay, concentrate. You can do this.'

„So, I push this and…"

„No."

„Okay, but if I go in here…"

„Did you not listen, Miss Dennis?"

„Yes, I did, I…"

„Okay, one more time."

Phew. This time Bo kept her eyes and mind on how to Sally.

After lesson how-to-synchronize and lesson where-to-write-notes they had a break. Snacks. Or what the blonde called snacks. Bo would call it a healthy-mouthful. There was a variation of fruits and vegetables and absolutely nothing that deserved the name snacks. If it had been deep fried vegetables like in potato chips, but they weren't.

Not that Bo didn't like apples and celery. Okay she really, really hated celery but the thing is she wanted sugar and a lot of fat and she didn't get that.

In between bites of what Bo didn't even know how to call that fruit she was just chewing on, but it tasted like a cocktail she liked so she was good, the brunette found out that she could push a button and turn her chair sideways.

Oh joyful, joyful.

Maybe that Irish coffee was really not the best idea.

„Where are we flying to by the way?"

Her Boss was working for almost an hour already and her head was nose deep in numbers and weird hieroglyphs Bo couldn't make head or tail of when she leaned over slightly here and there. With a frown on her forehead the blonde looked up from her tablet. It was also a Sampsons Galaxies just like Sally.

„Mhm? Excuse me, what?"

A pair of thin framed glasses adorned her beautiful face and she looked so freaking intelligent that Bo's libido started singing Ode to Joy in two voices.

„You never told me anything about the trip. There where and why. Was just wondering."

The small lines on the blonde's forehead softened.

„Oh, yes. Uhm, Paris. I have to meet with a few business owners that our company would like to invest in."

The brunette mouthed an ‚ahhh' but after the word Paris she didn't really hear what the blonde had said.

„You mean, Paris as in France?"

„How many Paris' do you know?"

Bo made a rough estimate of all the Paris' she knew and realized Disneyland Paris was still Paris in France so all in all the answer was one.

Her Boss had already continued to read, so the brunette just leaned her head back against the chair.

Paris. Awesome. She had never been to Europe before. There was this one trip to a miniature golf place where some European plastic monuments were standing around the course but that didn't really count.

Minutes turned into hours and at some point Bo felt a light touch of a hand on her left forearm.

„Miss Dennis, we have to get off the plane."

„Uh? What?"

Her mouth was so damn dry again. The brunette blamed the air-condition. Bo looked around and saw that her and her Boss were the only one left on board. Outside there was asphalt and buildings and lights that weren't the sun nor stars and Bo was sure they weren't flying anymore.

„What time is it?"

The brunette stretched her arms over her head.

„Four thirty in the morning local time."

„What the… Seriously?"

Wide eyed Bo turned towards the blonde who had an amused look on her face.

„What?"

„Nothing."

With that the blonde gathered her things.

„No, really. Why are you looking at me like that."

Laptop-bag on her lap her Boss looked back at the brunette.

„Do you know that you talk in your sleep?"

„What? I don't."

„You sure do."

„What did I say?"

A soft chuckle left her Boss when she got up and walked past a flabbergasted brunette.

„Hey… Wait a second. Why are you laughing? What, what did I say?"

But the blonde was already out of the plane. Taking a last sip of her lukewarm water standing on the table Bo grabbed her jacket and backpack and rushed after Miss Lewis.

The morning air was mild and the sun was painting everything in a light pink when they finally arrived at their hotel. L&L of course. Those people had their money everywhere.

Some staff folks took a hold on their luggage as soon as their car had stopped and Bo was walking into Godzilla two point O. The blonde just walked through the reception area to the elevators. It clearly wasn't her first time here.

The brunette just cracked a polite smile to the people she pasted while hurrying through the lobby. It was early in the morning, so there was mainly members of staff walking around.

One of the elevators pinged and the doors opened quietly. A young, very tired looking bellboy straightened up and pushed the button ‚loft' after the two women had entered. Their luggage seemed to take a different ride.

„Hi."

Bo addressed the poor, overly tired man, who threw her a fast smile and then continued to stare towards the steel frame.

An awkward silence ended with another ping when the doors opened and her Boss walked out into the hallway.

„Saved by the bell, huh?"

Bo tried to be nice but that dude just didn't respond.

Rude!

The brunette heard a clicking sound and saw the blonde waiting for her an open door in hand. They entered what must be the loft and holy f… unk what a loft indeed.

Bo's mouth fell open and her chin fell to the ground. Figuratively speaking.

Just saying. Not that her chin actually made contact with that nice, dark brown parquet floor. It didn't. This wasn't a cartoon and Bo not Wile E. Coyote.

There was huge TV to her left with a couch area bigger than Bo's apartment and a bar with every liquor one could dream of to her right. Across the room was a big dining table in front of the window front that showed off that amazing sun rise with glass from ground to ceiling and wall to wall, just like in Miss Lewis apartment. Bo stepped forward.

„Is that the Eiffel Tower I see over there?"

The blonde who was busy getting out of her suit jacket turned around to see Bo with her hands against the glass pointing out into the scenery.

„Uhm, yes."

Uhm, yes? That's all she had to say? They were in freaking Paris and could see the fracking Eiffel Tower from their – insert curse word – loft!

Their loft? Wait a minute.

„Excuse my question but where will I be staying?"

Her Boss was pouring some water in a glass by the bar.

„This…"

She nodded to a door to Bo's right.

„… is my room and yours is over there."

One of the blonde's fingers that was't wrapped around the glass close to her mouth was pointing to a door on the opposite wall.

For a second Bo's eyes weren't responding to her brain but stayed locked on those slightly wet lips. Bo blamed the early hours which was actually like what? 12pm in Toronto? Anywaaaaaay…

The brain won over those clingy eyes and made them follow the blonde's fingertip.

Wait a minute!

„So, we share this here?"

Bo's hands were circling around the room.

„Yes."

Gulp.

„I see."

A knock on the door stopped the brunette's train of thoughts. Bo walked over to open it. Their luggage arrived. The blonde took her suitcase and walked to her bedroom door.

„You should try and get some more sleep. There'll be an early business dinner at five this afternoon that I have to attend. We'll meet here at four to talk about the details of what I expect from you tonight."

Oh, Bo could think of quite some things she could…

‚No! No, no! Stop it right there.'

„Alright, I'll see you then."

And with that Bo almost stumbled over her own backpack that had somehow made its way on the ground when she picked up her suitcase. When the brunette finally entered her room and leant against the cold wood after closing the door she sighed heavily.

„Okay. So far so, oh my god a mini bar."

She stepped forward and went through the different drawers and doors of the not-so-mini bar. She felt hungry. She hadn't eaten anything but that weird fruit-thingies in the plane. Her heart jumped happily when in drawer number two a variation of chocolate bars and chips bags were staring back at her.

„Sorted after names. I'm a little bit impressed."

The last time she saw chocolate sorted after names was like never. Chocolate usually didn't survive as long for it to be sorted in any way. What? She had a sweet tooth. Well, actually something like a sweet tooth didn't exist and she was very disappointed when she found that out as a child.

She had always thought that a sweet tooth was some kind of small storage for emergencies and growing up there were a few occasions where she would have killed for a sweet tooth like that. Maybe not killed killed, she wasn't going to jail for chocolate but they had a very close relationship.

After enjoying two salty-caramel chocolate bars a small pack of salt and pepper chips and a handfull of winegums she had found in drawer number three, Bo stretched out on her kingsize bed.

„So much space, uh!"

Turning her head sideways, she looked out of a big window front just like in the main area.

„The freaking Eiffel Tower! Unbelievable."

Sliding don't from the mattress, she was kneeling in front of her suitcase and opened the zipper.

On top of her clothes was her pillow. She always, always needed her own pillow. One never knew what one got and she was rather safe than sorry. No need for a stiff neck when she could be one step ahead.

After throwing that fluffy sun-of-an-Ikea store on that goddess of a sleeping accommodation, Bo found her favorite shirt and shorts and with her toiletries underneath her arm she went into the bathroom attached to the room.

A shower, some tooth brushing – sweet or not she wanted them clean – and a big sip of water later, Bo fell into bed. Sally in hand Bo waited for the alarm to go off to wrap it into that towel she brought from home. The brunette just wanted to be sure to not lack a cloth.

„What. A. Day!"

She breathed into the dark room. Bo had found that same screen on the wall like she had seen in Miss Lewis' loft and was searching for that button to turn the windows into a black wall. After pushing one button that turned on a side-lamp and another which switched on some classic music the brunette was lucky to find what she was looking for.

Now all her sleep fogged mind could think of was how good the sheets felt on her skin and how well her body sank into that memory foam of a mattress.

Her old alarm clock was set and standing on the bedside table. The small clock-hands were fluorescing back at her. Yes she had brought that as well. No one would want to oversleep on their first day of work.