Julia woke up and smiled as she realized she was in bed. She stood and walked out of the bedroom into the main cabin feeling refreshed and replenished. She could see that it was daytime as the sun shone through the window.
"Morning sleepy head", said Connor as she sat down across from him.
She smiled, and it brought a smile to his face.
"Wow. I haven't slept that good in a long time. How long was I out for"?
Connor looked at his watch. "More or less 16 hours".
Julia's smile was replaced by a look of confusion. "What are you talking about, we're still in the air. If I've slept that long, we should already be on the ground in Paris".
She looked at her watch and saw that the date and time had indeed changed.
"You're right, we're still in the air, but there is only one slight problem, we're not on route to Paris".
"What's going on Connor"?
He pointed to the video console and screen. "Take a look for yourself on the map".
She turned it on and pushed on the map icon. She blinked a couple of times as she saw they were nearing Thailand.
She started to laugh. "Ok, Marcus, very funny you guys. I actually almost fell for it".
Connor leaned in over the table towards her. "Julia, look outside the window down below".
She leaned in towards the window and looked down. There was nothing to see except water. She was smart enough to know that with so much sunlight, they shouldn't have been over ocean if they were indeed headed for Paris.
She stood immediately and took a step back. Had Connor decided to go rogue himself and in turn kidnap her? Had he been in it this whole time with Cross and wanted to finally get the money they had never received. She was starting to panic.
Connor stood and smiled.
"Julia everything is fine, I need to explain a few things but let me reassure you, I'm not kidnapping you".
She lifted an eyebrow.
"I know you Julia, I know what you're thinking". He showed her the seat again with his hand. "Please sit".
She glanced in Marcus' direction and he seemed totally calm and gave her a broad smile. Maybe she was overreacting. She sat back down.
"Look, I know these past few months haven't been easy for you and I know how you feel about Bishop".
"And let me guess, you think it's pathetic and I'm out of my mind hanging on to something, someone who apparently doesn't care about me".
Connor went inside the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out an envelope.
"Here", he said as he held it in her direction.
"What is it"?
"Take a look for yourself".
Julia took the envelope, trying very hard not to show that her hand was shaking. She still wasn't 100% convinced that this wasn't a kidnapping.
She opened it and took out its contents.
She looked at the piece of paper she was holding in her hand. "It's a check".
"Tell me what's written on it".
Julia bit her lip. "It's for 5 million dollars and made out to Arthur Bishop". The same amount of money her father had paid him to watch over her.
Connor gave her another envelope and she mirrored her action with the first envelope.
"And this one"? asked Connor.
"A check for 25 million dollars, made out to Arthur Bishop".
She looked at Connor. "What is this"?
"That", said Connor leaning back in his chair, "is the amount of money your father offered Bishop at the hospital, so he'd walk away and out of your life for good".
Her initial response was anger. How could her father do that!? How could he meddle in her life? How could he offer money so that Bishop would walk away? She looked at Connor.
"How come you have these"?
Connor smiled. "After Bishop left the waiting room, your father asked me to make sure he would leave, and I did. Bishop handed me both checks saying that he could care less about the money. That it may have started out as a job, but all that changed very quickly. Even if there was little doubt in my mind, it was then that I realized that he was truly in love with you. He told me to keep them until the time was right".
Julia looked at the checks in her hands and her heart started pounding. So, she hadn't been wrong about how he felt about her. But it still didn't resolve the problem of where he was. She looked at Connor who smiled contently.
"You know where he is don't you"? asked Julia impatiently waiting on his response.
Connor leaned in over the table and gave her a side smile.
"Why do you think we've been flying for almost 20 hours and heading to Thailand? For you to get a suntan? Hell no, there are places you can do that in Paris".
Julia said nothing, but she could feel her eyes getting teary. Bishop had sent for her and the weight and darkness she had felt these past two months seemed to suddenly lift.
"First, we've got a few things to go over", said Connor. He waved his finger in Marcus' direction. Marcus joined them with a plastic bag and handed it over to Connor.
Connor pulled out a few things and placed them in front of Julia on the table.
"This is your new passport. It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Emily Grayson".
Julia took the passport and looked at it.
"Driver's license and credit cards as well".
"I don't have a bank account in that name, what good would credit cards do"?
Connor placed a paper in front of her. "You do. Here are the bank details. All your assets have been transferred to that account. They transited through multiple off-shore accounts. No one will be able to trace this account back to Julia VanKirk".
Julia cocked her head to the side.
"Hey, don't look at me", said Connor, "this is all Bishop's magic".
Julia shook her head in amazement and disbelief.
"I'm going to need your phone, in the blink of an eye, once you turn it on, your father can geolocate you and well that'll be the end of everything we've been trying to put in place".
Julia took the phone out of her purse and handed it to Connor, who placed it inside the plastic bag.
"I also need your passport, driver's license, social security card, anything that has your name on it".
Julia did as she was told.
"Now what"? she asked.
"When we land at Phuket airport, a jeep will be waiting for you. It will take you to Chalong Pier. There a Longtail boat will be waiting for you to take you to your destination. When you get there, ask for Mei, she knows to be expecting you".
Julia put her hand on Connor's. "Why are you doing all of this"?
"Julia I've known you for the past twenty years. I know you don't belong in this world and I've never seen you happier than when you were with Bishop. You deserve to be happy and to lead the life you want, and I know that as long as you are within reach of your father, that will never happen".
"You are a good man Connor. My father is going to fire you".
"I'm not worried about that. My resignation letter is ready. I won't need to protect you anymore. Maybe it's time I retired".
"Thank you, Connor for having always been such a good friend. If you ever need anything".
Connor nodded and brought up Julia's hand to his lips and kissed it.
"Oh", he said as he put her hand down. "There is one more thing".
"What's that"?
"You need to change. It's summer in Thailand. I took the liberty of packing you some lighter clothes".
Marcus returned with a duffel bag and dropped it next to her on the floor.
Thirty minutes later the private jet landed at Phuket Airport. Julia walked over to the door and saw the jeep waiting for her. Marcus walked out of the plane and handed the driver Julia's bag. Julia turned around and hugged Connor.
"How can I ever repay you"?
"Be happy", he whispered in her ear gently.
Julia pulled away and kissed him on the cheek. "Don't be a stranger".
Connor smiled and nodded. "Don't worry, I know where to find you".
Julia walked down the steps and settled in to the jeep.