DISCLAIMERS

1. I DO NOT OWN JURASSIC PARK/WORLD. This is just for fun.

2. This is a femslash story. If you don't like that sort of thing, you won't like this.

PART 3

"Would you like a top-up?"

Claire turned away from the cafe window to see the waitress hovering at her table, coffee cup in hand. "Yes, please," the redhead said. Once her beverage was refilled, Claire went back to staring out the window.

What was she doing? So far this holiday had been a complete waste of time. After landing at the airport - Simon having enough clout to get his own spot - they drove into the city and Simon personally made sure Claire went to the hotel and unpacked. However, her boss' cajoling only went so far: when he left for an appointment he refused to tell her about, she followed him surreptitiously. It was weird, yes, but Claire could not help it. Being used to knowing everything that was going on at the island, she hated being in the dark about anything. Plus, Simon's insistance that she relax just made her want to disobey him more.

Which led to her being in this cafe now. She followed Simon in a cab and saw him enter a building in the business district. She tried to go in after him, but apparently security was pretty tight. And despite her power at Jurassic World, that was nothing compared to Simon Masrani. So instead, she was in the cafe across the street, keeping an eye out for her employer. In the back of her mind, Claire wondered what she was playing at. But what else was she going to do? Sit on her hands in her hotel room? Read a book? Forget it. She needed to be working, constantly on the go. If she was not doing something, she was just wasting time.

That was a reason her time with Owen Grady went nowhere. Her inability to relax grated on the Raptor handler so much they both knew it would not work. Besides, he was not really her type.

"This isn't quite the hotel," came a voice from her side. Darting her head, Claire saw Simon standing above her. Clearly, at somepoint she took her eyes off the building across the road and he had snuck up on her. She stared at him, like a deer in the headlights. She was in for it now.

He sat down opposite her and sighed. "So this is your idea of relaxing." Claire looked down as her cheeks reddened somewhat. "Did you really think I wouldn't know you were following me?"

The blush deepened. "Um... "

"Ms. Dearing," said Simon softly. "I didn't tell you to take time off to annoy you, or to belittle you, or to prove something to you. And the reason I didn't tell you my plans wasn't to play games with you." Claire looked up, frowning. "I did it to help you. No one works harder at the park than you - including the scientists. But everyone needs a break. You might not realise it, but you need this, Claire." The redhead blinked at Simon's use of her first name. It showed he was dead serious. And she knew he was right. She worked round the clock, everyday. It was exhilirating, of course... but also exhausting.

Simon tilted his head. "I'll make a deal with you. I'll tell you the reason I've come here, if you promise to leave me alone and start enjoying yourself... or at least, get a full eight hours sleep at least once."

Claire chuckled. She could not remember the last time that happened, either. "Deal. So, it was for... " - she pointed at the building across the street - "whatever that was?"

To her surprise, Simon waved her off. "That was just a fortunate happenstance that it was in the same city." His face fell somewhat. "Not that it turned out so good." A second passed, before he shook off whatever negativity he was feeling and smiled again. "The main reason I came here was because I'm having helicopter lessons."

At that, Claire choked on her coffee and blinked. So she had not misheard back on the plane. "Helicopter... ?" The idea was absurd. "Mr. Masrani, are you... ?" She paused as he waggled his finger at her. Rolling her eyes and smiling, she continued. "Simon... are you serious?"

"I'm a billionaire, Ms. Dearing," he said. "I have to do something eccentric."

"And owning a live dinosaur theme park isn't eccentric?" Claire asked with a smirk.

"That's business, Ms. Dearing," answered Simon as he got to his feet. "I don't believe business should ever be eccentric. Now I've upheld my end of the bargain. I'll leave you to your vacation." Before he left, he looked at her, deadpan. "And if you follow me again, I'll ban you from visiting Rexy."

Chuckling again, Claire nodded. "Yessir." She intentionally waited for at least five minutes after he was gone, so she had no hope of following him. However, that just meant she had no plans now. Maybe she would have to go read a book in her hotel room. But... no. She would find something to do - if only to spite Simon, Claire thought with a wry grin.

After paying for her coffee, Claire left the cafe... only to crash straight into a woman. Before either knew it, both dropped to the ground in a mess, their handbangs entangling together. "Hey!" Claire yelped. "Watch where y... !" She stopped when she saw the woman's expression. Far from Claire's annoyance, it was clear the woman - a blonde - had been crying. "Are... you OK?" asked Claire.

Quickly getting to her feet, the blonde wiped her eyes as she went for her handbag. "I'm fine," she said hurridly. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." However, her resolve was already slipping as she struggled to disentangle her bag from Claire's. As she stood up herself, the redhead could tell the woman - who looked quite pretty, the barely-contained tears notwithstanding - was stressed over something that had nothing to do with their collision. And her battle over the handbag straps was a losing one.

"Here," Claire said softly. "Let me help you." She took the two handbags from the blonde and soon had them separated. She then handed the woman her bag, who snatched it quickly; but Claire could tell she was not intending to be rude. She was probably embarrassed, and obviously preoccupied with something else.

"Thanks," the blonde said distractedly. "I'm sorry." Before Claire knew it, the woman was bolting down the street...

TO BE CONTINUED