Chapter 17

LAYLA

I am nervously approaching the ticket counter as they asked me to do when I arrive at the airfield. I start to wonder what this adventure will hold for me and if I would be able to finish the entire six months of this world tour. What if I'm not good enough and they get someone else?

There is a lot of weight resting on my shoulders as I have a lot to prove. But then I hear a woman calling me and I know it must be Stacy.

"Yes, it's me, Layla. You must be Stacy?"

"Yes, it is a pleasure meeting you. Please follow me"

She takes some of my bags and then we walk straight to the plane. She talks while we walk and I can see that she is a very welcoming person but also to the point.

"I would like to welcome you to our crew and thank you for coming on such short notice"

"It is only my pleasure"

"That being said there are a few rules that we need to follow and under no circumstances be broken because if we broke them you will have a plane ticket back home"

I do not know if I should smile at what she is saying or tremble in fear because she is saying it in a happy tone of voice.

"I understand"

"Good. The first rule is you do not talk to Jake Anderson unless he talks to you. You do not touch him unless you must because of your job description. You do not even look at him. If he is in your way you step aside. This is the first and golden rule. You break this rule you are gone"

It feels as if I am in some kind of horror movie with all kinds of booby traps around me but then I remember how Laura told me that they had a fling. So, this is a bit confusing for me because I thought that she was not allowed to talk to him or look at him or touch him.

"I understand completely"

"There is not a lot of other rules except for this one being the biggest rule of all but you will see that there is a certain way of us doing things and I am sure that you will fit in very nicely"

"Thank you"

"As soon as we get to the hotel we will assign someone to you to help you through our daily tasks and our itineraries. But for now, I would show you to your seat and hope that you have a wonderful plane ride"

She gives me a big smile and a friendly vibe as she shows me where I need to sit. When I take a seat and my luggage has been put on the trolley to move to the back, she says to me.

"Feel free to order any food or drinks that you would like as we will cover the cost"

"Thank you so much"

"Do you have any questions or would you like to know anything else?"

I probably have a billion questions to ask but there is one question that is weighing heavily on my mind.

"I just have one question for now. Will Jake Anderson be joining us or is he going in his own plane?"

She laughs at my question as if it was a funny question.

"No, he will be joining us. This is his plane, we are just taking a ride with him"

"Oh, okay, thank you"

I kind of feel like a fool because I didn't know it but when she turns around and walks away, I see the inside of the plane for the first time. Fancy is not the word that I would use, it is more like modern and expensive. The seat that I am sitting in is too comfortable for words.

I look around myself and I see that everyone is busy with their own things. Some people are getting equipment sort out and others are preparing to take a long flight. Suddenly, I realize that I do not even know where we are going. I do not have anyone sitting next to me yet and I do not want to look like a fool.

Then suddenly everyone talks a little bit softer and doesn't walk around so much. It is as if they just take a seat where they are and do not make any sudden movements. I do not understand why everyone would act like that and then I look in the direction of the entrance of the plane.

Then I realize why everyone is acting so weird. Jake Anderson is entering the plane.

JAKE

As Mark is telling me that there are still people that must get a seat on the plane, I suddenly feel like I want to wait in the limo until everyone is there. But if I do that I would come across as weird or awkward which I probably already do.

So, I take my time to get all my things out of the limo and then walk slower than a snail to the plane. I make sure that most of the people have already gone into the plane and then I take a deep breath as I enter through the door.

I can not remember when the last time was that I saw all of my crew in one place. I would usually avoid so many people at once but I know that these six months will be horrifying. I need to act as normal as possible and try not to get too excited.

As I start to make my way back to my private room on the plane, I greet everyone with a nod as far as I go. I am just about to enter my room when someone caught my eye. I know my crew very well but this woman I have never seen before. I look once and then I look again at her.

It is as if I am not sure what I just saw but when I look again I see beauty beyond comprehension. Her long locks of black hair that place so perfectly over her shoulders attract my attention immediately. She does not look at me but she concentrates on her fingers that she is fiddling with.

I haven't had a lot of things that made me happy these couple of months but this makes me smile. Then I stop right next to her and say.

"Excuse me, but who are you?"

LAYLA

I glance quickly in the direction of where Jake is coming from. I know that I'm not allowed to look or talk to him or touch him. So, I just get a glimpse of him and what I see completely pulls me into him. His snowy white hair and his light blue eyes just completely fill my being.

I haven't seen him so up close and personal before and now I know why he is such a big hype. You can not help but be mesmerized by him. But I quickly look down and start to nervously fiddle with my fingers. Then I can feel his presence coming closer towards me and my heart starts to race.

Suddenly, he is right next to me and he is talking to me. I do not know how to react because I was told not to talk to him. So, I keep staring down at my lab and then I say.

"My name is Layla, sir. I am your new stylist"

JAKE

Then I realize that she is the new girl that Laura was talking about and I start to wonder why she is looking at her lap and not in my eyes. I can not help as my smile does not leave my face and then I bent down to her level and say.

"Are you okay?"

Still, she does not look in my eyes, and then she says.

"I am fine thank you"

"May I ask why you are not looking at me?"

Then I see a slight tremble in her hands and then she says.

"I am sorry, sir but they told me not to look or talk to you"

I start to laugh and I can not remember when last I laughed. Then I put my hand on her trembling hand and say.

"When I talk to you, please look at me"

Then she turns and looks me in the eyes and I am completely hypnotized by her deep blue eyes staring back at me.