Luxe
The following day
It was going to be nice to get away for a while.
Hopefully, I wouldn’t have to worry about anyone trying to kill me.
I had this client out in The Bahamas who wanted to buy this necklace that I imported for them.
It was a ruby. One of a kind. The client didn’t want me to ship it to them.
They said that it could get lost in customs, and they couldn’t afford for anything to happen to it with all the money they’ve spent on it, which was understandable.
They paid extra for me to hand deliver it, so I gassed up the jet and was leaving.
The Bahamas was beautiful. If I was going over there for work, then I was going to stay a few more days to enjoy myself.
Work hard and play harder was always my motto.
Wasn’t no way I was going to work myself to death and not reap the benefits.
I saw it happen all the time. People got so consumed with work and paying bills that they never really got to live.
With Ghost tagging along, I knew that it was going to be a bit awkward. I had to book a suite big enough for both of us to be in where I wouldn’t feel smothered.
My phone vibrated. I picked it up from the nightstand and unplugged it from the charger.
Grim: I’m good.
That was all that boy had for me after having Solei worried sick for days.
At least he responded, because I damn sure had intentions of going by his place before I left to make sure he was okay since he hadn’t responded to me.
I swear, being the oldest was like I was their second mama.
I did spend most of my childhood helping Ma raise them.
The love I had for my family was the reason why I didn’t complain.
Swiping out his message, I went to Solei’s thread. She needed to know that he was okay or else she was going to go mad.
Me: He says that he’s fine.
Tossing my phone against the bed, I zipped my suitcase. Normally, I would’ve had everything packed the night before, but there were a few items I needed to grab from the store before I could be done packing.
“Are you ready?” Ghost asked me from the doorway.
I knew he was probably sick and tired of waiting for me to come downstairs.
He checked on me a while ago and I told him that I just needed twenty more minutes.
He knew that wheels were supposed to be up by twelve, and I was cutting it pretty close.
It didn’t really matter because it was my jet we were taking.
Wheels was up on that bitch when I felt like taking off.
The pilot just needed an estimated time for when I’d get there so that he’d be ready.
Malcolm was one of the best pilots that I’d ever seen.
I caught him after he retired from the military.
He was still able to live his retired life and be able to travel all around the world while getting paid extremely well, so he didn’t have any complaints.
The only thing was that I wasn’t always on time when it was time for us to leave.
There were so many pros of having my own jet.
I could leave and travel whenever I wanted to, wherever I wanted to.
I didn’t have to worry about being stuck on a plane with irritating people.
I flew commercial a few times, just to try it out, and hated it.
You’d never catch me on a commercial flight ever again in my life.
“Yeah.” I answered him, and he came into the room and grabbed my suitcase.
Though I told Ghost I was going to The Bahamas for work, I didn’t let it be known that I was staying a bit longer for my own personal gain.
I didn’t think it really mattered anyway, since he was the one working for me.
If I wanted to stay in The Bahamas for the rest of the year, I could and he’d have no other choice but to be happy with it.
He exited the bedroom, and I grabbed my phone and purse and went out behind him. When we got outside, he placed my suitcase in the trunk and opened the back passenger door for me.
I sat there as Ghost drove to the hangar. As we came to a red light, I noticed a piece on the side of a building. From the lines and the color scheme, I could tell it was my brother’s artwork. Grabbing my phone, I snapped a picture of it and sent it straight to his phone.
Me: A masterpiece
Anytime I found his work, I’d take a picture of it. I was proud of my baby brother.
We made it to the hangar, and the jet was sitting there, waiting for us. Ghost got out and grabbed our bags before opening the door for me. I’d learned my lesson, trying to get out myself. No matter how long it took him to open the door, I sat there and waited.
“Afternoon, Ms. Saint-Mercier,” Jennifer said as I approached the jet.
She was my personal flight attendant. I had her and one other that rotated with her.
They knew that I’d sometimes get up and leave, so I needed whoever was available to fly out with me at the time.
To stop from pulling them away from important events, I just put two of them in rotation.
“Afternoon,” I spoke as I climbed the steps with her directly behind me.
“Is there anything that I can get you?” she asked as I got comfortable in my seat.
“A water is fine.”
Jennifer nodded and strolled off.
Ghost finally made his way onto the jet, and he sat on the opposite side of me.
I could feel his eyes burning a hole in the side of my head.
Ignoring him, I grabbed my phone and checked to see if I had any new emails before going to my Instagram.
A lot of people paid others to manage their social medias, but I had trust issues.
I didn’t need anyone getting on my shit and fucking up the image that I’d worked so hard to maintain.
One bad post and my entire career could get canceled.
To keep from spazzing on people, I just managed my own shit.
Certain times throughout the day, I’d get on, post, check comments and DMs, and get my ass right back off.
I didn’t like consuming too much social media, because it wasn’t good for your mental.
“Your water, ma’am.” Jennifer stopped at my seat, and I took my water from her, and then she turned her attention to Ghost. “Can I get you anything?” Of course, he shook his head. “I’ll be right up there if you need anything.”
The jet started to take off. I removed my hearing aids and relaxed in my seat.
We finally arrived in The Bahamas. I couldn’t wait to get out there and squish my feet in the sand. First, I had to get this client this necklace so that I could be free the rest of the time that I was here.
We got off the jet, and I sat in the car, waiting for Ghost to load it with our belongings.
By the time he was done, he climbed into the back seat with me.
His shoulder brushed mine, and goosebumps coursed my entire frame.
Any little stroke from Ghost’s body always made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
The driver took us to our all-inclusive hotel that sat right on the beach. I climbed out the car and sucked in the freshwater scent.
“I love the beach,” escaped from my lips, and Ghost looked over at me before grabbing our luggage.
We went inside, and I checked us in. I’d stayed here a couple times before, so I already knew what to expect from this hotel.
Very rarely, I’d stay somewhere new. I tried different places but didn’t want to end up disappointed with the room or services.
It was kind of like when you found a good place to eat and then someone offered the same thing and you tried it, but it didn’t taste the same or was disgusting.
To keep myself from being disappointed, I stuck to what I knew.
“Hi,” a woman said as Ghost passed her with our luggage.
I snarled at the way she was grinning as she looked at him.
She wanted to devour all his chocolatiness.
That was the thing. Anytime we were out in public, Ghost always grabbed women’s attention.
I was sure that he knew he was fine as hell, but I wasn’t about to be the one to tell him that.
“C’mon,” I told him as I headed toward the door. We were staying in this beautiful hut that we had to ride a golf cart to get to it.
I climbed into the front passenger seat of the cart while Ghost sat in the back with the luggage.
“How are y’all doing today?” the guy asked when he hopped into the driver’s seat.
“Good,” was the only response he got from me.
“You two are a lovely couple,” he stated as he pulled away from the entrance.
“We’re not a couple,” Ghost and I spoke in unison.
The guy just looked from me to Ghost and kept driving. He stopped at this walkway in front of one of the huts. Twenty-six . . . It was ours.
“I hope that you guys enjoy your stay. I’m Edward. You can reach me by contacting the front desk. Let me know if there’s anything that you need.”
Edward got out the cart and helped Ghost unload our luggage.
I went up to the door and unlocked it. Inside was everything that we’d need.
It had a kitchen, full living room, two bedrooms, and two baths.
Plenty of space to keep Ghost’s ass at a distance.
With me not being at home, I was certain that I’d be able to breathe a bit more.
“Thank you,” Ghost said when Edward brought one of the suitcases inside.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash and then tipped him.
I’d always seen Ghost with rolls of money.
It never crossed my mind to ask him just how much he made doing this.
Savion hadn’t told me how much he was paying him to protect me, and I never asked.
From the expensive ass suits he wore and the way that he kept himself up, I was sure that he made well.
My question was, how come he didn’t have a wife or woman back at the house.
I never saw him talking to anyone or smiling at his phone.
In fact, I hadn’t seen him smile at all.
It was weird. Never did he mention anyone either.