No Such Thing

Sorry, Gotta Go!

“Ok, Bob. I understand. But I have to go. It will only be for a week and I’ll be back. I have the time, I can take it without messing anything up.” She said into the phone. “Don’t give me that s**t, Bob. I work midnights for you when you want to take off with that w***e of yours, and I’m not talking about your wife. Get my drift? So don’t start with me!” Lana has her father’s attitude. She won’t take crap from anyone that has the balls to give to her. Bob appears to have lost his mind and she’s going to show him where he lost it and give him time to place it back on his shoulders before he has it knocked off again. “That’s what I thought. This isn’t a thing, Bob. This is family. This is important. This is non-negotiable.” Lana hung up the phone while she quickly packed what she thought she would need for a week near the West Coast. No one called her, well not in the sense of an actual phone call. She could hear her mother’s voice in her head. ‘I wish Lana would come home.’ She wasn’t sure why her mother would say that, but her voice sounded so sad. And she had to get to her. She knew her family moved to Aunt Beth’s house a few months back before summer. She hadn’t been there yet but she knew her mom had made a room for her whenever she wanted to come for a visit. Lana contemplated calling her mom but she knew the woman would just tell her everything is ok and not to worry. She couldn’t do that. Her mom never used mind speak with her children. And the fact she heard her mother’s voice in her head and in a tone that sent panic through her body was enough for Lana to get her affairs in order and head home. Tossing the last bit of toiletries in her bag, she zipped everything up and headed to the living room. She set her bags down and called a cab to the airport. Once she hung up, her phone rang in her hand. “Bob?” She answered with little to no patience. “Then I expect you to explain it to her. I don’t have time for this.” Lana told him. “Bob, this is your job. This is what I pay you to do. Do it.” She told him and hung up again. Bob is, soon to be ‘was’, Lana’s personal assistant. He handled the family publicity and her small day to day jobs. Lana was in school to finish her fashion design but was asked by her father and grandfather to run the New York office for Gaufe, Inc. She didn’t want to. She had a full life and absolutely no time to run a business. But, she had a personal assistant and a professional assistant who ran the office while she lived her life. Both her father and grandfather knew she was too responsible to sherk her job responsibilities and let her run things how she wanted. She did just that, and like her father and his before, she was ruthless. She did the business end. None of the personal side of it. She left that up to her family. She wanted a life, and in that side of the business you could pretty much kiss a normal life goodbye. Her mom was able to do it because she was raised in the same life. Lana wanted something different. But right now, she wanted Bob to stop calling her and get his act together before he was finding another job. She grabbed her keys, tossed them into her bag and carried her belongings to the elevator. Once down to the lobby she headed to the entrance and was met by Gaufe security. One of many that was assigned to Lana’s apartment. “Ms Gaufe?” Lana stopped and looked up at the six foot 4 blue eyed man standing in front of her. “Yes?” She answered, aggravated that the man stopped her from getting to the Uber that was waiting for her out front. “Leaving? At this hour?” He turned up an eyebrow with the question and held her elbow. “Paul, I have to go. I need to get home.” she answered.

“Lana, we could have had the car pulled around and drove you to the airport. You would have gotten there quicker and safer.” Lana sighed, she knew Paul was right. “Sorry, my head is frazzled. Please, send the Uber away and have the car pulled around. The plane is already prepped and ready for me. I really need to get home.” Her eyes never left Paul’s. He shivered, something in him stirred. Without thinking he went to the Uber driver, gave him a fifty dollar bill and sent him on his way. In his ear he called the driver around and put Lana’s bags in the trunk. Opening the door for her she told him thank you and he sat in the front seat with the driver. Once settled in and headed towards the airport, Paul couldn’t remember doing any of it. “Lana?” He looked in the rear view mirror, Lana’s eyes met his. “Did you compel me?” He asked her plainly. “Not on purpose. Sorry.” She sheepishly answered. “Sometimes I can’t help it. I’m working on it.” She told him with an apologetic smile. “Understood. You should have allowed your mother to help when she suggested it. Things will only get worse if you don’t learn how to control it.” Paul told her. He has been a close advisor and head of security for the Gaufe family for as long as Lana can remember. Like part of the family. Her grandfather trusted Paul with the lives of everyone in the family. “Thanks, mom.” She told him sarcastically. He smiled and looked away from her. They pulled up to the tarmac and next to the company plane. Paul got out of the car and opened Lana’s door. “Are you going with me?” She asked as she wrapped her jacket tight around her to avoid the wind that was cutting through the air. “Of course.” He answered and closed the car door. The driver got the luggage and carried it to the plane. Paul spoke to him for a few minutes and followed Lana onto the plane. Once the door was closed and they were in line to take off, Lana’s heart started to settle. She was headed home, to her mom.