HighJack

I was so ready for this holiday. Even if it was just for a week. It was going to be a week without leading three lives. Which meant a week without having to be Clara, the chef at Mother Hens Café. Without being Lexie, the singer at the local gentleman's club. Without having to be HighJack, the hacker everyone thought was a guy. More fool them. I walked through the airport with confidence and excitement, quickly passing families and harassed looking staff on my way to the gate. Rain poured down on the roof of the airport, and I checked the weather report for my destination yet again. Blue Sky's and 30 degrees celsius waited for me. I boarded the plane quickly, hoping that no one was going to be in the seat next to me. I got my wish and breathed a sigh of relief once we were airborne, and the seat belt sign went off. Unfortunately, a guy then took the seat next to me with a smile. "Hi," he said. "I'm Maximus." I looked him up and down. The name didn't fit. He was short and skinny. I smiled politely and thought about what to say when his next words left me gobsmacked. "So you looking for a holiday fling? I am, and I think you'll do." I looked at him in shock, pretty sure my mouth was hanging open in a very unattractive way. I couldn't believe he had actually come over and said that to a complete stranger. "Oh, I hope we aren't staying at the same hotel." I blurted out without thinking. A deep chuckle sounded from behind me, but it was quickly covered with a cough. Maximus flushed in anger and opened his mouth to no doubt insult me when one of the stewardesses came over and asked him to return to his seat as meals were about to be served. I was happy when we landed and I got through the airport without having to deal with him again. When I reached the exit, there was a driver waiting for me. My name was written in clear letters across the board the driver was holding. I was confused by this as I hadn't organised a car. The hotel I was staying in was only an hour walk from the airport, and I was more than happy to walk in the sunshine. "Miss Clara." the driver said when he saw me. "Yes?" I answered, unsure. "Antonio sent me. When he saw your name on the booking, he insisted on the best of everything we could offer for you." He explained. "So my name is Marco, and I will be your driver for the whole time you are here." "That won't be necessary." I said, feeling a little awkward at the situation. "It has been paid for." Marco said with a smile. His phone rang, and he answered it. From the conversation they were having, I could tell Antonio was on the other end. He must have been checking that I had arrived safely at the airport. When the call ended, Marco looked at me expectedly. "Shall we then?" I asked with a small smile. "Before he calls again to check on our arrival time." "Please." Marco said as he took my suitcase. We walked to the car, and it was clear that Antonio had gone all out. He had sent a limo. "Good god." I muttered when I saw it. "Every time he does this. Every. Bloody. Time." "You don't seem happy about this." Marco said. "Any of it. I don't understand." I kept my mouth shut until we were both settled in the limo. Once we were, I got as close to the front as I could and lowered the screen that was separating the two of us. "Antonio acts like he owes me." I explained. "He doesn't. What happened wasn't his fault. I'm not angry or annoyed about it, but every time I'm here, he goes out of his way to make everything as special and relaxing as possible." "Antonio does not do this for just anyone. Something big must have happened between you two?" Marco said, and I cringed "Oh I know it's nothing to do with s*x. We all know that Antonio and Carlos have been sleeping together for years, but what happened?" I smiled a small smile as my hand travelled almost subconsciously to the scar on my left shoulder. One that was left by a bullet. Marcos' eyes followed the movement. His eyes grew wide as the realisation hit. "I... it was you." He stuttered. "You were the woman that Carlos saved from drowning in the pool after some crazy lady shot you." "Has everyone heard that story?" I asked. I didn't want everyone to know what had happened. "Pretty much, yeah." Marco said."It's basically our favourite story. You're a local hero. You saved Antonio's life and his livelihood. The crazy woman stole from him, and with the help of your contacts, you got it all back for him." "Pretty much." I muttered with another small smile. My 'contacts' had nothing to do with it. I had hacked into her system and taken back what she had taken. Then I destroyed her. I hated hackers like her. There is no need to destroy other people's livelihoods, so I had given her a taste of her own medicine. "She then came to shoot Antonio, but you got in the way. She shot you, and you nearly drowned." Marco continued. "I would have drowned if it weren't for Carlos." I said. "Thanks to his quick actions, I survived with nothing more than a scar." "So the story is true then? You're one of HighJack's people? You keep his identity safe, and in return, he keeps you safe." Marco was now talking at 100 miles an hour, excitement clear in his voice. I held back a laugh. People never expect me to be HighJack. They look, but they don't see. "Yeah, it's something like that." I smiled at him as we pulled up to the hotel. Antonio and several members of his staffed were dressed up to the nines waiting out front. Carlos was with them. He clearly wasn't happy about having to wear a suit. In this heat, I wouldn't have been either. I reached for the door only for Marco to let out a horrified sound. I stopped and looked at him in concern. He hastily unblucked his seat belt and climbed out of the car. I sighed as I realised what he was doing and waited patiently for him to open the door for me. "This person better be worth all the effort." Carlos whispered through gritted teeth. "Personally, I'd say they aren't." I said as I got out. Antonio and Carlos looked at me with huge smiles. I smiled back. "Clara?" Carlos asked, coming over with quick steps. He swept me into a firm hug. I hugged him back with a huge smile on my face. "I've missed you too." I said when he released me. He looked me up and down before tutting. "You have not been eating properly." He scolded me. "Alice, Luke, follow me. We have work to do." With that, he left, followed by two confused chefs. I shook my head before turning to Antonio. "Hello, old friend." I said with a smile. "I'm glad you're back." He replied, wrapping me in a hug. "I've put you in the presidential suite. I'll have someone take your bags up." "Really Antonio?" I sighed. "You know I can't afford that kind of suite, and I always pay my way." "I know." He replied, pulling me in for a second hug. "But I also know who you are, HighJack." His whisper was barely audible in my ear. I tensed and pulled away. "When?" I asked, knowing he would understand. I wanted to know when he found out. "When I realised I had met Lexie." He replied with a small smile as he ushered me into the hotel. We stepped into the elevator, and he turned to me. I sighed. "What is it you want?" I asked. There had to be something for him to keep this information to himself. "Nothing." He replied, honesty written all over his face. "You already saved my business from that other hacker. You brought Carlos and I together. You saved my life. There is nothing I could ask from you but a chance to repay my debt." "You aren't indebted to me." I explained softly. "I did what any true hacker worth the name would have done. I hate people like her. She's where she belongs." "I am glad you are back, Clara." He said as the elevator doors opened. "Now let's get you settled in your room. You have the Chefs table tonight with me. We are booked in at Seven, which gives you three hours to enjoy the room." He opened the door for me and then left without another word. I shut the door and explored the suite. I couldn't believe he had done this. It was crazy. I flopped down on the bed with a content sigh.