"I'll explain everything more as soon as I get back but right now, is not a good time," I said as I ran up the stairs with Grant barely two feet behind me. It hadn't been up to a minute since I got the call from Melissa. Series of chills were running down my spine more than usual as I managed to get to my bedroom door.

With my shaky hands, I fumbled with the doorknob until Grant pushed me aside and opened it. Murmuring a quiet 'thank you' I entered the room and started shoving clothes into my overnight bag.

"Ruby what's wrong." An all too familiar husky voice said from behind. I had no idea Zach had entered the room.

"Don't know, she got a call and then started packing her clothes," Grant told him.

For five minutes, I shoved some more clothes inside the bag before raising my head up. "I need a plane ticket I need to book a plane ticket," I raise my phone up to my face and clicked on the browser.

"How do I book a flight?" I ask no one in particular. I start pacing, "Grant, did you know how to book a flight?" I turned to my brother.

"Gee!," he said sarcastically, "I wonder how I would know that when I just touched a cordless phone for the first time," he was saying until he saw the look on my face, "but I have no idea about booking planes."

I start pacing faster, mumbling to myself about how screwed my life is. I had no idea how Zach moved, he sure moved fast, he was now gripping my shoulders, "Ruby, relax I'll get you a plane ticket, stop pacing and worrying."

I looked into his eyes to see if there was a mocking look but there was none. It shone with sincerity. Instantly, I relaxed.

Zach lifted his face, his overnight beard touching my face lightly, giving me tingles, and gave me a kiss on my forehead before sauntering out of the room. I watched him go.

"Well what do you know, I'd assume you like him a lot. Look at you, you're smiling as fuck and you don't even smile for me like that," Grant said after Zach closed the door behind him.

I frowned at him. I had no idea I was smiling I began to like Zach too much. And as for my brother...

He curled his fingers together, "Sis, would you do me a small favor? Could leave your-"

He trailed off when he saw me holding a shoe, "get out." I tossed the shoe at him but he slipped out just barely.

"Asshole," I muttered to myself as I got rid of my clothes and into a towel, I was about to enter the bathroom when my bedroom door cracked open, Grant's head popped in, "so you would think about it or what?"

I moved a little closer to my bed, grabbed one of the pillows and tossed it at him.

"Ow!"

I grinned, making my way to the bathroom.

        ★★★★★★★

Thirty minutes later, I was ready and tugging my bag downstairs. Minutes ago I went to ask Zach for the ticket but Grant told me Zach was outside, waiting for me.

I opened the front door to see Zach dressed in jeans and a black t-shirt and jacket leaning on his car. It looked like he was coming with me. I was confused, I thought Zach was staying behind, with my family. Turns out he had order plans.

"Aren't you staying behind?"

"No. Am coming with you," he said with a note of finality. Still, I opened my mouth to ask other questions, but Zach opened the door and climbed inside.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed. His nice streak was over. I turned to Grant who was standing behind me, "I'll settle everything in L.A and try to get back as soon as possible." I pecked his cheeks, he surprised me by throwing his arms around me, "stay safe," He muttered.

I smiled into his chest, "I will. Zach is a good driver."

He chuckled, "I don't mean in that direction, sis, I mean am too young to be an uncle."

Rolling my eyes, I replied, "don't ruin the moment."

He released me and I walked to the car. Immediately I got comfortable in my seat, I blew Grant a kiss.

Grant caught it in his pocket and waved us off as Zach began driving down the road.

            ~~~~~~~

"Wear this," Zach said tossing a bag in my direction. After the comfortable silent ride, we're at the airport. The drive had been silent and only a few things were said because immediately we came out of Green Bank, Zach's phone started to ring nonstop.

"What's this?" I asked Zach's face was now rigid with a frown. Long gone was the relaxed Zach I almost kissed last night.

"Open it." And I did as he instructed his voice had a commanding note in it which I felt obliged to obey.

Inside the bag was a big Fedora with big round bulky glasses, "ehm, why?"

"Because someone had tipped the press that we're in West Virginia," he said equally putting on a pair of normal size glasses.

"Why aren't you going undercover?" I questioned quietly as I looked around the airport it seemed very busy, mostly people minding their own business or rushing to get in their flight.

He smirked, "I can take care of myself, are you getting worried about me, sweetheart?"

"Yeah so," I defended in haste. In his eyes, a weird look appeared, "if something happens to you, how would we be able to get into the penthouse," I lied and the look in his eyes instantly vanished. Suddenly I wanted to say I cared so I could get that look back but I had pride.

"Let's go," he said, not waiting for my reply, he got out and started to walk away.

I wore my glasses and hat before jumping out of the car, hurrying behind him to catch up. All of a sudden, as I caught up with him, press invaded us; going after Zach mostly.

"Mr. Reynolds, how was your vacation? Is Miss Daniels with you?" One shot at Zach.

"Where is she?" Another person said.

"Are you going to complete the What's the Big Idea challenge?"

"Are both of your exclusive? I mean you both went for a vacation?"

"Who is this mystery woman beside you?"

Camera's flashes kept flashing, I was now thankful Zach told me to wear the glasses if not, I would be wincing by now.

A reporter turned to me, "who are you? Can you remove the shades, ma'am?"

Instead of answering, I bowed my head lower. Zach must have sensed my discomfort because, all of a sudden, he wrapped his arms around me and pushed us away from the reporters. Soon security appeared from God knows were and created a barrier.

He led us to a jet. It was empty for a fact, not crowded like usual planes. "Why aren't there any passengers?"

"We are the passengers, sweetie, this is my private jet. We couldn't make use of it yesterday because I had my pilot fly some businessmen out of L.A." he said, his hands still around my waste.

"Oh! It beautiful." It didn't look like the normal size of a jet, it was bigger and looked like it could contain thirty people. It was all white but the only exception was a signature printed with black ink at it side.

It was a masterpiece, heck it should belong in a museum.

"Let's go," Zach said, gently pulling me along with him towards the jet. The pilots and two hostesses lined up in an orderly fashion in front of the plane.

"Good day Mr. Reynolds," the hostesses greeted and the pilots bowed. It was like he was the King of somewhere.

Zach barely nodded in their direction before leading me up the stairs.

Inside of the plane was luxurious as well. There was an aisle, the seats were arranged in rows and column. Basically, it looked like an exact replica of a business class plane but this was a teensy bit smaller.

I tried wiggling from his hold on my waist, he didn't budge until he led me to a row of two seats and  released me. I sat on the chair by the window while Zach sat on the other.

A couple of minutes later, a hostess announced we were ready for take off and should fasten our seatbelts.

I closed my eyes and muttered a prayer for my career and of course my safety as the engines started whirling.

Finishing the large tube of Carmel flavored ice cream, I asked the question I had been often asking for the past hour.

We had been flying for hours now and my feet were starting to get cranky along with my ass cheeks and the hat and the bulky glasses had taken a seat on my lap.

"Are we there yet?"

Zach lifted his eyes from his laptop to my face, "no Ruby, but we would be in thirty minutes; stop asking questions," he drawled, I was half expecting him to scream in my face or toss me out of the helicopter with a parachute. I had been bugging him for the past hour and he still answered me.

I press the red button on my armrest, Zach told me it was the call button in case I needed anything and right now, I needed another ice cream to calm my nerves.

The hostess, Faith, walked over to us, with a smile on her face she asked, "Miss. Ruby, is there anything else I can get you?"

"Em, yeah, Faith, can I get another large tub of caramel ice cream. Thank you," I said. "Am so sorry for bugging you it's-"

I was saying but Zach cut me off. Throwing Faith a glare, he snapped "get her the smallest tub you can find."

Faith's smile faltered, "y—es Sir I mea—n M—r Reynolds," she stammered.

He gave a curt nod, "good."

Faith scrambled away as fast as she could. I stared at Zach, man he was rude to everyone.

Except you.

His eyebrows were furrowed in concentration as he stared at the excel sheet on his laptop screen. My eyes trailed down to his jaw, all the tiny hairs from morning were missing, leaving a clean shaved jaw.

His phone came off and he answered. Immediately he was through with the call, he turned to me.

"We are landing in ten minutes, there would be a car waiting to take you to the studio."

"What about you?" The question slipped out from my mouth. I had no idea why it came out of me. Now Zach would think am taking the bet too far.

He looked surprised for a second then smiled, a smile that had my heart rejoicing and skipping a beat.

"I'll be okay. Two cars would be waiting."

I nearly got rid out of my seat and flung my arms around him, hugging him and kissing his face thanking him for everything. I hadn't even thought about how I could go from the airport to the studio but Zach thought about everything.

But I held myself together.

Oh, you stupid pride.