The plane ride was enjoyable to say the least. At least for me it was, but then again, that's the only thing that matters right now.

As the sun was shining through the plane's window, all I could think about right now was how at peace I am. Looking out the window as I overlook the many houses that looked so tiny from where I am.

We must have passed at least a thousand by now. That puts it into perspective of how humans live throughout time and the things we must do to survive and make the world go round. Even then, every single one of us, even me, knows that we are just a tiny atom in space.

Floating on a piece of rock that will eventually stop spinning one day.

I constantly think about that, that it might be dark or whatever, but I just knew that life would go on so quickly without realizing it. Many people say that they have time or that they'll never grow old fast, but personally, I think many people say that to lie to themselves.

Instead of living life and fulfilling your purpose, they tend to avoid it, only living life to have fun with no responsibilities, no goal nor ambition. Just living till death takes over.

And I do have to say, who am I to judge? Many people criticize me for the life I chose to live, a workaholic who doesn't like to have fun and just takes life seriously, who will probably work herself to death.

If that's the case then I'll take it–I'll take it over not knowing what's coming next in my life because I already know the answer, I planned for it, I know what I want out of this life.

The one thing I have that many people don't have is security.

Secured that I can retire and won't have to worry about a single thing, secured that I can retire anyone I want, secured that I will be good until my funeral and even then a trusted family member can get a generational wealth from me.

Because I doubt I will have children, at least in this lifetime.

Security is what I desire and even if I already have it, there is no such thing as not needing more security.

My ear suddenly pops as I suddenly am reminded where I am and what I am doing currently.

As I got lost in thought, I have been staring out the window this entire time, the sun is clearly taking something out on me as my whole face is burning up. Well, thank god I have sunglasses on at least, I thought.

I shifted in my seat as I want to avoid the window for the time being.

And speaking of avoiding a certain thing, it's been clear that Chopard is avoiding something or someone.

Ever since we got in the air, everything has been quiet, distant talking in the background with the guards but still silent to where I can hear everything including the pilot in the cockpit.

Chopard has been silent this entire ride as well, not saying anything this entire time, only speaking when the pilot greeted him and with him greeting him back when we first got on, but other than that, nothing. Not even a peek.

The certain times where I would look over to him, he didn't look up, or didn't even look around, all he did was sit in his seat, not moving an inch.

Not once did he look up at me or say anything. Just became a robot ready for commanding.

I should be grateful for this, not only for not engaging in a conversation with him but also catching him looking at me with those eyes that I can't explain in a logical sense.

This is a good thing, I told myself, it's better this way. Detach before you get used to the feeling.

Knowing what I have to do when we arrive in the city, this is better, I need to undo all the things that led up to what had happened back in the hotel room.

All the things, the nonbusiness conversation, the texting, the distance–It all led up to that. I have to put a stop to it.

Repeating that in my head it's very perspicuous of what I need to do: Detach before it breaks you.

                                          *

As the pilot announced that we had finally landed, everyone was slowly but surely getting up, ready to exit the plane. After sitting for many hours, I surely want to get out of here too.

Thanking the pilot for getting us safely to our destination, I am the first to walk out, carefully watching my first steps on the stairs as my legs are still a little asleep.

As I check my watch as I inspected the time change, the sun is still shining outside, forcing me to squint my eyes. Putting on my sunglasses again, clearly seeing what was waiting for us.

Two cars, like I requested whenever we first got onto the plane and for the same reason whenever we took off to New York. And that very reason is simple: Distant.

It's that simple.

I need to build distance between us, not because I'm a coward or I'm scared of what would happen if we were to share a car, but it is a matter of fact of control.

I need to control what is going to be happening from now on. These past couple of weeks, I feel myself slowly losing control and therefore it's affecting the way I think and the way I operate. My way of operating has done wonders for me and I refuse to lose it now.

Control the narrative, I thought to myself, I need to have my control again.

I let it slip, but this is the first of many times where I regained it. I won't let it slip from my hands again.

Continuing the walk down the stairs, I suddenly turned around, taking Chopard off guard as he stopped shortly and looked surprised, until he realized that it's me and poorly attempted to hide away, even though he is right in front of me.

I inform him, "Take the rest of the day off, but be ready for work again tomorrow"

I waited for him to say anything, but as I gathered from the plane ride, he only nodded as he kept his head, not sure if he's avoiding the sun or me.

But feeling tired, I did not want to make it a big deal as I want to go home as soon as possible.

As we made it to the bottom of the stairs, we immediately separated to go to our cars, our bags already packed up and secured.

Climbing into the car and shutting the door, I look back at his car, assuming he's already in, I turn to face forward as I began thinking. Why is he acting this way? I mean, what was he expecting? Was he actually expecting me to explore whatever he was thinking, like us actually involving ourselves with each other?

It seems like after I told him that we were leaving earlier than expected, he seems to become distant, which I should thank him for.

But then again, what was he expecting? Did he expect me to go sightseeing or something, and go to many gift shops? Because of that were the case, then he takes people's words too seriously.

I can't understand it, but one thing I know for sure is that I will clearly deliver a message of: We are nothing more than just co-workers, not even co-workers, boss and worker.

There is no us, no we, only I and him, separately. And that is the way it should be.

As I arrived home, I overlooked the big mansion and the long driveway, feeling nostalgic, like I haven't been here for many years, even though it's been like one or two days.

My driver pulls up close to the front doors as housekeepers and maids are already waiting there, ready to unpack the trunk. Climbing out, they all greeted me as they move past me to grab my suitcase and any bags.

From there, I instructed them to unpack the bags and put away everything that was stored inside there, only I am holding a bag, full of important papers and my laptop.

I let the housekeepers and maid do their thing as I already know the tasks I ask of them are going to get done within an appropriate time frame. I head up to my home office as I have much more work that needed to be done.

Seconds turns into minutes into hours and before I know it, I find myself sitting and continuously staring at piles of paper on my desk and my laptop with hundreds of tabs open, my laptop unfortunately paying the price for that.

The moment I sit down in my chair, I decided at that very second that I was going to be here for the rest of the day, just like a regular work day. Even though I initially only wanted to work for a few hours, I realized that was impossible if I wanted to stay on track or even be ahead for the work days to come.

Crossing off things from my to-do list, it seems like the more I cross off, the more tasks gets added to the list.

It's fine, I told myself, you are doing yourself a good thing, a favor, you need to work, I kept telling myself as I feel myself growing tired.

I don't want to sound ungrateful, even though I am coming off a win, but it seems like that trip took a massive chunk of my time, even though it was just a one night trip. Those hours, I could have been overlooking the productivity of the launch and been working more.

The timing of the trip was poor but it was an opportunity I'm not willing to miss, I didn't want to regret it.

That's the only thing I don't want to do is regret.

My fingers became tired as I couldn't type anymore. Looking at what I have achieved so far would be good and very productive for the average person, but to me, it's simply just one percent of work done.

And to that, I take a brief moment to myself, trying to take a moment before going back to work. I look outside the window and I assume it's past seven, that would mean I have been working for at least four hours after the plane landed.

I then inspected my phone as I waited for something, a notification to be specific. I wanted that notification from him, from Chopard. I wanted him to text me the most unserious thing he could think of.

I don't know why, but I kind of miss that surprised feeling.

I shouldn't, I thought, I shouldn't wait for someone to text me–But, I thought, fighting myself, he is exempt from that.

I imagine him probably taking a nap, then waking up and picking up his phone to look at his busy social life, then he would scroll to me in the message app and type in a random question or something stupid like–

A sound came from my phone, indicating that my phone has received a notification.

I've never picked up my phone so fast, it was lightening speed. Looking at the list of notifications to which I have ignored many times, I look at the top for any texts but the only new thing is a random email from a random company asking for donations.

God fucking damn it.

I instantly drop my phone down onto my desk, not caring if I broke it, considering the amount of times I dropped it, it should've broken by now.

Rubbing my eyes as I thought about how insane I am, to be doing this to myself. My ego is broken and this is an example of how much of an idiot I am.

I should not be waiting for anyone else to text me, it should be the other way around. People should be waiting for me, on me. It's like I have no respect for myself, people who wait on others are a prime example of not respecting yourself.

But, I guess this goes out to all my workers, as literally all of them wait for me to make the final call, but that's the way it's supposed to be, the way things should work.

I can't sit around waiting for my assistant, someone on my payroll, to text me because of what? Wanting to have that feeling that someone thinks about me outside of work hours, the feeling of knowing that someone actually wants to take the time of their day to text me.

Well, news flash, I already get that, even more than most people. So there's no reason to be wanting a text from someone who isn't special. Especially not from Chopard.

I then have to remind myself about the events that occurred that led me to this moment.

To put it into simple terms for my tired brain, Chopard texts me before the trip. I imagined him and me doing ungodly things, I'm awkward because of that. Then we accidentally got assigned to one bed, I practically begged him to stay in the bed with him, we got close and personal, and now I'm awkward again.

Those chains of events all started because I stupidly looked at the text he sent, thinking it was important rather than an out of context question.

I sighed as I leaned back into my chair, the chair creaking quietly as I let my full body weight lean back, knowing that I'm good and won't fall backwards. I stared up at the ceiling as I studied the patterns, the beautiful details that I haven't fully noticed.

Standing up unexpectedly, I walked out of my office, trailing down the long hallways. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm just going, not knowing what room I'm going to end up in.

But what I do know is that, starting tomorrow, I will feel the satisfaction and victory knowing what Chopard is going to be facing tomorrow, he's not going to know what hit him.

And I'll be there to watch it all.

Chopard acting a little off...interesting.

-Summer Roe