Mia laid out her clothes on the bed, trying to pack for tomorrow. She had no clue whatsoever to pack. It was impromptu...

    "How's it coming together?" Andrew stuck up his head into her room. The room was a mess, Mia looked messy.

   Mia looked at Andrew and fell to her bed groaning. "I don't know what to pack! I'm a disaster!" She kicked the air.

   Andrew walked into the room chuckling. "Why are you thinking too much? The Mia I know would slay all her outfits." Andrew picked up some dresses from the floor, placing them on the bed.

    "With too many perverts around me, my dresses are hopeless." Mia covered her face with her hands.

    "Okay, let's see." Andrew picked up a black dress. "This?" He showed the dress to her.

    "Too tight. They'll look at my butt." Mia sat up.

     "Okay. How about," he picked up three different dresses. "These?" He asked again. 

   Mia pointed at the first dress... "Too much skin will be exposed."

     Andrew laughed... "But you never cared about that before."

     "I know I know, I'm only being careful." Mia said to him before pointing to the next dress. "The red dress hardly covers my boobs." Points to the next dress. "And the other... Thigh high slit? That's a triple NO." Mia shook her head.

     "Well there must be something to wear. How about pants?" Andrew asked.

    "Well I did pack alot of those... Cropped pants, leather pants,  skinny jeans, wide-leg pants, straight pants, ripped jeans. Everything!" Mia informed him. "I made sure to pack my most decent tops and shirts."

   Andrew gave her a weird look... "How many weeks did you say you'd be staying in California?" Andrew couldn't believe she had already packed some clothes but still wanted to pack more.

    "Two weeks?" Mia shrugged.

   "Two, two weeks?" Andrew laughed... "Then you should take the whole caboodle with you." Andrew said.

    "Exactly! I was thinking the same thing." Mia nodded in agreement.

    "No no Mimi. That's just a figurative, I don't actually mean it." Andrew kept on laughing.

    Mia's phone rings on the table. "Just a little more dresses, I haven't found gowns yet. They are the most important. Help me will you?" Mia stood up to reach for her phone.

     She picked up the phone, leaving Andrew while she went to get water.

      "Hello?" Mia said. It wasn't a number she knew, it wasn't registered.

    "Mia?" The unfamiliar voice answered...

     "Who's this please?" She walked into the kitchen.

    "Is this Mia?" The voice asked.

    "Who's asking?" Mia drank from her bottle of water.

   "It's me, Ryan. Ryan Webster." He said softly.

  Mia settled the bottle down... "It's about time you called. How come you sound so different on the phone?"

     "Different? How different?" His voice sounded deep.

    "Horrible different! The nerve of you to do this to me—"

     "What are you talking about?" He sounded confused at the harsh tone of her voice.

    "Ah ah ah, let me finish. Why didn't you tell me about trip California? You wanted to pull some trick on me so that I would be caught unaware. Sorry to burst that plan of yours, I'm very much informed." Mia spoke to him harshly.

    Ryan spoke up after a moment of silence. "It totally skipped my mind. I was going to tell you but I forgot. Forgive me."

    "Why did you call? I'm in the middle of something important." Mia said to him. 

    "For the same reason. Anyway, the team leaves by eleven, don't be late or you'd pay for your flight."

      "Did you say eleven? I was told nine." Mia frowned.

     "That was before. I thought you said you were very much informed? I don't wish to keep you any longer. Goodnight." Ryan said to her and she hung up quickly without any warning.

    Mia sighed as she walked back to her room...

    "Mia, I've carefully folded your clothes into your suitcases." Andrew told her while arranging her clothes back into the closet.

     "You're an angel. How many suitcases?" Mia asked him.

    "Hmm, four?" Andrew answered.

     "Four? And my shoes? Did they fit into the four?" Mia asked him.

     "Not all but I think the shoes are too plenty." Andrew shook his head.

      "I'm just being safe." Mia said to him.

    "It's just a two weeks stay. Mimi, you're not going on a vacation, it's a businesscation, if there's a word like that." Andrew said with a disapproving look.

   Yeah, Andrew knew Mia could be acting unreasonable and spoilt sometimes, giving that her mom pampered her. Well, he knew the reasons why her mom cosseted Mia, It was only for her to feel loved and happiness. Andrew couldn't love Mia less.

     "Are you sure?" Mia asked him and he smiled.
✴✴✴✴✴

     "You're missing Layla already huh?" Bee sat beside Ryan in the living room.

     Ryan smiled... "Yeah. It's like the house got a bit bigger and lonelier."

   Bee exhaled... "I agree. Have you guys spoken?" Bee asked him.

     "We did." He nodded... "She told me she's doing well." Ryan said.

     "Ryan you do know if you keep us locked in this house, Dony and I might die of boredom overload."

   Ryan chuckled.... "But I send you to Natalie's almost everyday. You love makeup right?"

     "And Dony? She's not really into it. Let her paint at The Webster Foundation. She loves it there. That Jacob guy is just part of her growing up."

   Ryan sighed... "Bee, I know you girls want to have a life of your own but I want you safe. I want my eyes on you all the time."

    "Ryan you worry too much. Dony and I are gonna be fine, we just want to be ourselves. You can't keep us locked in here forever? I want to explore my spring break. England is very suffocating and now you want to do the same to me? Please okay? For once let me be normal. I want to eat where normal people eat, party were normal people party, walk around like normal people. Just this once to be free, Dony and I. We promise not to do anything reckless." Bee told him.

     Almost all her life she and her sister have been locked up. They were even put in an all girls private boarding school in England. Their parents were as overprotective as Ryan and for some reasons, Bee thought it was genetic. Her dad owned a pharmaceutical company of his own and was always busy, her mom was a medical assistant before but owned her own high standard restaurant. Dony and Bee were both born with silver spoons in their mouth, with cautious and conscious parents, the girls were hardly seen on their own.

    Ryan offered to take care of the girls for their spring break as Bee had pleaded with him to beg her parents. It took a lot to convince her parents to let them live with him as they thought he was too young and not competent to have their girls with him.

     His aunty, Jane was also very protective over him. She made sure he stayed with them after the episode of losing Sophie because he became prone to suicide. Jane loved him as much as she loved her kids and would die if anything happened to her last relative.

    Ryan was silent... "Okay."

   "Okay? What okay?" Bee frowned at him.

    "You'll have your freedom... For two weeks." Ryan said to her.

   "What!!! Two weeks!!" She was excited. Her brain started naming all the things she was gonna do in two whole weeks.

   "Hold on, hold on. You have to promise me, promise me, that you'd call twice a day, sleep only in this house, no visitors allowed, curfew by 7pm latest."

    "7?" Bee frowned.

   "Yes. If you violate it, deal's over!"

     "Okay, what else?" Bee couldn't wait anymore.

    "I must assign you and your sister bodyguards, you cannot leave the house without one. You must never ever sly your bodyguards, especailly you. Do I make myself clear?" Ryan said firmly.

     "Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes!!" Bee threw her arms around him, kissing his face. "You're the best cousin ever!"

   He pulled her away... "Urgh, that's disgusting! Don't get sappy and mushy, it doesn't suit you." He wiped his face with his hand.

     "I love you. I hate you all the times but I love you now." Bee hugged him once more.

   Ryan chuckled, hugging her. "Alright listen, I'm leaving for two weeks. Alex and Natalie would check up on you, Tara would report to me about your whereabouts."

    "Sounds okay to me." Bee was more than happy. "Thank you cuz!" She stood up, running away. "Oh Dony, you won't believe the news I have!" Bee said in a sing song voice.

    Ryan watched his cousin disappear... He really hoped it was a good idea for him to let Bee and Dony have their way because if anything goes wrong, their dad Stanley was gonna fry his skin.
......................................................
     Mia stood up from her bed feeling tired as she was awake almost all night trying to prepare for the following day. She glanced at the wall clock hanging on her wall, it was 8am sharp.

   She picked up a small note on her side table that read....

      Gone to deliver a package... Sorry I wouldn't be home to see you off...

    Mia made herself a plate of cereal with plenty milk after she had brushed her teeth. She cleaned the whole house, making it spotless and also arranged everything neatly. She did this so as to pass time. Mia tried calling Fiona or David but their phones weren't going through.

   By 9:30, Mia took a warm bath,carefully taking her time. She curled her hair with a curler, making her hair a bit bouncy. Mia wore a white long sleeved A-line dress with black pantyhose and pumps on her feet. She wore a very light make up to look as natural as possible, her lips were painted with transparent lip gloss.

     She had help moving her suitcases into the trunk of the cab because of the heaviness but she arrived at The Webster private airport.

   It wasn't really an airport but a hanger or packing space for different aircrafts. Mia looked around the building and while the person assisting her with her suitcases followed closely. 

     She hadn't seen anyone she knew... "Excuse me, have you seen my team members?" Mia asked someone behind the counter.

     No one was allowed in The Webster airport except you have permit and earlier today, Ryan had texted her about bring her silver card along. That was the only way to be identified as a staff.

     "Ma'am, some group of people left earlier." The lady answered her.

    "Earlier? What do you mean by that?" Mia knitted her brows together.

     "They left an hour ago."

    "An hour—what?! That's impossible. The plane was supposed to leave by eleven, it's just ten thirty." Mia was so confused. What was going on?!

    "The company's plane left by nine."

    "What?! Are you kidding? You can't be serious." Mia shook her head, but the look on the lady's face was damn serious. "Oh my God." Mia pinched the bridge of her nose. She stood there without having a single idea. She had missed her plane!!! She felt helpless for some seconds.

   Something popped into her brain and she looked at the lady. "Wait, did you say nine?" She narrowed her eyes at the lady.

     "Yes nine."

    Mia groaned out loud... "Arrgh!! That bastard." Mia clenched her fist. So that pervert Ryan Webster trick her!! He fucking lied to her about the change of time and she fell for it. "Of course he thinks I'm an idiot. That fool." Mia closed her eyes, suppressing her anger.

    "Ma'am, Mr Webster just arrived." The lady informed Mia.

   Mia opened her eyes. She turned to the direction of Ryan and as usual, he was dressed in his expensive customized suit and his Italian shoes but he wore fitted shades.

   Ryan sighted Mia in no time. Dammit, did she have to look so beautiful? He even had to take off his shades to get a better view of her face. But then, her facial expression was very angry... Uh-oh, she'd figured out that he lied to her. Another heated argument was on it's way as he saw her head over to him.

     "You lied to me. It was nine and you lied to me." Mia was really angry.

     "Wrong. I did not lie, there was a change in plan and you were the last to hear of it." Ryan lied again. The best part was that his face was rigid, lacking any sense of emotions.

   Mia scoffed... "You might have played me but I'm not dumb. What are you doing here? Come to mock me? You win! 1 point to Slytherin." Mia shook her head, pouting at him.

  Ryan saw that as very amusing and charming... He didn't know when he laughed. "You're funny you know? One point to Slytherin? What's that? Are we playing Harry Potter now?" Ryan laughed.

   Mia rolled her eyes... "Haha, have the laugh while you can. I'm gonna find a way to get to California." Mia said about to leave.

    "Wait! Where are you going?" Ryan stopped her from leaving. "I'm going to California, let's go together." That's the reason he lied to her anyway, so that they would go together.

    "I don't wanna go with you." Mia looked the other way with her arms folded around her chest.

   Ryan exhaled... "I was only trying to help Mia. It would cut down some cost for you, but that's your loss not mine." Ryan shrugged like it he didn't care but deep down he really wanted her to go with him.

   Mia looked at him... "I might not be as rich as you are, that doesn't mean I can't afford a plane ticket. I can." Mia frowned. She didn't lack her needs or wants, she was living a comfortable life. That was enough for her, she didn't need extravagant things.

   Not that she had plans of telling him, back at home in Italy, her Godfather owned a multi-million dollar shipping company which she was going to inherit someday. She just didn't have passion for the family business.

    Ryan put his hand in surrender. "Don't take it the wrong way." Ryan said before placing his hands in his pants pocket. He begins to walk away just when Mia stopped him. 

    "Okay fine. I'll come with you." Mia had to accept his help. Damn, this wasn't how she expected her day to turn out.

    Ryan turned back to look her at. "You will?"

    "Do I have a choice?" Mia was very reluctant.

     "Well okay. Let's get going. We've wasted precious time talking. I hate lateness." Ryan said. Something caught his eyes. It was the carrier that Mia's assistant held.

      "Hold on, what are those?" He asked with his full attention on the four suitcases.

    "Suitcases." Mia stated the obvious.

     Ryan looked at Mia... "I can see that. But how many are there?"

    "Four?"

      "I can see that." He scoffed... "Are you serious? All these for two weeks? Is this some sort of joke?" He pointed at the suitcases. "Did you bring your whole wardrobe with you? We're going for a business trip and not some baecation and —" Ryan stopped talking when he found Mia quiet.

    She was looking at the ground, biting her lower lip. She resembled a child being reprimanded for doing wrong. Mia was embarrassed as Ryan chided her for bringing so much. Andrew was right and now Ryan was really going to humiliate her.

    Ryan sighed... "Load everything." He dismissed the assistant. "Mia let's go. We haven't got all day, don't make me drag you." Ryan said to her.

    Mia slowly raised her head, by the time she looked up, Ryan was already making his way to his private jet. She followed quickly.
✴✴✴✴✴

   Mia sat in the very comfortable seat of the plane. She was reading a fashion magazine while Ryan drowned himself in some documents.

     "What would you like to have madame?" The flight attendant asked Mia.

     "No, I'm good. Thank you." Mia shook her head. She looked at the attendant. "Pretty lady, this is the third time you're asking me that question. I'm not hungry okay? I'm so full, honestly! To save your legs and voice from a whole lot of stress, don't ask me again." Mia smiled at her.

     "I'm sorry. Please excuse me." The flight attendant leaves.

Mia goes back to viewing her magazine.

     "The food isn't poisoned if that's what you're afraid of." Ryan said without looking at Mia.

    "I'm not hungry, neither am I thirsty. Thanks for the kind hospitality." Mia said looking at him.

      "Okay." Ryan said, he stood up leaving his seat.

   Mia watched him leave... Some moments later, he arrived with a glass of juice, placing it on Mia's table.

     "I'm not a heartless monster that I'll let you starve." He said to her. Mia looked up at him. "If you want, I'll have the first taste." Ryan wasn't smiling, he wasn't frowning either.
    
    "I don't want anything from you. I don't want to feel like I owe you something." Mia shook her head.

    Ryan squatted on his toes beside Mia...  "Mia—"

     "Ryan stop insisting. I don't want—" She mistakenly knocked down the glass on the table, spilling the drink over Ryan's clothing.