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It was just a joke, but I could tell there was something more to it than that. Was she a little nervous to be in my company?
“Well, you don’t have to worry, Miss Matlock,” I said. “We’re going up there because it’s my office. CAA’s main offices are in Los Angeles, but I conduct most of my affairs from a private office on the ground floor of my penthouse. I assure you, it’s a perfectly professional environment.”
“Penthouse?” muttered Alicia.
Inside, I waved to the doorman, who nodded and smiled at me. We went over to the elevator.
“The inside of the building isn’t like I imagined it,” commented Alicia.
“I prefer it that way,” I said. “After all, why would I want to advertise my presence here?”
“Scared of burglars?” said Alicia, mischievously. As I stood opposite her in the elevator and took a deep draught from my water bottle, I saw her look me up and down. I could tell what she was thinking.You don’t exactly need a bodyguard with those biceps …
“Hardly,” I said, finishing my sip and grinning at her. “But I do employ a full security team for the building, anyway. They’re here day and night.”
“For the whole building?” inquired Alicia. “You mean you pay for them to look after all the other tenants?”
“Miss Matlock,” I said, chuckling, as we arrived at the top floor, “Iamthe landlord and theonlytenant.”
Alicia didn’t know where to look or what to say. I could tell she was just as surprised by me as I was by her.
Thepenthouseatthetop of the building had originally been two luxury apartments, but I’d had the place remodeled a little once I’d acquired the building. For starters, I’d converted the ground floor of the building into my own private office. At the elevator was a set of electronically locked doors, which needed a keycard and password to enter. Beyond that was a reception desk, which was unmanned today, it being Saturday. Beyond that, through an automatic door, was a long corridor. On either side of it were the security offices for the whole building, and a medium-sized conference room, which I could use in the event one of the local hotels were booked up and I had business partners or meetings to conduct in town. Beyond that was my own private office, and beyond that, an extra set of titanium steel doors, with a combination only I had access to. It led up a modestly sized spiral staircase to my private apartment.
“Make yourself at home,” I said to Alicia as we stepped into the office. I crossed the room and walked behind my desk, quickly checking my laptop to see if anyone had called while I’d been taking my run. It was an old, dark mahogany bit of furniture, an antique that somehow complemented the slate-gray, marble, and metal décor of the office. My interior designer had protested that the place would be too austere and cold-looking, but honestly, I preferred it that way. I didn’t want to be distracted while I was at work.
“If you’ll just give me a moment,” I said, “I’m going to take a quick shower and change. Please, make yourself at home.” I watched Alicia sit down uneasily in front of my desk, as I hopped through the pair of automatic steel doors and up the stairs.
I wasted no time, and within ten minutes I’d showered, put on a shirt and a pair of slacks, and sprayed myself with deodorant and cologne. With the sweat washed off my body, I quickly ran a hand through my drying hair, a little perturbed by the steel-gray hairs around my temples. I jogged down the stairs and sat in front of Alicia.
“What do you think of the place?” I asked, settling myself into my chair and fixing Alicia with an appreciative glance. She’d relaxed a little and taken off her coat; she sat in front of me, tossing her beautiful, soft strands of hair over her shoulders. She was a gorgeous woman, it’s true. I could see her in the uniform …careful, Jake, I reminded myself.That’s your best friend’s little sister you’re picturing in a necktie right now.
“It’s amazing,” said Alicia, and oddly enough, I felt like she meant it. She was busy looking around at the square but neat construction of the office. The glass panels looked into the conference room behind us, and the warm, spring sunlight was busily coursing in through the balcony on the right side of the room. “How long have you been based here?”
“Since the first two, or three years CAA came into existence, I guess,” I said. “But let’s talk about you, Alicia. How long have you been working as a flight attendant?”
“Well, I’ve worked for Bolar Air for the last ten years,” she said, looking down at her shoes. “It’s nothing like CAA. It was a budget airline. But I worked hard, and within a few years, I was made a senior attendant on international flights. After that, I went into management for a bit, but then they tried to give me a ground assignment, and I refused.”
“Why is that?” I asked.
She looked at me as though it were a silly question. “I guess I just don’t like being bored,” she replied.
I’ll bet. Alicia Matlock didn’t seem like the kind of girl who liked to be bored with anything.
“And, is there any other reason you didn’t want to take a ground assignment? It’s not like there wasn’t the opportunity to advance your place at Bolar Air.”
“Sure,” Alicia said. “But, it’s not like I wasn’t working hard. You got my references, right?”
“Of course,” I said. She was clever. Alicia knew full well that her references were a glowing appraisal of her abilities. “I asked for them the moment your brother gave me your phone number. But,” I continued, “maybe you’d like to tell me what it is you want to achieve if you were to come work for CAA.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” said Alicia, and my brows furrowed. She didn’t seem especially ambitious. “I guess,” she said, uncrossing and recrossing her legs, “I just love to fly. Always have. It’s so exciting, isn’t it? But it’s nerve-wracking, too. I like making sure everything goes smoothly. Whether that’s briefing the attendants or making sure the services run smooth, all while we’re thousands of feet up. It’s exciting.”
“You like excitement?” I didn’t know quite why I said that then. A hungry animal was busy waking up inside of me, one that was eager to know just how much excitement Alicia Matlock wanted out of life.
She smiled at me. “Sure do,” she replied.
Now that was downright flirtatious. I smiled. “Great,” I said, nodding my head. It was a refreshingly candid response, and, as I watched her uncross her legs, a wicked part of me wished she wasn’t wearing jeans. “Of course,” I said, “we’re not a budget operation like Bolar Air. You’re going to be called upon to provide a top-quality experience for clients.”
“Well,” said Alicia, “I’m willing to learn and put the time into doing that. It sounds great, honestly. Pardon me,” she added, “but I think CAA is unique among airlines. You’re still offering that same level of comfort and glamour with air travel from a bygone age. You haven’t compromised. And yet, you’re one of the highest-grossing airlines in the country …”
