Getting off the plane Sara was overwhelmed by the steamy humidity and bright hot sunshine. She'd been told to dress in a business attire so she was suddenly stifiling in her suit jacket and skirt. Her heels seemed extremely out of place in the tropical climate.
"I guess I'm not in Iowa anymore - thank god." she thought. Two and a half years in Iowa, two WINTERS in Iowa, was more than enough. It was the thought of spending another February in the midwest that first attracted her to the strange internship she was about to start.
Strange because it was so suited to her strengths and strange because it almost literally fell into her lap - by way of her email inbox. What could be more perfect? A month on a South Pacific Island, offering management training to employees of a small company whose mission was conservation, housing for the month, a stipend equal to what she was already being paid and a another stipend to her current employer for her absence - it had taken her all of about 10 minutes to decide this was what she'd be waiting for her whole adult life.
The preparation for the trip had been a whirlwind, as had the travel. Sara had had several phone conversations with the manager, had done her homework on the company and had checked out past participants in the internship program - all of whom had had amazing things to say about their experiences. Within 3 weeks of seeing the email, she had wrapped things up at work, gotten someone to stay in her apartment to feed her cat and here she was, thousands of miles away from the cold and the bundle of stress that had become her life of late.
As she grabbed her small suitcase off the tarmac, Sara was once again aware of the large, attractive man who was walking just behind her. He had boarded her small plane in Hawaii just after her, taking the seat directly behind here. He was a big guy for such a small plane - there were only 7 people on the plane after all and it would have been impossible not to notice him. But she got the distinct feeling that he was keenly aware of her too. Not in a creepy, wants-to-talk-to-you-on-a-plane-for-hours kind of way, just in a way that made it seem like he already knew her. Maybe this was why she wasn't startled when he reached out and gently grabbed her elbow.
"Welcome to Palau, Ms Samms. If you'll come with me I'll take you to meet your new boss."
"Um wow - how did you know... I mean... have we met? Do you work for Aero too" Sara stammered. Maybe she was more startled than she realized.
"Yes, I work for Aero. Specifically for Mr. Charles. We haven't met directly but its was my job to make sure you got here okay. You can call me Ben. Please come with me. Mr. Charles doesn't like to wait." The man apparently named Ben removed her bag from her hand and using her elbow to guide her, directing her to the airport door.
Sara had never experienced an airport like this one. One small building, one runway with two small planes sitting on it - each one a 12 seater at most. It seemed more like a small bus station than any airport she had ever seen. As they walked in the door it was the chill of the air conditioning that hit her this time, causing her whole body to break out in chills.
Ben continued to push her along at a brisk pace, until their desitnation became obvious. Mr. Charles, Sara assumed, was standing beside a tall round cocktail style table at the very back of the small room that operated as a waiting area for passengers taking off or those meeting arriving passengers. He was also a tall man, Sara would guess in his late 30's or mid 40's. It was hard to tell his age actually. He wore a white linen long sleeved shirt and tan pants of the same material - exactly what you would expect a man to wear in this tropical setting. Mr Charles was clearly someone who lived in Palau and his deep tan and healthy physique indicated he thrived in this enrivonment. If he hadn't been her new boss Sara might have even consiered him hot.
As they reached him, Mr Charles face broke out into a wide grin and he placed a hand on each of Sara's upper arms. He pulled her toward him and kissed her on both cheeks.
"Sara, welcome. We have all been waiting so anxiously for your arrival. Have a seat here" he said guestering toward a tall stool that was in the corner. "Let's get aquainted and get the show on the road. Ben - go ahead and meet Romelio at the car. I will phone when we are ready to come out."
"Sure thing Boss- see you in a few" said Ben as he abruptly turned around a headed toward the door, leaving Sara sitting with Mr. Charles.
"I trust that your travel went well?" Mr. Charles asked as he took the seat across from Sara.
"Yes, fine. Thank you for the tickets. I've never flown first class before, I really wasn't expecting that. It was very generous."
"Well, I am guessing that was the first of many things you'll be experincing this month that you weren't expecting." he said "It was the least I could do. I've been looking forward to this for some time"
Sara laughed nervously "That sounds exciting and ominous all at the same time"
"I'm sure it does. You're a perceptive young lady." Mr Charles stared intently at Sara and his look became stern. "First things first, you will call me Lucas."
Sara was immediately taken aback by the change in the man's voice and even his posture. He moved his seat closer to hers and seemed to loom over her. This of course wasn't too hard as he was at least 8 inches taller than her, and she was by no means short at 5'7".
"Okay... Lucas" she said slowly "I can do that. No problem"
Lucas smiled and let out a small, mostly silent chuckle. He waited for a few beats before he spoke.
"Of course you can." He said. "Here's the thing, I'd like to sit and make a little small talk but I hate small talk and I am anxious to get out of here and on to much better pursuits. However, for the sake of making the next month go smoothly there are some important things you need to know before you leave this airport." Lucas smirked "Those 'things you weren't expecting' shall we say."
And the bottom fell out of Sara's stomach. Goddammit! It WAS too good to be true. Some part of her knew this had to be a scam and now she was going to learn all about it. Why hadn't she listened to her intuition?! Fuck!
Furious, Sara practically shouted "Look, if this is a scam you should know, I haven't got shit. I am up to my ears in debt up for my education. Any money I may have scrapped together I've already given to my parents and my brother so they don't lose their houses. I don't know what kind of a lunatic you are to spend over a thousand dollars to bring me here but the jokes on you buddy. I've got jack so if you want that, have at it!" Sara stood up fuming, with no idea where the hell she was going.
Lucas reached over and firmly grabbed her wrist while moving to stand in front of her, not too subtly pushing her back into her seat. She had no choice but to sit down.
"You will sit down, calm down and shut your pretty mouth and you will listen to me. Do you understand?" Lucas said through a tight but oddly genuine smile.
Oh shit, Sara thought. What the hell was this all about? She had no choice at this moment but to do as he "asked?"
"Okay, fine, I'll hear you out." Sara said as she tried unsucessfully to pull her wrist out of his grip. "But the fact remains, I have nothing to give you."
"Ms. Samms, I assure you I know EXACTLY what you have to give. I know you better than your own mother at this point. And I can tell from your reaction and the look in your eyes that you are beginning to understand the position you are currently in. You have little choice other than to sit there and listen to what I am going to tell you, so take a deep breath and pay attention. Are you ready?" Lucas said in a disturbingly calm voice.
"Yes" Sara said far more meekly than she wanted it to
"First let me tell you about Aero. I realize you probably did a great deal of research about this company, otherwise you wouldn't have felt comfortable getting on that plane."
"Fat lot of good that did me." Sara huffed
Lucas looked away slowly before returning to stare directly into Sara's eyes. "Do NOT interupt me again. You have a smart mouth, its part of the reason I picked you but there is a time and a place and this is neither"
"You picked me? What do you mean by that." Sara stared at him disbelievingly.
Lucas stiffened and gave Sara a very hard look. "Enough. Do not open your mouth again until I tell you to. Nod if you can follow that simple direction"
Jesus Fucking Christ - what was going on? Sara's irritation was quickly turning to fear. Feeling she had no other choice, she cautiously nodded.
"Good girl. Continuing - Aero is my company and it is an extremely profitable and successful company. What it does is none of your business nor concern. You are not here to provide management consulting or training as you were led to believe. As you suspected, you were lied to. What my business does is none of your concern but what it has afforded me will be enlightening to you in your current prediciment. The success of my company has given me the chance to have whatever I want. And I wanted you." At this Lucas paused. Sara swallowed hard to keep from speaking and tried to keep the fear that was overwhelming her from showing in her eyes.
"Nicely done, Ms. Samms." Lucas said obviously pleased she had followed his order not to talk. " I own most of Palau. This airport is actually my airport. The employees you see here, they work for me. The passengers waiting to disembark - they were here to work with my company and at my request, though none of them know me personally. This is a small island. Its important that you remember that."
Lucas stood, scooted his chair in front of her so close that their legs were now touching and he lowered his voice.
