Cruise or Not?

"I hate to break this up, but I have to be to work in the morning and we still need to get my car from work, so can those nice gentlemen who brought us here take us back?" I asked Charles. I still couldn't call him dad or father except in my mind. Maybe I still felt he needed to earn those labels.

"Yes of course." Charles motioned for one of the staff to come to him. He whispered in their ear and they left. "It will just be a few minutes."

I turned to Ethan, "Thank you for a lovely walk through the garden."

"The pleasure was mine." He spoke in his formal more aloof tone, but did bring my hand up to kiss. Such an old fashioned gesture, but the fireworks were exploding somewhere again and I'm sure I blushed a little.

After my cheeks cooled I turned back to my father, "Thank you for a wonderful dinner. I hope we can get together again soon."

"That would be great, maybe we can plan something for Saturday."

"Saturday doesn't work, I'm going to be in Barbados. But definitely when I return from the cruise." I felt that there might be some push back about this cruise, but I didn't want him to think I was going to give it up just like that.

"Sera, I'd hate for you to be away that long when we're just getting to know each other, is there any way I can persuade you to postpone it?" Charles asked.

"It's non refundable. I've spent close to 20,000 on this trip. If I don't go I won't be able to afford to go again." I'm not stupid. My father has billions of dollars, he's not worried about the money, so if he really wants me to stay and develop a relationship with him or Ethan, I just gave him an opening. "And Mom has been looking forward to it, I'd hate to disappoint her." I added, I'm not sure if Mom would want to go by herself but I want to give her that option if he really wanted me to stay. And honestly the amount was a bit of an overestimation, but they didn't need to know that.

"Sera, I'm more than willing to pay for you to go another time and even give you all the upgrades. And Grace can go if she wants, then you both can go together another time."

"Actually Mr. Gastrell, I was thinking that a two week Caribbean vacation sounded like a great idea. It would allow Sera and myself to get to know each other in a more relaxed setting." Ethan said. I was a bit taken back by this, not that I didn't like the idea but my father said he wanted to get to know me. Maybe Ethan was testing out his true motivations. Or maybe Ethan was just trying to get us some time away from having to act in front of our families. I need to stop trying to figure out everyone's motives, it's giving me a headache.

"If you feel that is best, we should see if it's possible for you to join them on the cruise." Charles answered. So my staying behind was most likely a ploy for them to match me with Ethan. Sigh.

"I think that is a splendid idea." Lady Maxwell said. "I would love to go too, but we have a couple of commitments we cannot break."

"Unfortunately we do as well." Miranda agreed. And somehow I was relieved. I would be very happy if it was just Mom, Ethan and me.

Ethan looked at me and asked if I could send him the trip information. I nodded and sent him my itinerary. Ethan pulled out his phone and zoned out for a few minutes. When he looked up he smiled. "I was able to book a cabin on the same cruise, but I was wondering if we could use your private jet to get to Barbados, Mr. Gastrell. I think it would be easier to keep this out of the papers that way."

"That's a good idea. I'll have everything prepared so you three can leave on Friday." Charles agreed. Wow, I get to ride on a private jet! I know someone who has a private jet. Wait, I'm related to someone who has a private jet. I should pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming. Maybe in a minute, on the way back so no one will see it, that 14 year old is trying to surface again and I want to keep my dignity intact.

By this time the two guys who had brought us here had appeared, but were waiting to the side. Mom and I said our goodbyes and followed them to the SUV out front.

Mom and I didn't talk much on the way back, a silent understanding that we didn't want to talk as the two guys in the front of the SUV will probably report back on what was said.

After we got home, Mom and I had a long talk about everything. She didn't want me to feel trapped into the arrangement and I told her I was fine getting to know him. I wasn't ready to tell her that he was my secret crush for years. I am sure she will suspect something when we're on our trip and by then I might be okay telling her. I don't think she'd slip and tell anyone, but I wasn't taking that chance. I'm most disappointed that my father was more concerned with me getting to know Ethan than spending time with him.