Chapter 3 The Airport

"Are you for real?!"

"Yup, the prodigal son gets to be the CEO." Since they had their meeting three days ago, Macy had been feeling a bit down, and it wasn't just because the lost boy was coming back home.

"That's bonkers! You've been busting your ass up everyday just for this."

It was true. Macy was never even a business fanatic, her dream was to become an artist and hopefully one day, a big time animator. But just to make her Mr. Darwin proud of her, she made the decision to dump out her dreams and take in his.

Sure, with her qualifications, she could land herself a good job at any company, it just felt like her effort was for nothing. "I guess it was inevitable. After all, he is the full hundred, I'm just half."

"Come on Macy, there's no need to sound so negative."

"Do you know what he said? He told me not to think I'm being replaced because I'm not his biological child, that it just feels right to have a man lead the company. Really?"

"Well if he says that, then maybe that's really what was on his mind?"

"Really Sage? Okay tell me, what does a man have that a woman doesn't?"

"Well, there is one thing..." Sage smiled but Macyy's expression remained Macy sober. "I'm sorry, I understand how you feel. Well, not totally but I get it. It sucks, and there's nothing anyone can say at this moment to change that."

The reason Macy was so bummed out was because it was inevitable. Even if she was already the CEO and William said he was coming back home, she was sure that his father would ask her to step down for him. Whereas the case would have been entirely different if she was his biological child. It wouldn't matter if she was older or what her gender was, the position would be hers by birth.

"So...what's going to happen now?"

"He said I can choose to keep my current job, or work with William as his Chief of Operations (COO)."

"What are you going to choose? If you keep your present job, it wouldn't be so bad right? I mean, the pay is nice."

"Yes, but if I do, I know Mr. Darwin is going to be hurt."

The whole reason she was working at his friend's company was because he told her to get training. Her boss was just paying her out of the goodness of his heart.

Mr. Darwin was a really sensitive man, and Macy knew that if she chose to stay with her boss, he would definitely read meaning into it. He wanted her to get along with William and to do that, they would have to work together, so choosing to work at another company when he had his own would make her look like a bad person.

"Well then Chief of Operations (COO) ain't so bad either right? You still get to be second in command. I mean, a boss lady's still a boss lady. Right?"

"That's not the point. That post was supposed to be mine. I'm the one who worked for it, and yet he gets it because of his genes. So annoying."

"I know love. When is he coming back?"

"The meeting was three days ago so probably in four days. I guess I can count on my mom to throw some kind of welcome home party for the brat."

"Knowing your mom, it's inevitable, everything is going to happen just like it did in the holy book. And you're already nailing your role as the jealous sibling who isn't going to enjoy the party."

"Oh shut up."

"Just so you know, I'm in. Either the dude is a brat or not, Mama's always down for expensive steak and good wine." Sage licked her tongue. "Your mom is an amazing cook, I'm still wondering if it's possible to have her adopt me."

Macy laughed at Sage's comments. "Thanks." She knew her friend had been trying to get her to cheer up all along. That was one of the reasons Macy loved Sage, she never wanted to see her sad or hurt.

"You're welcome baby girl. But I'm serious about the food thing though."

"I know you are."

Unlike Macy who was constantly going on diets, taking extra vegetables and smoothies to stay in shape, Sage was free to eat anything and everything. Right from their teenage years, all Macy had to eat was a donut and she'd feel bloated. But five, six donuts away and Sage's model figure never wavered.

"Well it's your house, so I don't think you have to ask for permission. If anything, my mom would probably be mad if you didn't come."

"Yeah she would, and that's because she loves me more."

"I should be heading home, my mom wants us to have a mother-daughter heart-to-heart conversation." Macy said, picking up her bag.

"By any chance, is there a William Sinclair somewhere in that conversation?"

"Ding ding. My mom is still under the impression that the bratty kid and I can still be fiends." While there was actually a chance for them to make up, Macy wasn't interested in trying.

"Well you better get going then. Wouldn't want to keep our mom waiting." Sage said with a smile.

"Our mom huh? You coming by later?'

"Uh obviously. I'm having dinner at your place."

"Okay. See you then."

★★★

Ring! Ring!

Macy's phone blared to life, ringing like it was nobody's business. Still half asleep, she grabbed the device and shoved it under her pillow. She hated being bothered in her sleep, especially so early in the morning.

After a while the ringing stopped, but it started again almost immediately.

"Ugh! Who the hell is it?" She forced herself to sit up, rubbing her eyes as she let out a yawn. She took out the phone to check the ID of the caller but instead her eyes caught something else. She was late. "Fuck!"

The day before, Mr. Darwin had assigned her with the task of picking up the bratty boy from the airport.

"His flight should arrive at the airport by 10:00AM, and you know how your brother feels about time. Please be there early to pick him up." He had said.

She glanced at the time again, 10:30AM.

Jumping out of bed, she rushed to the bathroom and had the shortest shower in the history of short showers. If only she hadn't stayed up all night watching animes, she would have woken up early.

The drive from their house to the airport was about thirty to forty minutes, sometimes longer depending on traffic. Even if she got there on speed record time, she was already late.

She threw on a pair of faded jeans and an oversized T shirt. Her red hair was wrapped up in a rather messy bun. Finishing her rushed outfit with a pair of sandals, she threw on her strap on purse and grabbed a pair of her glasses to cover her eyes. Normally she'd wear contacts but she knew she could blind herself if she tried to put it on while rushing.

Macy didn't dare to wait and eat even after the chef announced that he made her favorite for breakfast, and that there was cake for dessert.

She still hadn't gotten her driver's license so Macy called for a cab to take her down to the airport. William was a huge pain in the ass, the only thing good about him was his punctuality.

One time, they were supposed to go to school together but because Macy came downstairs three minutes late, William had gone without her.

He once made his father fire a worker just because she gave him his night snacks two minutes late.

Macy was more than thirty minutes late. She didn't care about him, if she could she would love to make him wait even more, her worries were Mr. Darwin. If William had called him that she was late, he would be really furious with her.

The road was fairly clear so they got there in less than forty minutes. She told the cab man to wait so he could take them both back home and rushed inside the large airport to find her estranged playmate.

The place was huge and Macy felt like she could get lost while searching for him so she decided to ask for help. "Um, excuse me? The flight from London that landed this morning, where are the passengers?"

The man, probably a security, looked at her and pointed right.

"Thank you."

She ran to the direction he pointed, looking around for William's blonde hair and freckled face. Her gaze was still locked on the crowd of passengers making their way out of the airport when she felt a hand grab her wrist.