Page 38 of Falling for the Bosshole

“El Prat?” Ana exclaimed. “We are in Barcelona?”

Lash nodded and smiled. Ana jumped off the plane seat and ran straight to his arms.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she wailed.

“Because it was supposed to be a surprise,” Lash shot back.

He placed her next to him and reached for her seatbelt. Ana was so excited she pressed her nose against the windowpane of the aircraft. She felt the floor beneath her thud as the wheels touched down.

Ana was at home.

Or so she thought, as she eagerly alighted from the aircraft. They were led to another hangar where a helicopter was on standby.

“C’mon, they’re waiting for us,” Lash spurred her inside the chopper.

“Who?” Ana asked, confused.

Why were they leaving Barcelona already? It wasn’t fair, she thought, as the helicopter ascended into the air.

Ana looked down and recognized the tree-lined avenue in the heart of Barcelona. She had walked the streets of La Rambla almost every single day of her life. Then there was the Sagrada Familia Church in the distance. The cranes spiraling into the sky were proof of the ongoing renovation of the Gaudi masterpiece. She even spotted La Bouqueria, the famous indoor public market with meat, produce, cheese, and an array of other food in a bustling space.

Ana wanted to scream in frustration as they left Barcelona behind. Lash just smiled, seeing the look on her face.

Ana didn’t have to wonder long. Soon, the familiar landscape of a seaside town came into view. Her heart thumped as the chopper descended and pursued the stretch of the shoreline of Playa del Cura beach. Even with her eyes blindfolded, Ana knew what was at the very edge of this coastline.

“Are-are we going…” she stammered. She still couldn’t believe her eyes when the Cancer Facility where she worked came into view.

The chopper hovered over the facility then landed on its rooftop.

Ana was speechless as two figures appeared. Diane Hawkins and her husband Leon Álvaro waved from where they stood. Ana jumped out of the helicopter and ran straight into Diane’s arms. She had never been more speechless in her entire life.

“We’re ready,” Leon’s cool voice addressed Lash.

“Ready for what?” Ana asked, still not over her astonishment and confusion.

“You’ll understand soon enough, my dear,” Diana replied in typical Diane fashion- cool, calm, and collected. Then she addressed Lash and said, “Leon’s been taking flying lessons and insists on taking our own chopper,” she pointed to another helicopter nearby. “I’m afraid we won’t be riding with you and Ana.”

“No problem,” Lash replied, “I’m just grateful you both could accept my invitation.”

Ana thought she was in a dream. First Barcelona, then Torrevieja. Then there was Diane and Leon coming along. But where to? And she distinctly heard Lash mention something about accepting his invitation.

The parties boarded separately, and the two helicopters became visible before slowly disappearing over the horizon. Ana gave up guessing. She surrendered herself to fate…and whatever Lash had planned for her.

It didn’t take long for the landscape to change into the verdant green of rolling hills and valleys. She had no idea where they were headed. She saw the ruins of a castle overgrown with grass. Sheep and goats pastured nearby where grass dotted with white poppy flowers was spread out like a carpet of green and white.

Ana noticed a gaping cleft in the mountain and realized it was some passage, a route that extended for miles and miles ahead. A town surrounded by vegetation and foliage on all sides appeared down below. The helicopters hovered over the small town. They flew slowly until they came upon a small mountain bluff that was broad and flat. Their chopper came in for a landing while Diane and Leon landed a few meters away.

Lash jumped out of the helicopter and extended a hand to help her disembark.

“Welcome to Zafarraya, Ana,” he announced, eyes glinting with excitement.

Ana’s eyes t popped from disbelief. She remained speechless as she surveyed her surroundings. A jeep appeared in the distance and came to a stop where they stood. The door opened, and a stooped figure alighted.

Ana gawked as Manfred Vano approached.

“Grandfather?” She shrieked in delight.

The old man enfolded her in a giant bear hug, then said, “Lash gave us very little notice, but I think you and your guests will be happy with the accommodations we managed to prepare. The whole village has been agog with excitement with all the supplies that have been arriving.