Chapter 109: Next Door

After Sergey finished showing the Keyhole program on the big screen and sat back down, I glanced at him once again."There are a few other projects in the works that could be combined to create something decades ahead of what MapQuest offers. Imagine being able to see detailed imagery of any location and navigate to that location from your phone. "

I could almost see the gears turning in everyone's heads.

When the meeting ended, there were firm handshakes, promises of follow-ups, and polite smiles.

...

On Tuesday, I decided to take a break from business and visit my family.

When I arrived, I quickly learned that Jacob wasn't living with his parents anymore. He'd rented a place in Orlando and hired two workers to help with the business.

One of them was helping his father here at their house, keeping things running, while the other was working with him in Orlando at the new location they had rented.

They were making the most out of the money I'd lent them.

I was lucky enough to come home at a time when Chloe Flynn was also there to see her parents.

I realized we hadn't seen each other since January, mostly because I'd been busy and she had been spending a lot of time with her boyfriend, Daniel.

In the evening, I went to Flynn's house for a BBQ.

Chloe and I talked over a plate, in the corner of the yard, out of the way of the noise.

I noticed she looked a bit different, wearing a short-sleeved top and a pair of fashionable shorts; her legs fully on display. I would say that she was losing some of that girl-next-door look and becoming more of a mature lady.

"How've you been?" I asked.

"Busy, mostly. But... I broke up with Daniel about a month ago." she said, trying to sound nonchalant, but I could tell it still stung.

"What happened?"

"He was just too envious about everything," Her tone was light but with an underlying frustration. "And controlling too. I couldn't deal with it anymore, so I had to end it."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Chloe, but honestly, you made the right call. It's better not to let someone like that tie you down."

She gave me a small smile. "Yeah, I think so too. It's just kinda... tough. So... what about you?

How have you been?"

I leaned back a bit, thinking. "Other than almost dying..."

"What do you mean almost dying?!" she gasped."You didn't hear? It was pretty bad," I said, rolling up my sleeve to reveal a long scar running across my forearm. It was still healing.

Chloe's eyes locked onto the scar, her face concerned. "Oh my god... what the hell happened?"

I gave her the rundown, then tried to lighten the mood. "But aside from that, I've just been focused on my studies and business. I'm trying to finish my major sooner and get out of Gainesville."

Chloe took a moment to process everything, then her eyes drifted over to the Ferrari parked in the driveway. She looked back at me with a raised eyebrow. "Looks like the business side of things is treating you pretty well."

"Yeah... " I chuckled. "Want to get a ride later?"

She grinned. "Sure. I've never been in one of those before," she said and then looked at me with a smile. "What about your relationships? Are you seeing someone?"

"Well, yes, actually. But... it's not that serious. Okay, maybe it's been getting a bit more serious."

Chloe nodded.

We talked for a while longer about what had been going on in our lives. Then the conversation moved on to lighter topics.

After the barbecue, I took Chloe for a spin in the Ferrari. She seemed to enjoy it.

When we got back, I spent the rest of the evening with my family.

My mother said she was trying to make some money by designing people's gardens; something that she did as a passion project.

...

On Wednesday, I was back at my house in Gainesville, accumulating shares.

On Thursday, I called Charlotte.

"Hey Jack," she chirped.

"What are you doing now?"

"Hmm... I might or might not be packing for our cruise..."

"Great. Pack your bikinis and dancing clothes because we leave at dawn and bring something nice for the formal night."

At 7 a.m. the next morning, I hopped into my black Ford F-150 and drove over to Charlotte's place.

She was already waiting, a suitcase in tow.

She had her auburn hair tied into a loose, messy bun that somehow looked effortlessly perfect. Her blue floral sundress hugged her just right, the hemline teasing her tanned legs.

I parked the truck and walked over to her giving her a hug.

"Need a hand with that?" I offered, opening the truck's tailgate.

"Yea, thanks," she said with a smile. Sёarch* The nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

As I helped her lift the suitcase into the back, she chuckled. "I don't know why, but I was looking out for a red Ferrari."

"Where would I even put your luggage in a Ferrari?" I shot back, smirking as I closed the tailgate. "Show some respect for this beautiful truck."

Charlotte hopped into the passenger seat, playfully rolling her eyes. "I'll give it a chance. But Ferrari still better."

"Fair enough."

I got on the highway, and we were cruising along...

"Fuck! I forgot my bikini!"

"Seriously?"

"I just washed it and left it hanging." she said, giving me those puppy eyes.

I sighed and slowed down, preparing to turn back.

"Can we make it?" she asked, concerned.

I nodded, swinging the truck around. "We'll make it. But you owe this truck an apology," I said as I floored the gas pedal.

She laughed softly, a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Jack. I promise I'll make it up to you."

"To me? You should make it up to the truck. Maybe give it a nice little wash."

We raced back so that we could grab the bikini and still manage to make it to the dock on time.

Thirty minutes later, I was back on the highway, and with fifteen minutes to spare before our scheduled departure, we finally exited the highway.

As we pulled into the parking lot near the docks, I found a spot and parked the truck.

We grabbed the luggage and got to the port five minutes after the end of boarding time.

'Are we fucked?' I thought.

Somehow, the ramp to the boat was still down and they were still set up to accept passengers.

We, however, were the only passengers there. Everyone else was already on board.

A large man checked us off the passenger list."Excellent! Now we can stop waiting and get underway," he said.

We boarded the Islander Ship and Charlotte followed me to one of the nicest rooms on the ship. The room was on the top deck and it had its own balcony.

She was in awe.

The suite had a small sitting room and two bedrooms, one to each side. The sitting room had a door that led to the balcony.

Charlotte glanced between the two bedrooms and then looked at me with a suggestive smile. "So, which bed do we sleep in?"

I stepped closer to her, put my arm over her shoulder, pulled her closer and gave her a kiss. "We can switch it up every night." I said as we parted.

Our luggage had not arrived yet so we strolled around the deck and learned the layout of the ship.

When we got back to the room, our luggage had arrived, we unpacked, and I changed into some shorts and the green Hawaii shirt I had picked up in California.

Charlotte looked me up and down, then put her arm around mine. "Looking good."

"Are you ready?"

"Let me change into something a bit more comfortable."

"Alright, I'll wait by the door," I said, stepping out.

I was leaning against the hallway wall, across from our room, when the door to the left of ours opened up.

A guy and a girl stepped out of the room.