“Burn those who burned me!” Chapter 52

***Clara’s POV:***

Clara arrived at the airport around 5:30pm that evening. She had an hour in a half before her flight took off. As she went through security, her phone began to ring. It didn’t take a genius to know who was calling. Her father had been blowing her phone up since she left the estate. Once again hitting ignore, a barrage of text messages started to flood her phone.

***\[Clara! Bring your ass back to this mansion immediately!\]***

***\[If you don’t I’ll have you thrown out of LexU!\]***

***\[You can forget about working at JGP!\]***

***\[I’m your father! You’ll be nothing without me!\]***

***\[Clara! The Gala starts at 7pm! Have your ass back here and dressed no later than 6pm or be at that gala no later than 7:30pm!\]***

Clara laughed as she looked at her watch. Well, that’s good, the gala is the same time as my flight. After texting Gloria and Casey to let them know she made it to the airport, Clara made her way through the airport’s security.

After being cleared, Clara was on her way to her gate when she was suddenly stopped by two security guards and a clerk.

*“Ms. Rouleau?”*

The pretty airport clerk said with a bright smile. Nervous, Clara took a step back.

*“Yes, I’m Clara Rouleau, may I ask if something is wrong?”*

The clerk didn’t respond, nodded brightly at the guards as the began to drab her luggage. In a panic, Clara began to protest.

*“Wait! What are you doing! I have a flight to catch!”*

Suddenly, a dark thought entered Clara’s mind. Jameson.

*“Hey! Wait! Did my father put you up to this? Please! You don’t have to do this!”*

As Clara tried to pull her luggage from the guards, the clerk began to explain.

*“Ms. Rouleau, please, if you could allow me to explain.”*

But Clara wasn’t listening, convinced her father was trying to force her to miss her flight, as she struggled fiercely with the guards, the clerk blurted something out that made her pause.

*“What did you say?”*

Taking a deep breath, the clerk smiled brightly again.

*“That’s what I was trying to tell you Ms. Rouleau. We’re not here to stop your travel, you’ve been upgraded to a private jet.”*

Clara could hardly believe her ears. Upgraded? Private Jet? What the hell was going on! Swallowing the lump in her throat, Clara cleared her voice.

*“Um, I’m sorry. I think I misheard you. Did you say private jet?”*

*“Yes ma’am, so if you could please follow us as we escort you. Terminal locations for private jets are on the other side of the airport; we’ll have to take the train.”*

Clara reluctantly followed, not quite understanding what was going on. Who upgraded her to a private jet and why? Quickly, she pulled her phone out and dialed Gloria.

*“Hey gorgeous! You make it to your terminal yet?”*

Silence.

*“Hello? Clare-bear? Are you there?”*

Clara shook her head to pop herself back into reality. In a low voice, she answered Gloria.

*“I’m here. Um, Gloria, I need you to be honest with me.”*

Puzzled, Gloria wasn’t sure what Clara was referring too.

*“Honest about what?”*

*“Well, my flight. Did you upgrade it to a private jet?”*

Cough! Splat!

*“WHAT!!! You’re taking a private jet???”*

Clara stared at her phone in confusion, what Gloria insinuating she wasn’t the one that upgraded her?”

*“So, wait, are you saying you didn’t do this?”*

Gloria let out a nervous chuckle.

*“Clara, I love you honey bunny, but not THAT much! Chuckling We only charter a PJ once a year when we go on our family vacation. We definitely don’t own one! My dad is rich but not THAT rich!”*

Clara stood in silence as they waited for the airport train. This didn’t make any sense, if Gloria hadn’t done it then who did?

*“Could Casey have done this?”*

*“I doubt it. He would have told me! Not to mention, he’s kind of in the same situation.”*

*“This is so weird. Let me call you back.”*

Gloria instantly panicked.

*“Wait don’t hang up! What if it’s a ploy by your dad to force you back!”*

Gloria had a point; Clara wasn’t completely sure her father wasn’t behind this.

*“Yeah, I’m staying on the phone with you until you arrive at this so-called private jet.”*

Clara instantly felt better. At least if Gloria was on the line she could call for help if anything went wrong. Still, Clara had to know. Looking at the clerk, she lightly tapped on her shoulder.

*“Yes Ms. Rouleau, is there something you need?”*

*“As a matter of fact, do you mind telling me who provided me with this lovely upgrade?”*

The clerk smiled at Clara, a hint of nervousness on her face as she looked at the security guards.

*“Actually Ms. Rouleau, I’m afraid your benefactor has asked to remain private. He stated all would be explain in due time. I’m sorry. What I can assure however is, your father is not behind this.”*

Clara stared at the pretty clerk, there was something about the sternness in her voice that made her believe at least that much. Suddenly, Gloria broke her out of her thoughts.

*“Do you believe her?”*

Pause. Silence.

*“I do. I’ll call you once I’m settled on the plane.”*

*“Are you sure?”*

*Smiling. “I’m sure.”*

*Sigh. “Okay, but call me the minute you’re settled and if ANYTHING goes wrong! I love you and we’ll see you soon!”*

Clara let out a light chuckle, Gloria was every bit the big sister she’d always wanted.

*“I sure will big sister. Love you too.”*

Clara smiled brightly after hanging up. Just then they arrived at the terminal. Clara could hardly believe her eyes. A beautiful pearl colored jet with gold trimming was waiting for her at the gateway. She couldn’t believe it! She’d never flown in a private jet before. When her mother was alive, she was so busy helping her father build JGP that they rarely had time for family vacations, not to mention her dad was having an affair which drew a lot of his time away. After he remarried, whenever they would do family vacations, Sophie would think of some ridiculous reason why she couldn’t be near Clara causing Jameson to exclude her from the trips.

As she made her way into the cabin, it was like being in a movie. The inside was an ivory white with cherry oakwood and gold trimmings. As the flight attendant led her to her seat, Clara couldn’t help but chuckle on the inside.

*‘Who could have done this for me?’*

She wasn’t sure who her mystery benefactor was, but she was surly grateful!

*“Would you like some wine or champagne ma’am?”*

The flight attendant stood in front of her with a bright smile while holing a menu.

*“Yes, please! I’ll have some wine. May I try the Le’flour De Rampella?”*

*“Yes, ma’am, excellent choice! The Rampella is one of our top sweet red wines.”*

The flight took off without a hitch. The entire staff was absolutely amazing; they were also tightly lipped about who’s plane she was on.

About an hour into her flight, Clara had already drank two glasses of wine. She wasn’t drunk, but she certainly felt lighter. After talking with Gloria on the jet’s phone, she curled up in her seat and turned on TV, she still had four hours left on her flight. Suddenly, the jet phone rang. Thinking it was Gloria calling back, she instantly answered.

Slight chuckles in her voice, Clara spoke.

*“Hello, this is Clara.”*

A soothing voice came through on the other line. Clara was sure she’d heard that voice before but wasn’t sure where or when.

After the mysterious voice explained the reason for the call, Clara figured this must be the person that put her on the jet. Not wanting to hang up just yet, the word “wait” flew out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

*“How can I help you Ms. Clara?”*

It was something about the way he said her name that made Clara blush.

*“Can I at least know who my benefactor of this marvelous jet is?”*

Silence.

*“In due time, Ms. Rouleau.”*

*‘Rouleau? He knows I’m going by my mother’s last now?’*

Clara was more intrigued than concerned, but she’d hold off on her questioning until later.

Smiling.

*“Thank you.”*

*“My pleasure.”*

Blushing. Puzzled.

Before hanging up, Clara could have sworn she heard music playing as if her mysterious benefactor was at an event and for a moment, she could have sworn she heard her father.

Interesting.