The Vacation: A Red Lace Romance by Katie Ryan

Jenn left her London flat at 5.30am in a black cab headed for Heathrow Airport. She was dressed comfortably but still stylishly, her toned figure accentuated with her favourite pair of black skinny jeans, and a loose fitting denim blouse, her long brunette hair tied back in a ponytail and her bangs swept to the side, a pair of comfortable wedges to give her otherwise shortish 5’4 statute a bit more height, and an oversized black leather bag. 
    She wasn’t happy about waking up so early, but she was looking forward to her destination.  Singapore!  She had accumulated some six weeks in unused vacation time and her boss made her take two weeks off. 
    “Do whatever you want, I don’t care.  Sit at home or go away, just don’t set foot in this office for two weeks.  Got it?!” His anger was feigned; he just wanted Jenn to take a break for a while.  Mitchell was a great boss, and he was a great mentor to Jenn, but he could see how her workaholic lifestyle was getting to her.
    Jenn was a successful publicist with a central London firm, for five years now.  After she graduated with her MBA in Marketing from the University of Sussex, she started as an assistant with Mitchell Montcalm Corporations.  Mitchell saw her potential and took it on himself to show her the ropes.  Within five years and as her 30 th birthday present she was given the office next to Mitchell’s and was made Director of Public Relations.
    She loved every bit of her job and spent most of her time in the office.  Even Saturday was a work day for Jenn.  As a result she hadn’t been in a relationship since she started at MMC. The only ‘dates’ she went on were blind dates set up by her now married or engaged friends who so desperately wanted to see her with someone.  But Jenn was married to her work.
    Underneath it all, Jenn knew the truth; she just didn’t want to admit it.  She was deeply afraid of getting hurt, and she never allowed anyone to get close enough to know her.  She was afraid of the emotions a relationship could draw out of her, and the pain someone could put her through.  In an effort to guard herself she just didn’t let anyone in.
    She got to the airport at 6.30, her flight would start boarding at 10.00, so she had plenty of time to check in and grab some breakfast in the lounge.  Jenn checked in her luggage and made way to the airlines’ lounge.  She hadn’t flown with Singapore Airlines before but their reputation preceded them and she was looking forward to it. 
    She dropped off her bags and sat down by the window to watch the planes as she enjoyed her ‘Full English-Healthy Alternative’ breakfast with a customary pre-trip mimosa.  She enjoyed another mimosa in lieu of a traditional aperitif.  She checked her emails one last time; there was nothing urgent she had to reply to but she sent off a couple of emails while she had the time.
    She got a text from Mitchell Stop working! Enjoy your trip Jenn!!- Mitchell
    It made her smile; he had become like a father to her and the only reliable man in her life.
    Jenn sent off a few last farewell texts to her friends, posted an update on facebook and headed off to board the flight.
    She was going to stay with an old friend from Sussex .  Simon had an apartment out in Singapore, and had business that he needed to attend to in Malaysia, in a few days.  So Jenn was looking forward to having the place to herself for next week and a half. 
    Jenn and Simon had a bit of a history.  They went out on a few dates, figured that they weren’t meant for each other and ended things amicably.  They remained good friends, and had a good relationship between them.  So when Jenn told Simon she was going to Singapore, she asked if she could stay at his place, she didn’t want to stay at a hotel for two weeks- it would quickly lose its charm.  It just so happened that he was going to be away during that time, so he agreed.
    It was a 12 hour flight, and Jenn could never sleep on