Divine Intervention

The weather outside reflected Sabrina Wallace’s mood. As the rain beat against her bedroom window, she continued to pack the few suitcases she would need for her trip. While flying was not one of her favorite things to do, it was a means to an end. Sort of like eating spinach or liver. Not exactly something she liked, but it was good for her so she did it. Flying was a necessary evil in her business. As one of the brightest up and coming architects, her clients were not always just a drive away. Her growing reputation was a great source of pride for her but it also required her to travel farther afield to meet with clients. While her residence and offices were located in Boston Massachusetts, she was becoming well known enough to have clients all over the United States. So over the years, she learned to set aside her fear of flying. Her personal assistant and best friend Katherine Manning, always teased her about her fear. It amused her that such a put together woman in the board room could have such a fear of flying.

Sabrina smiled as she remembered how she and Katherine had met. It was right after her parents were killed in an automobile accident some seven years earlier. Katherine had been Sabrina’s father’s assistant for several years. After their death, Sabrina couldn’t bring herself to go to her father’s office to pack his personal items so Katherine did it for her. When she went to drop them off to Sabrina, Katherine found a pale and lethargic young woman who simply sat around her apartment giving in to her grief. Katherine immediately took Sabrina under her wing, forcing her to join the land of the living. Although they were so close in age, Katherine was able to give Sabrina the strength and support that she needed. Gently guiding Sabrina through the months of grief, anger and shock, it only seemed natural for Katherine to become Sabrina’s assistant when she began her own architectural firm.

The telephone rang and startled Sabrina from her thoughts. “Hello?”

“Hi Champ. Ready to take to the friendly skies?”

Sabrina smiled into the receiver. “Very funny Kat. Anything new to report before I head out?”

“Nope. Everything is still set like we discussed earlier. Just wanted to make sure you didn’t need anything. I’m headed out for my hot date.”

“Who is it this time?”

“I’ll fill you in if it works out. Are you sure that you don’t want me to give you a lift to the airport?”

“Thanks Kat but I’m happy taking a cab. Is the car rental all set when I land in San Francisco?”

“It’s all with your airline ticket. If you have any problems just call me on the cell phone. Have a safe trip kiddo. See you in a few days.”

“Bye Kat. Thanks for everything. Good luck on your hot date. I hope this one has teeth”, Sabrina joked remembering Katherine’s description of her last blind date that boasted of a bad toupee and three missing front teeth.

“Me too. See ya!”

As the line went dead, Sabrina hung the telephone up. After circling the apartment to make sure that she didn’t forget anything, she went downstairs to the lobby of her apartment to hail a cab. Thankfully living in Boston made it easy to get a cab. Not that the cab rides were any less terrifying than a flight, but at least it made getting to Logan Airport a little easier.

Once Sabrina was checked in she made her way to the departure gate to await the boarding call. After only a few minutes, her flight was called and with an uneasy feeling, she boarded her flight.

Alexander Deluca looked at his watch for the third time in only a few minutes. If his calculations were correct, he would have just enough time to make it to Logan Airport. If he didn’t, it wouldn’t be the first flight he missed. As the CEO of Deluca Enterprises, an investment firm he and his brother started 10 years earlier, Alex missed many flights due to last minute problems that had to be ironed out.

There were times when he wished his younger brother Sam would take more of an interest in the company he had agreed to be a part of. Alex’s intention of starting the company with his brother was to have something that they could share together. As brothers both Sam and Alex grew up in a loving household with all the advantages that most kids only dreamed of having. For Alex it only made him work harder so that society wouldn’t think he got where he was because it was handed to him. Sam on the other hand didn’t care what people thought and went about the business of his life with not a care in the world, not even Deluca Enterprises. Sam was the handsome, easy going brother who basked in their parents love. Alex doubted if there was anything that Sam could do that would upset their parents. Alex on the other hand, was the dark mysterious brother that his parents couldn’t seem to figure out. They loved him unconditionally though and Alex knew it.

After packing a few more things into his briefcase, Alex grabbed his suit jacket and started for the door. Before he reached it however, Mary Simms, Alex’s assistant, buzzed him.

“Excuse me, Mr. Deluca?”

Impatiently Alex walked over to his desk and pushed the intercom button. “Yes Mary, what is it? I’m on my way out.”

“I’m sorry Mr. Deluca but your brother is on the phone and said it was important.”

Alex smiled ruefully and shook his head. “Thanks Mary. I’ll take it.” Alex pushed the flashing button on the phone. “What now Sam. Did you lose your credit card again?”

“Very funny Alex. I only did that once and you’ll never let me forget it will you?”

“Sorry. I’m on my way to the airport, what’s up?”

“Leaving town again?”

“I wouldn’t have to if you would be more than a silent partner in this company. I could use the help you know.”

“Now Alex, we’ve been through this a million times.”

“I know, I know. You’re still sowing your wild oats. To what do I owe the pleasure of this phone call?”

I wanted to see if you would like to join me in New Hampshire this weekend for a little fun.”

“I know it’s not skiing since it’s the middle of August, so what’s up?”

“Two beautiful girls!”

“No thanks Sam. I have neither the time nor the interest. Besides, I’m on my way out west to iron out a new contract.”

“You know that Mom is really beginning to worry about you. All work, no play. You’re honestly becoming a dull boy Alex.”

“No, I’m becoming a rich man.”

“You’re already a rich man Alex. There’s more to life you know. You’re going to give yourself ulcers before you realize it. Ever since that Jessica girl left you, you’re more of a recluse than ever.”

Alex briefly thought of the tall, leggy brunette who broke his heart. Just when he thought he had found the woman that he could possibly share his life with, she up and left him. Accusations of being emotionally detached and only caring about his job flitted through his mind.

“Look Sam, I appreciate the offer but I have to catch a flight. I’ll call you when I get back. We’ll do something then. Okay?”

“Fine. Have a safe flight. Bye Alex.”

“Bye Sam.” Alex hung the telephone up and once again walked to the door. On the way out he briefly stopped to talk to Mary about a few things she needed to care of while he was gone then went out to hail a cab to the airport.

Twenty minutes later Alexander Deluca was racing through the airport to make his flight on Pentium Airways. Still cursing the fact that he was flying in coach as opposed to his usual first class arrangements, he made it to the gate just in time. Booking at the last minute, he knew he was lucky just to have a seat on the flight at all! With only a few minutes to spare, and an odd feeling in his stomach, he boarded the plane for the long flight to California.