Ejected but not Defeated
"The landlord is here. He is asking us to leave his apartment," Julia announced with a worried expression.
Jason just nodded and went back to resting his head in his palms. Julia stood frozen at the door not sure what to do or how to console Jason. In just a day so much had changed. Jason had fallen from grace to grass. Yesterday, he was the world's most treasured, today he has become a con artist in the eyes of everyone.
Julia had not gone online to read the latest news about Jason and since they arrived at the apartment the previous day, none of them had gone out.
Julia took slow steps towards Jason as her heart ached looking at him, but before she could get any closer, Jason spoke;
"The reporters are out of our premises, right?" Jason asked.
"Yes, please," Julia replied and Jason nodded.
"Please get me, Peter," Jason requested and Julia nodded, returning to the living room and doing as requested.
Peter quickly went upstairs walking past Julia who stood frozen behind the sofa.
"Please help me book a flight for all three of us to a different country. You can choose whatever country you want," Jason said and Peter quickly got to work but after making one or two calls, he returned to Jason with a look of shock in his eyes.
"What is it?" Jason asked, seeing him return to the room in silence.
"You have been put on the no-flight list," Peter said and Jason nodded.
"Please help me pack," Jason said and went out of the room.
The landlord was waiting outside for Jason.
"Look, I am sorry. It's not my intention to eject you from my house but if I don't, I will lose my job. This is how I also earn money. You already know how influential your family is," the landlord said helplessly.
Jason looked at him saying nothing.
"I am going to refund your money to you with an additional 20% of the amount for the inconvenience caused. If you are okay with it. I have a brother who lives in Sydney. He also rents out an apartment. I can help you with a new apartment there," the landlord offered.
"Thank you for the offer but I will respectfully decline the offer. If they call you to find me, they can do it again. I appreciate the return of my money with the extra 20% additional payment for the inconvenience caused. That is more than generous. Thank you," Jason replied.
The landlord nodded and left. He had heard about Jason but had only had the chance to meet him in person today. He was wondering why Jason's family would hang Jason out like that to be lashed. Jason didn't seem that bad to him. He may be unfriendly but he wasn't bad.
Jason dialled a number.
"Hello, please bring the helicopter over. I will send you a location. I will meet you there," Jason said as soon as the call connected.
They carried their bags into the car and drove to what looked like a park. The park looked like no one had visited the place in a long while. They all got out of the car and Julia was surprised to see the helicopter in the park. She was wondering who had brought it over but she didn't have to wait long as the pilot got down and walked towards Jason. It was one of the employees from the company.
"Thank you for doing this," Jason said as he shook the employee's hand.
"It's always a pleasure boss," replied the employee.
"Here, you can have this," Jason said, handing the employee the keys to his car.
"Thank you, boss," the employee said.
Julia, Peter and Jason sat in the helicopter and Jason got behind the controls and soon the helicopter was airborne. The employee sat behind the wheels and drove Jason's Maybach to his house.
"Do you know where we are going?" Julia asked Peter.
Julia knew she could not ask Jason anything now.
"I don't know," Peter replied.
Jason just moved with the helicopter in the sky with no destination in mind. After 30 minutes of flying around, he finally had a destination in mind and headed for the place. Peter and Julia just sat in the helicopter waiting to see the surprise destination.
After flying for a while, they landed in Havana and checked into a hotel. Jason sold the helicopter there as he would have to leave it behind. He used the money to book a flight ticket to Europe. He was very happy, the final blow from Mrs Haward to put him on a no-flight list did not extend to Havana.
Jason and Peter returned to the hotel exhausted. Peter proceeded to his room and Jason did the same. When he entered the room, Julia had already had a bath and there was food on the table that she had not touched. He checked the time and frowned.
"You haven't eaten?" Jason asked.
"I was waiting for you," Julia replied in a low voice.
Jason wanted to shout at her for starving herself like that but their current situation did not allow him to. They are already going through a lot, and yelling at her will only make her sad. He inhaled deeply and exhaled
"Don't do that again. If I want you to wait for me, I will tell you," Jason replied in a cold voice. "Eat," he said and walked into the bathroom.
Julia lost her appetite for food immediately and the hunger she felt was no longer there. She drank the bottle of water and climbed into the bed covering herself with the blanket.
Jason returned to the room and realized the food was still untouched. He frowned and pulled the blanket off her. Julia quickly sat up.
"I told you when I tell you to do something, you just do it. Go eat," Jason said in a stern voice.
Julia could read the anger in Jason's eyes. He had hit her once and, in this state, she was very sure if she angered him any further, he would hit her out of frustration. Julia got down from the bed and sat behind the table and forced the food down her throat with tears streaming down her face.
Jason picked up the dryer and dried his hair seeing she was now eating. He checked his phone for the flight confirmation and climbed into bed after. From the position of the bed, he could see the side profile of Julia. He could see Julia was forcing herself to swallow the food she had put into her mouth with her face stained with tears. He sighed and got out of bed walking towards her.
Jason collected the cutlery from Julia and placed it back on the tray. He then covered what was left of the food. He held Julia's hand and made her stand up from behind the table leading her away from the table. He hugged her and she started sobbing.
"I am sorry," Jason apologized, rubbing Julia's back gently.
Jason knew the way he treated Julia earlier was not right. He allowed the frustration to get to him. He kissed the top of Julia's head and, freeing her from the hug, led her to bed. He covered her with the blanket and climbed into bed to cuddle her to sleep. Unfortunately, aside from Peter who managed to catch a 3-hour sleep, Jason and Julia barely closed their eyes till morning.
They proceeded to the airport in the morning and checked in. In a few minutes, they were airborne on their way to London.