"How long before we are in LA?" Melanie asked.
"Not long." Alex said. "We have time to rest and freshen up here, but then we'll fly directly to LAX."
As soon as they had reached the Drummond family resort hotel on the main island of Tahiti, Melanie had called the nursing home. She was relieved to find out that her mother was still there, but administration was insisting on payment. If she didn't make good by tomorrow then they would start proceedings to have her mother removed.
"Can we just get going? I can freshen up on the plane."
"Is something wrong?" He asked.
"It's my mother. I need to get back to LA and make sure they keep her in the nursing home."
"Just give me the number Melanie; I'll take care of it."
"No!" She said emphatically. "Just make sure I get the money I'm due from the trip. Whatever part of it--"
"Don't worry Melanie, you'll get every penny and more. It's not your fault the plane went down, so you'll get paid and there will be compensation as well."
"That's if you are a Drummond employee." Sebastian had appeared out of nowhere.
"Which she is." Alex said.
"Which father will decide."
Alex turned to Melanie, blocking his brother's view of her. "Don't worry." He said. "This is all going to work out. I promise you."
She wanted to believe him but Sebastian's smirking face gave her a dark feeling. She needed to get home to LA.
After a very brief stop, they continued on to the airport where a private jet picked them up for the nine-hour flight back to the Los Angeles. Melanie recognized most of the flight crew but only knew one girl really well. The whole situation was so awkward that she spent most of her time in the bedroom in hiding from her colleagues. If this was her new reality, it didn't look good so far. She would rather have been out in the cabin with the other crew, busy with her work and chatting to her colleagues.
At least Alex and Sebastian were both gentlemanly enough to leave her alone while they reappraised control of the Drummond Empire together with their younger brother, Joshua.
At LAX, there was a throng of reporters waiting to interview the castaways but Joshua had managed to arrange a discreet arrival in order to avoid the waiting pack. When they stepped out of the airport, there were two limos waiting for them.
Melanie was confused.
"Who am I traveling with?" She asked.
"You're uh... traveling alone." Sebastian said. "Alex and I will take this one."