“Because I like you,” he said with a shrug.
                          
“You don’t even know me.”
                          
“And that’s why I don’t think I want you to go yet. I wanna know you better,” he beamed.
                          
“Well I don’t.” With that, she continued to walk, this time in quicker strides, but he was faster and it seemed not a very hard task for him.
                          
“Why are you so eager to go? Any woman would not pass up the chance.”
                          
“I told you I don’t want anything to do with this show and I told you I have things to do which are more important.”
                          
“Like book signing?”
                          
“Yes,” she retorted.
                          
“How many book signings are there?”
                          
Actually, there were only three. And honestly, the second one was scheduled a month from now. But there was no way she was telling him that. “Why? You’re going to take me to each one of them?”
                          
“If that’s all it takes,” he practically pressed down his head so she could see that boyish grin of his that had been itching at her nerves.
                          
“I’m not really willing to play this game you have going on, so, just leave me alone.” It was a good thing they had already reached the dock and she climbed as fast as she could towards the yacht without taking the help from one of the men already waiting for them.
                          
“Zach seems to really like you,” Pauline pointed out later when he left to get some drinks.
                          
“He’s just being friendly,” she said under her breath.
                          
“Nah, he likes you,” Pauline said with a smile. She wondered why the woman was not glaring at her at all. If it were the other girls, they would now be throwing her in the ocean and wishing for piranhas as they did so.
                          
“You don’t look so stricken about it,” she couldn’t help but say.
                          
“It’s not like I own him or anything, right? I know what I got myself into when I lined up for the show,” Pauline shrugged.
                          
She quietly applauded her friend. Really, it seemed that Pauline was the only sensible person among the other ladies they left behind.
                          
They still had about thirty minutes until they reached land and Julianne began to work on her computer. Zach came back with a bottle of champagne.
                          
“So, you guys ready for the shopping spree?” he asked. He looked at Julianne and added, “Where do you want to go, Jules?”
                          
“Specifically?” she asked.
                          
He nodded. Pauline looked confused.
                          
She hesitated a moment, knowing her friend would have a shock if she found out she’d be going to Chicago for work. “The Book Table, Lake Street, Oak Park.”
                          
“Oh! I wanna go to Sabon! They have really good salt scrubs there and I might just need it in the island!” Pauline squealed with delight. It’s a good thing she did not question her choice of shopping.
                          
“Well then, Sabon it is,” Zach winked at her.
                          
Julianne couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
                          
 *****
                          
Zach chose to spend most of his time with Pauline during their time at the yacht and the plane. Because he would spend most of his time with Julianne by the time they reached Chicago.
                          
They landed at O’hare International Airport just before lunch. A limo was already waiting for them and it took just about twenty-three minutes to arrive at Merlo Restorante where they had lunch. Zach tried to be patient with Julianne the whole journey. She was too attached to wherever her mind was going and it appeared like she didn’t have company. Yes, she rode with them in the limo but her eyes were too busy looking outside the window and even when they were eating, she was scanning the menu, reading almost everything written on it.