Chapter 23. Family Travelling

Jamal had been notified by Timothy's assistant about the private jet arrangements. Fortunately, this was an opportune time for him to request a leave, and the Director of Operations approved his time off for a week without much comment.

"A car from the company will pick us up tomorrow at ten in the morning," Jamal informed the family after hanging up the phone. "We'll stop in Oslo to refuel, and then go straight to San Francisco."

"Wow," Whitney said, turning to Aleysia with a playful grin. "What kind of witchcraft did you do this time, Ale?" she asked, laughing.

"Can you do the same for me, Ale?" Tyrone pleaded desperately.

"Oh, I already asked Timo," Aleysia explained. "He said he didn't really care about the others. His focus was to bring me safely to San Francisco, and since Uncle Jamal happens to be the operations manager, it made it easier. So, he didn't have to send his assistant to accompany us to San Francisco. I'm afraid I can't help you, Ty."

"Damn, that's really unlucky for you, Ty!" Whitney laughed, giving her brother a pat on the back.

"Oh, come on!" Tyrone shouted, clearly frustrated.

"Don't forget to open the store when you're not working," Yolanda chimed in nonchalantly.

"Mom!" Tyrone exclaimed.

"Oh, come on! You're twenty-four, not fourteen!" Yolanda said, rolling her eyes.

"I'm going to make a list of all the things I want, then!" Tyrone stomped his foot and walked off towards Jamal's office.

While Whitney and Aleysia were going up to their rooms upstairs and Whitney was helping Aleysia pack her clothes and everything, Jamal turned to his wife and embraced her.

"Did Aleysia say something to you?" Yolanda asks her husband.

"No, she didn't say anything." Jamal shakes his head.

Yolanda smiles, "She talks to me."

Jamal then brings his wife to the sofa to sit, "About what?"

"She told me that she wanted to live with us, just like now. She didn't have any plan to stay back in San Francisco; she asked my permission if she still could stay with us." Yolanda said, holding Jamal's hands tight.

"Bullshit, she can stay with us forever!" Jamal said while frowning his head.

"I told her that too, and she said she wanted to sell the house and then give part of the money to us." Yolanda said calmly, but it makes Jamal surprised.

"We don't need money from her! We just want happiness for her, that's all." Jamal said, a little bit annoyed.

"I know, sweetheart." Yolanda put her hand on her husband's chest. "But if it's making her happy and she can act more relaxed with us, isn't that better? You know how many years she's been with us?"

"Seven years."

"And she keeps her boundaries within herself; she rarely says what's inside her head. She didn't want to bother us; she didn't even want to get paid for working in our store." Yolanda said, "Do you know that? Can you her hesitation?"

"Argh that kid, I told her we're family; why would she hesitate?" Jamal groans.

"She feels bad for not doing things for us, and we helped her a lot." Yolanda said, "And I know, we might not need the money, but we can put it as an inheritance for our children or their future wedding expenses. That'll be great too, right?"

"And accepting it, do you think it'll make our Aleysia feel so much better?" Jamal asked his wife.

"I asked that, and her answer was: at least I can finally do things for all of you. And I'll be happy for that." Yolanda said the exact words Aleysia told her the other day.

"Fine, then if she gives us anything, we shall accept." Jamal said, relented.

"And hug her; that's the most important. We're family; she's a family." Yolanda said, "Even when she decided she wanted to date a woman."

Yolanda and Jamal laugh out loud, "Well, at least the woman is rich." Jamal added, and make Yolanda agree while laughing.

"We can agree on that; our Ale will not live hard with her." Yolanda said, and Jamal agreed with his wife.

-

Tyrone's extreme curiosity had led him to make an unexpected request—to take his parents, brother, and Aleysia to the Svalbard airport. Surprisingly, he had managed to obtain permission from his superiors, as most of the managers and board of directors were aware of the close relationship between the Owen family and Timothy Johnson, the new CEO.

After a short 10-minute drive, the group arrived at the airport. As Tyrone and Jamal were unloading the baggage from the car, they were approached by two individuals from the airport: Bjørn Olsen, the older man, and Rolf Strand, a younger man.

"Mr. Jamal Owen?" Bjørn greeted, extending his hand.

"Ah, yes, that would be me," Jamal replied, shaking the man's hand.

"I'm Bjørn Olsen, and this young lad here is Rolf Strand. Let's go," Bjørn said, leading the group through the immigration process and guiding them to a different departure gate.

"Wow, we're usually in that gate," Tyrone exclaimed excitedly while pointing at the regular gate and other passengers waiting for their departures.

Whitney smiled, gently holding Aleysia's hand and cautioning her to be careful. The five of them followed Bjørn and Rolf, walking out of the building and towards the back of the airport.

There, a Bombardier Global 7500—an ultra-long-range business jet renowned for its impressive size and luxurious accommodations—stands waiting, its engines running and a flight attendant ready to greet them.

"Holy fuck, that's the plane you're going to fly to San Francisco?" Tyrone gasped in disbelief.

"Yes, if you're the Owens, that's the plane that's going to fly all of you to San Francisco. Four of you," Bjørn clarified, as Tyrone had mentioned that he was not coming and had not brought his passport.

The plane is coated with a dark brown metallic and gold colour scheme that exudes a sense of exclusivity, sophistication, and technological superiority. The sleek, aerodynamic fuselage is coated in a rich, dark brown metallic hue that catches the light and gives the aircraft a sense of timeless refinement.

Complementing the stunning metallic base, delicate gold accent lines are artfully incorporated throughout the design. The high-mounted T-tail configuration is particularly eye-catching, with the gold trim accentuating the graceful sweep of the vertical stabiliser and horizontal stabilisers. This design not only enhances the aircraft's stability and control but also adds a touch of elegant flair to the overall silhouette.

"Don't worry, I just want to take a quick look inside," Tyrone reassured Bjørn, whose face had grown slightly panicked as Tyrone quickly made his way towards the plane.

While Tyrone explored the interior of the Bombardier Global 7500, Rolf assisted the ground crew in loading the family's luggage onto the aircraft. As the Owens approached, the flight attendant, Ariadne, greeted them warmly, but her focus seemed to be particularly on Aleysia, as if she already knew the young woman was visually impaired and might require additional assistance.

Jamal leaned in and whispered to his wife Yolanda, "Oh, I'm starting to like this Ariadne person."

Yolanda nodded in agreement, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Me too," she replied softly.

As Tyrone emerged from his exploration of the luxurious private jet, his eyes were wide with excitement and wonder. The sheer scale and opulence of the Bombardier Global 7500 had clearly surpassed his expectations, and he could barely contain his enthusiasm.

"This is incredible!" Tyrone exclaimed, unable to hide his amazement. "I'm so jealous!"

As the Owen family steps inside, they are immediately struck by the sheer grandeur of the space. The cabin is bathed in a warm, neutral colour palette, with plush, cream-coloured leather seats arranged in a spacious, open-concept layout. The attention to detail is evident in the expertly crafted wood and metal accents that seamlessly blend form and function.

The family's eyes are drawn to the expansive windows, which flood the cabin with natural light and offer breathtaking views of the landscape below. The state-of-the-art entertainment system, complete with large, high-definition displays, adds a touch of modern technology to the already impressive surroundings.

"Please don't hesitate to ask me for any assistance you might need," Ariadne said, her voice warm and reassuring. "I'll be close by if you require help with anything."

"Thank you," Aleysia replied, her gratitude evident in her expression.

Whitney, still somewhat awestruck by their surroundings, settled into the seat next to Aleysia, ready to offer any support her friend might need.

Meanwhile, Tyrone was being escorted out of the aircraft by Bjørn, but not before making a final request to his family.

"I won't forgive any of you if you don't come back with the things I want!" Tyrone exclaimed, his voice carrying a hint of playful desperation.