Faye and Benny Church were in the front seat, with Benny behind the wheel, while Kari and Jordan sat in the back.  It was Friday evening, Kari had agreed to meet Alex in New York, and they were driving her to the airport.  But it was all so surreal to her two closest friends.

“A private plane,” Faye said.  She was a gorgeous black real estate broker married to a gorgeous black attorney, but Alex, and his billions, was from another planet to them.  “You are about to board a private plane that was sent here by Alex Drakos himself for the expressed purpose of picking you up.”

Jordan grinned.  “That’s how Mr. Drakos rolls,” he said.

Benny looked at Jordan through the rearview and laughed.

“But that’s something else, girl,” Faye said.  “You went from how are you going to pay your bills, to a private plane!”

“I’m still trying to figure out how I’m going to pay my bills,” Kari pointed out with a grin.  “And this is Alex’s plane.  Not mine.”

“She doesn’t have to struggle,” Jordan said.  “Mr. Drakos gave her a credit card to use any way she wanted.  But Mom won’t use it.”

Kari frowned.  “What I look like using that man’s card, Jordan?  If things go south with Alex and me, I’ll owe him all that money back.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Yes, I will.”

“According to Judge Judy show,” Jordan said, “if it was a gift, he can’t change it to a loan if y’all break up.”

Benny laughed.  “The kid is right!”

“According to my conscience,” Kari countered her son, “if things go wrong between Alex and me, I’ll owe him that money back.  And I wouldn’t be able to afford to pay it back.”

“Then why did you accept the card if you weren’t going to use it?” Jordan asked.

“I’ll tell you why,” Faye said, “because I know your mama.  She took that card just in case she had to use it.  Because ba-by, she’ll use that sucker in a heartbeat if it’ll keep the doors of Maid for Mom open!  She’ll pay every dime back, but she’s no fool.  She’ll use it if she has to.  I know your mama.”

“But your mother is right to be cautious, Jordan,” Benny said.  “You don’t want her beholden to any man.  You want her to be independent, like your aunt Faye.  If I left your aunt tomorrow, she’ll be just fine.”

“Darn right I will,” Faye said with a smile.

“That’s why I’ll never leave her,” Benny said.  “She’ll be too fine and these men will line up to take my place!”

“Darn right they will,” said Faye.

“See,” said Benny, as he looked at a smiling Jordan through the rearview.

They arrived at the airstrip where the big private jet was waiting, with the crew chief standing at the foot of the stairs to escort Kari onboard.  It was a gorgeous aircraft and all of them were impressed.  Including Kari and Jordan, who had flown on it before.

But as soon as the car doors opened, and Kari, Jordan, and Benny and Faye got out, two cars drove up that they didn’t realize had been behind them, and security guards got out.

“Who are they?” Faye asked.

“Mr. Drakos’s men,” Jordan said proudly.  “They protect us when he’s not around.  We just never are supposed to see them.  And we don’t.”

Benny and Faye looked at Kari.  They couldn’t believe how much Alex was pulling out all the stops for her.

But while Faye and Jordan found it enchanting, Benny found it concerning.  Alex was known the world over as the playboy billionaire.  That was his nickname!  He knew how to wine and dine women with the best of them, and only did it because he could.  They, in Benny’s mind, could be reading too much into Alex’s generosity.

But when he looked over at Kari, whom he viewed as his kid sister, Kari smiled.  “Don’t worry, Benny,” she said.  “I know all of this is more Alex being Alex rather than Alex being into Karena.”

Benny smiled.  Kari was a well-grounded woman.   What in the world was he worrying about?