Before getting out of the limo, Austin sent Erik to prep the plane for takeoff and run through the final checks. Dryce sat there looking out the window at the swamps across the runway of the airport.

“Dryce, I need to talk to you.” Austin tapped his knee with the back of his knuckles.

“Why are there so many swamps around here?” Dryce asked, still staring out the window.

“Those… those are the everglades. We’re in Florida, not Louisiana.” Austin tapped his knee again. “Hey, for real, look at me. All kidding aside, if you’re going to keep up with this playboy attitude, I’m going to need to hire someone else.”

Dryce wasn’t really interested in or concerned about the conversation and looked back out the window.

“I’m serious here. What are you doing? What are you trying to prove here?” Austin started to sound like an old stereotypical queen mother.

“What? What does it matter? I’m never going to take my father’s chair. That job’s for my brother.” Dryce turned back around, his eyes fixated on Austin’s knot on his tie, unable to make eye contact.

“This is about that girl isn’t it?” Austin asked gently.

Fire erupted in Dryce’s eyes as he looked straight at Austin before declaring, “This has NOTHING to do with her!”

Attempting to reign in Dryce’s temper before something drastic happened, Austin apologized, “Forgive me, Your Highness. I spoke out of turn.”

Dryce sat back in the limo’s seat, saying with a sigh, “There is nothing for me at home. I haven’t been back in years so I don’t even know why I’m forced to go home now.”

“Really? Your home country controls one hundred percent of all the imports and exports to and from China and Japan. This is the grand opening and dedication of the new bigger lock system. Which happens to now be the biggest lock system on planet earth, and it belongs to you and your family. But you can’t see why you need to be here?” Austin’s lecture continued. “With this new lock, it's going to make the Panama Canal look like a backyard stream. Your family’s wealth is going to quadruple over the next two years, further keeping you in the lifestyle you’re so comfortable living in.”

Dryce smiled and looked back out the window to see if Erik was ready for them. “It’s funny, isn’t it?”

Shaking his head, “What… what’s funny?” Austin sighed.

“Canal… if you take the ‘c’ out, it spells ‘anal.’ Father’s lucky I’m not going to be the one that takes over. I think I would have to make some changes to what we call things in our country,” Dryce jokingly said trying to change the subject. Austin had overstepped when he’d mentioned that lying bitch Sofia so now Dryce had to hide his pain the only way he knew how, by being a major smart ass.

“Good Fuck, Dryce… when are you actually going to grow up? I really had higher hopes for you once you turned twenty-three. I had hoped you might turn into a man at some point, instead of being the same snot nosed punk you’ve been since puberty,” Austin said under his breath.

Erik stuck his head out of the plane door and waved them in. Just like he’d rehearsed many times before, Erik rushed down the boarding steps and un-holstered his side arm, holding it at the ready and scanning the area.

Austin opened the limo door and stood there looking around. Erik’s eyes faced west, Austin looked east. With his hand down by his side, Austin motioned to Dryce letting him know it was time to move onto the plane.

Dryce walked quickly to the plane with Austin right by his side. “Don’t you think this is all overkill?”

“I think if something were to happen to you, or if you were to get kidnapped, the world’s economy would be immensely affected. I also think that should be something you are concerned with as well,” Austin said rushing him inside the plane. “And considering certain past situations, no, I don’t think this is all overkill.”

Dryce rolled his eyes and hopped up the few steps into the private plane.

Erik closed the door of the plane, locked it down and swiftly gave the thumbs up to the pilot as he re-holstered his side arm.

“Erik, you’re American… what’s there to do in Louisiana?” Dryce asked, taking his seat on one of the couches.

“Ummm, well, I think you would like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, sir. It’s definitely right up your alley. Tons of great music playing at all the bars. Everyone’s drinking and dancing on the streets. Girls constantly flashing their tits everywhere you look…” Erik twitched his eyebrows up and down with smiled.

“Enough. There is no way your over-privileged ass is going to Mardi Gras. That would be a protection nightmare,” Austin took over and shouted out.

“You are such a buzzkill, flipping dream crusher. You know that?” Dryce said, flopping his feet up on the coffee table in front of him.

“Hmmm, you know what’s a real dream crusher? Try dreaming when you’re dead in some hillbilly’s basement,” Austin said taking one of the seats across from him.

“You’re also a mood killer. We were just having fun,” Dryce said, sliding a smile and a head nod over to Erik.

“Back to what we were talking about in the limo. Are you going to be keeping this playboy shit up much longer? I’m serious. If so, I need to hire some more guards for you,” Austin repeated.

“Getting too old for the job now, Austin?” Dryce teased.

“No, but how you act is starting to require more personnel around you to keep you out of trouble,” Austin pointed out. “If you’re going to continue to…”

“Yeah yeah… YES go, Ngo. Hire away, I don’t care,” Dryce quipped as he rolled his eyes.

Erik looked over, “Hey, we’re going to have to wait until next year anyway. Mardi Gras takes place in like February, I think.”

Dryce nodded his head and smiled, giving him a devilish ‘anything to make Austin’s job harder’ look. “Good, gives me time to plan a massive party.”

After a couple of hours of silence between them, Austin closed his computer and put his phone down on top of it. He leaned his chair back and closed his eyes. Dryce gazed out the window then called out to the pilot.

“Where are we now?” Dryce yelled.

“We’re currently flying over the southeast coast line of the Persian Gulf, sir,” the pilot answered, turning his head slightly.

“Where…” Dryce started to ask.

Without opening his eyes, his head still leaned back, Austin tilted his head to the side in Dryce’s direction. “We’re over Dubai.”

“Fuck yes! I love Dubai… pilot, when we land at home, get ready to come back to Dubai after the ceremony,” Dryce perked up.

“Yes, sir. I’ll make it happen,” the pilot nodded.

Austin cracked one eye open and glanced at the time on his phone. “What’s our ETA?” he shouted up to the pilot.

“We’re looking at roughly two more hours, sir,” he said, sliding his headphone off to the side.

“Let’s kick it up a notch. We’re actually a bit behind schedule,” Austin said as he closed his eyes again.

“Yes, sir. I’ll have to raise our altitude and then I can speed us up,” the pilot said.

“Mr. Keegan,” Austin called out.

“Yes?” Erik replied.

“Are we ready for when we land?”

“Yes, sir. The motor pool is already in place as we speak.” Erik took his earbuds out and leaned over to Austin. “Oh, and that file you asked me for. It’s also ready for you and waiting in the limo. My contact in the states sent it over last night.”