"You're a very beautiful woman. But please eat. The toothpick look is unhealthy."
"You're kidding. That's what you wrote in the note you left her? Why the hell did you do that? She was hot, right?"
Alex sighed. Valerie had been hot -- scorching hot. But hot wasn't the issue anymore, if it ever had been.
"I don't know, little brother. I think I'm going to just forget about women and enter a monastery. Even this stupid dating website is just a waste of time. They are supposed to screen these women, for God's sake. All they send me are these spineless bimbos just wanting to jump into bed with you because they see green in the family name."
"Mm, spineless bimbos. Sounds perfect. Maybe I will sign up for that thing after all. Send me a link to the website. Anyway, what did you expect? It's a millionaire-dating website. By definition, any woman who signs up for it is a certified gold-digger."
"So what am I supposed to do? Go to clubs and strip joints like you? Look where that's gotten you."
"I'm not the one looking for true love. I get exactly what I need in clubs and strip joints. At least I'm looking for strippers there. You're looking for non-materialistic, spiritually pure women with family values on gold diggers dot com."
Alex sighed.
"You're right. I suppose I should go to church or something."
"To get laid? I don't think so."
"Don't you ever think about settling down?"
"Me? Never. I'm happy just the way I am. If I ever stay with one woman for more than two weeks, hit me over the head with something. I agree with the old man on this one: 'Never, ever, ever, ever let a female tie you down.'"
"Okay Sebastian, uh, my flight is being called. Good talk. I think. I'll catch up with you in a couple of days for the trip to Tahiti."
"Looking forward to it, bro. I can't get enough of those island beauties."
"Whatever. Catch you later."
He ended the call and looked at his itinerary. Los Angeles International Airport to Columbus Ohio. The Drummond Corporation had a small airline that ran the route. It was rare that he made use of Drummond Airlines but this was the perfect opportunity to check in with the little company that had started the Drummond family empire. He would travel incognito today, under his mother's maiden name. That way, he could get a sense of how the airline was run without any subterfuge or sugarcoating from the staff.
He got in line and began to take note of everything that was going on. Drummond Airlines was small; not exactly a budget airline, but not far off. Profits were razor thin and they were always looking for ways to cut costs. This particular route depended mainly on regular business travelers like himself. Alex was as determined as his father, Alex Senior, to keep the company afloat, even if they could only break even.