I worked as a low-paid intern at the headquarters of XXX Airways. One day, I was summoned to the CEO's office and the big boss said he wanted me for a 'special assignment' : To accompany his youngest son on a 2 weeks holiday. My role would be to take care of reservations for hotels, cars, sightseeing trips etc, to have "an eye" on his son's behavior, who was some times a little "unhinged" and - the CEO's exact quote - to do everything to make my boy happy
As a reward, I would get a bonus equal to 3 month of my actual pay and a new, better position after our return. I accepted, of course. What a fool I was ...
I learned what the word 'unhinged' means right at the beginning of the journey : He yelled and argued with the taxi driver on the motorway ... He lit a cigarette inside the airport, and when we got intercepted by TSA, I had to pay the fine (at least it was a company credit card). In the VIP lounge before boarding, I heard him muttering unpleasant remarks about a couple of other passengers, the like I cannot repeat here... Finally, we entered the plane. I was surprised that we are the only two passengers in the Executive section, but I kept my mouth shut.
The captain came around to personally greet him and said all arrangements and orders from his father had been done. After the captain returned to the cockpit, I looked at him and I saw he was angry. He said : Wanna hear something ironic ? My father owns an airline, but me, I hate flying ! Airports are so far away from town... all these "people" you have to get by ... remember the two escalators that were broke and we had to climb up stairs ?
I started to regret what I have signed on... Obviously, the young man was a spoiled brat and an arrogant douchebag, too !
Damn' those stairs we had to climb ... my feet hurt ! I could use a good foot massage ... Take my shoes off !
I did not believe my ears ! I said : Wha...
DID I F**KING STUTTER ? Listen, you lousy stooge : Your primary task on this trip is to ensure that I AM HAPPY ! Right now, I'm pissed, and I need a foot massage to restore happiness ! Sit down on the floor, remove my shoes and start massage my feet !
I did... I really did it ... A very strong smell of unwashed feet hit my nose, the touch of his socks was moist and yucky... At that moment, the plane started to roll, heading from the concourse to the taxiway, to lift-off... This cannot be true ... this must be a nightmare... Wake me up !
He lowered his voice and said to me : Listen ! You will execute all and every order I give you, witout ever, EVER, hesitating or disobeying, got it ? Otherwise, I tell Dad that you made me 'unhappy' - and for you it's no bonus, no job and bye-bye ! Remember what the captain said for Dad's arrangements ? We are alone here in this section. Cabin crew has strict orders not to show up, not to interfere whatever they may see or hear from us...
What he said was true, because at that moment the plane began to accelerate on the runway, yet no one from the cabin crew had come around to tell us the usual seatbelt/safety/electronics bla-bla...
Keep massaging my feet until we reach 30,000 feet cruise level. Then, you go to the galley to pick up drinks and snacks for me, and you'll serve as a good butler would do... After that, you lay flat on the floor and I use your ugly face as my foot rest, boy !
The airliner had left the runway, we were in the air and no possibility to go back ... Where we were going ? Sydney, Australia ! A 14 hour flight !