5 - At the Restaurant (2)

Earlier, Sebastian thought Clara looked pretty up close, but that was a weak word to describe her. To him, she was nothing short of stunning. It felt like he always knew that whatever she'd wear would captivate him. 

Clara was wearing ankle-length skinny red pants that highlighted her long legs and showed off her assets. She paired it with a silky white sleeveless top that showed off her toned arms. 

On her feet, she wore black strappy sandals that gave 3 extra inches to her height. She was now almost up to his eye level, and he liked the option that he could probably kiss her much easier from this height. He smiled. 

Sebastian thought she looked spectacular. Her hair was curled up to one side and held up by a big sparkly comb at her nape, exposing her neck. 

He shakes his head when he heard himself thinking of nibbling on her neck. ‘These thoughts have to stop before I do something stupid.’ 

“Hey, do you want me to take the picture for you?” Sebastian volunteers, smiling at all of them, his gaze lingering on Clara.

She turned around and stared at him. All her pep talk in the shower did not prepare her for what she saw before her. 

There was something different about him, and she wondered what made him look more appealing when just this morning she was ready to throw the project in his face out of anger.

‘He was wearing a suit this morning too, but why does he look like something changed? Is it his eyes? Are they darker? Or his mouth. Do they look softer? Fudge! What is happening to me? I have no time for this.’ 

She couldn’t stop staring. Sebastian looked extra dangerous and extra handsome right now, and these aspects drew her to him. 

Max saved her from gawking too much by intervening. 

“Hey Sebastian, here, take my camera. I want a landscape and a portrait picture, okay? Thank you!” He pulled Clara toward him so they could take a picture.

‘Why did she look startled when she turned around? Is there something on my face? Why was she staring at me?’ Sebastian frowned in wonder.

Clara was not into make-up and preferred to stick to the basics: eyeliner, curled lashes, a touch of mascara, and the dullest matte lipstick she owned. 

She just didn’t want to draw too much attention tonight, so she did the barest minimum to look presentable. 

After this afternoon’s exchange, she wanted to steer clear of Sebastian. But why does she feel self-conscious? Was there too much makeup on her face?

Sebastian looked at her lips and let unbidden thoughts enter his mind. ‘I wonder what those would taste like?’ 

-=-

Max grinned as he looked at Clara and Sebastian, ‘Oh ho ho, this is not one-sided after all.’ 

Max then places the camera in Sebastian’s hand to break the tension. “Just press the button in the middle. What am I saying? You know what to do.”

Sebastian shakes his head and walks a few steps back so he can get a better picture and include the view behind them. 

‘At least she looks like she’s having fun. She’s not scowling anymore,’ he thinks. 

“Okay, here we go.. 1,2,3, smile!” It was cheesy, but he got Clara smiling. 

Sebastian takes a few more pictures of different positions from different locations, and because of Max and his antics, they were all laughing by the time they took the last picture. 

He was a little jealous that the trio looked like they’d known each other for a long time, and they were not afraid to shove and push each other like very good friends.

Their bunch intrigued him. ‘What exactly is their relationship with each other? I should have delved deeper. Clara, I really dislike the thought of you having a relationship with anybody else but me.’

For the last photo, he switched his phone with Max’s when they weren’t looking. 

He wanted a souvenir of their time tonight, and even though he was not in the picture, he was content to have hers. 

Sebastian zoomed in on Clara's face and pushed the button on his camera so hard it took several pictures until he lifted his finger. 

He was so mesmerized by her bright smile because he can see that it reached all the way to her eyes. ‘I hope she’ll smile for me like that in the future, too.’ 

“You look absolutely beautiful tonight, Clara,” Sebastian said after they took all the pictures.

“Thanks! You don’t look too bad yourself.” She was a little apprehensive, but because the project was at the forefront of her mind, she decided to be nice.

Clara looks around, and her brothers have disappeared. ‘Those idiots! I told them not to leave me with him. I’m going to hurt both of them later,’ she vows while her lips pursed together.

“They went to get us drinks. They asked me to wait with you so we can hear the hostess when she calls us.” Sebastian gave her an excuse because she looked like she wanted to bolt. 

‘I need to change this expression on her face and I need to do it fast. How will we get to know each other if my presence makes you uncomfortable?’

“So…I apologize about this morning.”

“About what?” Clara wanted to know what exactly he was sorry for.

“Uhm…” Sebastian adjusted his collar awkwardly. “You know, while you were installing your system and then again at my office…,” he trailed. 

“I didn’t mean to sound like a pompous ass,” he coughed as he felt like Clara was squeezing the blood out of him right now. It had been a long time since he apologized to anyone.

The comment made her smile. “You were one, though, but I accept your apology,” she shrugged. 

“At least you know how to apologize. Plus, we still need to finish that contract and work together on other projects. Hopefully, we will pass the six-month evaluation,” she said hopefully.

He was impressed that she was willing to set aside her reservations in the name of the project. 

“I won’t lie. I am very impressed with your system, which is why I signed up with you, to begin with. But I will ask the security team to test it out thoroughly. I will give you my evaluation then,” he replied nonchalantly, not wanting to appear too overeager.

“Well, let us know if we need to improve on anything or if it gives you any problems. We have a 24-hour hotline, and it is manned by highly trained and professional software engineers.” 

Clara boasted about her staff because she was so proud of them. Most of them were still students, but they were all smart and at the top of their class. 

“Or there’s always my number, and you can call me. But I have to warn you, I only answer work-related calls and questions on my personal phone,” she hesitated with the last statement, but if it meant he would buy the whole package, then he can call her at all hours of the day.

Just at that moment, Max and Jeremy arrived with drinks in hand. 

“Hey guys, they’re ready with our table,” Jeremy said as he gauged the aura between the two CEOs. Not sensing any hostility, he led the way to their table.