6 - Dinner and Drinks

At the dinner table, after a round of pleasant conversation, talking about each company’s history, and the wonderful California weather, Sebastian tried to fish for more information about Clara’s relationship status. 

He needed to know how closely connected she and Max were. To see if he was going to be his competition.

“So tell me,” he was focusing on Clara again, “Are you dating anybody right now?” he stared straight into her eyes, urging her to give him a straight answer.

“I don’t divulge personal information to business partners,” Clara said, not backing down from his challenge.

“So if I cancel your project,” he smiled sheepishly, “You’ll give me the answer?”

Max and Jeremy laughed out loud without meaning to. 

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, no need to cancel anything. She’s single right now. No boyfriend or dates recently either. Clara loves calla lilies, although she insists flowers are not her thing,” enumerated Max.

“Traitors!” Clara said as she coughed into her hand. 

‘These idiots keep on digging their graves. Selling me out as if I’m not their sister.’ She stewed while staring daggers at both of her brothers and kicking Max under the table.

“Oww….” He was unperturbed, “My sister enjoys doing bike rides around the lake near our office. She has this dope-ass road bike, that you’ll have to see, it’s her pride and joy. I’ll give you more information about her interests and hobbies later, for a price.” Max offered playfully, winking at Sebastian.

“Excuse me? Are you done?” she glares at her brother, but he just smiles and winks back at her.

“I’m sorry, but I am not interested in dating anyone,” she looks pointedly at Sebastian to discourage him from asking her out. 

“It’s true! She hates men,” Max volunteered as he moved his legs further from Clara’s reach. “She definitely hates us doesn’t she?” he laughs out loud.

Jeremy, the youngest sibling, has always been a quiet person. Max usually overshadows him, talking over him all the time, and taking center stage. But Jeremy was happy to be in the background, learning early in life that listening had its advantages. 

He was staring at Sebastian broodingly, trying to get his point across telepathically. ‘You better not mess with my sister. I‘ll be watching you… I would hate to break that beautiful nose of yours if you make her cry.’ 

While keeping his eyes on Clara, Sebastian started talking about himself. 

“I want you guys to know, I’m not seeing anyone at the moment either. I would like to date this special woman I met recently. She is exceptional, very smart, and very brave. I saw her take this guy down earlier, with no hesitation. I hope one of these days she will go out with me and give me a chance.”

“I think she will, if you give her time, right, Jere?” Max chimes in as Clara gives him another kick under the table. He just laughs it off.

With their earlier interaction, Sebastian noticed that Clara values Max and Jeremy’s opinions above all else. ‘I think I know the path of least resistance. I need to convince these guys before I can convince her.’ 

Sebastian knew theirs was going to be a long journey, but he was ready for the challenge.

-=-

Max Johnson

After dinner, Max suggested they have a few drinks and check out the bar they passed by in the lobby. He argued that since they were already out for the night, why not enjoy the rest of it?

Clara did not feel comfortable going to a noisy bar and had to lean closer to Sebastian just to have a conversation. The last thing she wanted right now was to be near him.

But after a lot of begging from Max, Clara gave in. 

Their group was milling around the bar when he saw a woman sitting amongst her friends at another table. She was laughing openly, and that caught his eye. 

Max was too far to hear her laugh, but he was almost sure it sounded beautiful.

It had caught him unawares and he couldn’t stop staring. In his mind, he was willing her to look back, but it took a while, and when she noticed him staring, she stared right back. It was like he was having the same effect on her. 

Max smiled. ‘Ahh, there you are. You’re really pretty, aren’t you? And you’re staring back. I like that. I hope I can get your number before I leave. C’mon, smile for me... you can do it.”

Clara notices Max had been staring at someone from a faraway table for a while. 

“You looking at the brunette with highlights? She looks like a pretty girl. Aren’t you going to say hi?” 

She knew encouraging her younger brother might spell disaster, but they haven’t been out in a while, so she wanted everyone to have fun.

Max couldn’t take his eyes away from her. Even when someone else tried to talk to him or catch his attention, his eye came back to her, again and again.

“Nah! I’ll wait for her to go to the ladies' room. She has way too many friends around her. It’s like swimming with the sharks if I jump in there right now.” He chuckled before glancing at her again.

Half an hour later, Max sees the woman walk away from her table. 

‘Here we go!’ he tells himself as he downs what’s left of his drink, removes his tie, and places it safely in his pocket, bracing himself for success. He’s never been rejected before, but he didn’t want to think that she might be the first.

He stole another glance as she passed by and Max couldn’t believe that the woman he wanted to pursue was staring right back and smiling at him. If that wasn’t an invitation, then he didn’t know what it was.

Before Max could follow, Clara held onto his coat and whispered, “Please don’t defile her in the bathroom. She looks like a nice girl. Bring her over so we can talk to her.”

Max turned away and followed his mystery girl, laughing at Clara’s choice of words.

-=-

Celine Jacobs

Celine noticed him the minute she walked into the club. He was standing by the bar looking very handsome in his dark blue suit. 

‘Either he came from a meeting or to meet someone for a date perhaps? I hope not,’ Celine caught herself wishing for something when she didn’t even know the guy. She wondered why she cared why he was there.

She thought he was alone, but now she could see that he was with a group of people standing around the bar. 

They were talking seriously with each other. Probably a business meeting, she speculated. 

‘I wonder who the woman is? I hope it’s not a girlfriend. She’s okay, but I think I’m prettier and younger. I would be a better choice for him,’ she caught herself again, thinking thoughts that were a little possessive for someone she didn’t know.

Celine stared at the man for a while. ‘He keeps on whispering to that woman beside him. It looks like maybe they’re together?‘

Her heart kind of sank with the thought that he was with someone else.

’Oh well, I guess I better move on then.’ she felt disappointed so she tried to look for someone else to stare at, but her gaze kept falling back to him. 

‘Whatever, that’s all I do here anyway. Stare at handsome guys and never talk to them. Just like any other day.’