A ‘SLIP’PERY MISTAKE

CHAPTER TWO

A ‘SLIP’PERY MISTAKE

LAURA’S POV

What did he think he was doing? Even if he knew what I did in my private life, how much sense does it make to see a grown man like him talking gibberish like this?

“Why would you say that?” Anselm said, and everyone at the table looked shocked as if they were torn between believing and not believing.

“That is very rude. Apologize to Laura right now,” Anselm said, and there seemed to be a mental standoff between Sebastian and me.

“I am sorry. I did not mean it that way.”

I was offended, so I was not going to back down.

“How exactly do you mean it?”

He threw his hands in the air, and Chris cleared his throat. The tension in the room was enough to make everyone feel uncomfortable, but for some time, he didn't know me to sort himself out like that in front of my mum and his handsome brother, not that I cared about making such an impression on his father; I did not think it was cool.

“I apologize on behalf of my brother; he can be very insensitive and playful sometimes. Pay no attention to him.”

That made me calm down without any anger left in me.

“So, tell us, how's your internship application going, still considering HR at your dad’s?” Anselm asked.

I cleared my throat. I did not like the fact that my mum told him so much already, but it did not matter.

“I haven't made a decision yet, and I’m afraid I might not make it on time.”

“You know, sometimes I wonder what is wrong with kids these days and why they don't seem to take things as seriously as we did in our days.”

“I think Laura should take her time and make her decision,” Chris said, and I smiled at him. “But if you do consider another option for a location, you should try to intern at our company. We have the best team, and I do not doubt that you will do very well with them.”

“I will think about that,” I said with a light smile.

“So, I hear you are a finalist in the university; how is that going for you?” The annoying brat asked.

“Very well, thank you,” I said between my teeth. I did not want to sound rude, but if he makes any comment that does not make sense to me again, I will not take it easy on him.

“I’m doing a kind of publicity among students at your school in the next couple of weeks, and I heard you’re interested in marketing and media, so maybe you could gain some experience working with my team.”

“That is so nice of you, Sebastian. I guess that is his way of saying he's sorry.” The last part was directed at me, but I knew what my mum meant.

“Thanks, Sebastian. I will consider that too. I think I have lost my appetite and would like to take a little walk around.”

“You just got here; are you sure you’ll be fine? The estate is quite big,” Chris said.

“Perhaps you'd like to come with me.”

“That would be nice actually; you could spend some time bonding with him. Perhaps Sebastian would…”

She was trying too hard to outdo me with this guy, but honestly, the impression I already had of them would last, so there was no point in doing this.

“I think I’d rather go alone.” I stood up and began to walk out of the dining room. I could hear them talking behind me, but I could not understand what it was.

All my life, my mum has always protected me from everything, and the one thing she just won't let me have was the reconciling of her relationship with my dad. At first, I was upset about it, but I realized that they were adults, and they could make their own decisions.

Sebastian struck me as the stuck-up type and someone I would like to stay away from, although I was very curious about him, I was more interested in his brother than him.

Yeah, I realize how crazy that was, but I was not about to start making sense of my feelings now. My phone rang, and I looked at the caller to see that it was my dad.

“Hello pumpkin. How is dinner going?”

“Disastrous,” I said as I looked at the face of my dad, which popped up on the screen. He looked like he was in a plane, probably traveling for business.

“Tell me about it; are you okay?”

“I am now. There was an annoying fool, Sebastian, Anselm’s younger son, who said something really stupid.”

“So, what did you do, and most importantly, what did he say?”

“Dad, you know I no longer do bad things, don't you?”

“I know, love.”

“Well, he called me a snob.”

“Oh no, he didn't!”

“Well, I could not help it; I was so angry at him, especially because I did not want to break Mum’s heart.”

“I sense something else there, my daughter.” He said with a smile. He knew me too well, but I had no plan to tell him what was going on in my mind because even he might not indulge in that.

“Nothing else, Dad. I don't think he and I will get along, although they are all giving me options for my internship.”

“They seem nice.”

“Yeah, but I wish we stayed together, and maybe if you guys had decided to give me an easier sibling, I might be as happy as they are.”

“Congratulations! Your mum made the smart move and got you two brand new brothers.”

“You talk as if brothers are something I could buy or something. I do not even like Sebastian.”

“Seeing as you are expressing your strong dislike for the younger brother, I take it you like the elder…”

“No!” I was startled because my mind went somewhere else when he said that, but I immediately recovered my composure, although I might have given away more than enough.

“I think he’s cool.”

“I have to go now, cupcake. I will talk to you as soon as I get to my hotel. I love you.”

He blew me a kiss before hanging up. I was standing beside the pool, and as I looked at the screen of my phone, I heard a voice behind me.

“So, you think I’m cool?”

I screamed in shock and lost my footing, falling into the pool.