3 - At the Office

As soon as the sibling finished with the stickers, they took a break before they demonstrated the system to the CEO.

'Clara, can you please hold your tongue when we go upstairs? Leave the talking to me.' Max pointedly looked at her.

She huffed, 'Yes, boss.' she said sarcastically, 'What? I can be nice,' she muttered as she rolled her eyes.

The boys shook their heads. This was one instance where they hoped she would hold her tongue until they got the deal.

Max got tasked with showing Sebastian the system. He highlighted the primary functions of the cameras, how to operate the controls and how to access them from different mediums. They used one of the unoccupied conference rooms with the lights turned off to demonstrate the use of the night vision cameras. The computer showed an image of the room and how it would have looked had it been flooded with daylight, and it made Max proud to show off what the technology could do. Their chief research and development engineer, Jeremy, designed all the machinery they were using, and he was beaming as well.

It annoyed Max when he realized that Mr. Colfer was not paying attention to his presentation. Instead, the CEO had been concentrating on his sister. He was like a snake transfixed on his prey when it was time for her to present. Everything Clara said was captivating, and Max could see the adoration and amazement in his eyes. He guessed Mr. Colfer was attracted to his sister. 

'Tell me the price that will convince you to be Navio’s chief security engineer?' Mr. Colfer asked after his sister’s presentation.

'What? Are you trying to poach me from SST?' Clara asked, peeved.

'All three of us come as a package deal. You take one, you take all three. So it will never work,' she added.

'I don’t need them. I want you. A top-of-the-line research facility will be prepared for you here in our building. I will give you highly trained people who would eagerly do whatever you want. You want it, you got it. Just come to me.' Sebastian replied, with a hidden intention behind his words.

‘Oh shoot! Is Mr. Colfer really into my sister? I did not expect that?’ Max grinned sheepishly and turned to Jeremy. He wiggles his brows and couldn’t hold his smile as the two CEOs collided with each other. ‘Oohhh... I know what is happening here... I wonder if my sister will kick his butt for being so forward?’

'There is no way you can afford my price. Thirty percent of this company belongs to me. You’d have to buy me out for more than that,' she challenged.

'And this technology was possible because we already have that top-of-the-line facility you mentioned. Also, nobody said I was for sale,' she huffed.

'I’m sorry. I apologize if I ruffled your feathers.'

'I never said you were for sale.'

'Didn’t I just hear you ask how much?' she interrupted.

'Well, I just wanted to know how dedicated you are to your company. I wanted to tempt you to move to San Diego and join me. We can definitely use someone with your skills, and I had to make an offer before someone else beat me to it.' Sebastian looks at her with his piercing gaze.

'I am still not something to be traded.' Clara felt more pissed than she was before. 'Don’t you know when to call it quits?' she asked a little too gruffly.

Max jumped in for disaster control. He was afraid that Clara would blow the deal they worked so hard for if they just let her use her tongue. 'What Ms. Johnson means is that our company had been built from scratch, and because she helped build it from the ground up, she is really attached to SST and is not considering moving any time soon.'

'I’m sorry. I know the right amount can convince some people. All you need is to name the price, and you have them.' Sebastian replied.

'I’m afraid Ms. Johnson is not one of those people. SST is her baby, and she is very loyal to it.'

Max cleared his throat when he saw Clara glaring at him. 'I’m afraid we have overstayed our welcome, Mr. Colfer. We are leaving so you can play with your new security system, and you can inform us of any mistakes or discrepancies.'

Max closed his laptop, eager to leave before Sebastian gave his sister more reasons to get pissed.

'Don’t go. I want to apologize, and I want these unpleasantries swept under the rug. Please join me later for dinner so I can make up for my misstep,' Sebastian said, his voice tinged with a remorseful tone.

'There’s this restaurant that boasts they have the best steak in town. It’s called the ‘V’. I’m not sure if you know it, and I haven’t gone there lately, but installing the first batch of your security system is a good reason to celebrate, don’t you think?' Clara had this impassive look on her face, and Sebastian knew he might have pushed her too far this time.

'Please say yes,' he said with an apologetic look on his face. Trying to appeal to Clara’s better nature, but he looked like he was hungry to devour her instead.

'Yes!' says Max and Jeremy together, even before Clara could say no. And the siblings always have a democratic rule, and the majority wins. She purses her lips and shakes her head.

Max winks at Jeremy. ‘See, I told you so,’ he seemed to say. ‘I can’t believe this guy. You’re too obvious, man. We’re standing right here, and you dare flirt with my sister?’ He thought with a raised brow.

Clara was shaking her head like she had a tick on her neck. 'No,' she kept saying as she signaled her brothers. 'We can go later,' she mouthed to them. 'Just us.'

Max gave her the hand sign for pleading, 'Please,' he said, 'remember your promise?' But the answer he got was Clara glaring at him.

Jeremy didn’t want to pile on her, but he wanted to go to the restaurant Sebastian mentioned. It was the reason they agreed to come with her, in the first place. 'Clara, didn’t you promise to take us there?' he asked innocently. Clara glares to silence him. She did not want Mr. Colfer to have dinner with them. But her brothers were relentless, and so was Sebastian. Three grown men were begging her with their cute little faces. How could she say no?

'Okay, you win! You owe me one, both of you!' she smirked.

'Such babies... it’s just another restaurant. We can eat there later.' She said, using her annoyed older sister's voice.

'We’ll be there at 7. Just come whenever you want.' Clara said to no one in particular, to show Sebastian she was still pissed. She pushed Max and Jeremy out the door to scold them. 'Both of you are in big trouble,' she hisses under her breath.