Everyone knew Sebastian Colfer. He was in the news lately, and all the women in the city have fantasized about him being their husband.
Max frowned at Celine’s reaction. ‘How does she know Sebastian? Did they use to date? You asshole!’ he glared at Sebastian. ‘You can’t have my sister and Celine at the same time.’
‘I’m going to beat this guy up if he reveals he used to date Celine,’ his mind was racing with all these terrible thoughts, and he couldn’t help but keep on glaring at Sebastian.
Jeremy shakes his head before finishing his drink and gazes into the empty glass. It was typical for his older brother to pursue a married woman while looking for his cheap thrills. Or to get beaten up by a jealous boyfriend by the end of the night. He had a reputation for being amorous without asking enough questions, especially with potential partners.
‘Ms. Jacobs works in our accounting department,’ Sebastian explains. ‘And her dad works in our finance department,’ he added, ‘I thrive in knowing all my employees, no matter what department they work for. Every few weeks, I walk around the company to observe and talk to people in different departments. I want to ensure my employees are cared for. I’m more of a hands-on person, even though people always think of me as very standoffish.
This explanation cleared the air for Max, and he was happy that there wasn’t any dating history between them. It certainly improved his chances with Celine.
After some time, and several business discussions later, Max tries to recount their encounter with the restroom. He tells everyone what Celine said, mimicking her voice, which he was doing horribly, ‘If you stalk me or try to sell me something, I will give your number to the sex hotline.’
She laughed from her belly like she used to do when she was a kid, the kind of laugh that was unique to her.
Clara stared at Celine with outstretched arms while tears slowly ran down her face.
‘That’s not what I said? Don’t exaggerate,’ Celine felt embarrassed. She laughed out once more as she slapped Max’s arm, not aware of Clara’s reaction.
Celine stopped laughing when she saw Jeremy tuck Clara under his arm, whispering in her ear. She heard him say, ‘Uhm… I think Clara ate something bad. She’s not feeling well. We’ll come back right away.’
‘Don’t worry about them. Clara has a weak digestive system. She doesn't always agree with whatever she eats. They’re going to the restroom, it’ll be okay. This happens all the time when she gets nervous.’
Max was trying to divert Celine and Sebastian’s attention so they wouldn’t ask her too many questions. He does not know what is happening at the exact moment, but he knows his siblings need his help.
‘Maybe I should go help them. I can take her to the ladies’ room and help with the cleanup,’ Celine started walking after them.
Max couldn’t do anything but follow Celine. It seemed like she had a mind of her own, and there was no stopping her.
By the time the group made it to the hallway, the siblings were gone. She checked both restrooms, and they were not there either.
‘Clara or Jeremy is not here. Where did they go? Should we look for them?’ She felt concerned for her new friends. But Max just shrugged her worry, trying to divert her attention.
‘Clara’s a little claustrophobic sometimes, and maybe they’re outside getting some air. Don’t worry. She has Jeremy. They’ll be okay.’ Growing up with Clara, he knows that this was not just food poisoning, but the rest of their party need not know that.
He was heading down the corridor with Sebastian and Celine behind him. ‘Wait!’ They said at the same time. ‘Take us with you,’ replies Sebastian. They both wanted to know what happened to Clara and were unwilling to stay put.
‘It's not a good idea. Clara doesn’t like people watching her when she’s vulnerable. She’ll probably scream at me if I bring you to her.’ Max looks at them with his eyes, pleading them to agree with him and just stay where they were. 'Please, guys.'
‘I’m sorry for all of this. I’ll see you guys tomorrow?’ He looks at Sebastian apologetically, hoping it was enough to soothe his inquisitive nature.
‘Uhm, Celine,’ he pulls her aside, not wanting to lose the opportunity to establish their connection. ‘I still want to have lunch if you’re available tomorrow. I’ll call you?’ She nods, still unwilling to let him go, but didn't want to be pushy, so she let Max run down the hallway and out into the parking.
-=-
‘Where are they? I wonder what happened? I didn’t receive any text, which means they’re somewhere around here.’ Max thinks as he searches for his siblings. ‘Clara did not look good. I hope she’s okay.’
Max found Jeremy and Clara a few minutes later huddled in the garden, sitting on a bench hidden behind an enormous planter. Clara was still crying in Jeremy’s arms.
‘What happened? What triggered the tears? Is she okay?’ He asks as he rubs Clara’s head to comfort her.
‘It was Celine. You made her laugh. There was something about it that woke up all her memories. She kept saying, “my sister.” You think it’s true?’ Jeremy replied.
Max paced around thinking, ‘Fuck! The universe is just messing with me now. I meet someone pretty attractive, and now we probably can’t be together because we’re already entangled in this stupid mess. Can I be selfish? I hope Clara is wrong about this. But then I also want her to have closure.’
In a resigned state, Max says, ‘We better do some research and check out who she is.’
They both feel helpless when Clara cries. All they can do is soothe her and hug her until she stops or falls asleep, whichever comes first. Some would say it was creepy for the siblings to still sleep together. They were all adults, after all. But growing up in the orphanage, and having abandonment issues, they never really outgrew their childish attachment to one another. They would cling to each other like they were the last lifeline they had available, and nobody could tell them otherwise.
Max crouches down towards Clara’s crumpled form and takes her from Jeremy’s arms. Murmuring soothing words, telling her everything is going to be alright. He viewed himself as the big brother, and during times like these, he wished her pain could be his, and that he could just shield her from the heartache.
Jeremy stretches out and orders a cab from his phone, so they could go back to their hotel. It was going to be a long night, and they might as well be comfortable, no use sitting out in the dark, cold garden where anyone can stumble upon them.
Clara, Max, and Jeremy all grew up in the orphanage. That’s where they adopted one another as siblings. As young adults, this ragtag crew changed their last names to Johnson, in homage to the wrestler, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. They left Max at the orphanage when he was around 5 years old. Jeremy was only 2 during that time, so they had no recollection of their parents. Because the orphanage was very poor, they forced the older kids to care for the younger ones. This was to ensure that everyone would have someone to care for them and minimize the cost of hiring additional personnel. Max got assigned to Jeremy, and because of this, grew to love him as a younger brother. Occasionally, the boys gave into sibling rivalry, but the longing to have a family always kept them together. Clara was eventually added to the mix later when she got left outside the orphanag
When Mr. Wong’s business started failing. Another facility with more updated and high-tech gym equipment had opened up in the next city over. They claimed they were training better security personnel, taking most of their business. And because money was getting tighter, instead of competing head-on with their competitor. And perhaps going to debt just to buy top-of-the-line gym equipment, Clara suggested they venture out where they’ve never been before. To specialize in the technology side of the industry. A business that needs little to nothing in terms of capital. This was because they needed to supply the equipment only upon demand. It was slow going at first. Installing security cameras, monitoring systems, and intruder alert technology for single individuals and small family-owned companies, but as their clientele grew, so did their profit. Eventually, when the business kicked off, they were able to
It was 10 am, by the time the SST team re-surfaced and made their way to Navio’s headquarters. All they needed to do was iron out any loose ends and answer any of their questions. The Johnson siblings talked about what they should expect when the system is in use and all its limits and possibilities. Max did most of the talking. Clara looked like she wasn't up to it, spacing out most of the time and working on her laptop. Sebastian invited them to lunch before they left for San Jose, but Max declined, saying he had something he needed to take care of. Clara and Jeremy, on the other hand, accepted. They both felt embarrassed to say no after what happened last night, hoping this would be an opportunity to clear the air. Jeremy excused himself to go to the restroom. Max followed him, saying he needed to make a
‘Why do I feel like it’s my first date?’ Max felt so nervous he was sweating. This was not a feeling he was familiar with. He always had the confidence to face any task or person, but there was something about Celine that threw him off his game. It felt like this was one date he could not mess up because his life depended on it. ‘So how is your sister? Is she feeling any better?’ She asked when someone tapped her shoulder. ‘Celine, I saw you from the street. Why are you having lunch here? Does your lunch date know who you are? That you don’t eat at places like these?’ ‘At least if I was your lunch date, I would never have brought you here. It’s so dingy, and things look cheap.’ He swipes his finger on the table, coming up with nothing, but pretending there was dust on it, to show his disgust. Celine rolls her eyes. ‘Dante, nobody asked for your opinion. And this is my lunch date, not yours. You can leave.’ Dante is the son of one of the prominent families in San Diego. Plastered o
Max Clara has been quiet on the plane ride home, stewing in her thoughts. She has a lot of things to process about her identity, her parents, and her sister. 'I would probably feet the same way if I ever find out about my past.' 'Is she really Carmen Jacobs? What does that mean for Jeremy and me when she finally reunites with her family? Will they be welcoming to us? Will they ask her to move in with them?' Now he started to get nervous. 'I would like to think she would not abandon us for her actual family. After all, she spent most of her life with us already, we have become her family. I just hope we continue to be together. I can't bear to lose Clara. There I said it.'
‘Hey, kids!’ Mr. Powell says from the open door. After a round of hugs, he told them that records from the kids in the orphanage before they assumed management was missing.‘I asked them about all those records when we arrived, and they told us about a break-in years earlier. Those idiots trashed the whole place. Do you know what the biggest surprise was? The only thing the looters absconded with were records of all the kids living here. Since most of you guys have grown up and moved on, they never bothered to restore the missing data,’ he said. ‘I think the old caretakers should have fixed the records because there is always a chance that someone might return.‘Pa, were there any other pictures you could show us from before?’ Max asked hopefully.‘Nah, but
Jeremy texts Max that Sebastian is in the building. ‘Give me 15 minutes before you come to my office. And don’t forget to pay up.’ Sebastian Colfer is in their office, and Max knows he came to see Clara and nothing else. The brothers had been betting on the two CEOs ever since the Installation three weeks ago. Max guessed he would be there after the one-month mark. Believing Sebastian would hold out and pretend he was not that interested in his sister. Jeremy said it would be less, claiming the CEO wanted to hurry things along. His sister and Sebastian have been butting heads the whole time, but he could see that the attraction was not one-sided. Clara felt something, otherwise, she wouldn’t have risen to his bait. Typically, she would just walk out and give him the bird*, but she stayed the whole time. An
‘These bozos can help you with that. I have no time right now,’ she said dismissively as she looked at her papers.Sebastian replied, ‘Oh, I had a meeting with someone at the Embarcadero yesterday and thought I’d drop by to see you guys - say hi.’ Max caught the intense look he gave her. ‘There was is no tamping down the intensity with this guy.’‘I remembered you cycled, so I was going to invite you to show me the trail near your area. It looked very scenic. I remember Max saying it circled a lake, and your social media was full of pictures of it. So I wanted to experience it firsthand. Will you give me a tour?’ he asked confidently.Max kept on texting Jeremy regarding their bet.