章 6: Dinner and Drinks

At the dinner table, after a round of pleasant conversation, Sebastian tried to fish for more information about Clara’s relationship status. He needed to know how closely connected she and Max were.

‘So tell me,’ he was zeroing in on her again, ‘Are you dating anybody right now?’ he stared straight into her eyes.

‘I don’t divulge personal information to business partners,’ she said.

‘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!’ she said as she coughed into her hand. ‘These idiots are going to get it later. Selling me out as if I’m not their sister.’ She stewed while she stared daggers at them and kicked Max under the table.

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

‘Excuse me, are you done?’ she glares at Max, 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.

‘It’s true! She hates men,’ Max volunteered, “Doesn’t she? She definitely hates us.” he slaps Jeremy on the arm as he laughs out loud.

Jeremy has always been a quiet person. Max usually overshadows him because he was happy to be in the background, learning early in life that listening has its advantages. He was staring at Sebastian broodingly, trying to get his point across telepathically. ‘You better not mess with her. I‘ll be watching you… My sister needs somebody with a backbone, and I hope you would be that person, only because she seems to like 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 volunteers as Clara gives him another kick under the table. He just laughs it off.

‘It seems like she really values Max and Jeremy’s opinion, and I think I know the path of least resistance. I will need to convince these guys before I can convince her. This is going to be a long journey. I just hope she’ll have me,’ Sebastian mulled.

-=-

Max Johnson

After dinner, Max suggested they have a few drinks and check out the bar downstairs since they were already out for the night.

They were joking around at the bar when he saw her sitting between her friends at another table. She was laughing, and that caught his eye. He was too far to hear her laugh, but he was almost sure it sounded beautiful.

He couldn’t stop staring at her, willing her to look back. It took a while, but when she noticed him staring, she stared right back. It was like she was issuing a challenge.

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. ‘She looks like a pretty girl. Aren’t you going to say hi?’ she said, encouraging her younger brother.

Max couldn’t take his eyes away from her. She was very attractive.

‘Nah! I’ll wait for her to go to the restroom. She has way too many friends around her. It’s like swimming with the sharks if I jump in there right now,’ he said.

Half an hour later, he sees her 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 potential failure. He stole another glance as she passed by. Max couldn’t believe that the woman he wanted 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 her, 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,’ she thought and then caught herself. She doesn’t even know this guy. Why does she care so much?

She thought he was alone, but now she could see that he was with that group standing around the bar. They were talking seriously with each other. Probably a business meeting, she speculated. ‘I wonder who the woman beside him 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.

She stared at him for a while. ‘Well, he keeps on whispering to that girl beside him. It looks like maybe they’re together?‘

Oh well, I guess I better move on then.’ she felt disappointed. She tried to look for someone else to stare at, but her gaze kept falling back to him. That’s all she did here anyway, stare at handsome guys and never talk to them.

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