AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Well, I’m not. It’s a long story. I’ll tell you when I see you.”
“So it is a date,” Teague says. “You just don’t want to tell me!”
“Teague, shut up. And I’m going to hang up now.”
I place the phone on the table and turn to Liam. “I’m so sorry about this,” I say. “But my friend needs me to go somewhere with him.”
“Right. The big secret.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll ask for the bill,” Liam says and takes out his phone. “The driver will drop me off first and then you can take him wherever you want.”
“Liam, thank you so much. I really appreciate it.”
“Sebastian. Paying for dinner is really not that big of a deal.”
“No…I didn’t just mean the dinner.”
“Sebastian, I’m not doing you a favor. The only person your employment is a favor to, is me and my client. We’re about to make a lot of money off you so it’s really not some kind of charitable act.”
“I know that. But before last night I didn’t even have a job, let alone a career.”
“You think your parents will be happy now that you’ve finally picked a career?” Liam asks as we head out.
“I’m going to be a model,” I say. “That’s not exactly perfect son behavior. They’re going to hate my guts.”
“And, you’re okay with that?”
I grin as the chauffeur holds the door to the limo open. “I don’t know how I’ll live with myself knowing that they’re so disappointed in me.”
Liam laughs. “I thought you were all goody-two-shoes, Sebastian. But you’re not. You’ve got a bit of the devil in you.”
“Yeah well,” I say. “Takes one to know one, I guess.”
“Not bad for Mr. I Took Economics Because My Dad Told Me To.”
“What you’re so much better?” I say getting in. “You think I don’t know your dad left you all that money and the business that you once said you never wanted to be part of?”
Liam goes silent for a long time. “How…did you know about that?”
I must have struck a nerve. Guilt comes over me and I know I have to try to make it right. “I’m sorry,” I say. “Small town.”
“Yeah, I suppose.”
“Liam,” I say. “Were you close to your father?”
He nods. “As much as I tried to go against him all my life, he never gave up on me, never hated me for it. He was even supportive when I told him I would take a year off college and travel Europe. He actually came to drop me off at the airport, the one place he hated so much because I refused to go in his private jet. But he was there and I don’t think I ever did anything for him. I was busy being so angry so much of the time I never thought for a second there might come a day when he wouldn’t be there; when all I would be left with were his…his words and his…memories.”
“God, Liam. I’m so sorry. I mean, my parents aren’t that great but I’d miss them if they ever…I mean…if they weren’t there for some reason.”
“Anyway,” Liam says, forcing a smile on his face. “It’s been five years since the accident. I’m fine. Really.”
“No, you’re not. And you don’t have to pretend to be.”
He looks at me. “Sometimes I feel like pretending is all I ever do. Do you ever feel that way, Sebastian?”
Once again, the limo stops and I’m saved from giving a response. “Well,” Liam says. “It was great meeting you, Sebastian. Will I see you tomorrow?”
