Page 58 of Sebastian.

In my office, I take a much-needed breather. My thoughts are in a complete tangle. The news about Karl's arrest still reverberates through the company, like shockwaves affecting not just the business but also the vibe among our colleagues. He’s posted bail and is back at work today while waiting for his first court appearance, but there’s no denying that everyone treats him differently now. A lot differently.

There’s a knock at the door, even though I’ve told my assistant that I’m not to be bothered for the next fifteen minutes. There is only a short list of people that I will speak to at any time, and I have a suspicion about which one it is that is making my PA interrupt me right now.

“Mr. Van den Bosch, I hate to interrupt, but something’s come up,” she informs me.

My focus snaps back to her, curiosity piqued. “Go on.”

“Karl Townsend wants to see you, and he says it's pretty urgent.”

Knowing there’s no way I can avoid him for much longer, I wave my hand in the air, and say, “Go ahead and send him in, then. I’ll probably take lunch after he leaves.”

Once the assistant leaves, I consider what exactly it is Karl might want to talk about. Just like I all but knew it was him that had come to talk, I also have a pretty good idea of what might bring him to my office. Van den Bosh industries, and by association, myself, have gotten Karl out of so much trouble over the years that it’s ridiculous. No doubt it was a shock to him to be arrested and not have me posting bail for him as soon as possible. Now, I haven’t contacted him to offer help for the upcoming fines or trial, so he’s more than likely starting to get nervous. There’s nothing to be done, though. I’ve made the decision to stand by my wife and family, and I’m sticking to it.

An unwelcome thought sneaks in–He’s your family too, technically. Dad would be so disappointed.

No. I can’t think this way. There is nothing but regret and heartache down that path. My father is dead, but Julia and my children are alive and I want us all to be a family again. If that means sacrificing Karl for the greater good, then so be it.

Karl walks in, trying to wear a confident face, but I know him well enough to see the dip in his shoulders and the way that the lines on his face are more pronounced. He’s been stressed out, severely. I offer a nod of acknowledgement, gesturing for him to take a seat.

“Good to see you, Karl. How have you been holding up?” I start, my tone veiled with feigned empathy. I can’t let him know how I’m truly feeling, or he’ll catch on to how willing I am to let him be arrested and face charges. Karl, for all his flaws, is still the best salesman in the company and has dozens of high ranking clients attached to him. As long as Karl is still reporting for work, I have no interest in ostracizing him until the last possible moment.

He lets out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly as he takes a sit in front of me. “It's been a roller coaster, Seb. I appreciate you taking the time to talk.”

I lean back slightly, a hint of sympathy in my eyes. “Of course. We've been through a lot together. You know you can count on me if there’s something that you need to discuss. I’ll always lend an ear.”

His gaze drops momentarily, and I almost feel bad for what I’ve done. That is, until he opens his mouth and his tone is full of annoyance and frustration. “Seb, you know Julia and I might not be on the best terms right now, but I never expected her to throw me to the wolves like this for some sort of revenge. You’ve got to tell her to stop. I’m not part of your marriage and it’s not right to make me the scapegoat.”

I nod solemnly, trying to balance my act of concern. “I understand. Unfortunately, things have spiraled quite a bit since then. My wife doesn’t even speak to me anymore.”

Despite my statement being true, Karl’s lack of patience with the situation is clear. “That doesn’t remove the fact that the prosecutor has pressed charges against me, Seb. And let me tell you, I'm toasted if I can't find a way out of this mess. I need help, and I thought maybe you could talk to Gabi. I don’t expect things to just disappear into thin air, but I thought you could ask her to let me take a plea deal. I’m willing to pay for a good settlement, a fine, anything she wants. I just want to avoid jail time and a trial.”

I lean forward, adopting a contemplative posture. “The thing is, Gabi’s Julia’s friend, not exactly in my circle of influence. My hands are tied there.”

Karl's gaze narrows, desperation mingling with his words. “Then talk to Julia. Convince her to put in a word with Gabi. Any amount that is within my power to pay, I will. I just can’t end up behind bars.”

I exhale, a touch of resignation seeping into my tone. “As I said earlier, Julia and I aren't exactly on speaking terms right now. She's already got a divorce attorney in the picture. Her and I are only husband and wife on paper, and barely that at the moment. I haven’t even seen her in weeks.”

Karl's disappointment is evident as he lets out a frustrated exhale, his gaze darting down to his lap. “Damn. That complicates things.” He looks back at me, and I can see him warring with the desire to push me harder and the knowledge that this is a moment to be sympathetic, not pushy. Karl has very little time before all hell breaks loose for him, but he can’t exactly abandon the man who is supposed to be his oldest friend in his time of need. Finally, Karl settles on empathy. “Do you really think that she’s going to divorce you?”

I shrug, pushing down the panic that arises anytime the word ‘divorce’ is brought up. It’s too horrible of a fate to be real. “I don’t know. Maybe. I thought that her and I would be together forever, that we were soulmates, but I’ve fucked things up really bad.” I catch Karl’s gaze and hold it. “She found out about the lap dance, as you know. It was all over the news.”

Uncomfortable, Karl stands up and starts pacing the office, a contemplative expression on his face, until he stops at the window overlooking Amsterdam and lets out a long breath. “Shit, Sebastian. I’m so sorry. If there’s anything I can do….”

I chuckle, but there’s no humor to be found in the sound. “There's nothing, just like there’s nothing I can do to help you out at this point.”

Silence settles in for a moment, the weight of our predicaments heavy in the air. Karl gazes out the window, his eyes scanning the city's skyline as if seeking answers in the landscape.

“It's a breathtaking view,” he comments, a somber note to his voice. “One that I might not be enjoying for much longer if I end up behind bars.”

Standing, I stride over to stand next to the man that I’m supposed to be taking care of at all costs. The man that I’ll see put behind bars. “Did the prosecutor give you a timeframe for the sentencing if you are found guilty?”

Karl nods, his expression grim. “Up to ten years, but they mentioned that we might be able to reach a deal for around five.”

That’s a hell of a long time. Even five years is enough to make my stomach flip flop inside of me. I can’t even imagine. My brows furrow in contemplation. “Mandatory jail time?”

Karl's response is regretful. “Can't escape it, according to them.”

My hand instinctively rests on his shoulder, a gesture of empathy as my words carry genuine remorse. For all the bad that he’s done, and all the bullshit he’s put me through, he has still been my friend. And, in the depths of my mind, my half-brother. “I'm truly sorry, Karl. I wish there were more I could do.”

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