Page 40 of Sebastian.

My heart lurches, and anxiety washes over me like a tidal wave. A divorce attorney? The words echo in my mind, and the implications are staggering. The mere thought of losing Julia, my life partner, sends shivers down my spine. Could this really be true? “Surely you aren’t serious.”

Alex cringes. “Sorry, Seb, but I’m afraid I am. I think they are getting ready to present a settlement agreement to you as well.”

Holy shit. Julia is actually serious about this divorce business. Serious enough that she’s already started down that path. “How do you know that?” I manage to ask, my voice coming out raspy through my tight throat.

“I overheard her talking with Mom at lunch,” Alex explains, his tone sympathetic.

Of course, my mother-in-law, Margaret, would be involved. She's never been one to shy away from meddling, and her influence on Julia can be overwhelming. Is she pushing Julia towards a decision she might not be ready for?

“That’s no surprise. I’m sure Margaret is pushing her to get this so-called settlement ready sooner rather than later.”

I tilt my head back and swallow the entire glass of scotch, the rich, complex flavors wasted on me right now. I go to pour more, but Jan takes the bottle, pouring a small amount for me and putting the cork back in the dark green bottle.

“Easy, friend. I don’t know if I’m in good enough shape to carry you to the bathroom if you make yourself sick.”

I resume my pacing, the scotch doing nothing but burning in my stomach and making it more difficult for me to speak. The anxious energy in me has reached a fever pitch, and I feel like I could run a marathon right now, if only to get away from the truth of all of this. To get away from the idea of Julia leaving me for good….

“If you really want my sister back,” Alex says, breaking the silence that has started to overtake us. "I think you really need to change your allegiance from Karl to your family, and that also includes your new daughter-in-law.” Alex comes close, leaning forward so only I can hear the last thing he has to say. “Karl might be your half-brother, but Julia is your wife, and Andries, your son.”

I nod, Alex's words sinking in. He's right; I've been too preoccupied with Karl and his affairs, neglecting my own family in the process. Julia and Andries deserve better from me. “I thought Julia would just forgive me once the wedding was behind her,” I admit, still trying to process everything. “But I could have never believed she would speak to a lawyer the next day.”

“Sometimes, actions have consequences we can't predict,” Alex offers, his voice compassionate. “But now that you know, you can anticipate what her next move is going to be. And we can work to change her mind. I’m sure she hasn’t made it up completely yet.”

His words are a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos of my thoughts. I must act quickly and earnestly if I want to salvage our marriage. “What about the lap dance? Do you think she's gonna forgive me?” I inquire, my voice betraying my worry.

Alex shrugs, a gesture that offers little reassurance. “I hope so,” he says, his tone uncertain. “She has to accept that it was just a lap dance, and nothing more, and I think she will be able to get past it––even though it was a shitty thing to do, which you know by now.”

“I’ll figure this out. I’m not going to give up, not yet,” I tell them, and Jan stands up to pat me on the shoulder once more.

“Good,” Jan rumbles, and Alex nods in agreement. “Now, let’s get something to eat before we are more alcohol than blood.”

12

Sebastian

A week has passed,and the summer season is now over. The once vibrant atmosphere of warm days and lazy afternoons has given way to a sense of somberness as early September arrives, marking the end of the carefree days and the return to work. I find myself back in my office, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of business as usual. But despite the semblance of normalcy, the memories of that humiliating gossip article still linger in my mind like a dark cloud.

I never imagined that a night out with Karl would turn into a scandal that would be incessantly splashed across tabloids and social media platforms. I can't shake the feeling of betrayal, not only from the supposedly-private club who made it all too easy for those who leaked the video and stories, but also by Karl, my friend and half-brother. He should have known better than to involve us all in such a reckless and embarrassing situation. Considering the fact that Karl has found himself in hot water for his behavior over and over again, I should’ve realized that any plan that he made was going to be a bad idea. I was so blinded by my disgust about Andries’s wedding and the adrenaline rush from winning the argument with Julia, that I didn’t even think. Now, all I can do is think about it, even when I’d give anything to forget and move on.

As I sit at my desk, trying to focus on the tasks at hand, a knock on my office door startles me. Unsurprisingly, It’s Karl himself, and I reluctantly invite him in. He hovers in the doorway at first, and I find myself looking for the similarities between the two of us like I have so many times. Karl has zero clue that he’s my father’s son, and if I have it my way, he never will. But that doesn’t stop me from comparing the shapes of our noses, our hairlines, and the lines at the corners of our eyes. I see my father in my own face as I age, and seeing some of the same parts of him in Karl disturbs me.

I’ve never wanted him to know who his father really is. It would destroy everything I’ve worked for, and take away from my children via the inheritance and company I’ll be able to leave them. Yet, there have been times that I’ve wondered if, had Karl known who he was, he would have turned out to be a better man. In some ways, he is successful, but when it comes to morality and the choices he makes regarding women…there’s a lot left to be desired. It’s too late now, though, and there is nothing to be done.

He is waiting for me to say something, so I let out a long breath and wave my hand towards the chair on the other side of my desk. Normally he wouldn’t have even hesitated about entering my office and speaking to me like an old friend, but I’m sure he knows all the problems his little idea to go to that club has caused me. “Come in, Karl. Have a seat. What can I do for you?”

He lowers himself into the chair, and has trouble meeting my gaze. “I'm so sorry, Seb. I had no idea someone would be able capture that moment. That club is notoriously private, with a strict no phone policy.”

“Yeah, it's been quite a mess. But we'll handle it,” I reply, trying to maintain a facade of composure. I don’t want to appear weak in front of this man.

Inside, however, I'm far from fine. The public humiliation and the strain on my marriage have taken a toll on me. I can't sleep at night, constantly replaying that dreadful night in my head. The laughter, the music, and the champagne now feel like a haunting nightmare.

“That’s good. Something else will make headlines soon enough and what we did will be forgotten.” Karl relaxes now, thinking that any ill will I might have had towards him is now gone. Too bad it’s not.

When I don’t say anything, he taps his fingers on the arm of his chair, changing the subject. “Now that the charges against Roxanne have been dropped, are they going to find someone else to take the fall?” Karl inquires, no doubt thinking of himself as the next suspect in line.

“I'm sure Julia will handle it,” I respond.

Karl doesn’t look so sure. “Even after everything that happened? You still think she will clear the way for me?”

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