Page 21 of Julia.

“Wait…didn’t you tell Mom you’d be home tonight?” I ask, trying to buy myself a way out of this. “I don’t think you told either of us about this dinner.”

“Did I?” Dad responds absentmindedly. I can hear the chatter of the people in the restaurant in the background, and curse internally, knowing that if he’s already there it will be impossible for me to avoid attending. “Well, we’re all here at de Silveren Spiegel already waiting for you. Hurry up.”

I end the call with an eye roll and start the car. As I drive towards the restaurant, I almost instinctively try to stave off the annoyance I have concerning this dinner by retreading some of the moments with Julia today. The image of her lingers in my mind, the soft curve of her lips as she leaned towards me, the way her hair fell across her face.

No matter how she makes me feel, I can’t let thoughts of her interfere with my responsibilities. I’ve got to focus on this dinner, on my father’s expectations, and on my own place within the company. Yet, I still wonder if Julia feels the same way I do. It’s pretty obvious the attraction is mutual, but does she think about me when we’re apart?

I shake my head, trying to push away these thoughts. The future is uncertain, and I must be careful not to let my emotions cloud my judgment. I take a deep breath and steel myself for the dinner ahead. These events are more like verbal boxing matches at times and not peaceful meals, so I can’t exactly let my guard down.

I arrive at the historic restaurant, and make my way to my dad’s reserved table. Located in a heritage building on Kattengat Street, it’s the oldest establishment in town, and one of my dad’s favorites. And, according to him, where he took Mom on their first date.

The restaurant’s interior is stylish and sophisticated, with a modern design that surprisingly complements the historic building’s classic architecture. The dining room is dimly lit, with soft lighting creating a warm and intimate atmosphere, with the walls decorated by beautiful portraits of the founders. All of the tables are covered with crisp white tablecloths and surrounded by comfortable chairs, but the one that I am meant for is obvious. Dad’s reserved spot is nestled in the corner, with about eight men seated around the circumference of the circular table, and a bottle of cognac already opened and being poured around the table by an unobtrusive server.

As I approach, I notice that my dad is sitting with his new protégé, Karl—a young man in his late twenties who has been making waves in the sales department. He’s been bringing in new business left and right, and his success has not gone unnoticed. There is something about him that I didn’t exactly warm up to in the beginning, but Dad seems to be convinced that he is an asset that we don’t want to lose, and so far the younger man hasn’t done anything to throw up any red flags. Plus, it can’t be denied that he has been a boon for our business.

“There he is!” Dad booms as I stroll over, standing to shake my hand and pat me on the arm enthusiastically. I shake hands with all the other business associates, albeit with less affection than I had with my father, and take the seat that has been saved for me on the other side of him.

“What kept you?” Dad asks once I get seated.

“Just some personal matters,” I say easily. It’s not exactly a lie, but I’m definitely not going into detail regarding my park trip with Julia.

“Well, we’re glad you made it, at least,” he says with a sense of finality, clapping his hands together. “Alright gentlemen, while we wait for the food to arrive, should we talk about the proposal that Karl sent you earlier this week? What are your first impressions of it?”

When the server comes back around, I limit myself to ordering a single whiskey on the rocks and a medium-rare steak with asparagus. There isn’t a specific reason for this meal, I came to learn soon enough. It irks me, knowing that Mom expects him to be home tonight, but the family business has always been at the forefront of my father’s mind and his primary interest in life. Conversation is light, nothing too serious, and I stay on the fringes, so I’m not forced to remain here any longer than necessary.

As the dinner progresses, I feel a growing sense of unease. My father is undoubtedly the head of the table, leading most of the talks, but Karl isn’t far behind him. The younger man clearly wants to take a leading role, and isn’t shy about letting everyone know it. Karl is an impressive salesman, but his arrogance and lack of empathy towards others leaves me feeling uneasy. He seems to view everything as a competition, a game to be won at any cost. I can’t help but wonder if this is the kind of person my dad admires and promotes.

But as I glance over at my dad, I see a proud smile on his face. It’s clear that Karl’s success has made an impression on him, and he sees him as a valuable asset to the company. I try to put my reservations aside, reminding myself that this is just business. Plus, it isn’t like Karl is cruel or unkind in any way, it’s just how he approaches his job isn’t familiar to me. Maybe I just need to catch up.

However, the more Karl talks, the more I find myself becoming disillusioned with the corporate world, and it really has nothing to do with Karl himself, but the entire mess of it all combined. It seems like success is measured only in terms of money and power, and the human cost is often ignored. I think of Julia and her mother’s disapproval of our relationship, and wonder if it’s because she sees me as someone like my father who will dedicate his entire life to the job and be a distant and inattentive husband. It makes me lose my appetite briefly, and I sip my whiskey to try to settle my nervous stomach.

As the plates of food arrive, the conversation continues without me. My father leads the next discussion, asking the client about their current needs and goals. Karl chimes in with his own thoughts and suggestions, and I can see my father nodding in agreement.

I take a bite of my steak and listen to the conversation, trying to pick up on any useful information. The client seems pleased with the ideas being presented, and my father starts to discuss potential timelines and budgets.

Suddenly, Karl inserts a joke as the chatter begins to lull, and everyone at the table laughs. It’s a welcome break from the business talk, especially considering the fact that it’s getting late and the workday has been over for hours now. I’m well and tired of company talk.

As we continue to eat, the mood becomes more relaxed and light-hearted. The cognac is polished off and a deep red dessert wine is brought to the table to round out the meal. We talk about sports, travel, and even a bit of our lives and interests. Karl’s particularly good at keeping the conversation flowing, and I can tell Dad is pleased. I join in on the banter, sharing a few stories of my own. The clients seem to enjoy the more personal conversation, and I can see them starting to warm up to us as a team.

The meal winds down, and the staff clears the plates. My father and the client continue their discussion as Karl and I sit back, enjoying the last sips of wine.

“Good job tonight,” I tell the younger man, surprising myself at how impressed I am. “I can see why my dad keeps you so close at hand all the time.”

“Thanks,” Karl grins. “I hope to be around a long time.”

“I don’t doubt it,” I agree. “You keep up the pace you’re at right now and you’ll have no problem carving out a permanent spot for yourself.”

After dinner, Karl, the rest of the associates, and the client leave, leaving Dad and I as the only ones at the large table. My father sighs, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms behind his head. “That went well, don’t you think?”

I resist the urge to check my watch for the time. “Yes, I think so.”

As we finish the last of our drinks, my father turns to me with a serious look on his face. “Seb, I need you to do something for me,” he says, his tone lower than usual. “Karl is a valuable asset to our company, and he needs guidance. Keep him under your wing, show him the ropes. You’re both young, and I think you’ll get along just fine.”

I nod, but inside I feel a sense of frustration. I know that my father sees me as a tool for the family business, but sometimes it feels like he doesn't understand my own desires and ambitions. Julia floats across my mind, and thinking about her makes me want to worry about mentoring Karl even less. All of my spare time will be spent with her, if I can have any say in it.

“I understand, Dad,” I respond tiredly. “But I have my own responsibilities, too. I can't be babysitting someone else all the time.”

My father raises an eyebrow. “I’m not asking you to babysit him. Karl is one of our best salesmen, and I want him to learn from the best. You have a lot to offer him, and he has a lot to offer you.”

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