Sebastian
Islidemyfingers over the smooth sheets of papers, carefully stacking them in neat piles and placing them next to my laptop. My body vibrates with tension as I wait for Ben to turn up. The large folder, fountain pen, and a glass of water are perfectly squared and spaced in front of me. I've been called a neat freak and OCD many times, but I don't care because when the world spins around me, it helps me stay in control and feel grounded. Reclining back in my chair, I let my gaze drift to the yellowed photograph in a simple wooden frame, hoping that he finally has good news for me. The faces of a black-haired boy and girl, sitting on a bench eating ice cream without a care in the world, stare back at me. Even after all these years, the insidious grief of losing Micaela holds me hostage. My skin crawls as guilt floods through me.
"Mr. Laurian, sorry to interrupt you. Mr. Jackson is here to see you," the melodious voice of my secretary chimes through the intercom. I clear my throat.
"Thank you, Ms. Dawson. Please send him in." Ben taps on the door before walking in. He deposits himself on the chair opposite me and drops his folder on the table.
"What happened? You look like you have been through a spin in the dryer." He combs his finger through his wayward, tawny brown hair and gives me a cheeky smile.
"Fuck man, I had to pull another all nighter. This job is going to kill me." He rubs his unshaved chin, while scrunching his blue eyes in a frown. I give him a small smile. When we met at Harvard, I was the orphan who had to work hard to earn his place, and Ben was the only son of one of the wealthiest families in the country. After we graduated, he was supposed to take over his father's multi-million tech company, but gave it all up to be with a girl his family didn't approve of.
"My offer to join my company is still open. I need someone like you." Placing my elbows on my desk, I lace my fingers and lean forward, hoping with a baby on the way he might change his mind. His eyes light up for a moment before he shakes his head.
"Nah, man, I love my job. This corporate life is not for me. I have everything I need. Anyway, what does a man have to do to get a coffee here?" His cheeks crease with a grin. Grinning back at him, I press the intercom.
"Ms. Dawson, could we have two black Americanos, please?"
"Yes, Mr. Laurian, right away."
"I hope you have some good news for me." I stare at him expectantly, hoping that the latest search might be successful. He straightens in the chair, his expression growing serious. He grabs the folder, takes out a photograph, and hands it to me.
"Her name is Micaela Bennet. The personal information matches and it is likely that she is your sister. They adopted her at the age of three. She has consented to have the DNA test done, but we could do it after you meet her."
I stare at the photograph, desperately trying to find my Micaela on the petite pale face, framed with dark hair and ice-blue eyes. Are you my little sister? My pulse races uncontrollably. I loosen my tie to give myself space to breathe. What if this is Micaela? Stop it, Sebastian. You can't celebrate until you meet her. I can't let my guard down until I'm absolutely certain that the woman in the photograph is my biological sister. My secretary walks in with two steaming cups of coffee in her hands. After handing them to us, she retreats quietly to her office.
"I've arranged for you to meet her this afternoon. It might be better if you speak to her on your own. I need to go home. I'm desperate to see Sam. She's due to give birth any day now." He rubs the back of his neck, his frustration clear on his unshaven face.
"Of course, man. Sam comes first. Erm, where am I meeting her?" My voice trails off as I continue staring at the photograph.
"Ruby Coffee, two o'clock." He jots the address and hands me the piece of paper. My breathing becomes heavier, louder. Cool down, Sebastian. In less than two hours, my life could change forever. After Ben leaves, I pace around the office, unable to sit still. My mind races, analyzing, predicting, and trying to find solutions for all the what-ifs.
I spot Micaela sitting at a table next to the windows, fidgeting with her necklace. When I join her, we go through a quick and awkward introduction. Judging by the way her eyes widened and a pink blush spread through her face, I knew she recognized me. Being a CEO of one of the largest artificial intelligence companies, my face appears in lots of magazines. With paparazzi always on the prowl to get their latest story, I'm notoriously private about my personal life.
"Do you know if your surname was Laurian before you got adopted?" She shakes her head, tears welling in her eyes.
"Sorry, I don't. My birth certificate only shows my new surname. This is the only thing I have from my life before being adopted." She opens her bag and hands me a gold bracelet.I inspect the delicate bracelet, my gaze catching my sister's name and date of birth engraved on the double loop disc charm. Taking the photo from the inside of my jacket, I place it in front of her.
"Do you remember this photograph? It was taken in the amusement park." I take a sip of my coffee to distract myself. Please God, let her be my sister. She picks up the photo with trembling hands. A frown of concentration creases her forehead as she gazes intently at the two siblings eating ice cream. Uncomfortable silence stretches between us, making my stomach plummet to my feet.
"My memories are fuzzy. I remember going to an amusement park, but I don't know if it was before or after I got adopted," her voice comes out low.
When our eyes meet again, she gives me a weak smile. I grab the photograph and stuff it back into my pocket. She's not my sister. My gut twists uncomfortably. I'll continue searching for her until the end of time. Even though we are not twins, the feeling of loss still knocks me over. It feels as if I'm missing an arm or leg.
"I know this might sound like a strange question, but do you have any birthmarks on your wrist?" She shakes her head, confirming what I already knew.
"I wish you were my brother, Sebastian. Maybe next time we'll both be lucky and find our siblings." Her voice comes out with a tinge of disappointment.
"Me too. It was nice to meet you, Micaela. Good luck in your search for your biological family." She leaves money for her coffee, but I shake my head, telling her that coffee is on me. After exchanging polite goodbyes, we both leave.
I get into my car and lean my head on the steering wheel, letting my eyes close as a heaviness settles in my body. On paper, everything checked out, but she doesn't have the birthmark that my sister has on her inner wrist. If I close my eyes, I can see the small, perfectly shaped butterfly birthmark. Before my mum died, she said that my baby sister was a gift from God, destined to bring light and hope to those around her. I expel a heavy sigh, praying that a wonderful family who loved her like their own adopted her. Wherever she is now, I hope she is bringing light and hope to people around her, just like our mother did. She was the kindest and most loving person, but cancer ravaged her body shortly after she gave birth to my baby sister. She fought with everything she had to beat the disease eating her away, but unfortunately, she didn't live to see Micaela's second birthday.
The sunlit clouds drift across the clear blue sky, bathing Seattle's landscape with a golden glow. I drive mechanically along 6th Avenue when the brake lights of the car in front of me flare. I slow down, then press hard to stop my car smashing into the small mini cooper in front of me. Traffic grinds to a halt, a long line of tail lights flashing red and white, giving me a headache. I drum my fingers on the steering wheel, considering turning around, but there's no turning back with the long ribbon of gleaming cars behind me. Damn it. I need to go back to work. My mind wanders off to the countless emails and reports I need to go through. We have just built the world's fastest AI supercomputer to help scientists advance their dark matter research. I'm involved in building humanoid androids, which would be faster and stronger than humans. They would be programmed to take care of the elderly and sick, guard homes, give directions on the street, and perform risky and dangerous jobs.
After what seems like an eternity, the traffic finally moves. The woman in front of me continues driving too slow. If she doesn't move faster, the traffic light will turn red again. Irritation sparks inside of me, so I overtake her. She catches up with me on the next red light, then honks to get my attention. I roll my window down, my gaze traveling from her chocolate hair tied in a topknot to her aquiline nose and long, slender neck. My cock twitches in my pants. Fuck, Sebastian. What is wrong with you?
"Hey jackass, how can you drive so recklessly? You can't change lanes without signaling. You could have caused an accident," she spits her words through gritted teeth. I incline my head, smirking at her with unconcealed amusement. She holds my gaze for a moment before looking away, reminding me of a scared kitten pretending to be a fierce lioness.
"There was plenty of space in front of you. Green means go and red means stop. I suggest going back to driving school to refresh your knowledge. The sooner, the better, pet." I emphasize the last words to drive my point. She pouts her full lips defiantly, giving me a quick death stare before breaking eye contact again. Cute little pet. The corners of my mouth lift in a lazy smile.