Chapter 11

Sitting at his desk, Sebastian tried in vain to concentrate. He was curious to know how Theo's tryouts had gone. It was past 10 am and he would certainly be in class. He wants to send a message, but decides not to. He had never asked if Theo played lacrosse in high school, or where he went to high school. Bearing in mind that he's a Hanson, it probably wouldn't take a computer expert to do some research. Sebastian downsizes the application he was working on and opens G****e Chrome. He writes Theodore Hanson and hits enter.

A huge list appears, and he starts to read.

“Captain Theo Hanson helps St. Anthony's lacrosse team to win the championship for the third year in a row”; “Theo Hanson the best player ever in St. Anthony' High School.”; “Theo Hanson wins the award for best player."; "Theodore Hanson manages to be the best lacrosse player and Valedictorian in the same year."; “Theodore Hanson disappears from the Hanson family cycle. In recent parties, Theodore Hanson was not present, raising suspicions of drugs and hospitalization”; “The biggest scandal of the year connected to St. Anthony's High School. The Roman Catholic college preparatory St. Anthony's High School, finds out that the former captain of the lacrosse team, Theodore Hanson, is gay.”

“God, so much crap journalists write. Poor kid. This latest news is recent, it will circulate at Cornell if he manages to make the team.”, Sebastian thinks, and picks up the phone.

“Hi Theo. I wanted to know how the tryouts went.”

Sebastian waits for Theo's answer, but 2 minutes later the answer has not arrived. “Sebastian stops being an asshole and works. You've got a lot of stuff backed up and you're thinking about lacrosse. The kid is in classes when he can, he answers.” He scolds himself.

He started to work but couldn't be as productive as usual. Work was tiring, so he decided to start preparations to get everything organized and take 2 weeks of vacation.

- Hanna, can you get here? – he calls his secretary over the phone.

- Immediately, Mr. Jones.

There's a knock on the door, and the secretary comes in with a tablet. The woman was 40 years old but still beautiful and dressed to kill. She sits down across from Sebastian, crosses her legs and prepares to take notes.

- Hanna, from next Monday I'm going to take 2 weeks off.

The secretary looks at the CEO in astonishment. In the years that Sebastian worked there, he only missed work to study, and even so, he was connected to telecommuting every day.

- Yes sir. You have needed to take a vacation for a long time. Only working cannot be good for your health.

- All the meetings I have scheduled, pass them on to the Chief Legal Officer and the Chief Financial Officer. Those that have to be done, directed by me, are postponed until after my vacation. Anything urgent, send me an email, do not call me, and I'll answer as soon as I can. Organize everything.

- Do you want me to book you a plane somewhere and a hotel?

. It's not necessary. I will be in Ithaca with friends.

- Yes Mr Jones. – the secretary leaves.

Hours pass and he occupies the time with a basic seminar plan. He had 12 hours to fill in, and he actually felt like he was doing a school assignment.

The door opens abruptly and Alex walks in with a paper bag in his hand.

- Good morning. I have lunch for us.

Sebastian rolled his eyes.

When Alex puts the bag down and takes out a few containers of Chinese food, he looks at his watch. It was noon, and he hadn't even noticed.

Alex opens the containers, puts two chopsticks near Sebastian and takes one of the containers, sits down to eat.

Sebastian shook his head. Alex would never change. Without opening his mouth, he takes a look at the food and takes one to eat.

- Where were you this weekend? I went to your house on Saturday and you weren't there. The car wasn't here or there either.

- If you were worried, you'd call.

- You know well you've blocked me- - alex pout.

- If you didn't spend the day texting like kids, I wouldn't have blocked you.

- But where have you been?

- Went for a drive.

- That doesn't seem like you. Don't tell me your mother finally found you someone you like.

- Jesus, don't even talk to me about that. No, I went down to Cornell to catch up with William and Nancy.

- Ohhh you could have told me. I would have gone with you. I miss Cornell.

- No, thank you. I needed a break… that includes a break from you too. - Sebastian's bored expression didn't bother Alex at all.

The phone rings for a message and Sebastian puts down the food container, picks up the phone, and when he sees that the message was from theo, he smiles.

Alex raises his eyebrows. Sebastian Jones smiling? And for a message?

Sebastian opens the message and reads it. “Hello, sorry for only replying now, but I was in class. I'm a lacrosse player now. Tomorrow there will be hard training in the morning and in the afternoon, for pre-assessment if I stay on the bench or play.”

Without losing his smile, Sebastian replies “congratulations . I knew you would make it.” He was going to tell him about the research he did, but remembers the latest news, he did't.

- What's going on here? - Alex asked, after he put down his food, uncrossed his leg and leaned forward.

- What are you talking about? - he answers.

- Cut the shit. Who was on the phone?

- Nobody.

- Nobody? And that nobody made Sebastian Jones smile on the phone? Do you know how long it's been since I've seen you smile like that? Tell me. Who's she?

- There's no "she". It's an 18-year-old kid I helped on Saturday. He was being bullied and I help him.

Alex raises his eyebrows again but shrugs and goes back to eating.

The cell phone rang again.

"Thanks. I didn't think I would have a chance. Even if I stay on the bench, it's good to get back to training. Had lunch yet? I'm going to eat now. I'm starving.”

Sebastian unconsciously continues to smile under Alex's gaze.

“A friend just came in with Chinese food. I'll have lunch too."

He holds the phone waiting for more messages, but after 1 minute he puts the phone down, as nothing has arrived. He picks up the food and continues to eat.

- What's so special about this kid? - Alex asks.

- Nothing, he's a kid like the others, but with a lot of luggage. I am simply helping him. I introduced him to William. The kid needs some kind of support.

- Just that? - Alex insisted.

- What else could there be? - Sebastian asked, bored.

- I don't know, maybe he has a cute older sister.

Sebastian laughed. Everything for Alex had to be linked to skirts.