The Publicist's Plight (Book I in The Harrison Inc. Series) | ✓

Chapter Ten: The Race

"I've been all over the place, but recently have been nestled in Bolivia, traveling from village to village until I got your call."

I hate to admit it myself, but I am actually staring at this man. Me, a woman who has just met this man, and actually called him out on his rudeness and brashness towards Sebastian, is staring at William Harrison as if there are pink hearts over my head and baby angles singing above his. Maybe it has to do with Sebastian's inability to show a hint of gratitude at my defense for him. That, or the fact that Sebastian is a painful reminder of the bathroom incident. Even so, I listen intently on what William has to say on his endeavors around the world, a conversation started by Fiona herself the moment we sat down, and marvel at the enthusiasm in his voice.

In spite of Patrick and William's haughtiness against their little brother, the tense air seems to dissipate when we sit for lunch. Of course, Patrick's glaring eyes followed me all the way to the dining room, with William's looking more quizzical, as if he was studying me, but even then Fiona managed to spark up the atmosphere at the table and make both of their attitudes melt away.

Including my own.

My elbow planted on the table, I gaze at William while using my hand to support my head, ignoring the chicken on my plate that probably now sits cold . He continues his passionate explanation about clean water and education for all children, and somehow, I start to feel both warm and cold as he speaks-how is it the men that I have met and have become close to so far in my life, besides my father, Garrett and Paul of course, have all been sex-crazed, selfish, closed minded, greedy and unloving? Call me biased, but it's hard not to be while being exposed to males that have made me question the antics of their mysterious species. However, meeting William has opened my mind. He's kind, avid, a bit arrogant and egotistic, but his ardency soon makes up for it.

I can tell by glancing over at Sebastian and seeing him roll his eyes as William speaks, that he isn't convinced that William is a saint to our world at all.

Suddenly, William's eyes meet mine and he laughs softly, and it takes me a while until I know he's laughing because he finds my obvious transfixion amusing.

I quickly sit up straight and look down at my plate before picking at the carrots with my fork, being careful they don't touch the rice or else they will no longer be edible to me.

"That's wonderful!" Fiona says when he finishes. "I could have sworn you were in Argentina?"

"I was a couple of months before Bolivia."

"Oh I see. God, I just find that so amazing. Why didn't you go with him, Sebastian? He told me he tried contacting you but you never responded?"

Even though Fiona is smiling, she reminds me of a mother reprimanding her child in the least most noticeable way possible-a way that only the child would understand is anything but friendly. Sebastian may be an adult, but Fiona is more than happy to influence his decisions and manipulate them into smart ones.

I like her. A lot.

Sebastian sighs, loud enough to let us know he's annoyed, "I don't know. Not my thing?"

"Do you have anything that interests you?" She asks.

All Sebastian does is stare at her, like he's offended.

"Please tell me that is a rhetorical question," Patrick says, drinking his iced-tea nonchalantly as if he hadn't said anything.

The awkward air then rises again. To my left, I see Lucas taking a bite of his chicken with wide eyes shifting from one end of the table to the other. As for Sarah, who sits on his left side, she exchanges one look at Sebastian that says "I feel sorry for you" all in her eyes.