Life With You

Closing Time- Semisonic

Part two.

There was never really a closing time for the bars in New Orleans, especially those located in the French Quarter. The polite thing to do was leave before 3 A.M. so at least those working could get a few hours of sleep while some patrons slept off their hangovers and others snuck out of their friend-for-the-night's apartment.

On this particular warm Sunday morning in October, only a few regulars were still left as the bartenders and waiters and waitresses started cleaning up. It was 2:55 A.M., and the majority of the bar was ready for a long sleep and a lazy Sunday filled with coffee and beignets from Café du Monde and a greasy lunch with football or a movie as background noise.

Only two people seemed truly reluctant to leave that cozy bar with the low hanging lights and good drinks.

Sebastian Carter. 29. CEO of his father's company, Carter Inc. Known for being ruthless in business deals and making max profit, while still somehow remaining fair.

Rosalie Fitzgerald. 25. Young lawyer, one of the best newcomers. Quickly becoming known for being a shark in court but a sweetheart anywhere else.

All Seb wanted to do tonight was come into his little brother's bar for a couple of drinks before walking back to his home and sleeping off the jet lag from Paris for two days before dealing with his mother for missing Sunday dinner (again), his father for not demanding more than 60% (again) and his siblings for being absent at whatever event they deemed necessary for him to attend (again).

It wasn't that he didn't want to see his family, he just wanted some time for himself, without having to worry about his father breathing down his neck about Carter Inc. or his mother tearing up about not having all of her kids under one roof for one night per week, or his brothers and sister asking to spend time with him. He loved his family dearly, family was forever and always, after all, but sometimes, he just wanted one day to relax.

Ever since his eldest brother, Declan, had gotten married to his girlfriend of several years, Audrey, last September, Seb had taken position of acting CEO to let Declan adjust to married life and spend time with his new bride. Over a year later, and Sebastian was still the CEO, and it looked like Declan was just fine with working out the finances behind closed doors from 9:00 to 5:00 (even though Dec was usually there from 7:30 to 5:00, but still) while Seb had to meet with each company, make deals, and be the face for Carter Inc. 24/7. Their father, William, knew this as well as they did, and had been grooming Seb to become as harsh and ruthless as he had been when he started the company at 21.

Since taking over thirteen months ago, Carter Inc.'s sales had grown exponentially, and their relationships with businesses had been sealed tight. Carter Inc. hasn't been this wealthy and successful in over twenty years. That was partially due to Sebastian never taking a day off of work, working overtime, and dedicating every minute he could to his father's legacy.

It wasn't like he had a girlfriend or a wife to come home to every night. His southern style home in the French Quarter was oftentimes more lonely that he would have preferred, even though his sister stayed on weekends instead of at her dorm at Tulane University.

So after thirteen months of working non-stop and travelling for one day to be at a meeting for two hours, to travelling another five for an hour business meeting and so on, all Sebastian wanted was a few glasses of whiskey, a nice walk home, and to fall asleep in his king sized bed with memory foam.

It was clear from the moment the redhead next to him sat down around 8:00 Saturday night that, that wasn't going to happen.

Not that he was complaining, not one bit.