Beneath The Orange Sunset ✔️

Forty Seven

Life is never one sweet song

~47~

In the morning, Sebastian called Maxime to his study room. He immediately impressed on him that he wanted to help in anyway that he could. He had been hoping and praying that fate brought them together. And now that it happened, there was no time to delay.

Sebastian brought the documented files, containing original copies of Alberte's will approved and signed by him. Next he showed Maxime the real documents which revealed that Antoine was indeed the son of LaPointe.

It seemed his father had already done his homework.

In any case of harm or death, all company biddings should be transferred to my legitimate son who will do as he pleases to his brother.

After lunch, Sebastian drove Maxime to Longueville. It was time he met the other strong ally in the group.

When they got to the hotel, Sebastian led the way down the aged pavement leading to long corridors of rooms. The buildings had the same quietness and coldness.

"It's very cold out here," Sebastian warned.

"Yes I noticed," Maxime replied. "Do people live here?"

Sebastian finally marched to a door with rusty handles.

Maxime concentrated on the present gauging himself for whatever surprise was been prepared for him. Even if he had seen and experienced bad situations, he couldn't help been curious about this place.

"Why don't you just tell me what it is?" Maxime suggested.

"I can tell you. It will probably ruin the effect of the surprise," Sebastian said. He took a deep breath and rolled his eyes. "I often do this when I come here. You never know what to expect. Anything can actually surprise me at this point."

Maxime cracked a faint smile. He never got to see this goofy side of Sebastian. His physical demeanor equalled discipline. He controlled many empires, his words could tear or build a generation. His signature was basically among the top most recognized in the legal world. He was the type of law that can suck millions from companies just from the stroke of his pen. So meeting the man one on one like this made Maxime feel like a very important person.

Sebastian pointed to a wooden door at the extreme end of the hallway. "We are here," he said. He paused for a second, studied Maxime and nodded. "He will be glad to see you. I do hope he remembers."

"Who exactly?" Maxime asked. "Remember what?"

"Here we are." Sebastian held the door open for Maxime.

There was a man sitting on a wheel chair, his back hunched over a reading table.

"Good afternoon," Sebastian greeted jovially, "Writing again?"

"Good afternoon, Mr Sebastian. I have been trying to finish this story but it seem like I'm stuck on this chapter."

"Let me see," Sebastian picked up the book and glanced through. He was aware writing was part of therapy for Hussein. Once in a while he will throw in his suggestions to aid his brains use his imaginations and manipulate pictures to form stories. Hopefully he could pen down something from the past.

"If you get stuck on a chapter, that means you're having a writer's block. What about Marilyn?"

"She stepped out."

"Hussein, there's someone I want you to meet," Sebastian announced. He motioned to Maxime to come straight in.

"Oh..." the man turned his wheelchair around.

Maxime felt a tonne of burden drop off his shoulders. He placed his hands over his mouth, eyes twinkling as he made his way to the man's side. From the way the man looked at him - absentmindedly, he knew something wasn't right.

"How did this happen? How could it be?" Maxime asked no one in particular.

"Husein," Sebastian said.

"Yes. Who...is he...again ?" Husein's lifted his face.

"This is Maxime. I have been telling you about him."

"Oh Maxime, nice to meet you sir," Husein greeted rashly. He held out his right hand for a shake.
Maxime looked at the hand for a second instead of rendering a shake he held on to the cold fingers.

"Hussein..." Maxime called again. Husein's hair was shaven. He had surgery scars behind his ears. His eyes was round and bulgy. He lost lot of weight. His entire look was hollow.

Maximes fingers slipped off his weak grip.
"You know my name." The man forced a smile.

"Yes. It's me Maxime. You called me Max every time."

"Max? of course," the man's smile faded. Then he tilted his head in confusion. "I did?"

You did?

Maxime opened his mouth to speak but it hung wide for the longest time. Suddenly feeling claustrophobic, he turned and headed for the door.

This isn't real, this didn't happen.

"Doctor said it is a circumstance inhibited memory loss, meaning it's temporary," Sebastian said on their way back home. "There is a high chance of him either remembering everything at once or bit by bit, if he ever gets triggered by reoccurrences from his past.

"All this months - so far, it's been hard for Husein."

"Not that I can't afford to take him to a better place," Sebastian explained further. "There are eyes everywhere in town. You never know who is watching. I needed to keep a close watch on him and secure myself while doing that."

Maxime sucked in dry air - bitter pain. He jutted his chin out the window and watched as the earth flew by. He remained silent throughout the ride. He could only wonder how a simple act of selfishness completely ruined the lives of three men. Now it was taking forever to fix the broken shards.

It wasn't fair. Life is not fair.

~~~~~~~

Juliette flagged down a VW sedan taxi and headed north. Ever since the towing company returned her car she dreaded touching or even driving it. She couldn't begin to imagine what Emile and her boyfriend must have done to the car.

Moreover she figured they could easily track her if she went anywhere with the car. It was safer using public transportation until this mess Emile made is cleaned up.

She double checked the files in her handbag making sure each information needed to push this battle to the front line was well documented. Her face scrunched up when the driver turned up the radio too loudly. She gave the man an annoyed look. He quickly muttered a sorry and turned the radio off entirely.

I know It's your damn taxi but I don't need to listen to your love songs now, please.

On the phone call this morning, Samuel mentioned Sebastian Denis just surfaced and he was strongly behind Maxime now. That was the best shocking news she heard in a while. Why didn't she think of contacting Sebastian all this while? It wasn't late though.

Juliette bit her upper lips. Her frustration was rising as the curves of road ahead lengthened.

The court had initially sent her a request asking her to meet up for a mediation. Juliette blatantly rejected it. There was no way she would give in to Emile's offers.
Emile was a manipulative cunning snake. Falling for her schemes will only make her stronger.

She had other options too. Just as Samuel suggested. Counter sue Emile, it was the only way they would get back at her with the same force.

Juliette went through the list of accusations - Assault, bribery, embezzlement, fraud, mismanagement of company funds and the worst of all - murder. She couldn't wait to see the look on Emile's face when she hears this.