Chapter 3 Revelations

• **TAYLOR**
• I have to admit I didn't remember how beautiful Andrew's sister was. I saw her only once, and even then, she wasn't very friendly. After spending the morning talking with him, we'll have lunch with Kate at a restaurant called George Restaurant, located on Queen St E. The place specializes in French and Canadian cuisine. Kate awaits us outside the company. With my glasses, I notice the details of her body and how she looks beautiful in professional clothes. Kate has a strong personality, and, as Andrew used to say, his sister likes to boss everyone around, whoever they may be. But things were a bit different with him since their parents spent a lot of time on farms or traveling the world, so he was the one taking care of her. It was understandable that she didn't like me when her brother started college.
• As we walk towards the restaurant, I take the opportunity to tease my good friend:
• "So, Andrew, it seems you've been venturing a lot into Canadian nightclubs since returning from college, haven't you?" I put my arm around his neck and squeeze, but not too hard. I hear Kate laugh on the other side and keep walking.
• "Venturing? Actually, he lives in nightclubs. I lost count of how many times I went after him and found out he's in some new club that opened." Kate comments, laughing.
• I start laughing with Kate's comment and give a negative sign to my friend, who frowns disapprovingly.
• "Are you two here to have lunch or keep talking about my outings?"
• We arrive at the restaurant, and I observe the environment with its rustic and cozy touch. I quickly notice Kate talking to the receptionist, who seems a bit uncomfortable under Andrew's indiscreet gaze. I roll my eyes. My friend really has no manners. Once we are led to a table for four, since we are only three, we receive the menus and sit down. I make a point of pulling out the chair for Kate to sit, and in return, I receive a charming smile from her. The waiter approaches, takes our orders, and leaves. I turn my attention back to Kate and Andrew, but before I can ask anything, I am surprised by Kate's gaze, accompanied by a precise question:
• "Andrew said you came to Toronto after inheriting the entire company. Why here?"
• I settle into the chair and look directly into her eyes.
• "I chose Toronto because it's a place full of great projects. Besides, it offers great opportunities for engineers like me. And, in starting over, I lost my parents two years ago and promised to take care of the company with dedication."
• I notice Kate's posture change after my answer. The surprise expression on her face is replaced by a mix of understanding and admiration.
• "I'm sorry for your loss. It must not have been easy for you."
• I nod in gratitude. "It wasn't, but life goes on. I needed to move forward and honor my parents' legacy."
• A moment of silence settles at the table, and I can only hear the conversations of people at nearby tables. Andrew breaks the silence, deciding to share something.
• "Taylor has always been the goody-two-shoes of the group in college, and, of course, the weirdest in terms of appearance. He didn't care as much about it as I and the other guys did." I look to the side and smile. Indeed, I have to admit I didn't worry much about appearance.
• "All right, mister playboy. Who spends most of his time trying to pick up every girl in college? And still wanted my help to get rid of them." I hit Andrew's arm with my fist, as we used to do in college.
• Lunch is served as we continue talking. I'm surprised at how much Kate is loosening up, making me more curious. I've never felt something like this for a woman. Her superior demeanor attracts me more than I expected. After a lot of conversation, we say goodbye, and I inform them that I have to go back to the company to handle some things.
• **KATE**
• Once we say goodbye to Taylor, I consider bombarding my brother with questions, but I know him well enough to know he'll find it strange. After all, in the beginning, I didn't even want to talk to Taylor. But now I'm too curious to know more about him, how he dealt with the sudden loss of his parents, and how he overcame difficulties with such determination. I try to push these thoughts out of my mind and hold onto my brother's arm firmly. He looks at me with an expression of not understanding anything.
• "What's up, Kate? Are you feeling okay?"
• I smile, appreciating his concern, and affirm that I'm fine.
• "Andrew, why didn't you tell me that Taylor lost his parents recently?"
• He looks at me surprised and sighs.
• "Kate, when he lost his parents, I was here with you, finishing setting up the company. That was when I made that last-minute trip. Besides, you were so excited about the company opening that I ended up putting that aside."
• I look forward again, and we continue walking to the company. But something keeps bothering me. How did I not realize the reason for my brother's absence?
• "I can't imagine our life without our parents. Even though we live in the countryside, I already feel like something is missing."
• I squeeze Andrew's arm even more, and he doesn't complain as much, after all, he has more muscles than I do.
• "Kate, calm down. That won't happen. You know I would never let anything bad happen to you, right?" I agree with him, but I can't avoid this strange feeling.
• I toss my hair to the side and head straight to the company. When I'm finally waiting for the elevator, I notice that my brother is talking to a woman, who is quite pretty, but I'm sure she'll just be another conquest for him. I roll my eyes and feel my phone vibrate in my bag.
• "Hey, Kate, did you get my message? Unfortunately, I have to leave early. I have some business matters to attend to and will be busy for the rest of the afternoon. Kisses."
• I scoff at his message and quickly take a photo of him leaving with the woman, sending it back to him. "I know exactly what your 'business matters' are. I know you too well, Andrew Collins Reynold."
• I notice the elevator arriving, but I'm so engrossed in teasing my brother that I end up bumping into someone. And this someone seems to work out a lot because it hurts.
• "Ouch, um... Sorry, it's just that... I was... never mind." I raise my eyes to look at the man I bumped into and am surprised to see that it's Henry, my intern.