One
I stared at the nameplate. Russell Fabray. I stared at his office, man, he was the bomb. Certificates were everywhere, trophies were numerous. This man was the man of the hour. He even had a cover at TIME magazine and he was elected as the man of the hour. Everybody looked up to him, everybody but me.
Yes, I know stupid. Very stupid actually for a boy who didn't even own anything while he, he owned every damn thing in Ohio. Well, you see, I wouldn't dare look up to him. Yea, he may be the bomb, he may have every businessman's dream but still, he wasn't a very good role model for me.
He's competent, responsible but that only shows when he's in public or there's media. Truth was, when it comes indoors, he's as worthless as a piece of shit. Every trophy and certificate he has here wasn't even worked by him; it was by his daughter whom I have yet to meet.
"Samuel!" He greeted, smiling broadly, "It's good to see you again,"
I smiled, nodding stiffly, "You too, Russell."
"So what brings you here?" he said, adjusting his tie.
"I'm here to discuss business."
He looked at me, "You're kidding right?"
I shook my head, "No I'm not."
He nodded, "Well, you could always discuss this with my assistant."
I shook my head, "I came here to discuss business with you not with your daughter."
He stared at me up and down, "Hmm, your father taught you well Samuel."
"Why don't we just sit down and have a nice chat? About the Fabray's industries."
He shook his head, "There is nothing to talk about my industry Samuel."
"Oh but there is," I said and then opened my suitcase and presented him a chart, "As you see Mr. Fabray, your sales are going down this month."
"And your point is?" he asked me, staring at the chart.
I smirked, "My point is, your company's heading downhill."
He shook his head, "It's not."
"Oh but it is," I replied, "Actually, I'm here to offer you a proposition."
"Proposition?" he repeated.
I nodded, "Yes. A proposition."
"Tell me about it."
"Well," I started, "As your sales are going down, our sales our going up. Although, the Cooper's are fighting and you may just become third. I'm offering you a proposition. You can stay at the top as long as you help me put the Cooper's at the last."
"But that makes your company second," he stated, "Where exactly are you going with this?"
"Well, Mr. Fabray, my father and I had talked and we both agreed that second was probably better than first and last. As long as we stay there, the money and the company we have will always stay the same, the way my grandfather had put it. So if you get my point, I would like to know what you think about it."
He was silent for a minute and then he looked at me, "Well, I have to agree with you on this, Samuel."
I smiled, "Thank you."
He smiled, "You're welcome."
And then I placed the chart back in my suitcase and then stood up and stuck my hand out, "Pleasure doing business with you."
He nodded and shook my hand, "You too, Samuel."
And then I left. Accidentally, I bumped into someone. He was freakishly tall and when I looked up, I chuckled. In front of me was my old buddy from football, Finn Hudson.
"Finn!"
He smiled, one of those big goofy smile of his, "Sammy!"
I chuckled as his fist connected with mine, "How you been doing?"
He shrugged, "Good. Good. How 'bout you? Super, right? Considering you're the one wearing a coat and tie."
I laughed as I adjusted my tie, "Yea. Finally trying to help my Dad. Hey, what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to pick my girl up?"
I raised a brow, "Who?"
"Rachel."
"Rachel Berry?" I repeated laughing, "Dude, you guys got together?"
He nodded, "Yea. You know how much I like her."
"I know, man. That's awesome."
And then a brunette came running to Finn. She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. I smiled, remembering who the short, petite, brunette was. She was none other than Rachel Berry, the superstar of high school. And then a blonde, about some inches taller than Rachel, followed her. She smiled sweetly at Finn and greeted him. Okay this girl, I didn't know who she was.
"Rach," Finn said, "You remember Sam right?"
"Sam Evans?" she said smiling, "'Course I remember your high school buddy."
"Hey Rachel," I said smiling.
Rachel smiled back and then looked at the blonde girl, "Quinn, this is Sam. Sam this is Quinn."
I stuck out my hand, she smiled and shook it. And for the briefest moment when our eyes interlocked, I felt something. I wasn't quite sure what it was but I felt something that I couldn't just put a finger on.
"Sam Evans."
"Evans?" she repeated.
I nodded, "Yea and you?"
"Quinn," she said, "Quinn Puckerman."
I nodded and smiled, "Nice to meet you Ms. Puckerman."
"Likewise."
And then I caught sight of Rachel and Finn's weird expression and so I turned to them, "What?"
"Nothing," Finn mumbled, "Hey, the three of us were heading out, mind to tag along?"
I checked my watch. 5:35. My work was done so what the heck, "Sure."
Rachel beamed, "You could accompany Quinn."
I glanced at Quinn, "Is that okay with you?"
She shrugged, "Yes. Those two are kinda sickening sometimes, it would be good to have some other company."
I smiled, "Wait till you know what he thought of her in high school."
Finn glared, "Sam."
Quinn raised her brow, "Oh, do tell."
"Sam!"
I leaned to Quinn, "I'll tell ya later."
"Let's get going guys," Rachel said still smiling. We headed outside the building and Quinn agreed to come ride with me saying that Finn's truck was getting a bit crowded.
I glanced at Quinn, "What's your angle?"
She turned to me, "Excuse me?"
"I saw Rachel's expression when you said Quinn Puckerman," I stated, "There's something behind that story or maybe that story isn't true."
"You observe well, Samuel," she muttered, "Look."
I glanced quickly at her and I saw her ring, "Married."
She laughed, "No."
"Then what?"
"Look at my wrist, not my hand."
I glanced at her wrist then. I saw a bracelet with the name Noah Puckerman on it, "Boyfriend?"
"I wish."
I glanced at her again, "But why do you carry his last name?"
"Noah and I. We're like siblings. Best friends. You get the picture."
"You're brother then."
"Hmm, yea," she mumbled absentmindedly.
I knew then that there was still something else, "You know I'll find out eventually."
"Of course you will," she said, "You're David Evans son."
"Oh," I mumbled, "You're a Fabray follower."
"Yea. What's it to you?"
I shrugged, maneuvering the steering wheel expertly as I parked my car next to Finn's, "Nothing. It's just that, the man's a procrastinator. He lets his assistant/daughter do the work for him."
"You really think of him as that?"
I nodded, "Well, yea. Don't you?"
"Oh," she scoffed, "You don't even know the half of that man's life."
