The next day, Maeve was going over McNeil's invoices when the phone rang.
"Hello, McNeil's," Maeve answered automatically.
"Hi, may I speak to Ms. McNeil please?" a male voice asked.
Maeve cradled the phone closer to her ear with her shoulder and made some adjustments to the invoices.
"This is she, who is speaking?"
"One dinner last night and you already forget my name, I didn't think I was that forgettable," the other voice replied jokingly.
"Oh!" Maeve exclaimed, dropping her pen and papers. She ignored the displaced items and put the phone in her hand, focusing all of her attention on the conversation.
"Mr. Stedman, I'm so sorry. I didn't recognize your voice," she said in a rush.
Stedman chuckled lightly, "It's alright. After all, we only met last night."
Maeve smiled, "Right. By the way, why are you calling?"
"Didn't I say someone would a call you tomorrow?" Stedman responded as if it was obvious.
"Yes, but I didn't think it would be you."
"Who did you think would call?" he questioned.
Maeve considered that for a moment, "Well, a secretary, an associate or…"
That bitch, Ms. Harold, she thought.
"…someone else," she finished, "I mean, you always make personal business calls?"
"Not always, but I wanted to personally apologize for my colleagues behavior last night."
Maeve was taken back by this. Although she did want to hit Ms. Harold last night, she hardly expected an apology.
"It's ok. Thank you," replied Maeve.
"So," she said trying to change the subject, "When did you want to arrange the next meeting."
"How about lunch?" he asked.
"That's fine. When?"
"Today, if possible," he replied.
Maeve looked at her which showed that it was 9:30 am. It would be rough, but she thought she could take care of her business and make it to his office in time.
"Ok, that's doable. What time?"
"1:45."
Maeve nodded her head as if Stedman was right in the room, "That's fine and we're meeting at your office?"
"Right. I'll see you then, Mae…" he started call her by her first name, but then he caught himself, trying to make sure that she wouldn't get offended.
"Can I still call you Maeve?" he asked.
Maeve smiled at this, "Of course, Sean."
"You remembered," Sean smiled on the other end of the phone.
"Yeah. I'll see you this afternoon."
"See you then, Maeve" he said and hung up.
Maeve hung up the phone and stared at the scattered papers and pens that were on the floor. They were now the least of her problems, but she cleaned it up all the while thinking about what the afternoon would bring.
Maeve arrived at Stedman Enterprises at 1:30pm. She was dress a little more comfortably than she was last night. Her heels were not nearly as high. She wore a navy blue blouse with a long black suit pants. Maeve told the receptionist about her appointment and she was directed upstairs to the fifth floor. When she arrived, she was instructed to sit in the lobby for a while because Mr. Stedman was in another meeting.
"Firouz, I don't care how you make it work, just that you do," said a big man who just entered the room from the elevator. He was followed by a man of average height with curly hair who was talking excitedly with his hands.
"I will. I just wanted to make sure you understand…"
The big man turned around, "Firouz, when was the last time I didn't trust your judgment."
Firouz smiled, "Well, never."
"And when have you ever misused the money that we have given you for your projects?"
"Not once."
The big man his hand on Firouz's shoulder, "Then don't worry, my friend. Stedman and I trust you with this as well. You just keep on doing your work. We'll worry about the cost, you worry about getting done."
Firouz nodded, "Ok, Dorian."
"Good. Now get to work," he replied good naturedly.
Firouz put his hand up in mock salute, "Aye-aye."
The men shared a good laugh and Maeve couldn't help, but join in. They both noticed and turned to her. Maeve quickly became quiet and was suddenly fascinated with the carpet.
"Hello," Firouz said to her, "Are you waiting for something?"
"Hi," she said looking up, "Actually I have a meeting with Mr. Stedman today."
Firouz looked at Dorian questioningly for a moment. Dorian just shrugged his shoulders.
"Sean Stedman," she said quickly.
"Oh, ok, lass. Well he's in a meeting right now, but you are welcome to stay in my office until he comes out. I'm his brother, Dorian," he mentioned and held out his hand to shake.
"Thank you," she replied as she shook his hand.
"My name is Frank," the curly-haired man stated, "and what your name, my dear?"
"Maevelyn McNeil, but I thought your name was Firouz?" she asked.
Frank laughed at this, "No. It's just a… childhood nickname. Dorian, or should I say Doubar, here is the only one who still uses it."
Maeve nodded, "Well it's nice to meet you."
"Likewise. Well as you heard, I've got to get back to work," he said and began to leave.
"Goodbye, Firouz, I mean Frank…I mean, what should I call you anyway?" Maeve asked.
He shook his head, "Whichever."
"Firouz, then. Somehow it suits you better."
Firouz moved his head to acknowledge Dorian, "He says the same thing."
He laughed and left to continue what he was doing.
"Looks like it's just you and me, lass," Dorian said once Firouz left the area.
"Come on," He said offering his hand, "I'll take you to my office."
Maeve took it and walked down the hallway to his office. Dorian's office was friendly and inviting, filled with pictures of family, friends, souvenirs from places he had visited.
"Sorry for it being so cluttered," Dorian commented as soon they entered.
"Don't worry about it," Maeve soothed in admiration, "It makes it look homey."
She picked up a picture of Dorian with a woman and two little girls.
"This is your family?" she asked.
Dorian broke into a huge smile and nodded.
"That's my wife, Adriana and our daughter Rachel and Michelle," he replied with obvious pride. He walked over to Maeve at looked at the picture more closely.
"They take after their mother, but they have my stubbornness," he continued.
Maeve laughed softly, "You don't strike me as the type to be stubborn."
"Ahh, but you haven't seen me fight with my brother," he commented and gently took the picture and put it back on his desk. Then Maeve saw another picture that caught her eyes. Dorian had placed it in a small corner, hardly noticeable unless you knew were to look or, as in Maeve's case, your eyes just happened to wonder over there. She walked to the picture and examined it. There were three little boys, all about the same age, in a cardboard ship on the lawn. The ship had the name "Nomad" proudly written in black permanent marker. One little boy was the head of the ship, looking very proud and seeing something distant, but tangible on the horizon. The second boy was in the middle of the ship with his finger out, looking the sky questioningly. The last boy, who was bigger than the first two, looked like he was holding a tiller made out of cardboard and sticks. He kept his eyes on the other two, while holding the tiller tightly. He looked almost like he was actually steering the ship while trying to keep an eye on the other two.
"Who are these boys?" she asked after taking a minute to observe the picture.
Dorian took a deep breath and waited a minute before answering, "You know, no one has ever noticed that picture. Sean doesn't even know it's here. That's Doubar, Firouz and Sinbad on their very first voyage."
"Huh? I know Doubar is you, and who Firouz is. Who's Sinbad?"
"Take a closer look," he replied.
Maeve did as he said and suddenly her eyes bulged, "Sean!"
Dorian nodded.
"Yeah. Before he was Sean or Stedman, he was Sinbad," Dorian replied wistfully.
"You know when we were young, he wouldn't even reply to the name Sean. He was Sinbad, Master of the Seven Seas, day and night. He had the biggest imagination and everyone else was just trying to keep up with him," he said in remembrance.
Maeve put the picture back.
"What happened?"
Dorian closed his eyes and shook his head, "Life."
"What do you mean?" she asked. Dorian opened his mouth, but Maeve didn't get the answer because that's when Sean walked through the door.
"Hey. What are you doing Dorian, holding her hostage?"
Dorian chuckled lightly, "No, little brother, she's all yours."
"Hey!" Maeve chimed in, "Don't talk about me like I'm not here. I am not a possession to be passed around."
Dorian could have sworn he saw Sean shrink two inches.
"I didn't mean anything by that, Maeve."
Maeve smiled, "I know. I was just joking. Let's go, shall we?"
Sean nodded and opened the door wider for Maeve to pass through, "We shall. Ladies first."
"Thank you," she replied and then turned to Dorian, "Thank you for being such good company…Doubar."
Dorian smiled at her last word as she left the office. Sean looked from her to his brother questioningly before following her out. After left, Dorian let himself have big hearty laugh, he could tell that his brother was in for his biggest adventure yet. He got up and looked at the picture of the little boys and their ship the 'Nomad'. He paid close attention to the intrepid boy at the front, looking at horizon, seeing what only he could see and searching for what only he could know. But seeing the interaction between his brother and the beautiful, strong young woman who was in his office, Dorian had an idea of what or rather who he was looking for all of these years.
"Little brother," he said the picture, "I think you found who been searching for."