Who are you, Owen Grady? Chapter 12 - Part 2, a jurassic park fanfic

Chapter 12 – part 2:

"Did you think I was going to take advantage of the situation? Of you? Who do you think I am?!"

"No. No, Claire. We're flying to New Haven to meet my parents in two days, if I didn't trust you, I wouldn't be taking you. The reason I didn't tell you is because I was scared you were going to look at me differently, like everyone else. I know it sounds stupid, but it has happened too many times before. That's what Isabella was talking about that day on the pizzeria. The mess it was the last time I took a date home."

"I thought you knew me better, Owen."

I will never forget the look of utter disappointment on Claire's face.

11 hours earlier

11am. Well, that's what I call a really good sleep session. It's a good thing; waking up happy. But it's tough knowing it will be short lived. I remember my conversation with Isabella. I have to tell Claire tomorrow. Knowing her, I can't picture her being all rainbows and unicorns about it. But, on the bright sight, there won't be any secrets anymore. I'll be free to be myself. I won't have to go over what I say, being careful not to say anything I shouldn't.

There's nothing left but to leave it to fate, I guess.

Claire had to wake up early today to go to Masrani Global and she insisted that I go to my room, so I could get all the sleep I wanted uninterrupted. #MuchAppreciated

I stretch out my arm and grab my cell. One received message from Claire. She says she's probably going to be at Masrani Global until lunchtime. After, she's going to be busy doing 'things girls do' for our date and that she'll see me at 8pm.

Since I'm going to be alone all day, I decide to stay in. I order breakfast and start watching a movie. I decide on a comedy, to keep things light. Scary Movie 3 seems like a good choice. Man, that Anna Farris is funny!

My breakfast arrives soon after and I keep watching the movie while eating my 8-year-old breakfast, as Claire so eloquently called it. When the movie is over, I check the time and realize Claire must be leaving the office soon, so I send her a text instead of just calling her, just in case she's still in a meeting.

10 minutes later she texts back, and tells me the idea of creating a foundation for the victims and their families was accepted with open arms by the heads, and they will soon start with the legal work to get it up and running as soon as possible. She also tells me that they've given her a month to decide where she wants to be placed.

I reply that that's amazing! A step in the right direction. She sends me a kiss emoticon.

I smile. I decide to watch Scary Movie 4 since I have nothing better to do.

After almost pissing myself more times than I would like to admit, I decide to change and head to the dinning room to get some late lunch. I read the menu and decide to get some gnocchi with white sauce and prosciutto. (It took all of my strength to not lick the plate) I go back to my room and pull out the 15 cue cards I selected from my badge of 75. I re-read them a hundred times, to try and make sure those are the best questions from the badge. Once I'm 100% sure, I put them on my nightstand next to my cell.

Seconds turn into minutes, minutes turn into hours, and before I know it, it's time for me to start getting ready. I take a shower and then, like a punch in the gut, the nerves hit me. I've been talking too much about it, I think. Every time I got a chance I was all: 'It's going to be amazing'. 'It's going to be the best date ever'. If it's not as advertised then it's going to be a huge disappointment for both of us. And I will look like a complete idiot.

Breathe, Owen. Everything is going to be fine. You've prepared everything. No reason for anything to go wrong.

I step out of the bathroom and walk to the closet to pull out the clothes I bought. I dry my hair with the towel and start getting dressed. This is probably the most money I've ever spent in clothes, but Claire is worth it. I bought some nice beige pants, a white shirt, a navy blue blazer and a pair of dark brown shoes. I look myself in the mirror, comb my hair, put my watch on, pull on my cuffs like James Bond and I'm ready to go.

The cue cards are safely put away in my blazer's inside pocket. I look at my watch. 7:55pm. I look up to look myself in the mirror again.

"Okay, Owen. Don't screw this up. This is your chance to show her how life can be with you." I crack my neck. "Okay. Okay, let's do this."

I walk the few paces it takes me to get to Claire's room trying to remember how to breathe. I look at Claire's door, set my shoulders and knock. A few seconds go by, they feel like hours. When she opens the door my breath catches on my throat.

She looks stunning.

The thing that catches me by surprise though, is how much more… clearly I can see her face. Her hair has been styled in messy waves and she's parted her hair to the side, so her bangs are only covering part of her forehead. Her green eyes look like emeralds. Who ever did her hair and make up should get a medal. They've managed to make her look even more beautiful. And her dress, oh my God! She's wearing a long-sleeved, lace, burgundy dress that hugs her curves amazingly. I don't believe in God, but thank you Jesus.

"Owen, you look…"

"I know."

She huffs but smiles anyway.

I look at her for a minute, really look at her and take her in. I don't think I've ever seen such a beautiful creature before in my life.

I think I was staring longer than I thought, because Claire calls me out on it.

"Owen, you're staring."

I laugh and rub the back of my neck. "Sorry. You just… you look beautiful, Claire."

She blushes and her closed-mouthed smile widens. "Thank you. So, can you now tell me where is it exactly that we're going?"

I stretch out my hand, she takes it and closes her bedroom door. I pull her closer to me. "You'll have to wait a little longer. Come on, let's go eat some food." She gives me a peck on the lips and we walk to the elevator.

We step off the elevator and head towards the door to get a cab, when I hear someone call me.

"Mr Grady?"

I turn around and see a man in a suit and a hat approaching me.

"Yes?"

"Mr Grady, my name is Robert and I was asked by Chef Phillip to take you to the restaurant this evening."

I laugh. Of course he did, he's that kind of a friend. "Thanks, Robert. Lead the way." I look at Claire and whisper to her. "You're getting the fancy treatment tonight. Lucky you."

"Lucky me." I grab her hand and start walking towards the car. Which by the way is a Lincoln MKS. You're making me look damn good, Phil.

Robert is about to open the door, when he looks up. "Oh, Mr Grady. I forgot. Chef Phillip asked me to tell you to be on your best behaviour tonight and to please, not forget, he has a reputation to uphold." I spoke too soon.

"I'm going to kill him. Thank you, Robert." He smiles, nods and opens the door.

Claire gets inside the car through the one side and I go round the car and get in through the other door. Robert rolls up the partition.

"Chef Phillip? Is that your best friend? The one you told me about?"

"Yeah, that's him. He takes embarrassing me as a hobby. You'll meet him later tonight. He's a good dude. One of those people you meet and you know you will never meet anyone quite like him again. You'll see what I mean."

"I'm enjoying myself already."

"There's more to come, babe."

She intertwines her fingers with mine and we watch the passing scenery. I realize we're about three blocks away, so I pull my phone out and turn on the camera. I will always remember this day, but I want to have a tangible memory.

"Claire, smile."

"A selfie, Owen? What are you, twelve?" Her eyebrow twitches, but doesn't go completely up. Which I'm going to take as a sign that she wants to play.

"Come on, Claire. You look hot, I look hot, why not record it for history?"

"Whatever, go ahead."

I raise the phone in front of us, I look at her with the corner of my eye and I start counting backwards from three. At the last minute, I decide to give her a big, loud, kiss on her cheek and take the picture.

"Owen!" She starts laughing. I start laughing with her. "Delete that picture and take another one. I must look horrible in it!"

"Let me be the judge of that. Let's see." I press the home button and press the gallery icon. I press the photo and see it on full screen.

That's officially the happiest I've ever seen Claire. She doesn't look surprised in the photo. Her eyes are closed and she has an open mouth smile.

"Delete it."

"No. I love that photo. Look how happy you look. Look how happy I look. Nope. I'm keeping it. In fact, this is going as a lock screen. "

"Seriously?! Give me your phone. Owen, give your phone! Gimme!"

I start moving my arm around until I have no other option but to stuff it down my pants.

"You're more than welcome to search for my phone there." I smile at her smugly.

A serene expression descends upon her face. "Okay."

My smugly smile drops faster than Jurassic World's shares at Wall Street.

"What?"

That serene expression is still there. "Okay, I'll look for your phone there." Her hand shoots out and grabs my belt and pulls me with it towards her.

"Okay, okay. Don't ever seduce me like that again in a moving car. I've told you before, I'm not strong enough."

"Then don't play games with me like that. Phone." She stretches out her hand.

"I'll give it to you, but please don't erase the photo. I really love it. We can take another one if you want. Please?"

She takes the phone and looks at the photo. A smile appears on her face, a blink-and-you'll-miss-it smile and then she looks at me and pretends to be annoyed.

"Fine, but I'll take the picture this time."

"Fair enough."

She stretches out her arm just like I did a few minutes ago, smiles and starts counting back from three. I guess payback isn't always a bitch. Just like I did, she kisses me, but not on the cheek but on the lips. At some point I see a flash of light and she pulls back. She giggles and looks down at the photo and presses on the photo.

"Now, that's a much more acceptable photo, don't you think?"

Of course for her this is a much more acceptable photo. I'm the one who actually looks very much surprised in this picture. My eyebrows practically disappear into my hairline and my whole body language from the shoulders up is one of a surprised person.

"Okay, okay. Point made. But I still love the other photo and I am still using it as a lock screen."

"Fine. Me too, then." She texts the photo to herself, pulls out her cell and puts it as a lock screen and shows it to me. I do the same.

The car stops and the partition starts rolling down. "Mr Grady. Ms Dearing. We have arrived."

"Awesome! Thank you for the ride, Robert."

"My pleasure, Mr Grady. Enjoy your evening with the lady."

"Thank you, Robert."

I get down from the car and open Claire's door. I stretch out my hand and help her get out of the car.

"Claire, you wanted to know where we were going. Well, welcome to Eleven Madison Park."

Her eyes widen so much I almost start laughing. I was trying to surprise her and apparently I have. Part one of the plan: accomplished.

"Eleven Madison Park? As in the fifth best restaurant in the world?!"

"Yep."

"Phillip. Phillip Bentham? That's your best friend?"

"Yes and he has an amazing dinner for us, so shall we?"

I offer her my arm and she takes it. "You're full of surprises aren't you?"

"Oh, you have no idea."

We walk into the building and get into the elevator that will take us to the restaurant. As soon as we step out of the elevator, we are greeted by a lovely young woman who welcomes us and asks if we have a reservation.

"Yes, we do. Is for Owen Grady."

"Oh, Mr Grady. You'll be glad to hear we have everything ready for you. Please follow me."

We start walking through the tables and I can't help but feel a little smug, because we're going to be eating at a private room and all these suckers are going to have to share their space with complete strangers.

"What's that look on your face?" Claire asks quietly as to not disrupt the atmosphere created by the restaurant.

"You'll see." I smile at her and she smiles back.

We arrive at the private room and the lovely young lady tells us someone will be here shortly to serve us.

"A private room? What else are you planning to surprise me with?"

"Well, on the next part of this date, we are both going to be surprised. Because even though I've read what we're having, I've never actually tasted it."

"Okay, let's be surprised then."

A waiter comes in and introduces himself as Graham, asks us what we're drinking this evening and sets on the table an unusual coloured bread basket and a small dish with grilled butter. How does that work? No freaking clue. He said this green bread was made from coca leaves and eucalyptus.

"Let's try it, I guess." I pick a bread and break off a piece. The smell that comes off of it is amazing.

"Oh my God, this smells so good! And it's so moist. I don't know what that butter has, but it's amazing too! If the bread is this good, I can't even imagine how good the actual food is going to be."

"I knew I made the right choice when I asked Phillip. Man, this is good!"

We eat the whole bread basket faster than I think we would like to admit. Then I remember the cue cards. Part two: commence.

"So, Claire. We agreed a couple of weeks ago that during this date I would get to know you better. Remember?"

"I do."

"So, I've prepared some questions for you this evening."

"Uh, oh. Should I be worried?"

"No. As long as you say the truth." I pull out my phone and press play on the clichéd game show theme song. I stand up from my chair and embrace my game show host persona.

"Ladies and gentleman, welcome to today's show. Tonight our contestant is the lovely, Claire Dearing from Wisconsin. Claire are you ready to play?"

"Owen, sit down. Graham is going to be coming back at any moment."

"That's the magic of fine dinning, Claire. See that button right there? Graham will only come if we press it. So, no need for you to worry. So I ask again, are you ready to play Claire?"

She rolls her eyes a little. "Yes, I'm ready."

"First question. What's your favourite colour?"

"Red."

"Like her hair, a bit on the nose, but okay!"

"Come on!" She's laughing.

"Second question. Who is your favourite singer?"

"It's never been only one. But right now, I'm quite obsessed with Ellie Goulding."

"Yes, she's awesome! Third question. Who's your celebrity crush?"

"Jake Gyllenhaal. When he did Prince of Persia. Jesus."

I pause the music and look at her. "You do see the parallel, right?"

"What parallel?"

I open my eyes wide and signal between us. "Tamina and Dastan didn't like each other at first at all, there was a lot of bantering, a lot of running around for their lives, any ring a bell…?"

I see realization hit her. "Oh! Well, I guess I have a type."

"Well, I guess you do." I press play on the game show music again.

"Fourth question. What's your favourite holiday?"

"Christmas. A lot of people hate snow, I love it. It fits."

"Noted. Fifth and last question before our starter dish. What was the first thing you thought of when you first saw me?"

She blushes a little. "The first thing I thought was… he's kinda hot."

I smile at her and press the button to call Graham. He pops in faster than I thought. "Graham, we're ready for our first dish." He nods and heads back out.

"You having fun?"

"Yes, I am."

"Me too"

Graham brings our first dish ridiculously fast. He explains the dish for us.

"We have octopus with a black olive sauce on a bed of lentils. Oh, I recommend you eat the flowers too. It adds quite the fragrance to it. Enjoy."

"Thank you. This looks so amazing!"

"Let's not wait any longer then. Dig in, babe!"

First I stab a piece of octopus with my fork, then I push some lentils and flowers onto my fork with the help of my knife and into my mouth it goes.

Oh, God. Yes! The taste of olive oil in the lentils is amazing, the black olive sauce combines perfectly with the octopus and the flower just aromatizes the whole thing beautifully.

I look up and see Claire chewing it slowly, just enjoying the whole experience. She looks up and shakes her head. "I've eaten octopus before, but never as good as this. I mean, who even thought of combining lentils with octopus? That takes talent."

"When I see Phillip, I might kiss him."

"Me too."

I look up at her. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."

She smiles and keeps eating. We devour the whole thing in slow motion, if that makes any sense. We only focus on eating. We don't talk other than the occasional sounds of disbelief. We both look up at the same time and laugh.

"I don't think I will ever be able to eat regular food again. What have you done, Owen?"

"I'm asking myself the same question. I guess our only choice is to kidnap Phillip and make him our chef slave."

"Yeah. I'll plan the whole thing."

I press the button and Graham comes in with two other people, who pick up our plates at the same time and leave it as spotless as it was when we first came here.

"Did you enjoy that first dish?"

"It was so good, Graham. I can't even believe we have two more dishes to go."

"We're already planning to kidnap Chef Phillip."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I let the kitchen know you're ready for your main course."

"Great."

I watch Graham close the door and I press play on the game show music again.

"Ready for round two, Claire?"

She nods. "Ready."

"I warn you, the more you advance, the harder the questions will get."

"I'm ready."

"Confidence. I like that. Question six. How old were you when you got first kissed?"

"I was 13 and he was super cute."

"Question seven. Is it true that red heads have no soul?"

"Seriously?! Do I even need to answer that?!"

"Well, if you don't I would kinda get my answer, so…"

"Yes, redheads do have souls."

"Question eight. Dogs or cats?"

"Dogs. I hate cats."

"Question nine. Favourite sport"

"Tennis."

"Question ten and the last one before our main course. Ready?"

"Ready."

"Do you sing in the shower?"

"Of course, I do. Who doesn't?"

I press pause and sit back down on my chair. "I don't."

"You don't sing in the shower? Yeah, right."

"I don't. Really. I rap in the shower. Slight difference."

"Pff. Your inner 50 cent comes out when you're in the shower?"

"Actually, my inner Jay Z comes out more often, sometimes Eminem."

Graham comes inside the room, followed again by two people who place our dishes in front of us. I can feel the exact moment I start salivating.

"For our main course, we have a steak from the finest cut on a bed of paper thin mustard leaves, with a red wine reduction and a side of mashed potatoes. Hope you like it as much as your first dish."

We don't even wait for Graham to leave the room this time, we immediately dig in. I mean the steak is so good, I might kill someone just to eat this again. The wine reduction is a piece of art in its own and something as simple as mashed potatoes is heavenly. There's this elasticity to it that just brings the whole thing together.

"Owen, seriously. I might leave you for Phillip."

"I wouldn't blame you. I might leave you for him too."

We say nothing more. Claire and I aren't important right now, the food is. When we are done, we both just look down at our dishes and daydream about eating this perfect piece of cow again. Claire presses the button to call Graham, because I think she feels like me, if someone doesn't take these dishes away from us, we might just lick them and that wouldn't make us look too good.

Graham comes in with his helpers and looks at us both.

"I take it you liked it more than the starter?"

"I don't think we loved it more, but we just experienced a whole new thing here. Can't explain it." I can't. I don't even have the words here.

"Would you like me to send the desserts in 10 minutes?"

"Yes, Graham. That's perfect. Thank you."

He leaves and Claire looks at me. "Are you going to ask me those five questions you have left?"

I raise my phone and press play dramatically. "Now, Claire you've made it to the last part of this game. Are you ready for the more gruelling questions?"

"Yes, I am."

"Question eleven. Growing up, did you ever get in trouble with the law?"

She smiles. "Once. When I was 16, I was caught street racing. A boy told me girls couldn't drive like men could. So I challenged him and I won. But the police were waiting for us at the finish line. Got myself a ride at the back of a police car and three hours in a jail cell. My parents were not happy."

I whistle. " Claire Dearing, the criminal. I like it. Question twelve. Were you ever part of a fraternity?"

"Nope. Too busy studying."

"Question thirteen. Have you ever joined the mile high club?"

"Ew! Owen, that's gross! No, I haven't."

I laugh. "Okay. Question fourteen. What's your favourite place in the world?"

"This is going to sound snobby, but it really is a beautiful, peaceful place. The Swiss Alps."

I pause the music and stand up from my chair. I stretch out my hand, she takes it and stands up. "This is the last question and the most important one I'll ask you tonight. Claire?"

"Yes?"

"Will you go out with me again?"

She looks at me for a moment, her eyes shining. She leans forward and kisses me. My hands go behind her back and I pull her closer. She rests one hand on my cheek and the other on my back. I can feel every inch of her. Her delicate touch on my cheek, the press of her hand on my back, her body against mine and the passion I feel behind her kiss. The only thing we're missing is the sound of violins and it could be a movie kiss. It's perfect.

"Is that a yes?"

She laughs and rolls her eyes. "Yes, it is."

"Love birds, the rock star that is myself and your desserts, are here!"

I shake my head. Of course this is how he introduces himself.

"Claire, this is Phillip Bentham. Phillip this is Claire."

"It's an honour to meet the woman who's made my brother act like an impressionable teenager. Pleasure." He shakes her hand and Claire smiles at him.

"Pleasure is all mine, chef. I have to say this is the best food I've eaten in a very long time. No wander you're fifth in the world."

"Thank you, Claire. I was hoping for the number one spot, but those damn Spanish beat me to it. Now please, sit down and prepare yourselves to have your minds blown." He motions for Graham to put our desserts in front of us and he passes Phillip a bowl with a spoon.

"Now, here we have a chocolate extravaganza. Chocolate bavarois, on it Belgian chocolate leaves and on top of that, chocolate ice cream. On the side, we have rocks made of Peruvian chocolate milk, 'dirt' of 80% chocolate and finally…" he spoons some delicious looking fudge from his bowl and does his chef magic to make it look like an eighth note. "… some Ivory Coast chocolate fudge. Enjoy."

"What are you doing to me, man?"

"I'm showing off, brother. You both have in front of you the best chocolates in the world."

"Phillip?"

"Yes, Claire?"

"I love you."

"I've heard I'm easy to love. I'll leave you to it. It was very nice to meet you, Claire."

"Nice to meet you too, Phillip."

Phillip pats me on the back. "We'll talk later, brother." I look up at him and he points to Claire and gives me a thumbs up. I smile.

"Owen, you have to try this. It's so good!"

I grab my spoon and dig in. You would expect it to be overwhelmingly sweet, but it isn't. I guess that's what good quality chocolate is, tasting the actual cacao, not the disgustingly big amounts of sugar they put in chocolate nowadays.

We finish our desserts feeling like a million bucks.

"That was good."

"I would say that was excellent. Congratulations, Owen. You officially just proved, that you're in fact, a great date planner."

"I told you." I wink at her.

Graham comes in a couple of minutes later with two glasses of water. "Is there anything else I can get you, sir? Ma'am?"

"No thank you, Graham. I am quite full."

"Brings us the check, please."

"Oh, no need for that, sir. Chef Phillip says that tonight's dinner is on the house. He said to consider it as payment for breaking your collection of Star Treck figurines when you were young."

"Well, tell him this dinner doesn't cover it completely. Please thank him and tell him I'll call him tomorrow."

"Of course, sir. Have a good rest of the evening. Ma'am."

"He's a good friend. He truly loves you."

"I know. I guess he is quite easy to love. You wanna head back?"

She nods. She grabs her purse and we head to the elevator. Another couple is leaving at the same time we are, an older couple. I look at the man walking just ahead of us and I recognize him. I hope for everything that I hold dear, that he doesn't recognize me. I step into the elevator and keep my face down. But of course, life hates me. We're almost to the lobby when I raise my head at the same time he does and recognition floods his face.

"Owen? Owen Grady-Vernelli? Son, I haven't seen you since you enlisted in the navy. Do you remember me?"

I avoid looking at Claire, because I can imagine everything just clicking in her head right now.

"Mr Rowbotham. Of course I remember you. Mr Rowbotham, how are you?"

"Owen, dear. I'm wonderful. I saw your mother last week at a charity. She told me you were coming home. She's quite excited about it."

"Owen, who is the young lady accompanying you tonight?"

Oh crap. "Oh, sorry. Claire, this is Robert Rowbotham and his wife Helena. He is the owner of…"

"RBM Tech, of course. Nice to meet you both."

"You've been talking to the lady about us, Owen?" He pats me on the shoulder and laughs a throaty laugh.

"No, he hasn't. I studied you in university, Mr. Rowbotham. Harvard. International Business."

"I always knew you had a good eye for business, Owen. Apparently you also have a good eye for women. Send my regards to your parents when you see them, yes? Come on, dear. Nice to meet you, Claire."

She smiles a tight lip smile, but not the good ones that I have come to love.

"Claire…"

"Grady-Vernelli? Are your parents Benjamin Grady and Emilia Vernelli?"

Shit. This is not how I wanted her to find out about this. I take a deep breath. Too late for me to cushion the truth.

"Yes."

She looks to the side and I can see the muscles of her jaw twitch.

"Yesterday you asked me to trust you and I did. How do you expect me to feel, when you decide to hide this huge part of who you are, Owen?"

"Claire, I'm sorry. I didn't know how to tell you. Being part of my family was a heavy burden on me. I was the rich kid everywhere I went. I wanted people to see me as me. Is not easy being yourself when everyone expects you to be someone else completely. It was hard, and every time I thought I met someone who would like me for who I was, they would treat me differently the moment they found out my last name. I didn't want that to happen with you."

"Did you think I was going to take advantage of the situation? Of you? Who do you think I am?!"

"I thought you knew me better, Owen."

I will never forget the look of utter disappointment on Claire's face.

"Claire, I…"

She raises her hand to stop me. "Don't. Let's just go back. I'm tired."

We get into the car and head back to the hotel. The whole car ride to the hotel is spent in silence. Deafening silence.

When will I catch a break?

AN:

For those of you wondering, the dress I pictured Claire wearing is a Dolce & Gabbana dress Kate Middleton wore.