'Seb, if ever we got separate when we get old, find me and never let go. No matter what happens or goes in our way.'
'I will just hold me dear in your heart. We'll find each other, Valerie.'
Another day began to knock on the morning life of the CEO. He did his morning routine by doing some morning runs even when he was in the main house of their family; his grandparents - parents' mansion.
Sebastian jogged around the huge garden when he met some servants and guards who greeted him "Good morning, Master Sebastian." He smiled at them with a nod and still went into his morning run.
"Hm, it was still here." He suddenly noticed the old garden maze that he used to run around or play hide and seek with his old young love. "What an innocent memory."
A smile might be planted on his lips when he jogs around the maze. Like in old times, he still recalled every corner of the maze until he decided to head back to where he entered. He kept his morning routine around the huge garden when he heard a ring from his phone.
'Morning Boss, I've got two records about the ladies who might be the person who you were searching for.'
Sebastian slowed down from his jog and started walking. "Let me hear it." he decided to hear them.
'The first lady who had the same full name as Valerie Stirling was born in New Zealand and finished a political science degree from Harvard. She was now working in New Jersey as a lawyer. She's already married for three years and had twin girls.'
"So, she's not a Stirling anymore..." Sebastian hummed when he heard the report.
'Yes, boss. She's married to a vet doctor who also runs a pet clinic and rehabilitation.'
"I see, how about the other one?" he wondered.
'Another lady who has the same name was born in Russia. She's one of the medical soldiers at the training camp and married with three children for 10 years.'
"Thanks for the information but it was not the person that I was looking for." He sighed.
'Sorry, Boss if that's the only thing that I could find about the person you're searching for at the moment.'
"It's okay since it's a family matter and I needed some help." Sebastian pardoned the apology of the man he asked to look for his old young love that his grandparents had arranged marriage him to. "Go back to your work. I will ask the others." he ushered.
'Boss, can I suggest something?'
"Go ahead. I'm listening," he said.
'Ask Irish at the central S Empire.'
Upon hearing that name, Sebastian knew that it was the right person to call. "Oh, her..." He almost slapped himself for his stupidity in forgetting that person. "...how can I forget that?" he smirked over the idea. "I will give her a call."
'I will notify her so she can wait for your call.'
"That will be much appreciated," he responded.
'Thank you, Boss.'
When he cut the call, his wristwatch began to alarm and indicate the time for him to prepare their family breakfast. He decided to head back to the mansion and prepared something for his family.
Sebastian went straight to the kitchen. "Morning." He greeted their servants as he washed his hands.
"Morning, Master Sebastian." All the servants in the kitchen greeted one of their masters of the Salazar household. "What can we do for you?" one of the servants politely asked.
"Assist me in making breakfast for everyone." He responded with respect and a genuine smile on his expression.
"It's our pleasure to cook with you again." they were all happy to cook with the family chef once again and assisted him as they are eager to learn how to cook like him. "We're going to learn something from the master chef of the family."
Sebastian was indeed the master chef of the family as he moved alongside their family servants. He could only do them whenever he was with the family in the main mansion. As the youngest man of the family kept finishing his masterpiece, the adults decided to come out from their rooms and head to the dining. But Sebastian's four elder sisters began on racing downstairs as if there was something to compete yet, there was none except the rare cooking of Sebastian.
"Stop running like kids." their mother, Sabrina Salazar reminded her daughters who suddenly rushed down like they were kids just to get in their seats at the breakfast nook in the dining area.
All four daughters jolted from the stern voice of their mother in the morning and slowed down. "Sorry, Mom." the fourth daughter, Syriana apologized.
But the second daughter, Maliyah pouted like a sulking kid. "But baby bro rarely cooks for us."
"Yeah, Mom. Sebi rarely comes here to cook for us." the third daughter, Enrich agreed to her sister as they took their respective seats.
"Be understanding since none of us decided to take the biggest business of the family." the eldest among them, Ashley reacted as if she was not acting like them earlier.
"Don't act as if you're not missing his cooking." Maliyah and Syriana said in unison.
"What they say is true. you're the first one who runs downstairs." Enrich pointed out.
"At least I calmed down as soon as we reached here." Ashley still defending herself.
"You push us out of the way." the three daughters said in unison while grinning teasingly at their eldest.
"Mom, Dad, see what your daughters doing to their eldest." Ashley pouted like a kid. The elders were just giggling at their childish behavior whenever their youngest cooked for them.
"Ashley, we all knew you're the most childish among them." Their father chuckled.
"And we understand your defensive and whining side." their mother added.
"MOM, DAD!" Ashley whined like a defeated kid.
"Alright, that's enough." Their grandfather chuckled as he stopped them from their morning bantering.
"The food is ready." their grandmother smiled at her family.
Sebastian chuckled as he placed the plates for everyone along with their servants. "Never gets old." and his siblings gave him a stern glare.
Their morning breakfast was filled with laughter and a nice vibe like they usually had when they were still living under one roof. But Sebastian still had to go to work and leave them. Reaching the Salazar Empire, Sebastian's softness around his family quickly turned into a cold and firm CEO of the family business. He entered his company with an imperious aura that intimidated anyone who saw him walk confidently in his own company.
Even his employees were cowering or crushing on him secretly whenever he passed yet, they never forgot to greet their boss politely. "Morning, Sir Salazar."
Without responding to any gesture or expression on his stone-cold facade, he just went straight to the elevator to head to his office. But as soon as he fast-walked toward his office, he noticed the stern look that Glen, his secretary was giving him. Sebastian knew already that his secretary adjusted a schedule that he skipped in the morning.
Sebastian got inside and had just removed his coat when in a few seconds of his arrival, a knock echoed inside his office. "Come in."
"Morning Sir, I moved your morning schedule to ten which you forgot that inform me that you'll be having an emergency." His secretary, Glen might be sounding polite but Sebastian knew his secretary well.
"Don't start with me, Glen. I know you're upset about not notifying you about my lateness since I'm in the main house. You know what it means whenever I'm there." He might not apologize but since they've been together since they were young, Glen understood what it means.
"I understand but seeing you sigh, it was indeed a very rare sight." Hearing the caring voice from a friend in Glen again, Sebastian nodded with a heavy sigh.
"I'm not sure this time why they opened up my old fixed marriage." He coldly said as he sat on his chair behind his desk. "I thought it was just a bluff but they even insisted it, Glen." He sighed as he began playing with his pen.
"That's serious." Glen sounded curious rather than surprised. "Have you started only searching for her?" he wondered.
"I've got something but it was not her." He told his secretary.
"Don't give up. She's waiting to be found by you." Glen cheered his boss. "After all, she's the only one who can match up with you ever since you were kids." He added making Sebastian smile slightly.
Glen was also the reason why Sebastian and Valerie fell for each other aside from being fixed married by their grandparents. He witnessed the growth of their love for each other until they got separated.
Glen gave friendly advice that Sebastian appreciated. "Keep the hope sparking because real and true love will find each other again." But at work, Glen handed him a file and informed him about his meeting in the afternoon. "Also, here's the file that needs your signature, and later, after lunch, you'll be having a meeting with Mrs. Everlyn Pendelton regarding the vacant shop that the company owns two blocks from here. She wished to have a clothing or small food business there." They were indeed a secretary and a boss.
Sebastian nodded. "I don't want to meet her in person, so make an excuse." He said since he was wary about the Pendelton's businesses. "But send one marketing personnel to meet her. Brief him first about their meeting before going." He decided and Glen quickly noted it down. "Is there anything else?" Glen shook his head upon hearing his boss before being dismissed.
When Glen leaves him alone, Sebastian does his usual work as the CEO but whenever he has some sneaky free time he inserts. He made sure to make some private calls to find certain someone.
Sebastian stood up from his seat and went closer to the tainted window. "Glad, I reached you, Irish." He greeted me as soon as someone picked up the call.
'Iri, is enough, boss. What can I do for you this time?'
"Valerie Stirling, remember her?" he went straight to the point.
'Yes, boss, what about her?'
"Find her by all means; every connection and details collect them." He coldly commanded which almost sounded desperate.
'Boss, I will give an honest heads-up. We might not find any evidence about her since it's been years already. She could already change her name and identity since Marlo also can't find her already.'
He carefully thought about her warning. "You've got a point there. But regardless, find anyone who has the name and dig their details from those years till now." He firmly commanded. "I don't mind receiving death information as long as it has proof about the person we're looking for." He might be sounded cold but he still hopes that his first love is still alive. "I'm counting on you, Iri."
'Understood, boss.'
"Hope that I'll find you." Sebastian kept the hope yet he spoke too soon.