chapter 79
Elena's POV:
"A girl," I said, the certainty in my voice surprising even me.
My hand covered Sebastian's where it rested against my belly, feeling another flutter of movement beneath our joined palms. "I don't know how I know, but... I just do."
"And you?" I tilted my head to look up at him, catching the wonder still lingering in his eyes. "Do you have a preference? Boy or girl?"
His response came without hesitation.
"Whatever you give me, I'll love completely." His thumb traced gentle circles against the fabric of my dress. "Boy, girl, it doesn't matter. They're ours. That's all I need."
I felt heat creep up my neck at the casual possessiveness, the easy declaration of devotion. "You can't just say things like that," I muttered, looking away from the intensity in his gaze.
The corner of his mouth lifted in that half-smile that made my stomach do inconvenient things. "Would you prefer I lie? Tell you I desperately want a son to carry on the family name?"
"That would at least be normal," I countered, but there was no real bite to it.
"Normal is overrated." He pressed a kiss to my temple before straightening up, finally abandoning that ridiculous little stool.
The gesture sparked a sudden memory, and I sat up straighter. "Oh! I completely forgot. I got an invitation yesterday."
Sebastian's attention sharpened immediately. "An invitation?"
"From Harrods. They want me to attend their exclusive beauty event on Thursday." I couldn't quite hide my excitement. "Apparently, the Midnight Garden series has been one of 0their bestsellers this quarter. They specifically requested me— the mysterious 'Onyx' make an appearance."
"This Thursday?"
"I know you have the Miller acquisition meetings all week." I watched his shoulders tense. "I wasn't expecting you to come with me."
"How many people?" His voice was carefully controlled.
"It's Harrods, Sebastian. Their beauty hall events usually draw hundreds—customers, media, influencers...But it's a good opportunity. The exposure could really help with the Beaumont collaboration."
He was quiet for a moment and moved closer, hands settling on my shoulders.
"I promised to support your career, but I need you to understand my concerns. Marcus goes with you." His grey eyes searched mine. "And I want at least one additional guard. These events can get chaotic, and you're—"
"Five months pregnant, I know." I smiled softly at his protective instincts. "Of course, Sebastian. "
I'd learned not to argue about the security detail.
---
Thursday arrived faster than expected.
Sebastian left that morning with more reluctance than usual, extracting multiple promises about staying safe and keeping Marcus close.
Now, standing before my wardrobe, I faced a uniquely pregnant woman's dilemma: finding something elegant enough for a luxury fragrance launch that would also accommodate my growing bump.
I finally settled on a midnight blue silk dress with strategic draping. The clever construction and dark color worked together to artfully disguise my growing bump.
The Harrods beauty hall had been completely transformed for the event.
What was normally a bustling retail space now glowed with soft lighting and artistic installations, each corner dedicated to a different note from my Midnight Garden collection.
The crowd was already thick with fashion editors, beauty influencers, and London's social elite.
"Elena?" A familiar voice made me turn. Sebastian's friend Felix Grey stood there in an impeccably tailored navy suit, his eyes automatically scanning the space behind me. "Is Sebastian...?"
"He's not here," I said, watching his eyebrows rise in surprise. "The Miller acquisition has him tied up all week."
"And he actually let you come alone?" The disbelief in his voice was almost comical. "
"I have security," I gestured subtly toward Marcus. "But what are you doing here? Last I checked, the Grey family empire didn't extend to beauty products."
A self-deprecating smile crossed his face. "Ah, well. I decided to try my hand at entertainment recently. Signed with an agency, did some modeling..."
He shrugged elegantly. "Turns out being the face of Midnight Garden has given my nascent career quite the boost. Who knew perfume could be so lucrative?"
"You're the brand ambassador?" I couldn't hide my surprise. Of all the people Sebastian's circle, Felix Grey playing at being a model was not something I'd expected.
"One of them, apparently." His green eyes lit up with anticipation. "Actually, I heard the mysterious Onyx is supposed to make an appearance tonight. I've been quite looking forward to meeting the genius behind the fragrance I've been promoting."
I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. "Well, you can stop looking forward to it."
"Why? Don't tell me they cancelled?" He looked genuinely disappointed.
"No." I met his gaze steadily. "She's standing right in front of you."
Felix's expression went completely blank for a moment, then his eyes widened comically. "You're... you're joking."
"Afraid not."
"You're Onyx?" His voice actually cracked slightly. "The mysterious perfumer everyone's been trying to unmask for months is Sebastian's wife?"
"Guilty as charged."
He stared at me for another long moment, then let out a disbelieving laugh. "This is... I've been wearing your creation, promoting it, waxing poetic about the genius who created it, and all this time it was you?"
"I'll take your stunned silence as a compliment," I said lightly.
Before Felix could recover enough to respond, the lights dimmed slightly, signaling the start of the presentation. An elegantly dressed Harrods representative guided me to the front row, where a seat had been reserved.
As I settled into my seat, I could feel the weight of curious stares from all directions. Whispers rippled through the audience like wind through grass.
"Who is she?"
"Must be someone important to get front row..."
"Look at that dress. Definitely money."
"She's too young to be a major buyer. Industry insider maybe?"
"The way the Harrods staff are treating her... she has to be somebody."
I sat quietly, watching the presentation unfold on stage.
The Harrods beauty director spoke eloquently about the success of Midnight Garden, projecting sales figures and glowing reviews onto the screen behind her. My creation, reduced to charts and percentages, yet somehow made grander by the sheer scale of its impact.
The whispers around me gradually died down as the presentation commanded attention. I found myself holding my breath, knowing what was coming.
"And now," the beauty director's voice rang out with theatrical flair, "the moment I know many of you have been waiting for. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming the enigmatic creator of Midnight Garden, the perfumer who has captivated our senses while maintaining an air of mystery... Onyx!"
A wave of anticipation swept through the audience.
Heads turned, searching for movement, for some sign of the mysterious figure about to be revealed.