Chapter 25 : Sebastian’s Interest
Alina’s POV:
Sebastian Cole becomes a problem faster than expected.
By Wednesday morning, there are flowers waiting on my desk.
Not small flowers either.
An entire dramatic arrangement of white roses and lilies that looks expensive enough to require security clearance.
Mia nearly screams when she sees them.
“Oh my God.”
I stare at the arrangement suspiciously. “This feels threatening.”
She grabs the attached card before I can stop her.
“Nope. This feels romantic.”
“Mia.”
Too late.
She’s already reading it aloud with entirely too much excitement.
For the woman who looked painfully bored during a corporate meeting. Lunch today?
Sebastian
I close my eyes briefly.
Of course.
“Okay,” Mia says slowly, “either you secretly became insanely attractive overnight or rich men are currently fighting over you.”
“There are no rich men fighting over me.”
“Mhm.”
She gives me a look that says liar.
Unfortunately, I can’t even defend myself properly because technically there is a disturbingly powerful billionaire acting possessive every time another man speaks to me.
Emotionally exhausting.
“I’m not going to lunch with him,” I mutter.
“Why not?”
Because Dominic would probably combust internally.
The thought appears instantly and uninvited.
And judging by the sudden grin on Mia’s face, my expression gave something away.
“Oh my God,” she whispers dramatically. “There is another man.”
“There is not another man.”
“There’s definitely another man.”
Before I can threaten her professionally, my phone buzzes against the desk.
Unknown Number.
I hesitate before opening the message.
If you reject my flowers without at least pretending to consider lunch, I’ll take it personally sebastian.
I stare at the screen in disbelief.
Bold.
Very bold.
Mia notices immediately. “That smile means trouble.”
“I’m not smiling.”
“You literally are.”
Traitorous face.
I type back before common sense interferes.
Sending flowers to someone’s workplace feels emotionally manipulative.
His response comes instantly.
Lunch at one?
Should i just say no.
Absolutely no part of this is a good idea.
Unfortunately, another thought appears immediately afterward:
Dominic would hate this.
And honestly?
After the jealousy stunt he pulled outside the conference room, part of me wants him annoyed.
Petty.
Immature.
Still valid.
I type slowly.
One hour. Public place.
Three dots appear instantly.
You negotiate like someone who’s escaped dangerous situations before.
I laugh before I can stop myself.
Then another message arrives.
I’ll pick you up at one, Trouble.
Trouble?
Absolutely not.
And yet somehow my face still feels warm afterward.
This is embarrassing.
\---
At exactly one o’clock, Sebastian arrives downstairs in a dark gray Aston Martin that probably costs more than my apartment building.
Mia practically pushes me toward the elevator.
“If you don’t marry rich, at least date rich long enough to get good food.”
“You’re a terrible person.”
“I’m a supportive person.”
The lobby doors slide open as I step outside.
Sebastian is leaning casually against the car wearing rolled sleeves and sunglasses like he belongs in a luxury watch advertisement.
Ridiculous human being.
The second he sees me, he straightens slightly and grins.
“There she is.”
“You look very confident for someone who basically bribed me with flowers.”
“They were extremely good flowers.”
I hate that he’s funny.
Sebastian opens the passenger door dramatically. “Lunch?”
“This still feels suspicious.”
“Relax.” His grin widens. “I only become dangerous after dessert.”
I laugh despite myself before sliding into the car.
And honestly?
It feels good.
Not because I’m attracted to Sebastian the way I am to Dominic.
That would require emotional instability I cannot currently survive.
But because being around Sebastian feels easy.
Light.
No guilt.
No forbidden tension.
No constant internal crisis.
Just flirting.
Normal flirting.
I almost forgot what that feels like.
“So,” Sebastian says while driving through downtown traffic, “how exactly did you end up working with Dominic Vale?”
The question immediately sharpens my attention.
Careful.
“Through the foundation partnership.”
“Mhm.”
I glance toward him suspiciously. “Why do I feel like you’re interrogating me?”
“Because I am.”
“At least you’re honest.”
“Always.”
That answer somehow sounds less reassuring than intended.
Sebastian taps his fingers lightly against the steering wheel. “You make him weird.”
I nearly choke.
“What?”
“He’s usually emotionally constipated.”
I burst into laughter before I can stop myself.
“Oh my God.”
“I’m serious,” Sebastian says while laughing too. “The man normally reacts to everything like a machine programmed by expensive lawyers.”
“That’s oddly specific.”
“But around you?” He glances toward me knowingly. “Different story.”
My stomach tightens instantly.
Dangerous topic.
“You’re imagining things.”
“No, I’m observant.”
Fantastic.
Apparently everyone notices tension between Dominic and me except my mother.
Sebastian continues casually, “Yesterday I thought he might actually murder me in the hallway.”
“He was not going to murder you.”
“He looked very committed to the possibility.”
I look out the window quickly to hide the smile threatening my face.
Because honestly?
Watching Dominic get jealous yesterday affected me more than it should have.
Way more.
Lunch itself is surprisingly enjoyable.
Sebastian is charming in a reckless kind of way.
Easy to talk to.
Easy to laugh with.
And for the first time in weeks, I almost feel normal again.
Almost.
Then midway through lunch, my phone lights up beside my plate.
Dominic.
My pulse immediately betrays me.
Sebastian notices instantly because apparently nothing escapes this man.
“Oh,” he says slowly. “That expression looks important.”
“It’s work.”
“Liar.”
I glare at him while unlocking the message anyway.
Daniel said you left for lunch.
That’s it.
No greeting.
No explanation.
And somehow the simplicity feels intensely possessive anyway.
I stare at the screen too long.
Sebastian leans back in his chair slowly. “Now I’m definitely interested.”
“In what?”
“In whatever the hell is happening there.”
“There is no there.”
“Mhm.”
I hate when people do that.
My phone buzzes again.
Are you with Sebastian?
Heat rushes into my face instantly.
God.
The jealousy is practically dripping through the screen.
Against my better judgment, I type back.
You sound possessive.
Three dots appear immediately.
Then:
Maybe I am.
My heartbeat stumbles hard enough to hurt.
Sebastian watches me carefully across the table.
“That bad?”
“You have no idea.”
“Oh, now I definitely like him.”
I blink. “Excuse me?”
“A powerful emotionally repressed billionaire losing his mind over you?” Sebastian grins while taking another sip of wine. “That’s quality entertainment.”
“This is not entertainment.”
“No?” He tilts his head slightly. “Then why are you blushing?”
I immediately grab my water glass.
“This lunch was a mistake.”
“You keep saying that while smiling.”
Damn him.
Before I can recover, another message appears from Dominic.
Where are you?
Because suddenly I can picture him reading my responses with that calm controlled expression while jealousy slowly eats through his patience.
And somehow that thought affects me way too much.
Sebastian watches me carefully now.
“You like making him jealous.”
The observation lands too accurately.
“I don’t.”
“You absolutely do.”
“No, I like him being humbled occasionally.”
“Ah.” Sebastian nods thoughtfully. “So you do like him.”
I freeze instantly.
Because that’s the problem, isn’t it?
This stopped being harmless attraction a while ago.
And no matter how much I try denying it...
My feelings for Dominic are becoming impossible to ignore.
Even worse?
I think his feelings for me are becoming just as dangerous.