Chapter 10: Meet me at the Grand Globe Hotel

The moment she set down her phone, a new message flashed across the screen, each word steeped in absolute authority.

Sebastian: [The meeting proceeds as scheduled. Eight AM tomorrow, I want the draft on my desk.]

The cold text hit Sophie like ice water poured straight down her spine.

Whatever fragile calm she'd managed to scrape together shattered instantly.

This meant another all-nighter.

She drew a deep breath, offering Samuel a rueful smile. "Samuel, I'm so sorry. Something urgent came up at work—I have to go back right now."

"This late?" Samuel looked surprised, but seeing the distress on her face, he relented. "Go ahead then. Work comes first. We can pick out the gift another time."

"I really am sorry."

Sophie rushed through her goodbye and practically ran out of the mall, plunging into the still-bustling night streets of Empire City.

She didn't notice Sebastian standing at a nearby corner, pocketing his phone, his eyes colder than ever.

Back in her empty apartment, Sophie didn't even stop for water before firing up her computer.

The departmental integration proposal was brutally complex, involving personnel transfers and business restructuring where every single element could trigger a cascade of consequences.

She buried herself in mountains of data and documents as the hours bled away.

At two in the morning, just as she'd finally constructed a complete framework, she spotted a fatal flaw.

Two critical financial reports showed conflicting data. If she continued with this version, the entire budget assessment would be worthless.

Only Sebastian could resolve this.

Sophie glanced at the time in the corner of her screen, her pulse racing. Calling him at this hour was like reaching into a lion's mouth.

But if she waited until morning, there was no way she'd finish the draft on time.

After a long battle between professional duty and fear of her boss, she finally steeled herself and dialed the number she knew by heart but dreaded to use.

The phone rang for what felt like an eternity before he picked up. Sebastian's voice came through low and rough, as if she'd just woken him, edged with irritation. "What."

"I'm sorry to disturb you so late, Mr. Carter." Sophie's voice was tight. "I'm working on the integration proposal PPT and I've found an issue with the financial data. I need to confirm something with you…"

She quickly outlined the problem.

Silence stretched on the other end. Sophie held her breath.

Just when she thought he might hang up, Sebastian's voice cut through again, still cold and commanding.

"This won't work over the phone. Bring your laptop to the Grand Globe Hotel. My suite." He paused, then added, "I'll walk you through it in person."

The moment he hung up, Sophie froze, half-convinced she'd misheard.

Go to the Grand Globe Hotel? In person?

Past two in the morning. A man and a woman alone. In a hotel suite…

A prickle ran down her scalp. But the half-finished PPT loomed like a death sentence, leaving her no room to refuse.

She was just resignedly gathering her laptop when her phone buzzed again with a new message from Sebastian.

Sebastian: [Bring a filet mignon, medium-rare. And hand-ground coffee.]

Sophie stared at the imperious demand, so furious she nearly hurled her phone across the room.

Did this man think she was his personal assistant on call twenty-four-seven?

Anger aside, she still changed clothes at lightning speed and bolted from her apartment.

At this hour, most restaurants had long since closed. She ran through several blocks before finding an upscale place open all night where she grabbed a steak to go, then hit a nearby convenience store for coffee beans and a small manual grinder.

When she finally stood outside that familiar suite at the Grand Globe Hotel, arms full of bags and breathless, a wave of humiliation and absurdity washed over her.

She drew a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.

No response. She tried again and finally heard Sebastian's low voice, tinged with impatience. "Come in."

Sophie tested the handle. Unlocked, as expected.

She pushed the door open. The entryway was dimly lit, but light spilled from the living room.

She slipped off her shoes, calling out softly, "Mr. Carter, I—"

Before she could finish, the bathroom door swung open.

Sophie instinctively looked up. Her entire body went rigid.

Sebastian had just stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist.

Water droplets traced the defined lines of his chest and abs, sliding down to disappear at his waistband, radiating a kind of raw, restrained power.

He used another towel to dry his damp hair with one hand, his ice-blue eyes showing not a trace of surprise or embarrassment when they landed on her. Instead, they held a hint of amusement.

Sophie felt all the blood in her body rush to her head. Her cheeks flared hot.

She snapped her gaze down to her feet, heart hammering so violently she thought it might burst from her chest.

"Seen enough?" Sebastian's low voice drifted down from above, laced with faint mockery.

"No! I wasn't—" Sophie stammered, wishing she could vanish on the spot.

Sebastian made a sound somewhere between a hum and a laugh, but mercifully didn't press further. He strode toward the bedroom.

Only when she heard the bedroom door close did Sophie dare to breathe properly.

She quickly set the steak and coffee on the coffee table, clutched her laptop, and retreated to the armchair furthest from the sofa, trying to make herself as invisible as possible.

A few minutes later, Sebastian emerged wearing a black silk robe, the open collar exposing his collarbone.

He glanced at her, then settled onto the sofa and picked up the knife and fork, cutting into the steak.

Sophie watched him nervously, her heart in her throat.

He chewed slowly, his brow furrowing slightly before he dropped the utensils onto the plate with a sharp metallic clatter.

"Terrible." His assessment was ice-cold.

Sophie bit back the urge to retort, only murmuring, "I'm sorry, Mr. Carter. The restaurant I chose probably wasn't very good."

"You have no taste." Sebastian's verdict was merciless. He then reached for the coffee she'd just brewed.

One sip, and his brow furrowed again. "Too bitter. The beans are subpar too."

Sophie had gone numb. "Yes, you're absolutely right."

For the sake of her job, she'd endure it.

Sebastian seemed to lose interest in further criticism. He set down the coffee cup carelessly and extended his hand toward her. "Give me the laptop."

Sophie immediately crossed the room with her computer, settling onto the carpet beside him and angling the screen toward him.

The shift to work mode instantly dissolved the earlier tension and awkwardness.