Chapter 77 Do you know him?

Chapter 77 Do you know him?
Sebastian was in the manager’s office, watching it all play out on the security screens. His heart was just… broken. Completely broken. All the interest he had, it was gone. He had the confirmation he needed, and he decided right then he would not see Sienna again. Not ever. So when Caspian’s text came through, he ignored it. He did not reply. He did not move.

But he did not expect Caspian to call him out like that. To shout for him with such certainty, knowing he was here. Now Michelle would know. She would realize his attention toward her was only because he had figured out who Sienna really was.

It would have been better to forget Sienna, to never show his face. He had a plan to meet Michelle later, to try and win her over properly. But Caspian ruined it. He ruined everything. That son of a bitch made sure everyone knew Sebastian was part of some scheme. If he did not walk out there now, he had no doubt Caspian would come and drag him out by his hair. The guy was completely crazy.

Gritting his teeth so hard his jaw ached, Sebastian thanked the manager and left the office.

Every person in the room was staring at the door, waiting to see which Sebastian would appear. But the voice came from behind Sienna instead, low and angry.

“Caspian. I accept defeat. It is her. But I do not have the strength for this anymore. I can not do it.”

“What in the world is happening?” Mira asked, more amused than confused. “And how do all these people know each other?”

Michelle just stayed quiet. It was starting to make sense now, what Caspian had been doing in Los Angeles. He was not as cold about the loss of their child as she had believed. He was not aloof at all. She looked at Lake, her face showing nothing. “That is his best friend. You should ask him.”

Mira turned to Lake, ready to use the chance to get closer to him. He had stood up for her, after all, even after she turned him down because of that asshole River.

But Madison got there first. “Lake,” she said, her voice bright with interest. “You know that guy? He is seriously hot. Will you introduce me?”

Everyone at the table seemed surprised. Some had even thought she and Lake were together.

Lake looked disappointed. He did not try to hide it. “Are you serious? I brought you out on a date, and now you are drooling over another man right in front of me? You are paying the bill.”

Madison acted offended. “Why are you upset? I thought everything was already paid for. And anyway, you said you would be my brother. My brother from another mother and father, remember?”

Lake bit his lower lip, staring right at her. “It still is not cool. To say that right to my face. I am even more attractive than he is.” He shrugged, adjusting his tie. He would not have minded if they were alone, but she said it where everyone could hear, and Lake did not like that. After Mira turning him down, and now hearing this from Madison… it made him wonder. Was he not good enough? Not handsome enough, or caring enough, or rich enough?

Madison saw she had messed up. “Of course you are more good-looking than him,” she cooed. Then she did something no one expected. She leaned in and kissed him quickly on the cheek. “Am I forgiven now?”

The corner of Lake’s mouth lifted, just a little. “Not until you go out with me on Friday night.”

The whole table was entertained by them, everyone except Mira. She could not explain why, but their bickering made her uncomfortable. It just did.

“Deal,” Madison giggled.

Edmund turned to Michelle then. “The girl you wanted to set me up with already has eyes for two men. I suppose I am back to pursuing you.”

Rush’s expression turned dark, but Edmund did not get the reaction he wanted from Michelle. Her mind was somewhere else entirely. Following her gaze, everyone looked back to Caspian’s table.

Sebastian was already moving toward their lively table, but Caspian stepped right into his path. “Did you not say you wanted to see her?” Caspian taunted him. “Is she not your sunshine?”

Sebastian was so embarrassed when his eyes met Michelle’s. And because Caspian knew Sebastian wanted to pursue her, he made it worse. He always made it worse.

“Do you not have her painted on the walls of your penthouse? All over your walls?” Caspian’s tone was pure mockery.

Sebastian wanted to punch him. He wanted to hit him right in the face. But the words had a different effect on Sienna. They shattered her. They broke her into pieces.

Caspian pulled Sebastian to the table and pushed him into the empty chair he had been saving. For everyone watching, it was like a scene from a movie. Caspian poured Sebastian a drink before he turned to Sienna. She looked like she had seen a ghost. She was pale and sweaty, her thick makeup beginning to streak. Right then, she was searching for a crack in the floor to disappear into.

“Tell me, Sienna,” Caspian said. “Do you know him?”

She began to tremble. She trembled when her eyes finally met Sebastian’s.