Chapter 18 THE BUSINESS TRIP
Harper was reviewing paint samples in the penthouse when Sebastian came out of his office looking stressed.
"I need to go to San Francisco tomorrow," he said, loosening his tie. "There's a deal that has been in negotiation for months, and it's finally closing. I have to be there in person."
"How long will you be gone?"
"Two days. Maybe three." Sebastian paused. "Actually, you should come with me."
Harper looked up from the paint samples. "What? Why?"
"Because we're married. Because married couples travel together for business trips. Because if I show up alone after being married for less than two months, it is going to look suspicious."
"Sebastian, I have the renovation. The electrical contractor is coming tomorrow to assess the second floor, and I need to approve the tile samples for the bathrooms, and..."
"Bring the samples with you. Handle it over the phone. Harper, this is important. Marcus is already questioning the marriage. If I travel without you this soon after the wedding, it is going to add fuel to his fire."
Harper sighed. He was right. They had agreed to maintain appearances, and married couples did not immediately start taking separate business trips.
"Fine. When do we leave?"
"Flight is at 10 AM. I'll have Amanda send over some appropriate clothes for the client meetings."
The next morning, they arrived at the airport and made their way through security. Harper had never flown first class before, and the experience was surreal.
Private lounge, priority boarding, seats that were practically beds.
"I could get used to this," she muttered as they settled into their seats.
"One of the few perks of business travel," Sebastian said, pulling out his laptop. "Though I usually just work the whole flight."
"Of course you do."
The flight to San Francisco was smooth. Sebastian did indeed work the entire time, occasionally asking Harper's opinion on contract terms she barely understood. Harper tried to read but mostly just watched the clouds and thought about all the renovation decisions waiting for her back in Seattle.
They landed at 1 PM and took a car to the hotel. The Fairmont on Nob Hill. Harper had seen pictures of it but never imagined she would actually stay there.
"Mr. Colton, welcome back," the front desk clerk said warmly. "We have your usual suite ready."
"Actually, I reserved a room for my wife as well. We will need two keys."
The clerk typed quickly. "I am showing only one reservation. The executive suite. Would you like me to book an additional room?"
Sebastian frowned. "No, there should be two rooms. I specifically requested it." He scrolled through his emails. "I sent the request last week. Someone must have made a mistake."
"I apologize, Mr. Colton. We are fully booked for a medical conference this week. I do not have any rooms available."
Harper felt her stomach drop. One room. They would be sharing a room. They already shared a bed at home, but somehow this felt different in a hotel. More intimate. More real.
"It is fine," Harper said quickly. "We can share. We are married. It is not a big deal."
Sebastian looked at her, trying to gauge her reaction. "You are sure?"
"It is one room, Sebastian. Not a crisis."
The suite was beautiful. Floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city, a king size bed, a sitting area with a couch and desk. Definitely nicer than any place Harper had ever stayed.
"I need to shower and change before the meeting," Sebastian said. "It starts at four."
"Will I be at the meeting?"
"No, this one is just executives. But there is dinner tonight at seven with the clients. You will need to be there for that. Appropriate business dinner attire."
"What exactly is appropriate business dinner attire?"
"Amanda sent clothes, right? Just wear whatever she picks. She knows this stuff better than I do."
While Sebastian showered, Harper unpacked and checked the clothes Amanda had sent. Three elegant, expensive dresses. She chose a navy blue one that seemed sophisticated without being too formal.
Sebastian stepped out of the bathroom in a towel, water dripping from his hair, and Harper's brain short circuited for a moment. They had been sleeping in the same bed for weeks, but she had never seen him half dressed in good lighting. He was more muscular than she realized. And the tattoo on his ribs caught her eye again.
"Which suit?" he asked, holding up two options.
"The charcoal," Harper said. "It looks more authoritative."
"Good call."
He dressed quickly, transforming from relaxed to CEO in minutes.
"I will be back around six thirty. Order room service if you are hungry. Charge it to the room."
"I am capable of feeding myself."
"I know. I am just saying you do not have to wait for me." He paused. "You okay being here alone?"
"Sebastian, I am twenty eight. I can handle a few hours in a hotel room."
"Right. Okay. See you soon."
After he left, Harper explored the suite, then called Mike at the construction site. Everything was moving forward. She answered emails, reviewed quotes, and video chatted with the tile supplier.
By six, she was restless. The room felt too big and too quiet. She ordered a coffee and stood at the window watching the city.
Sebastian returned at six forty five, looking exhausted.
"How did it go?" Harper asked.
"Long. Complicated. But we are making progress." He loosened his tie. "I need fifteen minutes to decompress, then we should head to dinner."
"Okay."
He collapsed onto the couch and closed his eyes. Harper watched him, seeing the exhaustion in his posture. This was the side of his life she rarely saw.
"You okay?" she asked softly.
"Yeah. Just tired. These deals drain you even when they go well." He opened his eyes. "Thanks for coming. I know this is not how you wanted to spend your week."
"It is fine. Part of the arrangement, right? Support each other."
"Right. The arrangement."
Something passed between them. A quiet realization that calling it an arrangement was starting to feel wrong.
They arrived at the restaurant at seven fifteen. It was one of those elegant places without prices on the menu.
"Just follow my lead," Sebastian murmured. "And smile."
He introduced her to David Chen, his wife Linda, and their daughter Jennifer. They were warm and welcoming.
"Sebastian tells us you are an architect," Linda said. "That sounds fascinating."
"Historic preservation mostly. I am renovating a 1920s art deco hotel in Seattle."
"Wonderful. Old buildings have so much character."
The conversation flowed. Linda asked thoughtful questions about the renovation, while David and Sebastian talked business.
"So how did you two meet?" Jennifer asked.
Harper told their practiced story. Charity auction, instant connection, whirlwind romance.
"Two weeks before you got married?" Linda said. "That is fast."
"When you know, you know," Sebastian said, taking Harper's hand. "I spent years overthinking relationships. None worked. With Harper, I simply followed my instincts."
"That is romantic," Linda said.
Sebastian's thumb brushed circles on Harper's hand. She squeezed his hand and looked at him. The expression on his face made her breath catch. He looked at her like this was real.
Dinner lasted three hours. It was pleasant, and Harper enjoyed seeing Sebastian in his business element.
Back in the suite, they both collapsed.
"That went well," Sebastian said. "David told me meeting you sealed the deal."
"Really?"
"He said I seem more grounded now. More human. His exact words were that marriage suits me."
"So I helped close your business deal?"
"You were exactly what they needed to see." He moved closer. "Thank you."
"You are welcome."
They got ready for bed. When Harper climbed into the bed, Sebastian immediately put down his phone and turned off the light.
"You do not have to stop working because of me," she said.
"I want to. I have looked at contracts all day. I would rather be here with you."
They lay in the dark.
"This feels different," Harper said. "Being here. Away from home."
"Different how?"
"More real. Like we are an actual couple traveling together, not two people following a contract."
Sebastian was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "It is real for me. I know it started as an arrangement, but that is not what it feels like anymore."
"What is it?" she whispered.
"I do not know. But I know I like falling asleep next to you. I know I wanted you here, not for appearances but because I wanted you. And when David said meeting you sealed the deal, I felt proud because you are mine and I got to show you off."
Tears stung Harper's eyes.
"Sebastian..."
"You do not have to say anything. I just wanted you to know. Whatever this is, it is real for me."
"It is real for me too. And that is what scares me."
"Why?"
"Because we have an expiration date. In ten months, we are supposed to divorce. Because I am starting to care about you too much."
Sebastian cupped her face. "What if we removed the expiration date? We made the rules, so we can change them."
"I am scared."
"Me too. But I am more scared of losing you."
"Can we take it one day at a time?" Harper asked. "No big decisions. Just see where this goes."
"Yeah. We can do that."
He pulled her close. Wrapped in his arms, Harper felt more at home than she had in months.
The next morning, Sebastian had meetings all day. Harper worked from the room, making renovation decisions. They met for lunch, sitting in a small café and talking about nothing important.
It felt ordinary and perfect.
That evening, there was another client's dinner. Harper played her part well. Sebastian held her hand under the table more than once.
On the flight home, Harper dozed against his shoulder. When she woke, he was watching her with soft eyes.
"We are a
lmost home," he said.
Home. Their shared life. Their shared bed. Whatever they were building together.
Harper smiled. "Good. I missed it."
"Me too."
And she knew he was not talking about the penthouse.