6. Alex Sebring
Chapter 6
Alex Sebring
Unread emails have piled up like an avalanche, burying my inbox in a mess I have no patience to dig through. My personal assistant should handle this—sorting the urgent from the useless, deleting the spam, and spoon-feeding me what matters.
But I don’t have a PA anymore.
Not since I fired her.
Even with the heavier workload, I don’t regret it for a second. She leaked my Soul Sync involvement to Celeste—I’m sure of it. She lied to my face, swore she didn’t, but I’m not stupid. And I know damn well I didn’t match with Celeste. Someone helped rig it, and she was part of it. No doubt.
Until I figure out who else I can trust, I’m keeping my circle small and tight.
Which is why I did something I might regret.
A sudden thud startles me from my thoughts. A large tote bag lands on my desk, followed by the unmistakable sound of my sister’s voice. “All right, golden boy. Let’s do this. And when do I get a raise?”
“Jesus, Leilani.”
She grins, unbothered, and plants herself in the chair across from me, kicking her feet up onto my desk like she owns the place. “Relax, big brother. I already know the answer. ‘ Start by not pissing me off.’ Or ‘ Never .’”
Damn. She does a decent job of impersonating me.
“That sound about right?”
I stare at her for a long beat. “This was a terrible idea.”
She gasps, clutching her chest like I’ve wounded her heart. “Wow. That hurts, Alex. But it’s too late now. You hired me.”
I did. Because I need someone I can trust, and right now, family is the only option.
“You realize this is an actual job, right? Not an excuse for you to sit around, annoy the shit out of me, and play on your phone all day.”
Leilani scoffs. “Please. I can annoy you and be productive. I’m a multi-tasker.”
“God help me.”
She flashes a wide grin. “Oh, come on. It’ll be fun. You and me, taking on the corporate world together. Just two Sebring siblings, making dreams come true. Changing lives.”
I level her with a stare. “Your job is to read my work emails.”
She shrugs. “Same thing.”
Am I sure I can put up with this every day?
Leilani stretches her arms over her head. “So. Where do I start?”
I gesture to the computer. “My inbox––start there. Flag anything that’s important, delete the junk, and don’t—I repeat, don’t —mess with my calendar. I don’t need you moving things around without telling me.”
Leilani mock salutes. “Yes, sir.”
She slides into the chair behind the desk, cracking her knuckles like she’s about to perform surgery. “So what you’re telling me is that I’ll be doing your job but on a much lower pay scale.”
I meet her gaze with dry patience. “No. You’re filtering out the bullshit emails that are a waste of my time.”
She tilts her head. “Like I said—doing your job.”
I grab a pen off my desk and launch it at her. She dodges it with ease, laughing. “You’re so damn grumpy since Magnolia left.”
She clicks through emails, humming under her breath. “All right, let’s see what we’ve got. Spam, spam, someone wants to sell you a new, bigger yacht.” She pauses, eyebrows lifting. “Hmm… this one sounds kind of legit about expanding your social media presence.”
“Delete it.” I don’t want to be in the spotlight any more than I have to be.
She clicks on one, and snickers. “Ooooh, here’s one about performance enhancement pills. Stronger, longer, harder. Bro, you need pills for that?” She bursts out laughing. “It’s no wonder Magnolia booked a one-way ticket out of here.”
I groan, dragging a hand down my face. “Shut up, Lei.”
She wipes a fake tear. “This is already the best job I’ve ever had.”
I shake my head, cursing myself. This was a mistake.
A knock sounds at the door, and before I can tell Leilani to behave, it opens.
Courtney steps inside, a folder tucked under one arm, her expression as composed as ever. She’s been with Sebring Hotels longer than I have—first working for my father and now for me as I step into his role. If anyone knows the ins and outs of this business, it’s her.
“Good morning, Mr. Sebring.” She nods toward Leilani. “I see you’re introducing your sister to the business.”
Leilani spins in her chair, flashing a grin. “My brother needs someone he can trust. So here I am.”
Courtney smirks, seeming unimpressed. “Lucky him.”
“Right?” Leilani leans back, propping her feet up on the desk again. “We’re already making substantial progress on these emails… and I’m expanding his knowledge of prescription enhancement options.”
Courtney blinks at her and turns to me. “Prescription enhancement?”
I sigh, rubbing my temples. “Regret is a slow burn.”
Courtney hands me the folder. “Quarterly reports. Your father wants a review before the next board meeting. Also, you have a call with the Brisbane architect at three.”
I nod, flipping through the pages, not reading one damn word. “Thanks for this.”
She lingers for half a second, her gaze flicking to Leilani. “Let’s do our best to keep things running smoothly for Alex.”
Leilani smiles, but it drips sarcasm. “I am the picture of efficiency.”
“Mm-hmm,” she says beneath her breath and exits the office, leaving me with the menace my mother calls her surprise blessing from God.
Leilani cuts her eyes my way as soon as the door shuts behind Courtney. “Dad has always bragged about how fantastic she is, but to be frank, I don’t like her.”
I shoot her a look. “Dad isn’t wrong. She is fantastic. She’s been running this office longer than you’ve been alive.”
Leilani smirks. “Plenty of time to perfect the art of villainy. I’m telling you, bro—she sets off my Spidey senses.”
“Please behave, Lei.”
She doesn’t smirk this time. Doesn’t joke. Simply holds my gaze. “Fine. Ignore a Malietoa woman’s gut feeling at your own risk. But be ready. Because I’m gonna back my car into the garage at your house and unload a whole bunch of I told you so when you figure out that I’m right.”
My phone buzzes on my desk, Magnolia’s name flashing across the screen. Before I can grab it, Leilani snatches it up, grinning like someone gave her a winning lottery ticket.
“Leilani, don’t?—”
Too late. She answers, dropping her voice into something low and sultry.
“Sebring Hotels. CEO unavailable. This is his incredibly beautiful, highly competent, underpaid personal assistant speaking.”
There’s a pause as Leilani listens to whatever Magnolia is saying.
Leilani cackles. “Kidding. This is Leilani, Alex’s favorite sibling––obviously.”
I glare at her. “Give me the damn phone, pest.”
She twists away, keeping it out of reach. “Hey Alex, it’s Magnolia––the woman you’re obsessed with, the woman who has turned you into a lovesick puppy.”
I lunge for the phone, but she dodges me again. “He’s very busy at the moment. Brooding. Missing you. Staring at your photograph. Writing lousy poetry about you.”
“Haha. You’re hilarious. Now give me my damn phone.”
I manage to snatch it from Leilani’s grasp and press it to my ear. “Please ignore her.”
Magnolia laughs. “I don’t think Leilani is one to be ignored.”
My sister smirks, looking far too pleased with herself. Without doubt, hiring her is a mistake.
I point to the door. “Out.”
Leilani blinks at me, all fake innocence. “What? I’m just getting comfortable.”
“Out,” I repeat, leveling her with a glare.
She sighs, rising from her chair like it’s the greatest hardship of her life. “Fine, fine. I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone to chat.” She turns toward the door but pauses long enough to call out, “Magnolia, if he chooses to discuss his prescription enhancement options with you, please know that I support whatever decision he makes.”
“Get the fuck out, Leilani!”
“Fine. I’ll go grab a coffee so you don’t make me throw up with how in love you are.”
I press the phone back to my ear. “Sorry about her.”
Magnolia’s soft laughter carries through the line, melting the tension coiled inside me. “Don’t be. She’s hilarious.”
“That’s debatable.”
“So… prescription enhancement options, huh? What’s up with that?”
“Just my sister ragging on me about some erectile dysfunction spam emails.”
She laughs. “Oh, you one hundred percent don’t need that.”
“Damn straight.”
Like hell I ever would. Not with her. Magnolia turns me on beyond reason—always has, from the moment I laid eyes on her. It’s the way she moves, the way she teases, the way she looks at me like she knows what she’s doing to me. She doesn’t have to try. One word from her, and it’s like flipping a switch—every nerve wired straight to her.
“What are your plans for tonight?”
“Dinner and drinks with Violet. A new sushi bar opened downtown. We figured we’d check it out.”
I wish like hell I could be there—sliding into a booth beside her, stealing bites off her plate, kissing the soy sauce off the corner of her mouth.
Instead, I’m imagining every bastard in that bar looking at what’s mine. “Wish I was there.”
“I do too.”
I smile, even as something tightens in my gut. “Have an old-fashioned for me.”
“I’ll have two. One for you, one for me.”
“Don’t let Violet talk you into trouble.”
“She wouldn’t dare. Besides, I’m trouble enough on my own.”
And damn if she isn’t.
The thought of her out there—radiant and laughing––makes a part of me want to lock her away and keep every smile for myself. But the smarter part of me knows her light isn’t mine to dim.
I clear my throat, shifting gears because if I stay on that thought, I’ll end up booking a damn flight tonight.
“Any word yet about being sent back to Sydney?”
“Nothing yet. I don’t expect to hear anything for a little while. Gabby wants to see what Team Australia does without us.”
It’s a job trying to keep my frustration in check. “Sorry. I’m anxious.”
“I know. Same.”
I get up and walk to the window, staring out over the harbor, the sky stretching wide and endless. “I don’t think I can wait for you to come back.”
Her voice turns playful. “Umm… Alex. Are you breaking up with me?”
“Never, lovie. I’m saying maybe I should come to you sooner rather than later.”
I brace for her to tell me it’s a bad idea—that it’s too soon, too complicated—that it’ll only make things harder when we have to part again.
But she says, “Yes, Alex. Please come. Nothing would make me happier.”
Relief punches through me, knocking loose some of the ache lodged in my chest since the moment she left. “You don’t know how much I needed to hear that.”
“I think I sort of do.” Her voice is so certain.
I glance at my work calendar, my head spinning through everything I need to clear. “How soon do you want me there?”
“As soon as you can get here.” She doesn’t hesitate. “I miss you too much to pretend otherwise.”
“I could be free in two weeks. Three at the latest. I need to tie up a few loose ends here.”
“Two weeks…” A small, shaky laugh crackles through the phone. “It’s soon, but it feels like forever. Will you be able to stay long?”
“I’ll stay as long as I can.”
“I’ll take whatever time you can give me.”
The weight between us shifts—no longer heavy with sadness but humming with something new. Anticipation.
“So… word on the street is you hired a new assistant?”
What a fuckup on my part. “Yeah. Worst bloody mistake I ever made.”
“What does Leilani do for you?”
Aside from annoying the fuck out of me? “She’s my personal assistant. And I’m already regretting it.”
Magnolia laughs, the sound so sweet it cuts straight through me. “I think she’ll be the perfect personal assistant. She can keep you in line.”
“Well, we’ll see about that.”
Before she can respond, there’s a knock at her door. “That’ll be Vi. Hold on.”
I hear the door creak open, followed by Violet’s voice carrying through the phone. “What up, bitch? I’ve aged five years waiting for you.”
Magnolia laughs. “Sorry, I was just talking to Alex. I’m putting you on speaker.”
“Ohhh,” Violet drawls. “The boyfriend.”
The boyfriend . I don’t hate being called that.
“Violet, are you going to keep my girl out of trouble tonight?”
“I damn sure hope not. I’m taking her out for sushi and cocktails. Hopefully a little dancing if I can talk her into it. She’s been moping around missing your ass, and to be honest, it’s killing my vibe. A little trouble would be fun.”
“Show her a good time—but not too good, yeah? I’d like my girlfriend returned in one piece.”
“ Girlfriend , huh? About damn time you started claiming her.”
Oh, I’ve claimed her in a proper manner. Trust me. “You two behave. Mostly.”
“We’ll try,” Magnolia says, her voice warm with laughter.
“Love you, favorite.”
“Love you too, big guy.”
I set the phone down, a stupid grin tugging at my mouth. She’s halfway across the world, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t need proximity to know she’s mine.