38. Sebastian
Chapter 38
Sebastian
The old man’s never been one to back down easily, especially when it comes to the Edmunds family. He’s been too quiet.
Did he find out that we’re snooping around?
Is he biding his time, waiting for the right moment to strike? What if he’s already set something in motion? What if he’s got some twisted plan to tear us apart again? The thought makes my blood boil.
He’s always been a master manipulator, pulling the strings behind the scenes.
I can’t let my guard down now. I’ll have to keep a close eye on him, watch for any signs of trouble. And if he tries anything, I’ll be ready. I won’t let him destroy what Lil and I have, not this time.
A knock sounds at the door.
Perfect. “Come in.” Hopefully, he has some news.
Connor enters with a stack of files in hand. He drops them on my desk without a word, his expression unreadable.
I raise an eyebrow. “That bad, huh?”
He shrugs, settling into the chair across from me. “Any news from your father? ”
“It seems the feud between our families might finally be at an end,” I say.
“You really believe that?”
“No. That’s why we have to find out what he’s planning.”
“On it.”
“And the other thing?” I ask.
“Most records from that time have been wiped clean. But I found a few breadcrumbs.”
I flip through the files, scanning the contents. Phone records, emails, photos. Pieces of a puzzle that don’t quite fit. “Anything useful?”
“An old assistant of your father’s. Amelia Willis,” Connor says. “She was in contact with Marc Edmunds.”
They were both in on it. My knuckles whiten around the folder in my grip. “Are you certain?”
“I triple-checked. Looks like she is the link between your father and Marc, days before everything went to hell with you and Lil.”
“You think they were working together? To keep us apart?”
Connor’s silence is answer enough.
All this time, I thought she fucked me over. But it was them. They played us both. And like a fucking idiot, I fell for it. I let them get in my head, let them poison what we had. I pushed her away, treated her like she was the enemy when all along, she was as much a victim as I was.
Fuck, I’m such an asshole. She didn’t deserve any of this. She didn’t deserve me turning my back on her, not when she needed me most.
“Well, they sure as hell succeeded back then, didn’t they?” I pause. “Kept us apart for years with their little scheme.”
“But you’re back together now,” Connor says. “Despite their best efforts.”
“Yeah, no thanks to them.” I rub a hand over my face. “Fuck. ”
“There’s more.” Connor hesitates, a rare occurrence. “Do you remember how easy it was for me to find out about Lil’s engagement and the e-mails?”
“Yes.”
“It’s kind of the same now. The information… it was almost too easy to find. Like it was left for us to discover.”
I stand up and pace back and forth. “You think my father wanted us to know?”
“Maybe. Or maybe he’s getting sloppy in his old age.”
I scoff. “Not likely.”
“What’s the plan?” Connor asks finally.
“Do we know where the assistant lives?”
“No. But we will, eventually. I’ll dig deeper.” Connor rises from his seat. “In the meantime, you get some rest. You look like hell.”
“I can rest when I know they’re not scheming anything.”
“What if that’s your father’s plan all along? Keeping you busy with work and this wild goose chase to destroy your relationship with Lil. Didn’t you say some deals fell through that you had to save?”
I rub my temples.
“He’s always been against you two. And now, when things start to look up, he suddenly agrees to give her a chance, and we find out about a loose connection of his assistant to Marc Edmunds.”
Emily pokes her head into my office, interrupting our conversation. “Mr. Barron, you have a meeting in five minutes. And there’s an emergency that needs your attention.”
Lil will be waiting, and I’m late. Again.
“Speak of the devil.” Connor grins.
I shoot him a glare before turning to Emily. “I’ll be out shortly.”
She nods and disappears, closing the door behind her .
Grabbing my phone, I type out a message as quickly as my fingers can manage.
Sebastian: Can’t make it home for dinner tonight. Big deal that needs my attention. Sorry, princess.
Connor stretches his arms above his head. “Duty calls, huh?”
“Fuck off.” But there’s no heat behind my words.
He chuckles, heading for the door. “I’ll keep digging. You focus on your girl.”
Lil: No worries, I understand. Good luck! We’ll save you leftovers.
Sebastian: We?
Lil: Gemma and Mary are here.
I can picture them now, laughing and chatting over a glass of wine while I’m stuck here, drowning in paperwork and this ridiculous chase. It’s getting me nowhere but far away from Lil.
Sebastian: Good. I’ll see you later.
I stride out of my office, nodding to Emily as I pass, and jab the button for the top floor in the elevator. The doors slide closed, and I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the polished metal. I do look like hell. Dark circles under my eyes, hair mussed.
This is temporary. I can handle whatever my father throws at me. And I won’t let him destroy what Lil and I have, not this time.
The elevator dings, and I step out, ready to face whatever shitstorm awaits me.
After several meetings, I slump into my chair, head in my hands. Time to call my mother and then leave. The line rings, and I roll my neck. Can’t wait to get back home to my princess.
“Sebastian, darling, how are you?” My mother’s voice is warm and affectionate, as always.
“I’m doing well. ”
“You sound exhausted. Are you taking care of yourself?”
“Mother, I assure you, everything is fine.”
“Speaking of which, are you free this weekend? “
“I guess I am now.”
“Good, I’m hosting a brunch at the Astoria Club this weekend, and it’s been ages since I’ve seen you.” She hesitates. “Why don’t you bring Lil with you?”
It’s time we take the next step. “We’ll be there.”
Emily’s voice crackles through the intercom. “Mr. Barron, Ms. Edmunds is here to see you.”
“Mother, I’ve got to go. We’ll see you this weekend.”
“Alright, darling. Don’t work too hard.”
I hang up and press the button on the intercom. “Send her in.”
The door opens, and there she is, my princess, looking like a goddamn vision. Those mesmerizing eyes lock with mine, and it’s like the rest of the world fades away.
“Hey, you.” I round the desk to meet her halfway.
She holds up a bag, the scent of something delicious wafting from it. “I thought you might be hungry.”
This woman has a way of making everything feel right, even in the midst of the chaos in my life.