Chapter 14 #2
“She’s not been able to get inside the building until today, but she’s been lurking around in the area for some time now. Our doorman was taking a small break, and she slipped in. I’ll notify Mr. Bennet.”
Christ.
Is she a stalker?
She seemed determined that she knew Sebastian, but hell, that’s probably what any stalker would say.
If she’s an obsessive ex, she could probably just call him to get a hold of him, right?
Turning up at his building seems rather extreme.
“Okay. Thank you for taking care of him and his privacy,” I say before I head for the café.
When I get there, I order to-go, wanting to sit in the park across the street. The café is quiet, and as I wait for my order to be ready, I chew on my bottom lip, thinking back to the scene in the lobby.
What an absurd situation.
Something that started as me thinking I’d just witness a clingy ex quickly turned into something that seems a bit more serious.
Hopefully, Sebastian is all safe and will be able to deal with this.
When my name is called, I grab my coffee and cookie before I find myself a bench located under a grove of trees. The crisp autumn air leaves a fresh feeling in my lungs.
The leaves on the trees are turning darker, and I can’t wait for the next few weeks when they’ll be all different colours of brown, yellow, and orange.
Autumn is my favourite time of year. The perfect time to stay inside, cuddle up with a warm drink, and watch cosy movies.
I also love taking walks, feeling my cheeks turn cold as I breathe in the fresh air.
I sip my coffee, watching people walk by with their dogs, partners, and friends.
It’s crazy that I’m in London—and enjoying every minute of it. As it all happened so fast, I didn’t know what to expect of my time here.
How I would adapt and feel on a whole new continent and in a city I’ve never been to before.
For each day, I feel like I’m falling a little bit more in love: both with the city and the man who brought me here.
I sigh, thinking about Sebastian and that boundary between us.
My dear brother.
The reason I’ve met the man is also the hindrance between us at the moment.
Eventually, I head back to the apartment and work for a few hours.
When the clock strikes five, there is a knock on my door.
I open the door to Sebastian standing on the other side.
“Your stalking led you here?” I ask him, feeling the happiness spread through my body. My word choice makes that pit in my stomach appear again, thinking back to earlier today.
I wonder if the receptionist has told him about Ashley.
“Yes. Harriet is almost done with dinner. Come up with me?”
I notice his bag is on his shoulder, which means he came straight here from the stadium, and my heart gallops in my chest.
Did he miss me today?
I would feel a little less pathetic if he did.
I quickly grab my phone and put on some shoes before locking up.
“Speaking of stalking,” I begin, feeling a bit nervous to bring this up.
What if she’s someone he is hooking up with, and he simply forgot to tell the receptionist to have her name on his list of guests?
Then I’ll look rather stupid, but I honestly don’t care. If she’s a crazy stalker, I worry about his safety.
“Did you speak with the receptionist when you got back?” I ask him as he steps into the elevator.
Sebastian looks questioningly at me.
That’s a no.
“No, it was rather hectic down there. I think someone is throwing a party,” he says.
I twist my hands, the nerves gnawing at me.
It’s very possible I’m setting myself up for humiliation right now, but I have no choice.
“Okay. I was heading out earlier to a café, and there was a woman talking to the receptionist, asking for you.”
Sebastian’s eyes widen, which adds to the gut feeling that Ashley isn’t someone he wants to have in his life.
“Said her name was Ashley.”
“Fucking hell.”
Sebastian drags a hand through his hair and paces a few steps inside the small elevator.
He stops right in front of me and brings both of his arms to my forearms, rubbing up and down.
I don’t know if he’s trying to calm himself down or me.
“Are you okay? Did she say anything to you?”
I can’t help but smile, thinking back to my little spy operation.
I felt like one of those actors in movies, hiding behind a newspaper whilst spying on an enemy.
“Oh, she didn’t say anything to me. I sat myself down and spied on her. My curiosity got the best of me.”
I’m not ashamed to admit I might have a little unhealthy obsession with this man.
If he had a lady friend I didn’t know about, I was planning to find out.
Sebastian lets out a breath, his hands still resting on my own as the elevator doors open.
“Okay, good. She’s someone I kissed a few months back, and she’s kind of been harassing me ever since. Blowing up my phone mostly, but she’s never turned up here before.”
Even though it doesn’t feel good hearing about him with other women, it’s not like we’re together.
Of course, he’s been with other people, just like I have.
I don’t envy him and his stalker, though.
“Must have been one hell of a kiss,” I say, my tone light as I gently nudge him.
Sebastian looks down at me, almost remorseful.
“Actually, I was trying to forget about you in that blue dress at the gala in Australia.”
Oh, fucking hell.
Is this really happening?
Our moment at that gala has replayed more times than I can count over the last five months.
I’d chosen that blue dress for him.
Everything was for him that night.
Hoping he would finally make a move.
Which looked like he was going to until my brother showed up and ruined it.
We’ve both stopped in the hallway, looking at each other.
“What about the gala?” I whisper, my pulse hammering so hard I can feel it in my ears.
“You looked magnificent, Lily. I was going to tell you, but Luke interrupted us.”
Magnificent.
Christ, this man and his words.
He’s called me beautiful, and perfect, and now this.
If he keeps this up, I’ll be doomed sooner rather than later.
Maybe I already am.
“And did it work? Trying to forget about the gala?”
I’m afraid to ask, but the memory of Ashley is still fresh in my mind.
If he’s moved on, I need to know.
“Not one bit.”
I stand there, lost for words—which never happens to me—but he’s just given me a glimpse into his feelings, and it feels like the greatest gift.
But then, it’s like watching a wall come back up.
Sebastian steps away from me, creating distance between us, crushing me as I realise he’s pulling away after such a tender moment.
“I’m sorry, Lily. I probably shouldn’t have told you that. My friendship with Luke is important to me, and I don’t want to risk that.”
Well, shit.
So much for all the words about perfect and magnificent.
He just made it clear where he stands.
My brother and his relationship with him are more important than the connection to me.
Although I do understand where he’s coming from, it still stings.
We were finally making some progress, only for him to turn right back around and retreat from me.
At least I know that my attraction to him isn’t one-sided.
That feels like a small consolation in the big scheme of this attraction.