Aria
Iwalked through the door, coffee in hand, and placed it on my desk, getting settled for another day of work, when a loud thud came from Sebastian’s office. I flinched, the sound taking me back to Jason slamming his fist against the wall for a moment.
“Is there something wrong with you?” Sebastian shouted from inside.
“You need to stop being so stubborn and look at the figures,” Caspian snapped back.
I jolted as if I’d just been hit by electricity, my heart picking up speed as I looked at them through the window, arguing with each other.
An uneasy feeling crept into my stomach.
“You need to remember who’s the boss around here,” Sebastian snarled.
I tried to take some deep breaths. My chest was tight, and I rubbed it with my hand.
No. I needed to get out. I needed air. I needed to breathe.
Rushing through into the main office, I hurried my steps to reach the lift and pressed the button a few times, as if that was going to make it come quicker. Resting my hand on my heart, I felt my breathing pick up speed.
Not now.
The lift pinged, and I bolted in, repeatedly pressing the button. I rested my back against the wall, bending to place my hands on my thighs as I tried to take deep, steady breaths.
It had been a while since I’d had a panic attack.
Finally. The lift reached the ground floor, and I picked up speed to get out of the building.
Breathe, Aria.
I leaned my back against the side wall of the office building, the cold hitting my flushed cheeks.
I took a deep breath through my nose, holding it for a few seconds and slowly exhaling, fiddling with my sleeves as I focused on all the blue objects I could see around me—something my therapist had taught me to do when I felt anything coming on.
“Nyx? What are you doing out here? Caspian said he saw you rush from your desk,” Sebastian said as he reached me.
My heart sank. He was only here because Caspian had said something, not because he’d known what was happening. He’d normally notice even the slightest change in me.
“I got a little overwhelmed with the shouting.”
His eyes roamed over my face, and his features softened, then he took hold of my hands. “I’m so sorry. I should have realised. Are you ok?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t seem it.” He pulled me into his chest.
“I’m fine. I just needed a minute to breathe.”
“You should go home for the rest of the day.”
I looked up at him and met his eyes. “I just need to get my bag, and we can go.”
He sighed. “I can’t. I need to get this work sorted. I’ll get Logan to collect you, and he’ll stay with you until I get home.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” I snapped.
I’d never expected Sebastian to put work before me.
Even a week or so ago, he would have dropped everything in a heartbeat to make sure I was ok.
He’d insist, and normally I’d be the one telling him he didn’t have to.
He always made me feel safe when I was with him, and that was what I needed right now.
“I’m not arguing about this.”
I rolled my eyes at him, and he grabbed his phone and called Logan, speaking for less than a minute.
“He’ll be here in ten.”
I nodded. “I need to get my bag.”
“I’ll get it. Let’s get you out of the cold. You can wait in reception.”
Sebastian placed his hand on the small of my back, and I felt his warmth. He guided me back inside, and I sat down on the sofas, whilst he disappeared into his lift.
“Aria?” Logan called after a short wait.
“Hey, Logan.” I stood, greeting him.
“Ready to go?”
“Erm.” I looked over in the direction of the lift. “Sebastian was meant to bring my bag down.”
He pulled his phone out, dialled a number, and put it to his ear.
“Sebastian, where’s Aria’s bag? Ok … all right.”
He put the phone back in his pocket. “He’s been caught up. Let me run up and get it.”
I shook my head, letting out a breath through my nose.
Of course.
Logan rushed off, and I stood there, just looking around. I met the receptionist’s eyes and gave her a tight smile.
Logan soon reappeared, holding up my bag.
“Thank you.” I took it from him.
“Shall we get going?”
I followed him out to the car, and he opened the door. I smiled at him, a silent thank you, and he got into the driver’s seat, starting the ignition.
“I’m sorry.”
He started to drive off but glanced over at me. “What for?”
“Having to pick me up and apparently babysit me. I’m sure you’ve got more interesting things to do with your time.”
“It’s not a problem at all. I’m normally around anyway.”
Silence fell between us. I’d met Logan a handful of times. I wasn’t even sure what he really did with Sebastian. I knew they’d previously worked together in the Organisation. Besides that, I didn’t have a clue.
“Do you mind if we stop to get a coffee on the way?”
“We can do anything you like.”
My lips parted for a second, wondering if I should strike up a conversation rather than a silent ride home. No sooner had we left than we’d already hit traffic at a standstill along East India Dock Road.
“Logan.”
“Yeah.”
“What is it you do for Sebastian now?”
“I do a lot of things for him.”
“Such as?”
He glanced over. “I know you know what I used to do for him.”
Well, I didn’t know the details, but I wasn’t stupid. I knew enough about that world after my time with Jason, and if Logan was one of Sebastian’s men, then he would have killed people for sure. I shifted in the seat, clearing my throat. “And now?”
“Whatever he needs. A driver.” He smiled widely at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back. “I suppose a bodyguard that doesn’t follow him around everywhere, but I’m always close by.”
“Like a secret agent in the shadows,” I joked.
He let out a little laugh. “Something like that.”
“What about before Sebastian?”
“I was in the army. Joined the cadets when I was young and enlisted when I was eighteen. Then left at twenty-six and met Sebastian. Which was around four years ago now.”
I never knew how old Logan was. He looked older than me, and I’d guessed he was around Sebastian’s age, but he was still a few years older than that.
“So that makes you … thirty?”
“Don’t throw that number at me just yet.” He chuckled. “It’s not for another month.”
“Are you doing anything for it?”
“A quiet night with my wife and daughter.”
My eyes widened. “I didn’t realise you had a family.”
“It’s not something I broadcast due to my line of work.”
That made perfect sense with what I could only imagine he was involved in. He was protecting them as a husband and father should.
My mind drifted to Sebastian.
He should be with me right now, like he used to be.