Chapter 14 Sebastian
Sebastian
Another week at the office. Another week with Caspian in my business.
It was Friday.
I had to fucking deal with Callum tonight, and I wasn’t looking forward to it. Throwing my pen on the paperwork laid out on my desk, I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my face. I fucking loved Aria more than life itself, and I’d do anything for her, but this? This was going to be hard.
Fuck.
What if he told her what I was up to? That I was back in the Organisation? I couldn’t help that sick feeling that he’d spill it all and ruin everything I had with Aria, just to watch my world fall apart.
Why was she doing this to me? I shook my head. No. This wasn’t her fault at all. It was mine for not being honest with her. Acid churned in my stomach and started to filter through my veins, as if I’d just injected myself with guilt. I fucking hated this feeling. It wasn’t something I was used to.
Aria would be my downfall. I knew it and oddly welcomed it if it meant her staying by my side. If she asked me to choose, it would be her every time, over and over. That would never change.
“Sebastian.”
My eyes darted to Caspian, standing in the doorway to my office, bringing me out of my thoughts. I rolled my eyes, letting out a silent groan. Could he just fuck off?
“I’ve been deep in the figures,” he said, sitting opposite me.
I wished he were deep in the ground right now instead of driving me insane.
“I think you may be right about going with tech.”
I nearly choked on my saliva. I hadn’t heard that right. Surely he wasn’t agreeing with me?
“Looking at the revenue and capital that’s already been brought in, I think you’re right. We should take the risk.”
I leaned forward, resting my arms on the desk. “So after all that pushback, you’ve just … changed your mind?”
“I thoroughly went through all the figures. The ins and outs. Everything. I think we should go forward with it.”
“What’s the catch?”
He let out a silent chuckle. “No catch, Sebastian. Just what’s best for Luxe Corp. I told you, I’m here to make sure it stays alive. Your proposal is tight, and it will work. Take the win.”
“And like I told you, I know Luxe Corp inside and out. I’d never let what happened with my dad happen again. You may not realise, but this place means more to me than just money.”
My granddad flickered through my mind, that piercing pain running through my heart that I always felt when I thought of him. It was all for him. This place was his life. I wasn’t about to ruin any of that.
I hated to admit it, but maybe Caspian was going to be a good addition to the company after all. Yeah, we’d definitely clash, but it seemed we both had the same end goal: making sure the company thrived.
He sat there for a moment, and the way he looked at me told me there was more on his mind. He swallowed a little harder as I watched his Adam’s apple bob.
“Sebastian … There’s something—”
He was cut off by the door swinging open to Mr Kingsley waltzing in. I pinched the bridge of my nose. This was not a day to be testing my patience.
“Have you told him?” Mr Kingsley seemed to bounce with each word, like he was a little kid in a sweet shop.
I arched my brow. “Told me what?”
“Oh, good, you haven’t. Let me do it. You’re off the funding proposal, and Caspian is taking over.” He beamed smugly from ear to ear.
I shot up, my chair rolling behind me. “What?”
Caspian soon stood up, matching my height. “Sebastian—”
“Is this why you’re in here? To take over my proposal?”
My jaw clenched. Fire burned through my veins. For a second, I thought Caspian had wanted the same as me, but no.
He wanted to take over everything I had here.
“This is not what we agreed, Mr Kingsley,” Caspian said to him through gritted teeth.
“Change of plans.” Mr Kingsley shrugged it off like it was nothing.
Caspian turned to face me, holding his hands up, like he was offering himself to me. “I didn’t know. This isn’t what I wanted.”
“Sure, Caspian. This has been your intention from day one, hasn’t it?
Get the board on your side. Well, you already have my father, and as I keep getting reminded around this place, he is the majority shareholder and can do what he likes,” I growled, then turned to face Mr Kingsley.
“And you. You forget that this time a year ago, you were looking at bankruptcy because of my dad. Nearly lost your shares because of it. I should have fucking bought them for pennies instead of allowing you to keep them.”
I slammed my fist on my desk, causing everything on it to shift. My heart rate rapidly increased, pounding against my chest. These fucking snakes.
“Get the fuck out of my office,” I roared.
Mr Kingsley jumped but soon hurried himself out.
“Sebastian—”
“Do not test the type of man I am. Get out.”
Caspian let out a heavy breath, admitting defeat, and turned, his shoulders slumped as he walked out of the office.
Fucking assholes. I grabbed the coffee mug and hurled it against the wall, then dragged my hands through my hair and gripped it tight.