Chapter 13

Sebastian’s POV 

I couldn’t believe it that I actually had a daughter. For three daysstraight, that was the only things I could think of. I had a daughter who was six years old, and I had missed every single day of her life.

I knew nothing about her. And the worst part was that Celeste had kept it from me all along. I couldn’t blame her for being angry though. I had given her every reason to keep her distancefrom me.

But knowing that didn’t make it easier to accept that another man might have been the one helping Amanda blow out her birthday candles or teaching her how to ride a bicycle. The thought made my chest ache.

On the fourth day since discovering the shocking news, I returned to Éclat. I didn’t go there to simply talk to Celeste. I was going to demand answers. And I was prepared to do whatever it took to make her give me the answers I needed.

Her assistant met me at the reception desk. “You again?” the lady said to me.

“It’s Meridith right?”

“Merida.” She corrected instantly.

“Great. Good morning to you, Merida.”

She glanced at her watch. “Somehow, every time you show up, my day gets complicated.”

“I need to see Celeste, please.”

“Have you considered making an appointment? Sending anemail?”

“Please Merida. This is serious.”

We stared at each other for a few seconds. Before finally, the lady sighed and picked up her telephone. “Let me see if she’s willing to see you.”

I waited while she made the call. A few moments later, she put the phone down. “She’s in her office. You have ten minutes.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Don’t thank me yet. If you upset her, I’ll personally escort you out.”

I almost smiled at that.

When I entered Celeste’s office, she was sitting behind her desk, reviewing some documents. She didn’t look up when I walked in. “You have ten minutes to say whatever brought you here,” she just said.

“I know I’m not your favorite person at the moment. But I’d likemeet my daughter.”

Her pen stopped moving. She finally looked up at me, a questioning gaze on her face. “What daughter?” she asked with her brows raised.

I sighed and stepped closer. “Come on. Don’t play dumb with me, Celeste. Amanda. I know she’s mine.”

“No she’s not.” She denied still.

“Look, we both know I have the power and means to find our anything about anyone. And I’ve just spent the last few days uncovering the truth.”

For a moment, I thought she would throw me out without another word. Instead, she put the pen down and looked at me.“So you think you can just show up and be part of her life huh? Just like that.”

“Look, I know I can’t make up for the last six years. I’m noteven asking you to pretend those years never happened. But she’s my daughter.”

Her eyes hardened. “You didn’t seem concerned about having children when you handed me those divorce papers.”

I swallowed hard. “I know.”

“No, Sebastian. You don’t know!” Her voice rose and she stood up from her seat. “You don’t know what it was like to discover I was pregnant, alone and abandoned, not knowing if I would be able to give her everything she needed.”

I had no answer. And Celeste continued. “I worked hard to build a life for Amanda. I made sacrifices. And I did it all without you.”

“I really can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

She laughed, but there was no hint of humor in it. “Do you think an apology changes anything?”

“No. But it’s the only thing I can offer you right now.”

Her expression shifted a bit, but she quickly looked away. “I won’t keep Amanda from knowing her father,” she said after a moment. “She deserves that choice. But don’t mistake that for forgiveness.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“And you don’t get to walk into her life and start making decisions because you’re Sebastian Rowe. Your money, your name, and your influence means nothing here. Got it?”

“I understand.”

“Do you?” She walked closer. “Because Amanda isn’t somebusiness acquisition that you simply buy your way into her affection.”

“I have no intention of buying her affection.”

“Good. But you’ll have prove it.”

I nodded my head in agreement.

“Tell me what I need to do.”

Celeste studied me for a long moment before answering. “You can meet her tomorrow afternoon. I’ll bring her to the park at four. You can spend an hour with her there.”

“Just an hour?” I said.

She shot me murderous stare. “Be grateful you’re even getting an opportunity to meet her, Sebastian. Don’t push your luck.”

I wanted to argue, but I stopped myself. An hour was better than nothing. “I’ll be there tomorrow.” I just said 

“And one more thing.” She added, her voice becoming colder. “You will not tell her who you are until she’s ready. I want to prepare her for this conversation properly. You have already had six years to think about your choices. Give me a little time to help my daughter understand what comes next.”

I agreed to that. What choice did I have after all? I left Éclat with something that felt close to hope.

The next afternoon, I arrived at the park fifteen minutes early. I had changed my shirt twice before leaving home.

I had also spent an embarrassing amount of time standing in front of my wardrobe, wondering what a six year old girl would think of me.

Eventually, I settled for a simple blue shirt and dark trousers.Tristan had laughed when I told him where I was going.

“You’re meeting your daughter, not attending a board meeting.”

“Do you have any useful advice?”

“Yes. Don’t be dick.”

I shook my head and ended the call. Then I checked my watch and twenty minutes had already passed. Then another twenty minutes. And another. One hour had passed and there was no sign of Celeste or Amanda. That moment I realized that they were not coming.