Chapter 6

Sebastian’s POV

“Mr. Rowe?” a voice broke through my thoughts, pulling meback to the meeting going on at Rowe Industries.

I looked up. Tristan, the company’s CFO sat across from me at the conference table, watching me with a funny expression on his face.

“Are you still with us, sir?” Susan Pierce, the COO asked a second time, trying to sound as polite as possible.

“Yes, yes. I’m listening.” I said.

The meeting continued, but I let myself drift back into my thoughts. Over the past few days, I seemed to have lost concentration on anything. And it was all because of my ex wife, Celeste.

The last time I saw her, she was standing outside Éclat with a little girl. The happy expression on her face, I had never seen that before now. Not even when we were married.

The thought of Celeste suddenly appearing after six years of no contact had bothered me since the auction night… and not to mention, the aura she had returned with. Then seeing her outside of Eclat, I couldn’t help imagine if there was someone in her life responsible for her sudden glow.

My jaw clenched unconsciously. Why did I even care? I questioned myself silently. Celeste was no longer my concern, so she was free to do whatever she liked. I had renounced the right to that six years ago when I handed her the divorce papers.

“Mr. Rowe, are you planning on joining us today?” another voice broke through my thoughts.

This time, it was Tristan, and a few people around the table chuckled at his question.

I straightened up in my seat. “What’s the problem?”

Tristan shook his head with a scoff. “Really?”

I glanced at the documents in front of me. The board meeting had been going on for more than thirty minutes, and I couldn’t remember half of what was being discussed. That was veryunusual of me, as I was always heavily involved in board meetings.

I picked up the proposal and flipped through a few pages.“What’s the final recommendation?”

Susan exchanged a brief look with Tristan before answering.“The finance team is recommending that we proceed with the acquisition, as long as it doesn’t affect the year’s budget.”

I raised my head, scanning the faces of the people seated in the room. “And the board agrees with this?”

“Yes. Most anyway.”

I closed the folder. “Then proceed.”

Tristan stared at me, confused. Anyone else would have beenintimidated by me at that moment. But not Tristan. He leaned back in his chair with a stupid grin on his face. “Whatever you say boss.”

I ignored him and looked to the other board members.“Anything else?”

“No, Mr. Rowe.” Susan answered, “We’ll proceed as discussed.”

“Good.” I said, then stood up from my chair.

As everyone gathered their documents and filed out of the room, I walked toward the window of the conference room, staring out through the transparent glass.

This is just ridiculous, I thought to myself. I had spent several years building Rowe Industries into one of the largest corporate groups in Starling city. Yet, a few unexpected encounters with my ex wife had left me distracted.

“Damn it.” I muttered under my breath.

“Talking to yourself now, are you?”

I turned around to see Tristan walking towards me. He then pulled a nearby chair and sat down, crossing his legs.

“I thought you had another meeting,” I said.

“I do.” He looked at the expensive wristwatch on his hand. “In fifteen minutes actually.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

“Well, you seem a little off. Everything alright?”

I gave him a stare. But he just grinned, still expecting an answer.Tristan had been my closest friend since college. With his knowledge of finances, I didn’t hesitate to bring him in as the company’s chief financial officer when I took over the company.

But the man’s gift for understanding numbers was only matched by his talent for getting on my nerves. Fortunately, it was one of the many reasons I brought him in. As much as I needed someone I could trust, I also needed someone capable of challenging my decisions.

“Really, what’s going on with you?” he asked a second time.

“Nothing.”

Tristan watched me for a moment. Then his next words took me by surprise. “Is this about Celeste?”

I nearly choked. “What?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Don’t look so surprised, Sebastian. I’ve known you for years, remember?”

I glared at him. “Do you have a point you want to get to?”

“Several actually. But let’s start with the obvious one… you’re thinking about your ex wife.”

I froze for a moment as the truth in Tristan’s words hit me. I felt reluctant to admitting that seeing Celeste had somehow stirred me up. But he had me at a corner. “It’s… it’s just something else,” I finally said.

Tristan’s expression turned serious. “What?”

“I saw Celeste outside Éclat a few days ago.”

“And?”

“She was standing outside the place with this little girl, and…”

His expression changed immediately. “And you’re thinking that she may be Celeste’s daughter?”

“I don’t know.” I rubbed my jaw. “Well the girl looked comfortable with her.”

“And that bothers you?”

“No.”

Tristan gave me a look.

I sighed. “All right. Maybe a little.”

“But why would that bother you, man?”

I stared back at him. “I don’t know, Tristan. That’s the problem.”

For once, he didn’t laugh at me. He just leaned forward. “Look,I think you need to get out of this office before you drive yourself crazy.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

His eyes beamed instantly. “You know what? Let’s go out tonight. Have a few drinks, relax and talk about something other than work… or Celeste.”

“No, I’m not in such mood. Thanks.”

Tristan’s brows raised as he looked at me, a smile starting to appear on his lips. “I can’t believe it’s you declining aninvitation for a good time.”

Before I could respond, a knock sounded at the door. Alice, my assistant stepped inside.

“Excuse me, sir. I’m sorry to interrupt, but I must remind you of your appointments.”

I nodded at the young lady, and she stepped into the room fully, ready to start listing out my upcoming appointments. But that moment, I decided on an idea that had been dancing in my head all morning.

“You know what, Alice…” I said to her, “cancel my entire appointments for this evening.”

Alice looked surprised. “All of them, sir?”

“Yes.”

Tristan slowly turned toward me, but I ignored him. “And please, make a dinner reservation for tonight… at Éclat.”