Stay Here

Chapter 8

The moment we stepped into the hotel lobby, I expected Sebastian to say goodnight and send me back to my room.

Instead, he walked straight to the front desk.

“I need the key to my suite,” he told the receptionist.

She nodded politely and handed it to him.

Then he turned toward me.

“You’re coming with me.”

I blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“To my suite.”

My brain needed a second to process that sentence.

“I have my own room.”

“Not tonight.”

“Why not?”

Sebastian’s gaze hardened slightly.

“Because someone just tried to stop us on the road.”

“They didn’t try to stop me,” I said. “They tried to stop you.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me.”

We stepped into the elevator.

The doors closed quietly.

Sebastian pressed the button for the top floor.

“You’re staying in my suite tonight,” he said calmly.

“That’s not necessary.”

“It is.”

“I’ll lock my door.”

“That won’t stop someone determined.”

I sighed.

“You’re overreacting.”

The elevator stopped.

Sebastian stepped out.

I followed reluctantly.

He opened the door to his suite.

The room was large, elegant, and clearly far more luxurious than the standard hotel rooms.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the entire city.

A spacious living area sat in the center.

Two bedrooms.

I noticed that immediately.

Sebastian walked inside and set his jacket on the chair.

“You can take the guest room,” he said.

I hesitated at the door.

“You’re serious about this.”

“Yes.”

I slowly stepped inside.

The door closed behind me.

“This is temporary,” he added.

“Just for tonight.”

“Tomorrow we return home.”

I crossed my arms slightly.

“You realize this is extremely awkward.”

“I’ve been in more awkward situations.”

“I doubt that.”

Sebastian loosened his tie slightly and glanced at me.

“You watched me fight two men tonight.”

“Fair point.”

Silence filled the room for a moment.

Then my curiosity got the better of me.

“Where did you learn to fight like that?”

“Training.”

“What kind of training?”

His eyes shifted briefly toward me.

“The kind people in my position need.”

“That sounds mysterious.”

“That’s because it is.”

I walked slowly toward the window.

The view of Singapore was stunning from this height.

The lights looked like tiny stars scattered across the city.

“I still don’t understand something,” I said quietly.

“What?”

“Why those men showed up.”

Sebastian joined me near the window.

“Neither do I.”

“But you think it’s connected to Donn.”

“Yes.”

I turned toward him.

“You said he owed someone money.”

“Correct.”

“What kind of people were they?”

“The kind you don’t want to owe money to.”

“That’s comforting.”

Sebastian studied my expression.

“You’re scared.”

“I’m not scared.”

“You’re lying.”

I exhaled slowly.

“Fine. I’m a little scared.”

“That’s reasonable.”

I looked at him carefully.

“Are you?”

His answer surprised me.

“Yes.”

I blinked.

“You’re scared?”

“For you.”

The words caught me off guard.

“You barely trust me.”

“That doesn’t mean I want you hurt.”

Our eyes met.

For a moment, the tension between us felt different.

Quieter.

Less hostile.

Then Sebastian stepped slightly closer.

“You should get some rest,” he said.

“It’s been a long day.”

“You’re not wrong.”

He gestured toward the guest bedroom.

“I’ll be in the other room.”

I walked toward the door but paused.

“Sebastian?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For standing up for me tonight.”

He didn’t respond immediately.

Then he said quietly:

“I didn’t like seeing you look… exposed.”

“Exposed?”

“At dinner.”

I looked down briefly.

“That’s how it feels when everyone remembers the worst moment of your life.”

His voice softened slightly.

“They won’t remember forever.”

“I hope you’re right.”

I opened the door to the guest room.

Just before stepping inside, I turned back.

Sebastian was standing by the window again, looking out over the city.

For the first time since I met him…

He didn’t look like the cold CEO everyone feared.

He looked like a man carrying a lot of weight on his shoulders.

And suddenly I realized something strange.

The more time I spent with Sebastian Montefalco…

The harder it became to believe he hated me.

Which was dangerous.

Because falling for him was the last thing I should ever do.

He was still the brother of the man who broke my heart.

And yet, somehow…

Standing in that quiet hotel suite with the city lights glowing around us…

Sebastian Montefalco was starting to feel like the only person I could trust.

Even if trusting him might ruin everything.