로그인Chapter 11The flight back to Manila felt very different from the flight to Singapore.Not because of the destination.But because of everything that had happened in between.The attack.The tattoo.The unsettling realization that Donn might have been involved with dangerous people.And the strange, confusing closeness that had developed between Sebastian and me.We sat beside each other again on the plane.But this time the silence between us felt heavier.Not awkward.Just… thoughtful.I stared out the window as the plane descended through thick clouds.Slowly, Manila appeared beneath us—endless buildings, crowded streets, the familiar chaos of the city.Home.Or at least the closest thing to it.Sebastian closed his laptop beside me.“We land in ten minutes,” he said.I nodded.But a strange uneasiness settled in my chest.Like the calm before a storm.⸻When the plane finally touched the runway, passengers began gathering their bags.Sebastian stood and reached for the overhead co
Chapter 10The knock on the door sounded louder than it should have.Maybe because my nerves were still raw.Or maybe because only minutes earlier, two strangers had broken into the suite.Sebastian’s grip tightened slightly around my wrist before he released it.“Stay here,” he said quietly.His voice had changed again—returning to the calm, controlled tone of the CEO everyone feared.But I could still see the tension in his shoulders.The protective instinct hadn’t disappeared.He had simply buried it beneath discipline.Sebastian walked to the door and opened it.Two hotel security officers stood outside, along with the night manager.“Mr. Montefalco,” one of them said quickly. “We received a report of a disturbance.”Sebastian stepped aside.“They were inside the suite.”The manager’s face paled immediately.“Inside?”“Yes.”The guards moved quickly, scanning the room and checking the hallway.I stayed near the bedroom doorway, wrapping my arms around myself.The adrenaline was fa
Chapter 9I told myself I was only staying in Sebastian Montefalco’s suite because it made sense.Nothing more.It was practical.Safe.Necessary.That was what I kept repeating in my head as I changed into the hotel robe and sat at the edge of the guest bed, staring at the city lights outside the window.But no matter how many times I told myself this arrangement meant nothing, my heart refused to calm down.Maybe it was because of the men on the road.Maybe it was because of the strange phone call.Or maybe it was because, for the first time since Donn left me at the altar, I was in the same room as a man who made me feel too much.Sebastian was dangerous in a different way.Not because he shouted.Not because he threatened.But because every time he looked at me, it felt like he could see straight through the walls I had spent months building around myself.I lay down eventually, though sleep didn’t come easily.My mind kept replaying the night.The investor recognizing me.Sebasti
Chapter 8The 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 reluctant
Chapter 7The rooftop terrace slowly emptied as the investors began leaving.The city lights of Singapore stretched endlessly below us, glittering against the dark water of the harbor.It should have been a peaceful moment.But my mind was still stuck on the dinner.“You didn’t have to lie,” I said quietly.Sebastian stood beside the railing, his hands resting casually in his pockets.“I didn’t lie.”“You exaggerated.”“That’s different.”I exhaled slowly.“You made it sound like I rebuilt an entire marketing strategy.”“You contributed enough.”“That’s not the point.”Sebastian finally turned to look at me.His expression was calm, but thoughtful.“You were uncomfortable.”“Of course I was uncomfortable,” I replied.“That man recognized me from the worst moment of my life.”For a moment, something softened in his gaze.Then he looked away again.“You handled it well.”The compliment surprised me.Before I could respond, Sebastian checked his watch.“We should go.”“To the hotel?”“Ye
Chapter 6Singapore at night was breathtaking.Lights from towering buildings reflected on the water like thousands of scattered stars. The city felt alive, elegant, and impossibly fast.Unfortunately, I barely had time to enjoy it.Because the moment we arrived at the hotel, Sebastian dropped another surprise on me.“You’ll need to get ready,” he said as we stepped into the elevator.“For what?”“Dinner.”“With investors?”“Yes.”That sounded normal enough.Until he added something else.“And you’ll need to stay close to me.”I frowned slightly.“I thought I was just part of the marketing team.”“You are.”“Then why do I need to stay close to you?”Sebastian didn’t answer immediately.The elevator doors opened, and we stepped into the quiet hallway leading to our rooms.Only then did he turn toward me.“Because tonight,” he said calmly, “they believe you’re my girlfriend.”For a moment, I thought I had heard him wrong.“I’m sorry… what?”“My girlfriend.”“You didn’t tell me about thi







