3

CHLOE

No!

This couldn't be happening right now. I literally insulted him a few hours ago, and he was right in front of me, watching me spiral.

I know that it didn't need a genius to know that I was kicked out of the Willis home. I mentally closed my eyes, as I took a shaky breath, before turning towards the left side, moving my luggages along with me.

"Wait," Sebastian's voice rang out.

I shook my head, moving along the path. Suddenly, cool hands pressed against my upper arm, and I turned to look at him in anger.

"Before you say anything," he said quickly, before letting go of my arm. "I know you don't want to walk all over the streets like that."

My brows knitted in confusion. "Like, how?"

He pulled off his jacket, without a response. Reluctantly, I looked down at myself and realized I was wearing just a lingerie.

Ugh!

Sebastian carefully placed the jacket over my shoulders and proceeded to button me up. My cheeks burned even more.

"Please, let me take you home Chloe," he whispered as he slid the last button in place.

Home?

My nose flared, and my eyes misted, which I blinked constantly against. The bags I held suddenly felt heavy against my hands.

Where was home?

"I can't go back to the Willis. I thought you should have understood since I'm standing out here like this," I mumbled.

"I meant my home, Chloe," he explained.

My eyes widened in shock. "But... I mean, I..."

"Please, don't refuse. At least, not for this night..."

I sucked my lower lip between my teeth, and my stomach lurched in panic. I'd insulted this man, and yet... I know I couldn't just hang around this place like this.

Sebastian's blue eyes revealed nothing. This man was supposed to be dangerous. I'm supposed to be tough. I can't...

I have a timid nod, instead. He wasted no time, taking my things from me to his car. I watched as he walked back to me, placing his hand against my back as he led me to his shiny car.

As he drove us out, I placed my head against the window. There was nothing that made sense anymore.

My life was a fucking mess.

"We are here," his voice lulled me from the mirage of thoughts that was attacking me since we left the Willis family estate.

I lifted my gaze to see a black barricade, with wires running vertical to each other. Inside, there were trees almost everywhere we looked.

And, about 4 kilometers from it was a brick-styled mansion that sat in the space. It was beautiful and so different from his family home.

Sebastian helped me out, and called on the guards at once. "Take her things to a clean room," he said simply.

"No," I blurted. He turned to look at me like he didn't understand why I had refused. I gestured towards the guards now taking in my bags. "I'm here to stay the night, remember? I can't take the bags in."

He sighed. "I know I brought that up at first, but I don't think you have anywhere to stay. You were living with Nathan and my parents, right?"

I looked away. "Yes..."

"And, that means I was right. On the other hand, I have a lot of space in this home, and it would cost me nothing to keep you here."

"Are you serious?"

"I am," he clarified at once.

This man was supposed to be bad for me, his family and the world. Yet, he was showing more compassion towards me, than Nathan ever did throughout our relationship.

Maybe...

"Don't think too much, Chloe," he whined.

At that moment, my phone buzzed in my purse. "Sorry, it's just the alarm.

"Is something wrong?"

I took a shaky breath. "Work. I have to go to work this morning, and..." I trailed off.

I worked as Nathan's Secretary at Willis corporation and had been for the past several years. I was once satisfied about it, considering that it pushed me closer to him and helped us keep a cover for our affair, but now I was dreading it. How on earth could I face him and work with him after what he'd said today?

Looking up, I froze. Sebastian had an unreadable expression on his face but it was gone before I knew it, washed under his cold exterior as he nodded.

“You can go to your room and change. I'll be waiting.”

….

As soon as I'd showered and fully dressed up, Sebastian drove me to the company without any questions. He didn't look surprised when I'd even stated the company address. He somehow knew that I worked there.

As we arrived at the company, my gut clenched in anxiety. How was I going to face Nathan now? Would he even acknowledge me?

Should I have come here?

Is it too late to run and hide under the cover?

No, I shouldn't think about such nonsense.

I and Sebastian moved up together. There was a meeting holding already which I was late for. Stepping into the meeting room, I found Nathan sitting there with other board members. It took everything to ignore him and the lump in my throat as I took my place by Sebastian's side.

The tension was so thick everyone could feel it around them. Why wouldn't they be when they knew they were fighting for the same position as future CEO if the rumors I heard back home were true?

Ever since they were young, Mr Willis had pitted them against each other. Because of Nathan's outgoing nature he was the best contender for the position of CEO. However, Sebastian's intellect and business prowess had grown the company overseas gaining multiple successes that reached here. I remembered Nathan complaining about it countless times.

Now, they were both on an equal level.

The meeting was a blur to me. I could barely think with Nathan sitting across from my side. The memory of this morning replayed in my head like a record, suffocating me.

He had broken my heart and I was still pregnant with his child. How on earth was I going to work for him?

As the meeting drew to a close, I relaxed a fraction until Nathan spoke.

"I have an announcement to make," he said, a smug look on his face. I tensed immediately as he turned his attention towards me.

“Miss Burns, you are no longer a part of my team. From today onwards you are fired, effective immediately.”

I flinched back in response. He was.. firing me.

I could hear the pin drop and whispered murmurs filtered across the room.

Why?

This man... What was it with embarrassing me like this all the damn time?

Was he always like this?

A wave of humiliation washed over me. Tears pricked against my eyes. There was nothing I could do but accept.

I moistened my lips, my hands set as a fist on my thigh as I struggled to get my emotions out. I needed to say something....

“Is that so?” Sebastian asked coolly.

I turned to find Sebastian standing up, looking from me to Nathan. He'd already seen me thrown out of Nathan's home. Only God knew what he thought of me.

“In that case, good," he said evenly.

What?

I thought he ....

"Miss Burns, if you're no longer working for Nathan, then I'd like to offer you a job as my personal assistant."

The entire room was hushed into silence and I could feel eyes on me. I noticed at the corner of my eye that Nathan's gaze had darkened but I didn't care. Not when I was trying to process what was happening.

I gaped at him openly but his gaze never wavered.

This was the third time he had saved me, first from the car, then today and now, while Nathan was trying to humiliate me by letting me go.

It was ironic, wasn't it? The man I had devoted myself to was ruining me while the man that nearly killed me years ago.... the man I should hate, was the one saving me at every turn.

Nathan had discarded me like I was nothing despite everything I'd done. That was my biggest mistake: devoting myself to him. And I didn't want to make any more by clinging to him.

With that, I made my decision.

“I accept,” I let out, my voice firm.

As I moved away from the chair and the room, I could have sworn Sebastian's lips lifted a fraction. Nathan's face was red with anger, but I didn't care about him anymore.

I was done with Nathan, and I was ready to start anew.

At least, I hope so.