Chapter 36: A Weekend Worth Breaking Rules For

Friday afternoon. JFK Airport.

Katherine stepped off the plane in oversized sunglasses, a beige trench coat fluttering behind her like she’d just walked out of a movie. A single carry-on rolled beside her, pink and obnoxiously sparkly — a birthday gift from her best friend she never had the heart to replace.

She was here.

In his city.

In his arms — soon.

Sebastian was waiting at the curbside pickup, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a coffee just how she liked it — almond milk, one sugar, a ridiculous name he would never say out loud in public. But today? He didn’t care.

Their eyes met across the sea of people. Her smile? Instant.

His? Like gravity. Irresistible and dangerous.

She ran to him, and without a word, he wrapped her in a hug so fierce, the city might’ve cracked beneath them.

"You're late," he whispered into her hair.

"You're impossible," she mumbled against his chest.

He pulled back just enough to kiss her forehead. “Come on. The city’s ours.”

---

That night. A penthouse in SoHo.

Rooftop dinner.

Live jazz.

Twinkling lights.

No shoes.

Sebastian had cleared his calendar. Kicked out his staff. Ordered food from five different restaurants just because she couldn’t decide. He even let her pick the playlist — which meant 2000s pop bangers, Taylor Swift, and one wildly inappropriate Lizzo song during dessert.

At one point, he just watched her laugh.

Hair down. Glass of wine in hand. The city glowing behind her.

He didn’t even try to hide how gone he was for her.

"Don’t look at me like that," she said, noticing.

"Like what?"

"Like you’re about to kiss me and then burn the whole world down."

He leaned closer. “I already started the fire the moment you walked into my boardroom.”

---

Saturday morning. Midtown.

They strolled Central Park.

Bought pretzels from a street cart.

Kissed in a bookstore.

Made out in an elevator.

Got kicked out of a gallery (her fault).

Got invited to a secret rooftop bar (also her fault).

Katherine felt alive. Reckless. Worshipped.

But somewhere in a tall, cold building uptown, the Board of Directors was watching.

And someone saw the photos.

A woman with long auburn hair and sharper heels than patience stormed into a private meeting.

"She's here," one of the men said, slamming his phone on the table.

"In New York. With him."

Another grumbled, “This is unacceptable. She’s a wild card. A liability.”

“She’s a distraction,” the third added.

But the fourth, older and quieter, narrowed his eyes at the screen. “She’s the reason he’s smiling again.”

That silenced the room.

And then —

“Find her,” someone ordered. “We want a word.”

---

Saturday evening. Escape mode: activated.

Katherine peeked through the blinds of the car as it cruised past Fifth Avenue. “Uh, Sebastian? Are those guys… following us?”

Sebastian didn’t look — just smiled. “Possibly.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Your psycho board is hunting me. Me. What are you going to do?”

He tilted his head, thinking.

Then she leaned forward, grin stretching wide:

“I have a better idea.”

---

Later that night. A disguise. A cab. A tourist trap. A karaoke bar.

Katherine Brown, wearing a blond wig, rhinestone sunglasses, and a Yankees cap too big for her head, grabbed the mic and shouted:

“This one’s for the Board of Directors! Hope you're watching!”

Then belted out “Oops!... I Did It Again” like it was a war cry.

Sebastian stood in the back, jaw slack. Half-shocked. Half-horrified.

Fully in love.

---

Sunday morning. East River.

It started with mimosas and ended with a stolen boat.

Technically, it was a “rental.” Technically, Katherine signed the form with the name Mrs. Mason. Technically, they should’ve returned it by 11 a.m.

But at 12:47, they were still floating down the East River, Sebastian steering with one hand, Katherine dancing barefoot on the deck, arms in the air like she owned the sky.

“Remind me,” she shouted over the wind, “who exactly is the bad influence here?”

“You are,” Sebastian replied, eyes fixed on her hips. “And I’m letting you.”

---

Sunday afternoon. Bryant Park.

They shared ice cream. Fed pigeons. Took blurry selfies. She wore his hoodie; he carried her tote.

Katherine pulled him into an outdoor chess game and lost in three moves. Twice.

“Checkmate,” Sebastian smirked.

“I still win,” she shrugged, grabbing his face and kissing him until the old man at the next table applauded.

---

Sunday evening. The rooftop of The Mercer Hotel.

The city burned gold in the sunset. Katherine leaned against the balcony, hair caught in the breeze, drink in hand.

Sebastian came up behind her, hands slipping around her waist. “I don’t want this weekend to end.”

“It won’t,” she whispered. “It already changed everything.”

And then —

A voice.

Cold. Sharp. Cutting through the rooftop air like a guillotine.

“Well, well. What a charming little circus this has become.”

They turned.

Twelve figures in suits. Each one colder than the last.

The Board of Directors had arrived.

---

Tension. Thick as smoke.

The chairman stepped forward.

“Katherine Brown. You do understand that consorting with our CEO during a time of internal investigation constitutes a violation of —”

“Oh, shut up,” she cut him off, rolling her eyes. “I’m not your intern. And Sebastian Mason is a better man than any of you could pretend to be.”

The rooftop fell silent. Even the wind paused.

He reached for her hand, but she was already walking forward, chin high, voice steel.

“You dare speak of violations when half of you are guilty of laundering, backchanneling, and embezzlement? You hide behind your legacy while bleeding this company dry. But guess what? The world’s changing. And men like him —” she pointed to Sebastian “— are not the enemy. You are.”

One of the women on the board growled, “Who do you think you are?”

“I’m the woman you underestimated,” Katherine shot back. “And I’m not alone anymore.”

And then —

SIRENS.

Blue and red lights flickered below. Elevators dinged. Footsteps stormed the rooftop.

Police.

Uniformed officers and two federal agents stepped out. One flashed a badge.

“We have arrest warrants for members of this board,” he said, unfolding papers. “Charges include securities fraud, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy to defraud investors.”

Six board members froze.

Three ran.

Two stuttered.

One collapsed into a chair.

Katherine turned to Sebastian, breathless.

He looked stunned. Almost… guilty.

“You knew,” she whispered.

He nodded once. “I didn’t want this. But I had to.”

She squeezed his hand. “You don’t have to fight alone anymore.”

He finally let out a breath he’d been holding for years.

---

Later that night. Alone at the rooftop.

The sky was dark. The chaos had ended. Sebastian and Katherine stood alone again, city lights flickering like stars at their feet.

“Still the best weekend of my life,” she said softly, wrapping her arms around him.

“You just watched me help arrest half of my board,” he murmured against her hair.

“Exactly. That’s so hot.”

He laughed — really laughed. For the first time in forever.

---

The flashing lights still pulsed on the rooftop, painting the New York skyline in shades of red and blue. The remaining members of the board had been led away in handcuffs — stunned, silent, defeated.

Sebastian stood near the edge of the rooftop, hands tucked calmly into the pockets of his coat, when two uniformed officers approached him.

The older one extended a hand.

“Mr. Mason. Thank you for your cooperation. Without your statement and the intel you provided, this wouldn't have been possible.”

Sebastian accepted the handshake with a sharp nod.

The younger officer glanced at his notepad, then looked up.

“We’ll keep digging into the rest. Do you have any additional information on other members of the board?”

Sebastian didn’t answer right away.

The wind blew gently, tousling his hair. He glanced once toward the stairwell where the others had been taken, then back at the officers.

He gave a single, quiet nod.

Enough to say: Yes. I’m not done yet.

The officers exchanged a brief look, nodded in understanding, and stepped away, disappearing into the night.

Silence fell.

The city kept breathing around them, but here, on this rooftop, time paused.

Katherine stood off to the side, watching him.

Waiting.

Sebastian turned slowly, walked toward her without a word. When he reached her, he leaned in and pressed a kiss against the side of her neck.

Warm. Slow. Possessive.

His stubble grazed her skin and made her squeal softly.

“Sebastian!” she giggled, squirming. “That tickles!”

He smiled into her skin, lips still at her neck.

“You smell like strawberries,” he murmured, completely serious.

She laughed harder.

“I think that’s the hotel shampoo.”

He finally pulled back just enough to see her face — her flushed cheeks, her tired but radiant eyes.

“So…” she whispered, resting her hand lightly on his chest. “What now?”

Sebastian’s smile curved deeper. The chaos of the boardroom, the war he’d waged, the weight of the entire company — it all slipped away for a moment.

All that remained was her.

“Now, love…” he whispered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear,

“…we’re going to my place.”

---