Kourtney blushed. âOkay, okay, itâs kinda cute. I didnât think people would care this much.ââCare? Honey, theyâre âobsessedâ. Damn! Youâre wayyyy smarter than I thought, posting that. Youâre playing the game like a pro. Iâm proud of you, babe.ââIf I didnât know you, Iâd think you were shading me,â Kourtney replied with a snort.âNever! NO! Seriously. You definitely know how to give the people what they want. I underestimated you so much. I'm sorry!â Lilian said laughing.Kourtney rolled her eyes, but her cheeks warmed like they would burst anytime soon. âOkay, fine, it was kinda fun. But you know this social media stuff isnât my thing. I only posted âcause youâve been hunting me for days.ââAnd look at the results! Youâre a natural, Kourt. Like⊠Babe, you broke the internet! Two million likes? And the way Sebastian was looking at you? Whew, I need a fan!âThe photos had looked even more dreamy with their enchanting Victorian-era-like horse riding gear. And as much as her best friend
Sebastian nodded, fighting hard to hide the smug smile creeping up his face. âAlright, letâs do it.âThey posed in front of the stables, Kourtneyâs smile radiant. His heart thudded as he looked at her, the pain of his mother, Roseline Serena Woodsâ absence mingling with the fierce love he felt for his wife.They snapped a few selfies, her head tilted against his, both grinning like lovesick fools. âThese are perfect,â she said, scrolling through the shots.âGreat! Letâs send for the staff! I want more pics of us,â Sebastian suggested.For unknown reasons, he liked this idea very much.Yvonne and Elise arrived to take more, capturing them laughing, arms around each other, the sun casting a golden halo around them.Soon, he led her to a sleek black stallion horse named Midnight, and the servants also followed to keep up snapping more photos.âWeâre riding together,â he said, helping her up.Kourtney settled in front, her hands gripping the saddle nervously.âSebastian, I⊠I think Iâm go
Kourtneyâs resolve cracked. She pouted her lips like a baby who needed some petting then threw her arms around his neck.âHubby, Iâm fine. Itâs just that⊠That family⊠theyâre not worth it. I donât want to ruin our day with their drama.âShe pressed herself against his solid chest in a coquettish manner.âOhh! That's it?â Sebastian chuckled.His strong arms encircled her waist, cradling her. And before she could say another word, he lifted her off the ground, twirling her around like she weighed nothing.Kourtney squealed, her laughter bubbling out as he twirled her around the room. Her brown hair bounced, and for a moment, she felt like a little girl again, free, light, adored.âSebastian! Put me down!â she gasped between laughs, her hands gripping his shoulders.She was starting to feel dizzy after about half a minute of his twirling.He slowed down. âLetâs do something fun today. Forget the world. Just you and me.âIt was a Friday and they had both stayed at home from work. Perhaps
Margaretâs lips trembled, but she forced a weak nod. Sheâd called Kourtney dozens of times, leaving voicemails that went unanswered.âIâll keep trying mother.ââOh yes. Try! That's all you're good at!â Florence was harsh with her words but she didn't give a damn.Kourtney hated them now and they probably deserved it. But right now, she didnât care about guilt or apologies. She cared about power, and Kourtney was their key to it.Her marriage to Sebastian shouldâve catapulted the Allen Corporation to new heights. She was supposed to be their golden ticket, but she had turned her back on them.Why must the Allen Corporation suffer by remaining where it was before and even after her marriage to the richest man in Melbourne?Wouldn't that be a shame?Wouldn't their enemies make a mockery and caricature of them?The room fell silent, the weight of Florenceâs disappointment crushing them all.This feels more like a battleground than a family meeting.The Allens had gathered for this meeting
Sebastian set his coffee down, his mind already racing with this bright new idea.Why not build her an event management company? Her own brand, her own rules.He could see it now⊠the vision.Kourtneyâs very own empire, built from the ground up, with her name in lights. The thought sent a thrill through him, his possessive instincts flaring. He was a man of action, and once an idea took root, he didnât wait.âJamie!â he called, his deep voice cutting through the silence of his office.Jamie, always ready and waiting for his next task quickly came through the door, tablet in hand. âYes, sir?ââGet me the contact for that real estate guy, the one who found the downtown estate last month. I need a prime location for a new business venture. And call my lawyer, tell him to start drafting papers for a company under my wifeâs name,â Sebastianâs tone was all business, but his eyes gleamed with excitement.This was going to be the ultimate surprise, a gift to show Kourtney how much he believed
Mrs. Langley leaned forward, her smile almost too bright. âWe also had a special fruit platter brought in today. Would you like some, My Dear?ââAnd the pastries!â added Mr. Hargrove, pointing to a spread of croissants and Danishes. âFresh from that bakery you like⊠Le Paris, right?âKourtneyâs jaw nearly dropped.How do they know her favorite bakery?âThatâs⊠Thatâs⊠so thoughtful. Thank you.â Mr. Thompson adjusted his glasses, beaming. âWe also had the roomâs air freshened just for you. Lavender, I believe, is your scent?âKourtneyâs cheeks burned hotter.Okay, this is next-level.Theyâre falling over themselves to impress her. And itâs all because of Sebastian.Even Mr. Carter, the usually stoic marketing director, kept smiling at her, almost showing all 36 of his teeth. He stared at her like she was the Queen of England.It was laughable.Mr. Hargrove cleared his throat, drawing back her attention. âKourt⊠Uhm⊠Mrs Woods. If I may⊠we called you here for a reason. Your work on th