6

“Yes, it was Sebastian. He just wanted to ask how Tiffany was.” I hummed as I just stared at the phone in my hand. It was like the last few minutes were unreal.

“Are you going to tell me how you met Sebastian Warners, or do you want me to beg?” Dorothy joked, forming a serious expression and crossing her arms over her chest.

“Um, I don’t know. Maybe I want you to beg.” I smirked, checking my nails, and she rolled her eyes.

“You wish,” she scoffed, and I giggled. “Do you seriously not know who he is?”

“Not really; maybe I’ve heard of him before, but I don’t think so. It’s not like he’s important.” I shrugged, and she facepalmed.

“Sometimes I swear you’re living at the bottom of the ocean. How can you not know Sebastian Warners?” She scolded me, shaking her head like a disappointed mother.

“You know I can’t keep up with all these kinds of stuff. It’s too confusing. I only follow those that concern me.” I lied, wearing an innocent smile.

It wasn’t too confusing. I just didn’t follow the lives of the rich because I didn’t want anything to do with them, nor did I care. The taste of luxury I had once had before wasn’t as delicious as most thought it was, so I wanted nothing to do with it. At least unless it was relating to my business, like how I knew Bianca.

“And don’t point fingers at me. You’re just as bad.”

“I’m indifferent; you’re ignorant. I know some stuff, but I don’t care. You don’t know anything, and you don’t care.” She scoffed, puffing her chest like they were about to give her a one-of-a-kind award or something. “But honestly, I still can’t believe you didn’t know who he was. We literally searched for info and stalked his sister’s socials a few days ago. Sebastian Warners is a man literally everybody knows; that’s how important he is.”

‘Dorothy isn’t always dramatic, but I swear when she is, she’s always extra.’ I thought and rolled my eyes.

“What’s so special about him anyway?” I huffed as I leaned against the arm of the chair. “He’s just a rich man. Why should I care?”

“Why should you care?” Dorothy gawked at me like I had suddenly run mad. “Sebastian Warners is literally thousands of women’s ideal type. There’s a reason he’s one of the most desired bachelors in the entire country. He’s bastard rich, literally breathes money just like anyone in his family; obviously, you’ve seen that he’s really hot; he’s a philanthropist, and those that have met him said he’s a sweetheart. His nickname is literally the people’s favourite billionaire.”

“That’s really surprising. I didn’t expect him to be like that.” I confessed, running my fingers across the worn-out fabric of the couch.

‘Is that why he was helping me? Because he saw me as a philanthropic case. It would make a lot of sense if it was because of that.’

“Do you want something to eat?” She asked as she stood up and picked up her empty soda can.

“What do we have?” I stretched out my hand to her and grabbed it.

“Just some pockets of instant noodles and some eggs.” She replied as she pulled me up. “We really need to go grocery shopping.”

“I know. I’ll go tomorrow. We’re supposed to be awarded for the highest consumption of ramen noodles this year.” I joked as we walked to the small, dingy kitchen.

It wasn’t as funny as I tried to make it seem. With Tiffany’s medical bills that seemed to increase every time we breathed, we could only afford the bare minimum. Eating good food was a luxury we indulged in once in a while because every cent we earned went to her medication, surgery, and diet. Though I tried to convince Dorothy to spend her money on just herself, she always gave everything she had when I needed it.

“So how did you get entangled with Sebastian Warners?” She asked as she pulled out some packets of noodles and two eggs from the cupboard.

“I accidentally bumped into him at Bianca’s house; I apologised, and before I could leave, your call came in. He offered to take me to the hospital; I disagreed but later agreed, and that’s what brings us here.” I shrugged, picking a small pot from the cupboard and pouring water into it from the tap.

I couldn’t tell her he thought he recognised me; I didn’t want to stir up any curiosity. Dorothy had been my friend for almost five years, but I couldn’t tell her my ugly past.

“And now he’s saying if I need any help, I should call him. Isn’t that strange?”

“How is it strange? Sebastian is a philanthrope. He’s used to helping people and stuff.” Dorothy pointed out as she put it on the lit stove.

“But isn’t it kind of weird? I mean, he literally offered to help the next second after we met, and now he’s saying if we need any help, I should call him.”

“He said that?” She raised her brows.

“Yes! Just now on the call, he said anything at all,” I replied, throwing my hands in the air. “It’s really strange. Why is he suddenly helping a random woman he just met?”

Dorothy said at me in silence, as if ruminating on my words. She probably found it just as strange as I was. Philanthropist or not, no one offers such help to a person like that. It was weird.

“No, it isn’t strange.” She shrugged, opening the boiling pot.

“Are you serious? You can’t tell me there’s nothing strange about that.” I gaped at her. I thought she would be on my side.

“No, there’s nothing strange about it. Sebastian has a good heart. He saw someone in distress and offered to help. Sounds very reasonable.” She replied as she tore open a pack of ramen and dropped it into the boiling water.

“Why would anyone help a complete stranger?” I argued as I took another packet and food, as she had done.

“When I helped you almost five years ago, weren’t you a stranger?” She eyed me as she put the last noodle in the pot and shut it.

“W-well, it… I-it’s different.” I stumbled on my words.

“How so?” She replied, tossing the trash in the waste bin.

“Well, you are… you were… he is…”

Rich. Sebastian wasn’t just rich but extremely wealthy, just like my former parents and Bruno, and everything they did was for their own selfish benefits. Not just them but their friends and closed circles. If it wasn’t going to profit them, then they weren’t interested. Who was to say Sebastian wasn’t like that too? He could be nice and sweet to everyone because he had an ulterior motive.

“See. You have nothing to say.” Dorothy gloated, crossing her arms over her chest. “I saw you when you had nothing, and I helped. It’s the same way he’s seeing you and wants to help. Go easy on the man, ok? It’s not creepy until he does something creepy.”

“Fine, I’ll try,” I huffed, kicking at nothing. I couldn’t keep the matter going; otherwise, I would spill the real reason, and it would only lead to more lectures. “But when I prove me right, don’t be surprised.”

“I won’t because I’m sure it will never happen. Who knows, the two of you might become good friends.” She laughed, and I scowled.

“Not happening. There’s nothing that’s going to bring us together except maybe Bianca, and I’m not going to accept any help from him. Today is the last time he would help me.”

“Sure, whatever you say.” She mocked and opened the pot, letting the aroma of plain noodles float through the kitchen. “About Bianca, do you have any clothes designs in mind?”

“Of course, I have a lot…”