Chapter 24: Sooner or Later

 

The partition in the stretch Lincoln limousine slowly rose, sealing off the driver's cabin. The rear compartment became a private, silent world, smelling of leather and faint cologne.

As soon as the privacy glass clicked shut, Harper collapsed. She kicked off her crystal heels, slouching into the soft leather seat like a deflated balloon.

"I am dead," she groaned, rubbing her ankles. Gone was the fierce Queen who had just silenced a room full of elites. Now, she was just a tired girl with sore feet.

"Did you see Julian's face, Boss?" Harper grinned, her eyes sparkling. "It was darker than a burnt pot! And Elena looked like she swallowed a fly! That was amazing!"

She waved her hands excitedly, reliving the victory.

Sebastian leaned back, watching her. The cold, imperious mask he wore at the party melted away. "Hn," he hummed a soft agreement.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed. His hand, resting on his knee, clenched tight. His knuckles turned white.

Harper, who was in the middle of imitating Julian's shocked face, stopped mid-sentence. She noticed his hand. She noticed the sheen of cold sweat on his forehead.

"What's wrong?" Harper moved instantly. "Is it your legs?"

He had used his upper body strength to lift himself onto the piano bench earlier. It looked effortless to the crowd, but Harper knew the toll it took. For nerves that were just waking up, that kind of strain could trigger agonizing spasms.

"It's nothing," Sebastian gritted his teeth, his voice strained. "Just... a cramp."

It wasn't just a cramp. It felt like fire was tearing through his dormant muscles.

Without a second thought, Harper slid off the seat. She dropped to her knees on the plush car carpet. Her six-figure, custom-made "Starry Night" gown pooled around her on the floor, forgotten. She didn't care about the dress. She didn't care about the dirt.

"Don't," Sebastian gasped, trying to push her away. "The floor... your dress..."

"Forget the dress!" Harper placed her warm hands on his calf. Through the fabric of his suit trousers, she found the knotted muscle and began to massage. "Just breathe. I'll rub it out."

Her hands were strong and steady. She knew exactly where to press. The car was dim, illuminated only by the passing streetlights that sliced through the darkness. Harper was kneeling between his legs, her head bowed. Her long hair fell forward, veiling her face, leaving only the tip of her nose visible.

Sebastian looked down at her. He watched this woman—who moments ago was the envy of every socialite in the city—kneeling in the dark to tend to his broken body.

The pain in his legs began to fade, replaced by a different kind of ache. A heat that started in his chest and spread through his veins like wildfire.

"Is it better?" Harper looked up, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Her face was inches from his. He could see the concern in her clear, almond eyes. He could smell her scent—jasmine and rain—mixed with the faint, intoxicating aroma of champagne.

Sebastian’s throat went dry. His hand moved on its own. He reached out, his fingers grazing her cheek. His thumb brushed against her soft skin.

Harper froze. Her hands stopped moving on his leg. She held her breath, staring at him. His eyes were dark, intense, and filled with a hunger she had never seen before.

"Harper," his voice was low, rough, and dangerous. "Do you know how beautiful you looked tonight?"

Harper’s heart skipped a beat. She stammered, "It... it was the dress. Leo did a good job."

"No." Sebastian’s hand slid into her hair, cupping the back of her head. He guided her gently, inexorably closer. "It wasn't the dress. It was you." "You are most beautiful... when you are by my side."

The air in the car crackled with electricity. Harper felt her face burning. She should pull away. She was the employee; he was the boss. But she couldn't move. She didn't want to move.

Sebastian’s gaze dropped to her lips. They were parted slightly, a flush of red returning to them. An invitation.

He lowered his head slowly. Harper instinctively closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings. She felt his warm breath on her lips. Closer. Closer...

SCREECH.

The car jerked to a sudden halt. The momentum threw them slightly forward.

"Mr. Sterling, we have arrived at the Estate," the driver's voice crackled through the intercom.

The spell shattered. The bubble of intimacy popped.

Harper’s eyes snapped open. She gasped, scrambling backward like a startled rabbit. She fell back onto the carpet in a heap of blue velvet.

"We... we're here!" She scrambled to her feet, grabbing her heels. Her face was bright red. "I... I'll get out first! I'll go get your slippers!"

She threw the door open and fled into the night, running barefoot toward the mansion without looking back.

Sebastian sat alone in the back of the car. He watched her blue figure disappear into the house. He raised a hand, his fingers tracing his own lips, where he could still feel the phantom warmth of her breath.

He let out a low chuckle. It sounded frustrated, but also undeniable.

"Run all you want, Happy Puppy," he whispered into the dark. "Sooner or later, you're mine."

---

[The Sleepless Night]

That night, Harper couldn't sleep. She buried her face in her pillow, kicking her legs. Almost. We almost kissed! If the driver hadn't stopped...

"AAHHH!" She screamed into the pillow. He is the Boss! He is the Golden Cat! I can't have feelings for the Boss! ...But he is so handsome.

Across the hall, Sebastian wasn't sleeping either. He was in the home gym. It was 3:00 AM. He had taken off his shirt. Sweat slicked his muscular back.

He was on the parallel bars, doing dips. It was the most grueling exercise for him. Every time he lowered his body and pushed back up, he had to drag the dead weight of his legs. The nerves screamed in protest.

But he didn't stop. "Ninety-eight..." "Ninety-nine..." "One hundred."

He collapsed onto the yoga mat, gasping for air. His body trembled with exhaustion, but his eyes burned with a new fire.

He grabbed his phone and dialed.

"Hello?" A groggy voice answered. "Sebastian? It's 3 AM. Are you dying?"

"Ryan," Sebastian’s voice was hoarse but steady. "I want to double the rehabilitation intensity."

"What?!" Ryan (Dr. Mo Hai) woke up instantly. "You're crazy. Your body can't take it. Patience is key."

"I can't wait anymore," Sebastian stared at the ceiling. He pictured Harper in the rain. He pictured Harper kneeling in the car. He pictured her in that blue dress, standing behind his wheelchair.

"I want to stand up, Ryan." "Next time she wears a dress like that..." "I want to be standing when I hold her."