Chapter Five

Celeste

The second day was worse.

Not because I didn’t know where the office pantry was or because I was scared of getting lost. No. It was because he was here. Somewhere in this building. And any second now, I could run into him.

Sebastian Williams.

I tightened my grip on the clipboard pressed to my chest, my palms already damp with sweat. My heartbeat was too fast, like I’d just sprinted up the stairs instead of waiting quietly with a handful of employees by the elevator.

They were chatting casually—work gossip, weekend plans, random jokes. None of which included me. I didn’t have friends here yet, and I didn’t mind. It was easier this way, staying invisible.

I stared at the glowing elevator numbers, silently counting down. One more floor. Almost here.

And then—

The air shifted.

It was subtle, but I felt it. The way the employees around me straightened their postures, how their voices faltered mid-sentence. A ripple of whispers passed like a current through the hallway.

I turned my head—and froze.

Sebastian.

He strode into view like he owned the entire building—sharp suit, crisp tie, dark hair perfectly falling across his forehead as if he’d stepped straight out of a magazine cover. Beside him were two men, both equally striking but different.

Nicolas, if I remembered right, had that easy, slightly crooked smile and warm brown eyes—effortlessly charming and quick to joke, like he didn’t take anything too seriously. Tristan, on the other hand, was more guarded. Dark hair, sharp features, cool blue eyes. There was something deliberate about him, like he measured his words before letting them out.

The hallway buzzed with excitement.

“He’s so unfairly hot,” someone murmured behind me, not even trying to whisper.

“Ugh, I can’t deal when he wears suits like that.”

“Focus, Emily. He’s literally walking this way.”

“Fine, but look at those two with him. Cousins? That should be illegal.”

I rolled my eyes inwardly and shifted my weight, pretending not to care. Because I didn’t care. Not anymore.

The elevator dinged. The doors slid open. Everyone instinctively stepped aside, making way for the king and his entourage.

Sebastian was about to enter when his gaze flicked to me. Just for a second.

Cold. Sharp.

But then, without warning, he spoke.

“Miss Shawn.”

I blinked. Did he just—?

“Come with us.” His tone was smooth but commanding, leaving no room for argument.

It took me a full second to realize what he meant. The executive elevator.

He was letting me ride with them.

The silence that followed was deafening.

“What—” I stammered, but he cut me off with a look.

“Don’t make me say it twice,” he said flatly, stepping aside just enough for me to enter.

The silence that followed was immediate.

I could feel the stares at my back like lasers.

“Wait… did he just call her by name?” someone whispered.

“She’s the new secretary, right?”

“Yeah, but since when does he talk to them like that?”

“Or let them ride the executive elevator?”

“I’ve worked here three years. That’s never happened.”

Even Nicolas looked amused. “Well, that’s new,” he muttered under his breath, eyes flicking between me and Sebastian. “Didn’t know you started sharing your elevator.”

Tristan smirked. “Since when are you this generous, cousin?”

I wanted the elevator to swallow me whole.

Sebastian said nothing, just stood there, waiting.

So I swallowed my nerves and stepped inside, feeling every single pair of eyes on me as the doors slid shut.

The moment the doors slid shut, silence filled the space.

The kind that made your breathing feel too loud.

I kept my eyes on the elevator panel, watching the numbers tick upward, pretending I wasn’t standing in a private elevator with the CEO and his ridiculously attractive cousins.

Nicolas leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, his smirk never quite leaving his face. “So…” he said slowly, dragging out the word like it was meant to cause trouble. “Is this the part where we ask why your secretary is riding with us?”

Sebastian didn’t flinch. “No.”

“Well, that clears it up,” Tristan muttered, suppressing a chuckle. “You’re in rare form today.”

I felt Nicolas glance at me again. “Don’t worry,” he said, voice low and teasing. “He’s not usually this... inviting.”

I gave a polite, almost robotic smile.

Sebastian said nothing, eyes fixed ahead, jaw set like he was thinking of a thousand things that had nothing to do with us. But there was a tension in his posture—shoulders taut, arms stiff at his sides. He wasn’t relaxed. Not even close.

And I hated that my body recognized that version of him.

Ding.

The elevator slowed. We were close.

Sebastian finally spoke, his tone low and direct.

“Bring me coffee in ten.”

There was a pause. Not long. Just enough for tension to thicken.

Then he added, without looking at me—

“The same one you brought yesterday. Don’t change anything.”

The way he said it — firm, unapologetic — sent a strange flutter down my spine.

Not a coffee.

That coffee.

The silence stretched just long enough for Nicolas to smirk. “Specific,” he muttered.

Tristan chuckled quietly. “Didn’t know you were particular about coffee.”

Sebastian didn’t answer. The elevator doors slid open, and he walked out like nothing happened.

I followed a beat later, pulse oddly out of sync.

Okay. That was... something.

—

The coffee machine whirred to life, its low hum filling the otherwise quiet pantry. I focused on the task in front of me—two shots, no sugar, just like he wanted. The scent of dark roast filled the air, grounding me.

“You’re brave,” a voice piped up behind me, soft and teasing.

I turned slightly. A woman stood by the counter, maybe around my age, dressed in a smart beige blouse and high-waisted trousers. She had a lanyard around her neck and a genuine, easy smile that didn’t feel like it had a hidden agenda.

“I’m Ava,” she said, reaching for a mug from the shelf. “Comms team. Been around for… three years? Four? Who knows anymore.”

I offered a small smile. “Celeste. Secretary… obviously.”

She laughed lightly. “Yeah, I figured when I saw you walk into the executive elevator this morning.” Her tone wasn’t judging—just amused. “You really caught some eyes with that move.”

I blinked. “Oh. Was that… not allowed?”

“Oh, it’s allowed,” she said quickly. “It’s just… unheard of. Mr. Williams doesn’t exactly take the elevator with anyone. Not even us ‘senior staff,’ and we’ve known him for years.”

I didn’t know what to say to that.

Ava tilted her head, watching the espresso drip steadily into the cup. “You know, I’ve seen him snap at people for the smallest things. One time, someone handed him coffee with one sugar packet in it, and he didn’t even take a sip—just tossed it and walked away.”

My eyebrows lifted. “Seriously?”

“Oh yeah,” she nodded. “But today? He asks you to make him coffee—and not just ‘get me one from the café downstairs,’ no. Like, your coffee. That’s new.”

I didn’t respond right away, but something must’ve shown on my face, because Ava softened.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’m not here to start rumors or anything. Just… noticing things.”

“I don’t think there’s anything to notice,” I replied, careful. “He’s just… particular.”

She grinned. “Aren’t all billionaires?”

I let out a quiet laugh, the tension in my shoulders easing just a bit. Ava had that effect—it was like she knew exactly how to balance curiosity with kindness.

“Well,” she said, backing toward the door with her mug in hand, “whatever you're doing, it’s working. Just be careful. The walls here? They love to listen.”

And with that, she winked and disappeared down the hall.

—-

I knocked twice before gently pushing the door open.

Sebastian didn’t look up. His gaze stayed locked on the screen in front of him, one hand on the mouse, the other tapping a pen rhythmically against a folder.

I stepped in carefully, holding the mug with both hands.

“Your coffee, sir,” I said, placing it on the corner of his desk.

Nothing. No nod, no glance. Just the faint clicking of his mouse.

Typical.

I turned, ready to leave—but a voice piped up behind me.

“Well, look who made it past day one,” Nicolas drawled.

I paused, turning just enough to see him sprawled casually on the couch, one arm slung over the backrest. Tristan sat beside him, his posture straighter, more observant.

“Still standing,” I replied.

“Barely,” he grinned. “I thought you’d flee after your HR debut. Violet can be… memorable.”

I managed a small smile. “She was.”

Sebastian still hadn’t said a word.

Nicolas stretched slightly. “Didn’t think we’d run into you again so soon.”

Sebastian’s voice cut through. “Again?”

Nicolas glanced over, brows raised. “Yeah. We’ve technically met, remember? Outside HR. Walk-in day.”

Sebastian’s eyes flicked to me, and for a moment, I felt the weight of his gaze. “You didn’t mention that.”

I kept my voice steady. “Didn’t think it was relevant.”

“Huh.” Sebastian leaned back slightly, unreadable. “Interesting.”

“Relax,” Nicolas said lightly. “We barely spoke. She looked like she was about to sprint out the door. I was being polite.”

Tristan muttered under his breath, “Your version of polite needs work.”

“Come on,” Nicolas said, smirking at him, then at me. “Besides, I figured if she survived the infamous Violet Yu, she deserved a medal. Or at least coffee privileges.”

Sebastian’s jaw tightened—but he said nothing.

Nicolas’s grin widened, clearly amused. “Don’t look at me like that, cousin. You’re the one who hired her.”

I cleared my throat, glancing at Sebastian. “If there’s nothing else, sir…”

He hesitated.

Then, “Go ahead.”

I turned toward the door, keeping my expression neutral.

But just as I was closing the door behind me, I heard Nicolas mutter, deliberately low.

“Tell me that wasn’t jealousy.”

Then, Tristan—dry and unbothered—added, “It was.”

My heart skipped.