Chapter Seventy-Two

Celeste

When we were a few blocks away from the office, I shifted slightly in my seat and glanced at Sebastian.

“Hey,” I said softly. “Could you drop me off here instead? Just… not right in front of the building.”

His brows lifted slightly. “Why?”

I hesitated. “You know why.”

Realization flickered in his eyes, followed quickly by something unreadable. He pulled over without another word, easing the car to a quiet stop near a café across the street from the building.

“Right,” he muttered, like he was reminding himself. “We’re not… supposed to be seen together.”

I hated how that sounded.

I reached for the door handle, pausing when he spoke again.

“I’ll see you inside.”

I met his eyes, gave a small nod. “I will.”

I stepped out, shut the door gently behind me, and didn’t look back as I started walking toward the building. Every step felt deliberate. Like I was walking away from something I wasn’t even allowed to hold.

By the time I reached the lobby, I’d fixed my expression in