๋ก๊ทธ์ธโWhere am I?!โ She was clearly shaken from her nightmare. โStop moving,โ he said, his voice low, controlled. โYouโll only make it worse.โ โDonโt tell me what to do,โ she snapped, trying to pull away from him only to wince as the movement sent pain through her body. His hand closed around her wrist, โI said stop.โ Her eyes lifted to his and that was when she realized how close he was. Her breath caught as she became aware of everything at once his hand still wrapped around her wrist, his body too close, his eyes fixed on hers like he wasnโt looking away anytime soon. โLet go of me,โ she said quietly, her voice firm despite the slight tremble in it. He held her for a second longer then slowly let go, his gaze never leaving hers. โI donโt want to stay here.โ Zara pushed herself up from the bed, ignoring the protest from her body. The moment her feet touched the ground, pain shot through her but she didnโt stop. Sebastian moved immediately, his hand caught her arm, steady
He opened the passenger door with one hand, the other still holding her against him. For a brief second, he paused because he needed to make sure she was steady before letting go. Zara didnโt look at him, she kept mute that alone unsettled him more than the fight did. Slowly, he lowered her into the seat, guiding her in with controlled precision, his hand lingering at her waist just a second longer than necessary before pulling away. She sank into the leather not acting like the same girl who argued with him hours ago. This one kept her distance and he didnโt like it. He leaned in, pulling the seatbelt across her body. The space between them disappeared instantly. His arm brushed lightly against her chest as the belt clicked into place, his face only inches from hers. Their eyes met, Zaraโs gaze wasnโt sharp like usual. It wasnโt challenging and distant. Like she had already stepped away from something he hadnโt even realized he was holding onto. โYou donโt have to take m
The crowd wasnโt on Zaraโs side not even for a second. Hands held her down while Tessa stood free in front of her, breathing hard, eyes burning with something ugly. โHold her properly,โ Tessa snapped, fixing her dress like nothing had happened. โIf she doesnโt know her place, Iโll remind her.โ Zara struggled, anger and humiliation crashing into each other inside her chest. โLet me go!โ she snapped, trying to break free but no one listened because Tessa wasnโt just anyone and Zara, she wasnโt important enough. The first slap landed hard. Her head turned with it, a sharp sting spreading across her cheek as her breath caught for a second. A few gasps, some murmured bt no one stepped in to help her. Sebastian wasnโt thinking anymore, he was driving like a man with something to lose. Red lights meant nothing at this point not even other car horns. All he could see was Zara and every possible version of what could be happening to her and none of them were good. He knew Tessa too w
Sebastian didnโt drive immediately. He sat there, hands still on the wheel. His jaw was tight, eyes unfocused. He was unsettled. โDamn it,โ he muttered under his breath. He shouldnโt have said that. He knew it the moment the words left his mouth, the way her voice changed, the way she didnโt turn back when he called her name. He had gone too far again. His grip tightened slightly as his mind replayed what happened with tessa. (flashback) Tessa walked into his office like she belonged there. โYouโve been busy,โ she had said, her tone laced with something deliberate. โOr is there someone else now?โ He didnโt look up immediately. โTessa, I donโt have time for this.โShe didnโt leave. Instead, she leaned against his desk, her posture was inappropriate, her presence intrusive. โWhat do you think of your new assistant because if it's left to me I don't like her,โ she continued, her lips curving slightly. โIs she capable, there would always be someone better you know?โ Sebastianโs
โDo you enjoy that kind of attention?โ The question came out of nowhere but it cut through the silence like it had been waiting. Zara turned slowly, her brows pulling together. โWhat?โ Sebastian didnโt look at her. His gaze remained fixed on the road, his voice steady. โThe way he was looking at you,โ he continued. โYou seemedโฆ comfortable.โ For a second, she just stared at him then disbelief settled in. โYouโre serious?โ โI donโt ask questions I donโt mean.โ Zara let out a short breath, shaking her head. โI was doing my job.โ โA job that requires you to entertain clients now?โ Her head snapped toward him. โThatโs not fair.โ โIsnโt it?โ โNo,โ she said firmly. โItโs not.โ Silence pressed in again, thicker this time, heavier. โYou donโt get to question my professionalism,โ she added, her voice steadier now. โNot after what just happened in there.โ โAnd what exactly do you think happened?โ he asked. Zaraโs jaw tightened. โYou saw it.โ โAnd yet,โ he replied smoothly, โyo
By the time Zara returned to her desk, she forced herself into routine. Anything that would keep her from thinking. Files were reviewed, corrections made, emails answered with precise efficiency. On the surface, everything was normal. But underneath her mind wasnโt. It was drifting repeatedly back to the image she didnโt want to dwell on and when the clock finally struck twelve, relief didnโt come tension did. She stood outside Sebastianโs office, steadying herself before knocking. The door opened before her hand touched it and someone stepped out. Tessa was adjusting her dress, composed as ever. Her lips curved the moment she saw Zara, her gaze slow, deliberate, almost mocking as she brushed past her, shoulder grazing hers just enough to be intentional. Zara froze for a second, her thoughts colliding all at once. He kissed me and sheโs leaving his office like that the next day?. Something in her chest tightened, sharp and unwelcome. She exhaled slowly. โGet over it,โ she mutt







