“Kill us, more like,” Charlie whispers under his breath, but Felicia still pushes Sebastian into me.
“Come on, baby,” she tells him.
“I think it’s a good idea.” Olivia nods. “This way, they’ll back off.”
Before I can protest any more, Sebastian grabs my palm and pulls me onto the dance floor, with everyone once again staring and murmuring to each other.
Despite wanting to be anywhere but here, I no longer can refuse the offer. The minute I step away from Sebastian, it will start rumors that I’m not over my ex, and God knows what else.
I really hope Zachary will understand my impossible situation.
Although it’s a useless hope with how much fury crosses his face anytime the subject of my ex-husband comes up. The man is very possessive of me, and to my frustration, it thrills certain parts of me.
Charlie jogs to the band, and in a second, they all nod as the slow beat of jazz filters through the speakers. Sebastian places his hand on my waist as he hugs us closer yet still keeps a small distance between us.
Our other hands lock as I put mine inside his, and we slowly start to dance, our movements probably rigid and stiff from the tension filling the air.
“I’m sorry about this,” Sebastian says, looking above my shoulder while I exhale heavily.
Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be in such a situation, yet here we are. “It’s not your fault. Besides, Felicia is right. Hopefully, this will stop all the nonsense the press has been saying.”
He chuckles. “You’ve read those too? How we keep it in the family, King style.”
“Yes, it’s stupid. And not true anyway.”
“I’m sorry if I upset you when I came to the bar.” His fingers dig into my waist as we take a turn and sway. “It wasn’t my intention.”
“Sebastian, it’s really okay. We don’t have to talk.” In fact, I would prefer it this way, so we won’t disturb old wounds.
He squeezes my palm and glances down at me, his blue eyes filled with remorse and guilt. The eyes that used to brighten up whenever I entered the room, and isn’t it funny how everything changes with love?
A person you can’t live without becomes the one you can’t imagine living with anymore.
And the person you hated the most becomes vitally important to you and the only protection you have in this world.
“I should have listened to you. I should have been on your side. I’m sorry I wasn’t.” His voice turns husky and he clears it. “If nothing else, please believe I’m deeply sorry.”
A sad smile spreads on my mouth. “We’ve known each other for more than ten years, Sebastian. Say the truth. It won’t hurt me.” Doesn’t he remember I always know when he’s lying?
He tenses and takes a deep breath. “It’s not a lie. I’m sorry for what you had to go through.”
“But you are not sorry you haven’t stayed by my side. Because you met Felicia.” He freezes, stumbling a little, but we quickly resume our dance. “That’s why you feel so guilty. I didn’t understand it before, but I do now. You don’t have to apologize for loving her,” I finally say, oddly finding freedom in these words, and some of the pressure from my chest disappears, forever locking the door that has been closed for years.
But with this, I put a seal on it that nothing will be able to break. Our relationship has become nothing but a fleeting, beautiful memory that has a bittersweet feeling to it.
“Do you really love Zachary?” he asks, since he can’t argue my earlier statement, but before I can answer, he continues, “I was so angry he was there. I thought he wanted to torment you. He was even acting all territorial, but it turns out I was wrong. You guys are actually together. I’d never have thought that.” He pushes me away, holding my hand, and twirls me on the parquet before catching me in his arms again. “I hope you will be happy with him. You deserve it.”
“We both deserve to be happy without shadows of the past hanging over our heads.” I pat his shoulder. “We were just not meant to be, but I’m thankful for everything, Sebastian.”
Even for not reading my letter, because this man would have been crushed with guilt if he had known about our baby.
I don’t wish such pain on anyone, least of all Sebastian.
I think that maybe this closure will be one of the stepping-stones to my future where the past will no longer haunt me.
And maybe there is hope for a brighter future that includes a man like Zachary.
Even if the idea scares me to death.
Chapter Twenty
“They say the greatest love comes when you least expect it, and it’s true.
When we run around chasing it, it never slows down long enough for us to catch it.
The minute we let go though, love jumps on you, trapping you in its net with no way of escape.
The same analogy works with pain too.
The agonizing pain that rips you in two comes when you least expect it.
And in such, it delivers a strong blow that not everyone can withstand.”
Phoenix
Zachary
The wooden clock on the office’s wall ticks loudly in the stretched silence as my father and I sit opposite each other, separated by the massive oak desk.
Holding a glass of whiskey in my hand, I rub it against my cheek while I study the environment around me, wondering if it has always been so… grim and dark.
The walls are painted in white and brown with photos hanging on them, showcasing Dad with his loved ones in different stages of his life.
Some of them are with my mom, with me as a kid, his other family, and finally an endless row of him and Emmaline where they both laugh happily into the camera.
It has always astonished me with how easily Dad accepted his granddaughter and never asked me any questions about it, although he probably had plenty.
As a kid, I loved to sneak in here and hide under his desk while he had various business calls, studying him in those moments in awe, because he seemed so powerful then.
With a single order, he closed deals, fired or hired people, and continued to expand his empire that a little boy like me couldn’t help but want to emulate when he grew up.
After my room, his office had been one of my favorite places to hang out and feel closer to Dad, listening to his every word of advice while dreaming of becoming like him some day and owning the same office.
Funny how our perspective changes as we grow up.
Now, this place is the one I avoid like the plague, because it no longer holds any special meaning for me.
Dad picks up the pen from the desk and twists it between his fingers back and forth, and with another tick-tock, I’ve finally had enough of this shit.
My good-mannered respect for the old man lasts only for so long. “What was so urgent that you had to talk to me?” I ask, and his eyes raise to me, still fucking unreadable. “Because if all we’re going to do is sit and twiddle our thumbs, I’m going to go back to my fiancée.” I stand up, ready to bolt from here, and I wish I could say it’s only because of Phoenix.
But the truth is?
I have no idea how to stay in my dad’s company long enough to not throw an insult his way, and I fucking hate it. A man my age shouldn’t be so hung up on the past that he continues to lash out like a teenager who lacks attention.