SEBASTIAN’S POV
The third day had finally come. I had been counting down, but the weight of it didn’t hit until the moment I opened my eyes.
There was a tension I couldn’t shake, an unease that had settled in my chest ever since Sasha was given those three days to decide. Her choice wasn’t just about her. It could shift everything in ways I wasn’t prepared to deal with.
I didn’t like leaving such an important decision out of my hands, but this was one of those moments where I had to let things play out. There was no forcing her to choose a path she didn’t want to walk down. Not with what I was offering-or rather, demanding.
I couldn’t afford to wait any longer. I called out to Roland. If there was anyone I trusted with delicate tasks, it was him.
Reliable, calm under pressure, and able to handle situations that could go sideways without warning. He’d known me long enough to understand how important this was without needing a long-winded explanation.
When he entered the room, I nodded at him, keeping it brief.
“Take a few of our men,” I instructed, my voice calm but firm. “Go to Sasha’s place. I want you to get her answer and report back to me immediately. Don’t leave without it.”
“Okay Boss, I’m on it now,” he said, and turn around to leave, but I stopped him.
“Give me a call once you have meet her, because I would be in the office,” I told him, while he nodded, and continued out of the bedroom.
There was no need for Roland to ask questions. He was already heading out of the room before I could stop him again and I believe he already knows what to do now.
It was a relief to have someone like him, someone who didn’t require constant hand-holding or oversight.
As he left, I felt a knot of tension tighten in my chest. Today wouldn’t be easy. I had a full schedule to deal with-meetings, briefings, things I normally handled with ease. But today, none of it felt like it mattered. My mind was too focused on Sasha. Her answer would dictate how I moved forward, and until I had it, nothing else held weight.
After dressing, I left the house and made my way to the office. The board meeting was already on their way by the time I arrived. The familiar sight of my board members gathered around the large conference table should have given me a sense of control, but today, it just felt like a distraction.
I settled into my seat at the head of the table, scanning the faces of the men and women who worked for me, each one expecting my usual sharp focus and leadership. Normally, I’d be fully engaged, ready to make decisions that would keep the business running smoothly. But today, I was only half there.
The agenda was already laid out. The topics for discussion included quarterly earnings, upcoming partnerships, and the usual analysis of risks and opportunities.
Normally, these were the things that commanded my attention. But today, I found myself staring past the spreadsheets and charts being passed around, my mind drifting back to Sasha.
What would she decide? Would she accept the terms? Or would she fight back, choose a different path? My gut told me that she was unpredictable, but I had a feeling she understood the gravity of her choice. Still, not knowing was driving me insane.
My phone buzzed in my jacket pocket. I knew it was Roland without even checking. The urge to grab the phone and answer was immediate, but the meeting was still going, and I couldn’t just leave. At least, not without drawing attention.
I slid my hand into my pocket and glanced at the screen. Roland’s name flashed across it. For a moment, I considered stepping out to take the call. I needed to know. But I hesitated. The board members were watching me, and the meeting was still underway. I couldn’t show that I was distracted, not like this.
The phone stopped buzzing, but the tension didn’t ease. My mind kept wandering back to that call, the potential news that could already be waiting for me. What had Roland found out? Was Sasha willing to accept the offer I had made? Or was there something else? Something I hadn’t anticipated?
My phone buzzed again. Another call from Roland. The pressure in my chest tightened as I resisted the impulse to answer. I was barely paying attention to the discussions happening around me.
The board members were speaking, going over our latest financial ventures, but it was like white noise. I couldn’t focus on any of it.
The phone buzzed once more. I saw one of the board members shift in his seat, throwing a glance in my direction. I could feel the tension rising in the room. They knew I wasn’t present, that my attention was elsewhere. It wouldn’t be long before they started asking questions.
Then it happened.
One of the older members, a man named Charles who had been with the organisation for years, cleared his throat. His voice was steady but edged with irritation.
“Sebastian, we’re all busy men here, but can we focus on the meeting? Perhaps you could turn off your phone.”
I looked up, meeting his gaze. There was a slight murmur of agreement from the others, subtle nods from a few of them. Normally, I would have cut the meeting short if I felt it wasn’t worth my time. But the board expected professionalism, even from someone like me.
My grip on the phone tightened for a second. I could feel the frustration rising, the desire to snap back at Charles, to remind him who ran this operation. But I knew better than to let them see my emotions get the better of me. I nodded slightly, slipping the phone into my pocket once more.
The phone fell silent, but the unanswered questions still weighed heavily on my mind. Whatever Roland had learned, I needed to know. Sasha’s decision wasn’t just a small matter, it was going to determine everything that came next. And until I had that information, nothing else was important.
The meeting continued, but my thoughts were miles away.