SASHA’S POV
Sebastian had been unusually attentive since the party, a mixture of guilt and charm coating his every interaction.
It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate it, but every time his arms found their way around me, or his lips grazed my temple, the knot of unease tightened in my chest. Was I imagining things?
Or was I deliberately brushing aside the cracks in favour of the man who seemed intent on making everything perfect between us again?
This morning was no exception. Sebastian leaned casually against the kitchen counter, sipping his coffee and watching me with that devil-may-care smirk that both infuriated and enchanted me.
The sunlight streaming through the windows lit up his tousled dark hair, making him look more relaxed than I felt.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I said, focusing on the screen of my laptop in front of me. “We’re supposed to be working on my business today, remember?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he took another sip, his eyes never leaving me. When he finally spoke, his voice carried that teasing edge I both dreaded and loved.
“You’re cute when you’re jealous, you know.”
My head snapped up. “Jealous?”
He shrugged, completely unbothered. “Last night. At the party. The way you looked at me and then at her… adorable.”
I felt my cheeks heat instantly. “I wasn’t jealous,” I protested, a little too quickly. “I was-curious, that’s all. It’s not every day you see your husband talking to a mystery woman who seems awfully invested in him.”
Sebastian’s grin widened. “Curious, huh? You mean to tell me that wasn’t jealousy? Not even a little bit?”
“Drop it, Sebastian,” I said, attempting to sound firm.
“We have more important things to focus on, like my online store. Remember? You promised you’d help me figure out the supplier logistics today.”
But Sebastian wasn’t biting. He set his coffee down and took a step toward me, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
“I’ll drop it,” he said, his voice softening in a way that made me instantly suspicious.
“But only after we clear the air. You’ve been tiptoeing around me since the party, Sasha. So, let’s talk about it.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I lied, turning back to my laptop.
Sebastian crouched beside me, his hand gently tilting my chin so I couldn’t avoid his gaze. “No more running,” he said. “You want to know about her? Fine. Let’s talk.”
I hesitated, feeling trapped but also desperate for answers. “Okay. Talk.”
He straightened, leaning back against the counter again. “Her name is Vanessa,” he began. “She’s my business partner
or at least she was when I started out.”
“Back then, I didn’t have much of a choice. She had the resources I needed to get off the ground, and she was willing to invest. But there were strings attached.”
I blinked, my heart sinking. “What kind of strings?”
Sebastian’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, he looked like he regretted bringing it up. But then he sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“Vanessa wasn’t just looking for a business arrangement,” he admitted. “She wanted… more. And I gave it to her.”
I stared at him, my stomach churning. “You slept with her?”
“Yes,” he said, his voice steady but tinged with something that might have been guilt.
“It wasn’t personal, Sasha. It was a means to an end. She wanted control, and I needed her partnership. It was a transaction, plain and simple.”
“Plain and simple?” I repeated, my voice rising. “Sebastian, how could you do that? How could you not tell me?”
He stepped forward, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. “Because it’s over,” he said firmly.
“It’s been over for years. Vanessa and I don’t have that kind of relationship anymore, I swear. She’s strictly business now.”
I shook my head, trying to process everything. “But at the party, she seemed angry. Upset. Are you sure it’s over for her?”
Sebastian exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Vanessa doesn’t like losing control, Sasha. She’s used to getting her way, and seeing me with you probably bruised her ego. But that’s her problem, not mine.”
I looked at him, searching his face for any hint of deception. “So, what happens now? If she pulls out of the business because of me”
“She won’t,” Sebastian interrupted, his voice firm. “And even if she did, it wouldn’t matter. My business is stronger now than it’s ever been. I don’t need her anymore.”
I wanted to believe him. I really did. But a part of me couldn’t shake the lingering doubt. “Is there anything else, Sebastian?” I asked quietly. “Anything else you haven’t told me?”
He stepped closer, his hands gently cupping my face. “No more secrets,” he said, his voice low and earnest. “You know everything now, Sasha. I promise.”
I wanted to trust him. I wanted to believe that this was the end of the secrets and the lies. But as I looked into his eyes, a tiny voice in the back of my mind whispered that promises were just words.
For now, though, I chose to silence that voice.
“Okay,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Sebastian leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “Okay,” he echoed.
But deep down, I knew this wasn’t over.
The morning sun poured through the windows, casting golden light across the kitchen as I sipped my coffee.
Sasha was hunched over her laptop at the kitchen island, her face a mask of concentration. I couldn’t help but smirk.
She had a way of furrowing her brows when she was deep in thought, a habit I found endlessly endearing.
She caught me staring and arched an eyebrow. “What?”
I leaned casually against the counter, swirling my coffee mug. “You’re cute when you’re jealous.”
Her head snapped up, her eyes narrowing. “Jealous? I’m not jealous.”
“Really?” I drawled, dragging out the word. “Because last night at the party, the way you looked at Vanessa…” I let the sentence hang, watching her reaction.
Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly turned back to her laptop. “You’re imagining things,” she muttered. “I wasn’t jealous. I was curious, that’s all.”
“Curious, huh?” I set my coffee down and moved closer. “Come on, Sasha. Admit it. You were jealous. Not that I blame you. Vanessa can be… intense.”