SEBASTIAN’S POV
He hesitated before slowly rising to his feet. “Thank you, sir. And again, I’m truly sorry. I’ll do whatever I can to help you fix this.”
I nodded, though the trouble in my heart didn’t ease. “I appreciate that. But right now, I don’t know if this can be fixed. Sasha didn’t just leave the house, Roland. She left me.”
The words were a painful truth I couldn’t ignore.
I turned away, my gaze drifting toward the large windows overlooking the city skyline.
The urban sprawl twinkled in the distance, a cruel reminder that the world kept moving forward while my own life fell apart.
“I don’t even know where to start,” I admitted quietly.
“How do I reach someone who’s already decided to walk away? How do I show her I’m still the man she fell in love with when all she sees are my mistakes?”
Roland stepped closer, his voice steady. “You’re Sebastian. You’ve never backed down from a challenge in your life. If anyone can fix this, it’s you.”
A bitter laugh escaped me. “This isn’t a business deal, Roland. I can’t negotiate my way out of this. Sasha doesn’t need my money or my power, she needs my trust, my understanding. And I’ve failed her on both counts.”
“You haven’t failed her,” he said firmly. “You’ve made mistakes, yes, but you’re willing to fight for her. That counts for something.”
I turned to face him, determination hardening my features. “You’re right. I can’t afford to sit here wallowing in self-pity. I need to figure out how to make this right.”
Roland nodded. “Whatever you need, sir, I’m here to help. We’ll find a way to bring her back.”
My jaw tightened as I nodded in agreement. I didn’t know how I would fix this, but one thing was certain
I wasn’t going to give up on Sasha.
Even if it meant confronting the ghosts of her past, even if it meant laying my vulnerabilities bare, I would do whatever it took to win her back.
For now, the path ahead was uncertain, and the weight of that uncertainty was a heavy burden. But I had faced impossible odds before, and I wasn’t about to let this defeat me.
ROLAND’S POV
I couldn’t help the satisfaction curling in my chest when I heard Sasha had left Sebastian.
But I made sure it didn’t show. Standing in Sebastian’s cold, steel-accented office, I kept my expression neutral as he paced by the fireplace, his movements sharp and restless.
Vulnerability wasn’t something Sebastian showed often, and seeing him even slightly disarmed was a victory I hadn’t expected to savor so thoroughly.
“I appreciate you letting me know,” I said, my tone smooth and practiced, hands clasped behind my back.
I kept my gaze steady, offering the kind of detached professionalism Sebastian demanded. “Is there anything I can do for you? Perhaps assist with sorting out whatever might be-”
“No.” His response was curt, cutting me off mid-sentence. He stopped pacing and turned to face me, his dark eyes sharp with determination.
“There’s nothing anyone else can do. I’ll get Sasha back myself.”
I inclined my head, schooling my features into a mask of respect. “Of course. If there’s anything-”
“There won’t be.” The dismissal in his tone was final, and with a flick of his hand, he turned back toward the fireplace, effectively ending the conversation.
For a moment, I hesitated, but only long enough to bow my head slightly before heading for the door.
Each step I took was measured, deliberate, hiding the tension coiling in my chest. The moment I was out of his sight, I allowed myself the smallest smirk.
Sebastian’s relationship with Sasha had always been his weak point, a crack in his otherwise impenetrable armor.
Now that it was crumbling, I couldn’t help but feel as though an opportunity I’d long been waiting for was finally within reach.
I was almost at the door when his voice cut through the air behind me.
“Roland.”
I stopped in my tracks, hand hovering above the doorknob. Slowly, I turned, masking my irritation with polite attentiveness. “Yes?”
Sebastian’s gaze locked on me, sharp and unyielding. “What happened to your arm?”
For a split second, I froze. His eyes were fixed on the bandage peeking out from beneath my tailored jacket. Damn it.
The wound was still fresh, and I hadn’t expected him to notice, much less comment on it. My mind raced to craft a response.
“It’s nothing,” I said smoothly, forcing a faint chuckle as I adjusted my sleeve to cover the bandage.
“A minor accident. A misstep on the front lawn, if you can believe it. I must have tripped over one of the garden stones.”
“You tripped?” His raised eyebrow was a challenge.
“Yes,” I replied lightly, as though the idea amused me. “It’s embarrassing, really. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
The silence that followed was heavy, suffocating. His eyes bore into mine, searching for something unspoken.
My mind replayed the earlier scene-the frantic call from Sasha, the confrontation on the lawn, and the sharp pain of betrayal as my business partner’s blade sliced into me.
But he didn’t press further. Instead, Sebastian’s expression hardened into something colder, more calculating.
“Be more careful,” he said, his voice low and pointed. “Accidents have a way of escalating.”
“Of course,” I replied, my voice steady despite the unease prickling at my neck. “Thank you for your concern.”
He nodded once, dismissing me again. This time, I didn’t linger. I left the office quickly, feeling the weight of his gaze on my back long after the door closed behind me.
As I walked down the corridor, my thoughts churned with frustration and unease.
Sebastian’s instincts had always been razor-sharp-it was why he’d built his empire. And yet, when it came to Sasha, his blind spot was glaring.
That weakness was mine to exploit, especially now that their marriage was cracking under the strain.
Still, the incident on the lawn complicated things. My business partner’s betrayal had been calculated, and the wound on my arm was a stark reminder of how precarious my position had become.
I flexed my injured arm, feeling the dull throb beneath the bandage.
The memory of Sasha’s voice on the phone lingered, desperate and panicked.
For a moment, I’d let myself believe she might finally see me as someone to turn to, someone who could protect her. But then the blade had come, swift and merciless, shattering that moment.
Reaching the elevator, I pressed the button and exhaled a slow breath as I stepped inside. I couldn’t afford a misstep now.
Sebastian was too focused on Sasha to notice my moves, but that wouldn’t last. He would start asking questions-about the wound, about Sasha, about everything I was orchestrating behind the scenes.
I would be ready. Sasha was slipping further from Sebastian’s grasp, and when she fell, I intended to be the one to catch her.
Meanwhile, back in his office, Sebastian stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the city skyline. I knew him well enough to guess what he was thinking,
analyzing every word I’d said, every nuance of our conversation.
He wouldn’t let this go. That much was certain. But it didn’t matter. No matter how sharp Sebastian thought he was, I had the upper hand now.
Let him play his games. I was already five steps ahead.