44 The CEO’s Other Face
The next morning found me on my way to Sebastian’s company After digesting yesterday’s shocking revelation about his government connections. I’d realized that harrowing money from him was my only option to save my mother bracelet
The address Mr. Porter had texted me led to a towering skyscraper in the financial district ahke yesterday’s unmarked building, this one proudly displayed “Sinclair International in gleaming letters across its façade
I stepped through revolving doors into a vast marble lobby buzzing with activity. Men and women in tailored suits hurried across the polished floor, their footsteps echoing against the high ceilings.
“Ms. Shaw A thin man with wire-rimmed glasses approached. “I’m Kent, Mr. Sinclair’s executive assistant. He’s expecting you.
Kent led me to a private elevator that required a keycard to operate. “Mr. Sinclair is in meetings this morning. He asked me to show you to the waiting area near his office
The elevator whisked us upward silently. My stomach fluttered with each passing floor number What was I doing? Yesterday I’d learned Sebastian worked with military intelligence and today I was about to ask him for millions. The absurdity wasn’t lost on
Here we are Kent said as the doors opened to reveal a sleek reception area. “Mr Sinclair will be with you shortly, Can I get you anything while you wait?”
No, thank you,” replied, sinking into a plush leather chair
As Kent disappeared down a hallway I glanced around. The top floor was immaculate Sall glass, steel and white surfaces bathed in natural light from floor-to-celling windows. The view of the city was breathtaking
Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. I picked up a business magazine from the collex Table Shipping through it without absorbing anything
Evedors four frentelynda frosted glass WHER
windet we
Sebastian’s office. I presumed, The uriosity got the better of toe. I moved closer, tilting my
2
Via The CB’s Coder Face
head to bear better
completely unacceptable: Sebastian’s voice cut through, ice-cold and sharp. “Three mition in Insses because of carelessness.
flinched. His tone was nothing like the warm, gentle one he used with me
The blinds covering the glass wall weren’t completely closed. Through a narrow gap caught glimpses of the scene inside. Sebastian stood tall behind an imposing desk, his face hard and unforgiving. Three men stood before him, heads bowed.
“I trusted you with this account, Sebastian continued, his voice dropping dangerously
low. Do you understand what your mistake has cost us?”
“Yes, sir,” one of the men mumbled.
Sebastian slammed his hand on the desk. The sharp crack made me jump.
“Not good enough!” he snapped. “Fix this by the end of the day or clean out your
desks.”
My heart raced. This wasn’t the Sebastian I knew-the man who gently kissed my hand.
who listened attentively to my every word. This was someone else entirely. Someone
frightening.
The men nodded quickly and filed out through another door. I scrambled back to my
sea, pretending to be absorbed in the magazine.
Sebastian remained in his office. Through the gap in the blinds, I watched him pick up
phone and bark orders at whoever was on the other end. His expression, was thunderous, has jaw tight with restrained anger
Oh God. What
ng I’d come to ask for a loan from a man who was currently firing people over finatsal losses. My confidence evaporated like morning dew.
stood eteruptly,daybe I could ship out before Kent returned, I’d text Sebastian later. make up some excuse about an emergency
AMS Shar
Too lat. Kept had reappeared
“Mr Sinclair will see you now
My feet felt like they were encased in concrete Actually I just remembered something urgent. Perhaps Lcould reschedule
“Nonsense” Kent smiled reassuringly, “Mr. Sinclair specifically cleared his schedule for
you.
He gestured toward Sebastian’s office door. With each step, my anxiety mountext. What version of Sebastian would I meet-the charming man from our dinner or the ruthless executive I’d just witnessed?
Kent knocked and opened the door. “Ms. Shaw is here, sir.
I held my breath as I crossed the threshold.
The transformation was instantaneous and unsettling.
Sebastian’s stern expression melted away completely. His eyes softened, the hard line of his mouth curving into a warm smile. He rose from behind his desk, suddenly embodying the elegant, gentle man I recognized.
“Hazel, thank you for coming.” His voice held none of the coldness from moments ago -it was rich and welcoming. He moved around his desk with fluid grace.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything important,” I said cautiously, glancing at the door where his employees had exited.
“Not at all. That matter was just concluding.” He gestured to a seating area by the
window. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”
Iperched on the edge of a leather chair, studying him. Which was the real Sebastian? The ruthless businessman who struck fear into his employees or the attentive man
now pouring me a glass of water?
“You seem tense, he observed, handing me the glass. His fingers brushed mine deliberately. “Is everything alright?”
I’m fine: 1 lied. “Just a bit overwhelmed.
Sebastian sat across from me, leaning forward slightly. “By yesterday’s revelation?
(Partly, Ladmitted. And partly by hesitated.
By what this eyes were intense, searching
“By you. I said finally. “The different sides of you
Sebastian tilted his head, studying me. “What do you mean?”
Should I admit I’d been eavesdropping? What choice did I have?
“I saw vou, I confessed. Through the blinds. With those employees”
Something flashed in his eyes-surprise, perhaps, or irritation-but it vanished so quickly I couldn’t be sure.
“Ah,” he said simply. He didn’t apologize or explain.
“You were different” I continued, unable to stop. “Not like the man I’ve been getting to
know.”
Sebastian took a slow breath. “That’s because you’re seeing different contexts, Hazel.
In business, especially at this level, weakness isn’t an option.”
“You frightened them.”
I disappointed them. There’s a difference.”
I wasn’t convinced. “You threatened their jobs.”
“Because millions of dollars and hundreds of other jobs depend on their competence:
His voice remained calm but took on a firm edge. “When people make careless
mistakes at this scale, there are consequences.”
The rational part of me understood, but something still felt unsettling. “It’s just… I didn’t expect that from you.
Sebastian leaned back slightly. “Would you prefer I be the same with everyone? That i speak to my employees the way I speak to you?”
Put that way, if sounded ridiculous “No, of course not
“Then what’s really bothering you, Hazel? His gaze was penetrating.
per Fade
A fidgeted with my purse strap I’m here to ask you for a loan-a substantial one-and now I’m seeing how seriously you take financial matters.
Understanding dawned in his eyes, followed by something that looked almost like amusement. You think I’ll speak to you the way I spoke to them if you can t repay me?
When he said it aloud, my fear seemed childish. “It crossed my mind.
Sebastian’s expression softened further. He reached across and took my hand. “Hazel.
those men are paid handsomely to manage hundreds of millions in assets. You’re he paused, searching for words, “someone I care about. Someone I’m pursuing. The
contexts couldn’t be more different.
His thumb traced circles on my palm, sending tingles up my arm. “Now, tell me about
this loan. It’s for your mother’s bracelet, correct?”
I nodded, still not entirely at ease. “The price has been driven up. I think Ivy’s behind
it.”
“How much do you need?” His question was direct, businesslike, but his touch remained gentle.
I told him the figure, watching his reaction carefully. Not a flicker of concern showed
on his face.
“Consider it done,” he said simply.
“Just like that?” I echoed my words from yesterday.
Just like that” He smiled, but then his expression grew more serious. “However, I do
have one condition”
My heart sank. Here it came–the catch.
need you to trust me. Hazel” His eyes held mine. “If you’re going to be in my life. you’ll see many sides of me. Some might surprise you. But never doubt that how Tam with you is genuine.
I swallowed hard. “And if I can’t repay the loan?”
Sebastine’s Ups quicked up at one corner. Then we’ll discuss alternate paymem
Ruch as
“More of your time,” he said simply. “Dinners. Evenings. Getting to know each other
better
The way he said it made my cheeks warm. “That sounds reasonable
He was still holding my hand, his thumb now tracing the inside of my wrist where my
pulse quickened. Do we have an agreement, then?”
1looked at our joined hands, then at his face-handsome, confident unreadable. The
memory of his cold fury from earlier flickered through my mind. Which version of this
man was I making a deal with?
As if sensing my thoughts, Sebastian’s eyes darkened slightly. “Say yes, Hazel.”
The command in his voice, though soft, was unmistakable. This was a glimpse of the powerful man I’d seen through the blinds-the one who expected obedience, who controlled empires with a word.
And God help me, something about that power drew me in rather than pushed me
away.
“Yes” I whispered, feeling as though I’d just stepped off a cliff with no idea how far the
fall might be
