82 A Drunken Confession to a Stranger
Tll stay a bit longer. I mumbled as Cora gave me a worried look “Just need to rest my eyes
Cora hesitated Ecan wait with you until your ride arrives.
“No” I waved her off dramatically “The Queen commands you to go home il call someone?
After several more minutes of protest. Cora finally left with Vera, who was barely steadier than I was. The door closed with a soft click and suddenly I was alone in the private room, sprawled across the velvet couch, tiara askew on my head
The silence felt strange after hours of music and laughter. I fumbled for my phone dropping it twice before managing to unlock it. The screen blurred before ray eyes “Who even cares if I get home?” I muttered to the empty room.
Or what I thought was an empty room
“Hey, you’re Hazel Shaw, right?”
I squinted toward the voice. Two young men stood by the bar, both in server uniforms Had they been here the whole time?
“That’s Queen Hazel to you.” I slurred, adjusting my tiara with clumsy fingers
One of them – tall with sandy hair – laughed and approached “My buddy and I were just cleaning up. You need a ride home?
The other one hung back watching silently.
“I’m good.” I attempted to sit up straight, trying to appear less drunk than I was You don’t look good” Sandy Hair sat down beside me closer than I would have liked. Im a huge fan of your work. The Evening Gala spring collection was brilhant
Even through my drunken haze, alarm bells rang faintly “You follow fashion
“For you defnitely Fis hand found mine on the couch Ive always thought you were incredible Beautibil calented
Rich fadded bluntly
His side faltered just slightly “Don’t sell yourself short
I’m not I tried to pull my hand away, but he held tighter “I know exactly what I’m
worth.
“Let me take you home His voice dropped lower “We could get to know each other
better
“Not interested. The room was spinning faster now
“Come on” His arm slid around my waist. “Just one drink at my place. You’re already halfway there anyway
I tried to push him away, but my limbs felt like lead. “Get off me
‘Don’t be like that.” He leaned closer, his cologne overwhelming. “Everyone knows you’re single now. That ex of yours was an idiot
Before I could respond, the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. A tall figure materialized behind the couch, moving with silent precision.
A powerful hand clamped onto Sandy Hair’s shoulder, yanking him backward with such force that he stumbled into a table. Glasses crashed to the floor
“She said no.” The voice was deep, cold, and somehow familiar
I blinked up at my rescuer, trying to focus. Tall. Broad-shouldered immaculately dressed in a dark suit. His face was shadowed, but I could feel the anger radiating from
him
“Sebastian?” I mumbled, confused by the menacing aura surrounding him This didn’t match the charming, gentle man I remembered.
The figure stiffened at the name
Sandy Hair scrambled to his feet “We were just talking, man. No harm done.
Leave Now Each word cut like ice
The two servers practically ran for the exit the door banging shut belund them My supposed rescuer turned his attention to me tus face still partially in shadow
Something about him didn’t seem quite right, but my drunk brain couldn’t piece it together
“You’re not Sebastian,” I said, squinting up at him. “He’s not so… scary
“Who did you mistake me for?” The man’s voice held an edge of curiosity beneath the coldness
“Sebastian Sinclair” I leaned back against the couch too drunk to be properly afraid. “But you couldn’t be him. He’s much meer.
Is that so?” The man sat down beside me, his movements controlled and graceful despite his imposing presence. “Tell me about this Sebastian
I smiled dreamily, alcohol loosening my tongue. “He’s amazing. The most handsome man I’ve ever seen. And so powerful-everyone respects him. But he’s kind too. underneath all that success. Not cold like you.
The stranger’s demeanor shifted slightly, the menacing aura fading. “You seem quite taken with him.”
“Who wouldn’t be?” I gestured wildly, nearly knocking my tiara off ‘He helped me when nobody else would Saved my career. Didn’t ask for anything in return.
“Perhaps he wants something you haven’t realized yet.
shook my head vigorously, immediately regretting it as the room spun. “No
Sebastian’s not like that He’s not like Alistair. He sees me-the real me. Not just what he can get from me
The man leaned closer, studying my face. “You sound very certain for someone who barely knows him
“I I know enough. My eyelids felt heavy. I know he’s the kind of man who keeps his promises. The kind who doesn’t abandon people
Interesting assessment His voice had softened, almost amused now “And you base this on what exactly?
This eyes, I said without hesitation “They don’t lie Unlike yours too dark too cold.
That seemed to give hun pause keep my evels apet
he silence stretched betweelrus as I struggled to
You should go lonac he finally saut ‘You’re extremely imrodicated:
altempted to stand and itunediately RB back outer this
Pouch But as you can sex walking is currently beyond my skill set
The man sighed pulling out his phone. He spoke quietly into it, giving instructions]
ouldn’t quite folks
Transportation is arranged: he said after hanging up. “Someone will take your home
sately
My hero Emumbled sarcastically. “Not as good as Sebastian would have been but h
take i
The stranger ships twitched slightly “You really admire this Sebastian Sinclair, don’t
ou
More than admire. The words tumbled out before I could stop them think migh be falling for him. Stupid, right After everything with Alistair, you’d think Ed learn
The man went very still. “What did you say?
I said it’s stupid. Ivawned, sinking deeper into the couch. He probably has women throwing themselves at him constantly Why would he look Twice at someone like me
Someone like you?” His voice had changed, holding something I couldn’t identity
“Someone broken” I closed my eyes too drunk ro filter my words “Someone who trusted the wrong person and lost everything. Sebastian deserves better than damaged goods
fell the couch shift as he moved closer
You’re wrong about that he said quietly “Perhaps he sees something m you that you don’t see in yoursell
Your sound just like him now Haughed softly “Maybe you’re not so bad after all, fake
Sebastian
The man reached out gently straightening my crooked trana. The gesture was unexpectedly tender
This Sebastian Sinclair, he said his voice low and neastfred “What’s his bill eam
1 peered up all him through heavy eyelids, suddenly struck by something familiar in his
profile
Oh? What’s his name?” he repeated, leaning in closer
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