167 The Sister’s Gambit
Hazel’s POV
Gloria’s threat echoed in my mind as I pulled up to the Lunar Café. A video of Sebastian and me? It had to be a bluff. Still, I couldn’t risk his reputation being dragged through the mud because of me.
The café buzzed with morning activity. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting warm patches across polished wooden tables. I spotted Gloria immediately- her perfectly styled blonde hair and designer outfit standing out even in this upscale establishment.
“You’re late,” she remarked without looking up from her phone as I slid into the seat across from her.
I checked my watch. “Actually, I’m three minutes early.”
Gloria finally raised her eyes, her gaze sharp and calculating. Her lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“You look well,” she said, studying my face with mock concern. “I was worried the divorce might have taken a toll.”
“Cut the pleasantries, Gloria.” I kept my voice low and controlled. “You said you had something to show me.”
“Straight to business? Where’s the fun in that?” She signaled a waiter. “I’ll have an almond milk latte. Hazel?”
“Nothing for me.”
The waiter nodded and walked away. Gloria leaned back in her chair, her posture relaxed as if we were old friends catching up.
“How is Sebastian Sinclair these days?” she asked casually. “Still playing the knight in shining armor?”
I maintained a neutral expression. “I’m not here to discuss Sebastian.”
“No?” She tilted her head. “That’s funny, because he’s exactly why we’re meeting.”
no
The waiter returned with Gloria’s latte. She took her time stirring it, clearly enjoying making me wait.
“You know,” she continued, “Alistair has been devastated. First losing Ivy, and then watching you move on so quickly.”
I nearly laughed at the absurdity. “Is that what this is about? Alistair sent you to guilt–trip me?”
Gloria sipped her latte. “Alistair doesn’t know I’m here. This is sister–in–law to
ex–sister–in–law.”
Her sudden friendliness made my skin crawl. Gloria had never liked me, even before I married Alistair. This performance was calculated, designed to lower my guard.
“Let’s skip to the part where you threaten me with this alleged video,” I said coldly.
A flicker of annoyance crossed her face. “You always were direct to the point of rudeness.”
“And you always were manipulative to the point of delusion,” I countered. “The video, Gloria. Show it or admit you’re bluffing.”
Her smile faltered. She placed her cup down with deliberate care and reached for her
purse.
“A friend of mine was at the Athena Hotel three weeks ago,” she said, her fingers hovering over her phone. “They happened to be on the rooftop garden when you and Sebastian Sinclair shared what looked like a very intimate lunch.”
My mind raced back. Three weeks ago. The lunch Sebastian had arranged on the private rooftop garden. We’d talked about my designs for his sister’s collection. Nothing romantic had happened.
“You’re grasping at straws,” I said, fighting to keep my voice steady. “Sebastian and I had a business meeting.”
“Is that what you call it?” Gloria’s eyes gleamed. “My friend didn’t just see you. They recorded you.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Recorded us doing what, exactly? Eating lunch?”
“The
way he looked at you…” Gloria leaned forward. “The way you smiled at him. It was
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clearly more than business.”
“If your evidence is that Sebastian looked at me and I smiled, you’re going to have a hard time convincing anyone of an affair.”
“So you admit you were seeing him while still married to Alistair?”
I took a deep breath, reining in my temper. “Sebastian and I weren’t involved while I was with Alistair. Unlike your brother–in–law, I honor my commitments.”
Gloria’s expression hardened. “My friend saw you touch his hand across the table.”
“I don’t recall that,” I said honestly. “But if it happened, it was innocent.”
“The video suggests otherwise.”
“Then show me this damning video,” I challenged.
Gloria scrolled through her phone, taking longer than necessary. I watched her face carefully, noting the slight furrow between her brows. She was stalling.
“Here,” she finally said, turning the phone toward me.
The video was grainy, clearly taken from a distance with a phone zoom. It showed Sebastian and me at our lunch table, talking. The angle was poor, capturing mostly the back of my head and Sebastian’s profile. At one point, my hand moved across the table -to point at a design sketch, I remembered clearly–and briefly came near Sebastian’s.
That was it. That was the “evidence.”
I almost laughed with relief. “This is your smoking gun? We’re reviewing design sketches.”
Gloria snatched the phone back. “There’s more. This is just a clip.”
“I doubt the rest is any more incriminating,” I said calmly. “But even if it were, what exactly do you want from me, Gloria? To stay with a man who left me for another woman? Who cheated on me with my dying stepsister?”
Her jaw tightened. “Alistair made a mistake-”
“A mistake?” I interrupted, my voice rising slightly. “He married her in my wedding dress.”
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167 The Sister’s Gambit
Several heads turned our way. I lowered my voice again. “What do you want?”
“Stay away from Sebastian Sinclair,” Gloria said, her friendly facade completely gone now. “Give Alistair another chance.”
“Or you’ll release that pathetic video?” I gestured to her phone. “Go ahead. There’s nothing there.”
“People will believe what they want to believe,” she countered. “And the Sinclair family is very protective of their public image. How will they feel about Sebastian getting involved with a woman still technically married to another man?”
My protective instincts flared. Sebastian didn’t deserve to be dragged into this mess.
“You’re playing a dangerous game,” I warned her. “The Sinclairs aren’t people you want as enemies.”
“Neither is the Everett family,” Gloria replied, but I caught the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.
I stood up, gathering my purse. “This meeting is over. Next time you want to blackmail someone, make sure you actually have leverage.”
I turned to leave, but Gloria’s voice stopped me.
“My friend didn’t just see you two that day,” she called after me. “They saw you enter his car afterward. And they swear you didn’t emerge for over an hour.”
I froze, then slowly turned back. Sebastian had given me a ride home that day because it had started raining unexpectedly. We’d sat in his car for a while, talking about my designs and his sister’s preferences. Nothing inappropriate had happened, but I could see how it might look to someone determined to find scandal.
“Your ‘friend‘ seems oddly invested in my movements,” I observed. “Almost like they were following me.”
Gloria’s eyes widened slightly.
“And I’m curious,” I continued, stepping closer to her table, “why would this mystery person be recording us in the first place? Unless someone had instructed them to watch me?”
Gloria’s cheeks flushed. “My friend just happened to be there-”
“No,” I cut her off. “They didn’t ‘just happen‘ to be recording private citizens from across a rooftop garden. That’s stalking, Gloria. I wonder what the police would think about that?”
She paled slightly. “Are you threatening me?”
“I’m stating facts,” I replied coolly. “You came here thinking you could intimidate me with some grainy footage of a business meeting. Instead, you’ve admitted to having me followed and recorded without consent.”
I leaned closer, lowering my voice. “Release whatever you want. Sebastian and I have nothing to hide. But remember, the Sinclairs have lawyers that would eat your ‘friend‘ alive for invasion of privacy.”
As I straightened up, Gloria’s expression had changed from confident to uncertain.
“Was Alistair behind this?” I asked suddenly. “Did he put you up to this pathetic attempt at manipulation?”
Gloria’s eyes darted away. “I told you, he doesn’t know—”
“Save it,” I said, turning to leave again. “Tell your brother–in–law that if he wants to speak to me, he can do it through my lawyer.”
I walked out of the café with my head held high, despite the trembling I felt inside. Only when I reached my car did I allow myself to process what had just happened.
My phone buzzed with a text message. Unknown number.
*You might think you’ve won this round, but there’s more where that came from. Better warn your billionaire boyfriend to watch his back. -G*
I stared at the message, anger mixing with a new emotion: fear. Not for myself, but for Sebastian. What lengths would the Everetts go to in order to get what they wanted?
I needed to warn Sebastian. And I needed to find out exactly who was watching us, and why.
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