72 A Calculated Distance
Estared at Sebastian’s text message until my eyes burned. The offer of axar servic seemed both thoughtful and threatening at the same time My paranoid mind couldn’t separate kindness from calculation anymore d
After a moment of panic. Itexted back: Thank you, but I already called a taxi. It should
be here any minute *
His reply came almost instantly: *Cancel it. My driver is more reliable.*
The directness of his command made my stomach clench had to hold my ground.
*I appreciate the gesture, but I prefer to handle transportation myself. Thank you
anyway.*
Three dots appeared, disappeared, then appeared again. Finally: *As you wish Take
care. Hazel.*
Lexhaled slowly, feeling like I’d passed some kind of test. Or failed it-couldn’t be
sure.
Instead of heading to the hospital as I’d claimed. I spent the evening pacing my apartment, planning my next move Sebastian clearly wanted to meet with me personally. If I kept dodging him, he’d get suspicious.
By morning, I had a solution. I would send Cherry, my assistant, to meet with him-but not alone. I’d send along Marcus from accounting as well. Safety in numbers.
Tcalled Cherry first.
“I need you to meet with Sebastian Sinclair tomorrow,” I said without preamble.
“Mr. Sinclair? But I thought you were handling that personally
“Change of plans. In dealing with a family emergency” It wasn’t entirely a he My own survival felt like an emergency
“Of course” Cherry said “What do you need me to do?
Just discuss the final details of our contract. Marcus will go with you
“MarcusWhy?
Thesitated “It’s better to have two perspectives in business meetings
Cher’s seemed to accept this xplanation, and we made arrangements for the
meeting: Next Loceded to inform sebastum of the change
My finger hovered over his contact infornuition. Every instinct screamed at me not to
call, but I had no choice I needed to maintainy normalcy
He answered on the second ring. Hazel
Just my natin his deep voice was enough to send conflicting waves of attraction and
fear through ne
“Sebastian “I said, trying to sound casual. “I’m calling about our meeting tomorrow”
How’s your stepsister?
The question caught me off guard. I’d almost forgotten my lie about going to the
hospital
“Not good.” I improvised. “The doctors are saving it’s just a matter of days now.
“Tim sorry to hear that His voice softened with what sounded like genuine
compassion.
Thank you
swallowed hard About tomorrow–I wont be able to make it. I’m
seriding my assistant Cherry and our head accountant Marcus stead
Abeat of sileme
His tone shifted cooler now Perhaps we should reschedule for when you’re
avariable
This wasn’t going as planned. It could be several days before I’m free don’t want to
delay your timeline
“My talehine is flexible where you’re concerned
The stittle emphasis on you sent a shiver down my spine
Tappreciate that but say sister’s condition is unpredictable and iny schedule is packed with the sizing rolleen
doist want to keep you waiting isteriostele
) tried to sound professional, reasonable
sebastian’s voice turned hard “Hazel, has something happened? Have for my family
done something to upset you
My heart raced He was 100 perceptive.
“No. of course not. I said quickly Why would you think that?”
“You’ve suddenly become very formal. Very distant. He paused. “Almost as if you’re
avoiding met
I scrambled for a response. “I’m not avoiding you. I’m just busy.”
“Busy” he repeated flatly Or perhaps suspicious?”
My breath caught. How could he read me so easily?
“I don’t know what you mean: I said
I think you do. Something’s changed.” His voice softened again. “Has someone
suggested my family has ulterior motives in working with you?”
My silence was damning
Sebastian sighed. “I see
“It’s not -” I started but couldn’t finish the sentence What could I say? That I wasn’t
terrified he wanted to harvest my organs or drain my blood? That I wasn’t having
flashbacks to Alistair’s betrayal?
“Don’t bother sending your assistant.” he said, his voice now painfully format. If you decide you can trust me enough to meet in person again, you know how to reach me
The call ended abruptly, leaving me staring at my phone in shock
What had just happened? Had I overreacted? Had Emisread everything?
The next morning, my doubts intensified when I received a call from an unfamiliar
number
Ms. Shaw & formal male voice came through the line “This is Hughes the Sinclair family buttes
My grip tightened in the phone
Tin calling on behalf of Mi Sebastian Sinclair regarding your remaining orders. He wishes to know if you still intend to complete them
The question, delivered in such an impersonal way, felt like a slap. Sebastian bad retreated completely behind formal busmess protocols
od course
said, trying to keep my voice steady Please tell Mr. Sinclair that PH
complete the work as agreed
Very good, And regarding payment
No payment necessary? Linterrupted. Il complete the remaining pieces at no change
A hired pause Til relay your message
After hanging up. I sank onto my couch, an inexplicable sadness washing over me. This
desolate feeling was alarmingly familiar-it reminded me of the night Alistair called off
qur wedding
Why did sebastian’s sudden coldness hurt so much if I had been right to suspect him?
Why did his withdrawal feel like a greater loss than I was prepared for
I had created this distance to protect myself. So why did feel hike I’d made a terrible
mistake
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