Elise crossed her legs, a coy smile painted across her crimson lips as she leaned forward. from the leather couch in Sebastian’s office. “Sebastian,” she purred, “you know we could just go back to the way things were.”
Sebastian stood by the window, unmoved by her performance. He had kept his distance all day, trying to avoid this very confrontation–but Elise had forced her way in, just like she always did.
“Elise.” he said coolly, “we’re done. Whatever we had–it’s over.”
She stood and walked toward him, hands trailing up his chest, fingers grazing the edge of his collar. “You don’t mean that. I know you still feel something.” She leaned in, her lips. inches from his.
Sebastian grabbed her wrists gently but firmly and pushed her away. “Don’t do this.”
“But we had something real,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “We were good together.
I made one mistake.”
“One mistake?” he repeated bitterly. “You cheated on me, Elise. You looked me in the eyes and lied–again and again. That’s not a mistake. That’s who you are.”
She blinked, then narrowed her eyes. “So what? You’re in love now with her? That girl you claim is your wife? We both know she’s just a pawn in your plan to get your grandfather off your back. So drop the act. Divorce her. I’m here now.”
Sebastian stared at her, jaw tense. “I’m not divorcing Ellie.”
Her scoff was instant. “You’re kidding.”
“I love her.”
It came out with surprising ease.
But what struck Sebastian the most was how it didn’t feel like a performance. It didn’t feel like part of the lie they’d rehearsed. It felt like truth. A truth that had been sitting in his chest for weeks now, growing stronger with every soft smile Ellie gave him. Every moment she laughed at his dumb jokes. Every time she looked away when she blushed.
“You love her?” Elise’s voice cracked in disbelief. “You’ve known her for what, a few weeks?”
“I loved her the moment I saw her,” he said quietly.
Elise’s expression twisted into a frown, but Sebastian wasn’t looking at her anymore. His mind was drifting back to that gala more than a year ago–before he ever went to Germany. He had noticed Ellie across the room in a silver gown, her smile delicate, her eyes tired but kind. She wasn’t in the spotlight. In fact, she stayed close to Colton, whom Sebastian had only recently begun competing with in business.
Colton had called her his “wife” that night, but never introduced her. And something about her stayed with Sebastian. Long after the champagne fizzled and the lights dimmed, she haunted his thoughts.
ΕΠΠΕ
09 21 381, 24 May
Later, he had her quietly looked into. And when he discovered her name, he also discovered the truth–she was Colton’s secret wife Married by convenience Hidden from society
So he left. He didn’t chase her. He removed himself and went to Germany, trying to forget
her.
Until he saw her again by sheer accident–rushing out of a hospital room, eyes wild with panic Fate had handed her back to him. And this time, he took his chance even if it meant lying.
The fake marriage idea had been his. Because he hadn’t known how else to keep her close But now, it wasn’t fake anymore. Not to him.
He looked back at Elise, whose rage had settled into something colder.
“Get out. Elise,” he said.
“Excuse me?”
“Leave. I don’t want to see you again.”
She glared. “You’ll regret this.”
“No,” Sebastian said. “I regret not telling Ellie sooner that I love her.”
Elise stormed out.
Sebastian wasted no time. He grabbed his phone and sent Ellie a message:
“Dinner tonight? Just us. 7 p.m. Restaurant Rue. I have something to tell you.”
No reply.
He waited, staring at his phone. Still nothing. Unease crept into his chest. He tried calling. but it rang endlessly.
Then he texted Lucas.
Sebastian: “Is Ellie home?”
Lucas: “No. She said she’d be home hours ago. She’s not answering me either.”
Sebastian’s heart dropped.
He grabbed his keys and headed out, calling her office along the way.
Back in the company building, a different scene was unfolding.
Ellie was still asleep in the bathroom cubicle–curled up on the cold floor, tear stains on her cheeks. Her lunch sat untouched beside her.
She didn’t hear the soft clicks of high heels entering. She didn’t hear the whisper of fabric as Elise checked each stall until she found her. Didn’t see the glint of jealousy in Elise’s
eyes.
“You really thought you’d win?” Elise whispered bitterly.
Ellie stirred slightly, but not enough to wake.
Elise pulled a small aerosol can from her purse–something she kept for “protection,” she once said–and enraved it under the door. The scent was faint chemical Then she lit a
Chapter 16
7/1
08:21 Sat 24 May
“You really thought you’d win?” Elise whispered bitterly.
Ellie stirred slightly, but not enough to wake.
Elise pulled a small aerosol can from her purse–something she kept for “protection,” she once said–and sprayed it under the door. The scent was faint… chemical. Then she lit a
match. Dropped it. And walked out.
Minutes later, smoke slithered through the vents.
Ellie coughed in her sleep, finally waking–eyes blurry, chest heavy. She looked around, confused, then alarmed. Smoke.
She banged on the door. “Help!” she screamed, hoarse. “Is someone out there?”
No answer.
Panic surged.
Outside, Sebastian was parking his car when his phone buzzed again–this time, from the building’s security app.
Fire Alert: Floor 14. Immediate evacuation advised.
08:21 sat, 24 May
Chapter 17
Smoke curled thick and fast through the bathroom vents.
Ellie coughed hard, her lungs already burning as she scrambled to her feet. Her vision blurred as her eyes stung with heat and ash. Flames flickered outside the edges of the door. She backed into the tiled wall, panic clawing its way through her chest.
“Help!” she screamed, banging her fists against the stall. “Is anyone out there?! Help!”
The door wouldn’t budge. It had been locked from the outside.
The realization hit her like a slap. This wasn’t an accident.
She reached for her phone–only to remember with a jolt that she’d left it charging on her desk earlier. Her last thread of connection to the outside world… gone. The heat grew unbearable, and the air thickened with smoke.
Coughing, Ellie collapsed to her knees and dragged herself under the door into the smoky bathroom. She tried the main door, but it was jammed. Her screams grew weaker. Her limbs heavier. She pounded against the door one last time before her world faded into darkness.
Outside, fire trucks lined the street in a frenzy of flashing red lights. Water hoses hissed, cutting arcs through the blackening sky. Sirens blared and smoke billowed from the top floors.
Sebastian jumped out of his car, breath ragged, running straight to the chief of the fire department.
“Where did it start?” he demanded.
“Looks like the 14th floor. Fire suppression system didn’t activate–might be sabotage,” the fire chief said grimly.
Sebastian’s face paled. “Was anyone still inside?”
The building manager stepped forward, clipboard in hand. “All employees clocked out already. Everyone should be home by now.”
Sebastian frowned. “No. Ellie. She should still be here.”
The manager shook his head. “No one reported staying late.”
Sebastian pulled out his phone again and dialed. No answer. He redialed. Still nothing.
“Check the security footage!” he barked at his head of security. “Now! See if Ellie left the building.”
The bodyguard sprinted off.
Sebastian’s hands were shaking. Something felt wrong–worse than anything before. He didn’t care about protocol, or orders, or fire zones.
He turned to the stairwell and ran.
Ellie’s world swayed in and out of darkness. Her throat burned, dry and raw. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t scream anymore. Her body slumped against the corner of the smoking
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