Filed to story: Watch Out, I’m The Lady Boss (Eleanor & Sebastian) Book PDF Free
“I don’t care about your mess with Yvaine. But you’ve made Eleanor angry. That’s on you.”
Cassian frowned.
“Come on, Seb. We’ve been friends for years. You’re not going to let her get between us, are you?”
I pretended not to care, but my ears pricked up.
“You think I’m going to pick your side after this? Eleanor is my wife. If she’s upset, I don’t care who you are, you’re going to pay for it.”
I could hear Cassian’s frustrated sigh.
Sebastian reached me in seconds.
“Slow down, Elean,” he said softly.
“Don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad, I’m pissed!” I yanked my arm out of his grasp.
“Did you know about this?”
“I knew he was bringing an actress, but that’s all I knew,” Sebastian said, his tone almost pleading.
“I didn’t know anything about his relationship with the woman. If I had, I wouldn’t have brought you here. I swear.”
I stared at him for a few seconds, trying to lie-detect his expression. After a moment, I relented. I wanted to believe him. Sebastian wasn’t an idiot like Cassian; he wouldn’t pull a stunt like that.
But my anger didn’t fade. I knew I shouldn’t take it out on him, but if he hadn’t brought me here, none of this would’ve happened.
“Forget it,” I muttered.
“It’s not like I can avoid him forever. But when I see him, don’t expect me to be polite. If you’re uncomfortable with that, just do what you can to keep us apart.”
Sebastian didn’t hesitate.
“I’m not uncomfortable. If it’s about business, there’s no avoiding him. But if it makes you unhappy, I won’t see him outside of work again.”
I paused.
“I’m not trying to control your friendships.”
“It’s fine,” he said firmly.
“You can. I’ve got no problem with that. I’ll always back you up, and I’m with you on this whole thing with Yvaine. I don’t like it either.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised.
“Really.”
I climbed down from my moral high horse.
“The thing is, Cassian’s the one I’m really mad at. He’s the one who’s out of line.”
“Exactly,” Sebastian agreed, pulling me towards his car.
“You’re still upset. You’re not driving. Come with me. I’ll take you home.”
“What about my car?”
“I’ll get someone to bring it home.”
I ended up in the passenger seat before I could stop myself. Sebastian glanced at me, sensing the weight of my mood. He didn’t dare push further. Instead, his thoughts swirled with curses aimed at Cassian Langford.
Ever since Eleanor’s birthday a few days ago, Sebastian had felt the shift in her behaviour. She’d been warmer, more open. He could almost swear there was a flicker of something deeper in her eyes when she looked at him. Not love, but definitely more than mere friendliness.
But Cassian had ruined it all. The progress Sebastian had made in drawing her closer had been demolished in one move by that idiot. He knew that if it came down to a choice between him and Yvaine Carlisle, Eleanor wouldn’t even hesitate. She’d choose Yvaine in a heartbeat.
When he’d chased her out of the club earlier, his chest had tightened with panic. He’d been terrified that Eleanor would start blaming him for Cassian’s behaviour. Thankfully, it hadn’t gone that far, but it didn’t feel great either.
As he seethed silently, his phone buzzed. Eleanor glanced over and saw the caller ID, immediately turning her head away. Sebastian’s jaw tightened, and he quickly rejected the call, silencing his phone before it could ring again.
Less than a minute later, a message from Cassian popped up:
How was I supposed to know that Yvaine tells your wife everything? I thought no one knew I was seeing Harper.
Sebastian swore silently.
Cassian again: I’m just trying to help your wife, alright? We talked the other day about her opening the studio, and I thought I could offer some support.
Sebastian didn’t bother responding. The messages kept coming, so he blocked Cassian’s number.
Back at the house, Eleanor waved off Carmen’s offer of dinner with a quiet, “I’m tired.” She turned to head upstairs.
“Eleanor,” Sebastian said, stopping her with just his voice.
She paused halfway up the staircase.
“I’m not like Cassian,” he said.
“I know,” she replied at once.
He nodded slowly.
“But your eyes say different.”
That got her. She hesitated, fingers curling slightly against the banister, then dropped her gaze.
“I’m not like him,” Sebastian said again.
“Don’t lump us together.”
“I know. I believe you. It’s just…”
“Just what?” he pressed, stepping closer.
She exhaled through her nose.
“You two have been friends for a long time.”
“Doesn’t mean I share his views on relationships.”
Eleanor tilted her head, trying to put something into words she clearly didn’t want to say aloud.
“It’s not just you. Or just Cassian. It’s the way guys like you…”
Sebastian’s brow lifted.
“Guys like us?”
“Rich. Young. Good-looking. The kind of men who have everything-and know it. The ones who can snap their fingers and have women throw themselves at their feet.”
“They can throw themselves all they like,” Sebastian said, his tone clipped.
“I’m not catching.”
Eleanor gave the smallest smile. It didn’t reach her eyes.
“I’m not casting accusations. I just…”
She paused. Looked away. Sebastian watched her, waited.
“You know why I liked Daniel so much?” she said finally.
“Even when everyone kept telling me he was wrong for me?”
Sebastian’s chest tightened at the name.
“Why?”
“Because Daniel doesn’t play around.” She let out a breath that was part laugh, part sigh.
“I know how stupid that sounds. He cheated on me with Catherine. But that’s the thing-he only wanted her. His heart was always with her. Never me. That’s what proves my point.”
Sebastian didn’t see the point, but he kept quiet.
“Daniel was self-centred, pampered, emotionally stunted… Pick a flaw, he had it. But not that one. He never chased women just to prove he could. If he loved Catherine, that was it. It was always going to be her. Even when he did me wrong, he wasn’t… scattered. Cassian is. Men like him always are. He’s already flaunting his new girl like Yvaine’s yesterday’s news. He didn’t even think it was going to be awkward for me to know. He doesn’t feel guilty because… well, why should he? It’s just the way it is. It’s the way everybody acts.”
“So Daniel was the exception,” Sebastian said, trying not to let the bitterness show in his voice.
She nodded slowly.
“Yeah. Cassian-he’s the rule. To men like him, women are like fast cars, new yachts, just something shiny and interesting to have. But only for a while. Then it gets old, and it’s time to move on. Yvaine says she’s over it, but I know she isn’t. Because the same thing happened to me.”
Did that mean she was still not over it? Over Daniel? Sebastian wanted to ask.
But he never asked a question if he wasn’t ready to hear the answer. She’d given him one when she was drunk in the car that day. But what if it changed now that she was sober?
And he couldn’t promise her he’d never be like Cassian. Not convincingly. Words were cheap.
So instead, he stepped aside and let her pass. She went into her room and closed the door behind her.
Sebastian stood there for a long while, heart heavy, gaze fixed on the space she’d just left behind. Then, as if shaking himself from a trance, he pulled out his phone.
He unblocked Cassian’s number.
Keep your woman in check. If you make Eleanor upset again, we’re done. I don’t care how long we’ve been friends-I won’t let you screw this up for me.
I thought the episode was over.
I was wrong.
“Eleanor, there’s… a big client down here!” Priya called up to me from the first floor.
I made my way down quickly, but when I saw Harper, the smile I’d been trying to keep on my face disappeared in an instant.