Filed to story: Watch Out, I’m The Lady Boss (Eleanor & Sebastian) Book PDF Free
His eyes flicked to Sebastian, who didn’t even pause chewing.
Geoffrey cleared his throat and said, “Mrs. Laurent, we’re still waiting on a few parts. They need to be shipped in from Italy. Could take a week, maybe longer.”
I dropped my fork.
“You’re telling me the radiator needs Italian imports now?”
He nodded.
“This heating system isn’t standard. It runs on a closed-loop radiator circuit, built for high-pressure flow. If the internal stabilizers aren’t calibrated with the original manufacturer’s components, the system becomes volatile…”
Geoffrey droned on, throwing in half a dozen words I didn’t recognize.
Something about a thermostatic valve, a bypass manifold, and-Christ, was he talking about glycol now?
I stopped listening after thirty seconds.
My brain drifted straight into panic-planning mode Sebastian was back. Which meant I had to move out of his room.
On paper, we were married.
In practice, we’d just started dating.
Sharing a bed with him was premature. And dangerous.
Especially with the way he kissed.
What if he decided to take things further?
What if I didn’t have the willpower to say no?
My face went hot.
My spoon slowed halfway to my mouth.
Sebastian scooped salad onto my plate with the serving spoon.
“What are you thinking about?”
“What? Nothing.” I shook my head too fast and laughed like an idiot.
“Just zoning out.” looked up and caught Geoffrey’s eyes.
He smiled and launched straight back into it.
I caught phrases like “family-run factory” and “founded in 1907,” and something about northern Italy’s copper industry.
I held up both hands.
“Okay, okay, I get it. It can’t be rushed.”
Geoffrey nodded.
“Exactly.”
I pushed back my chair.
“Okay. I’m full. Completely stuffed. I need to swing by the studio. Gotta run.
I grabbed a napkin, wiped my mouth, and bolted before anyone could stop me.
I told them I was going to the studio, but I ended up at Sugar & Whim, wedged into the booth across from Yvaine, clutching a hot cappuccino.
Hotels felt too obvious.
And I wasn’t sure how Sebastian would react to it.
Oakwood was out too.
Priya was living there and there was only one bedroom.
That left me with one option.
“Let me stay with you for a bit?” I asked.
Yvaine smacked me on the forehead as an answer.
“Are you thick? You’re the one who said you’d give the relationship a try. Now the universe throws you a setup with mood lighting and a king-sized bed, and you want to leave?”
I rubbed my temple.
“I just-“
“No. Shut it. Do you know how many women would stab each other with heels just to be in your shoes right now? I used to worry that ghost-of-girlfriend-past would come waltzing back into his life. But now he’s made it very clear he wants YOU. So you need to hold your ground. Keep your name on that mailbox. And for the love of God, stop acting like a coward.”
I groaned.
“It’s not about the bed.”
“Right, you’re just terrified of accidentally shagging your husband.”
“Yes.”
“Elean.”
“I’m serious. If I stay in that room, it’s only a matter of time before one of us does something stupid.”
I set the cup down and looked away.
My cheeks burned just thinking about the last time he kissed me.
My knees had nearly buckled.
Every nerve had gone loose and twitchy.
I couldn’t trust myself around that man.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want him.
That was the problem. I wanted him too much.
“We barely even have a proper relationship,” I muttered.
“Jumping into bed with him now would be… stupid.”
Yvaine smacked the side of my head again.
“Ow!”
“Since when did you turn into a nun? You used to be fun. What, been fake-married for a few months and now you’re Mrs. Moral Code?”
“It’s not the same,” I said, rubbing my temple.
“It’s sex, not a blood pact. You’re in charge, not him. Knowing him, he’s not going to push you into anything. What are you even afraid of?”
Inarrowed my eyes at her.
Something felt off.
“Why are you so desperate to keep me out of your house? You hiding something?”
Yvaine tried to deny it but failed.
Then she let out a weird giggle.
“I may have started seeing someone. Just casually. Definitely not living together. I’ve just been busy, that’s all.”
“Wait, what?” I sat forward.
“Who is he?”
“Here, look.”
She pulled out her phone and shoved the screen in my face.
A selfie of a baby-faced guy with ridiculously symmetrical features stared back at me. Full lips. Strong brows. Zero pores.
I squinted.
“I’ve seen him before. Isn’t he one of those online boys who lip-sync and flex shirtless?”
“That’s him,” she said, beaming.
“He’s got two hundred K followers.”
“Is he actually that good-looking in real life? Or is it just lighting and filters? And isn’t he, like, eighteen? What the hell does an eighteen-year-old want from you if not your Amex?”
Yvaine rolled her eyes.
“He’s twenty-one. Three years younger than me. Still in uni. And yes, I’ve seen him in person-he looks even better. No filters. No scams. And before you say anything, no, he hasn’t asked me for money. But if he ever does, I’ve got more than enough. I don’t mind paying a little for emotional support. He’s cute, he’s clingy without being annoying, he doesn’t sulk, and the stamina…” She fanned her face.
“Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”
“So you just weren’t going to tell me?” I leaned back and crossed my arms.
“What if he’s some Cassian knockoff and you’re just using him to get back at your ex?”
Yvaine looked mildly offended, which meant I was right.
“I was going to tell you eventually.”
“You’d better. Next time, bring him out. I want a proper look before you start letting him stay over.”
“He’s not staying over,” she said quickly.