Filed to story: Watch Out, I’m The Lady Boss (Eleanor & Sebastian) Book PDF Free
It had unsettled me, yes, but back then, we were two people tangled in a lie, each trying to solve our own mess. I didn’t feel it was my place to call him out.
But I couldn’t keep ignoring it.
I shot out of the chair and started pacing. Bloody hell. Why hadn’t I added all this up sooner? Sebastian needed control. He had to know everything, be in charge of everything. And I hated being controlled.
Why had I ever thought this relationship could work just because he liked me?
“Can I speak now?” Sebastian asked.
“Go on.”
“I wasn’t stalking you, or trying to catch you out. I tracked you down because I had news, something I had to tell you in person before it hit the press.”
“You could’ve called.”
“I did. I called and texted. You didn’t answer.”I fished out my phone. Sure enough, a few missed calls.
“I was in the middle of an important dinner.”
“With Fabrizio.”
“Yes!” I spun around and glared at him.
“And instead of trying to seduce him, I was trying to get him locked up”That stopped him.
In clipped tones, I told him about Inspector Silva, his vits, and my undercover dinner.
“Fabrizio was just about to give me a name when you barged in Now the whole thing’s a mess.”
I folded my arms and shot him a look that said, “This is your fault.”
But instead of looking guilty, Sebastian looked angry?
“You shouldn’t have done that,” he said.
“Done what?”
“Accepted Silva’s request. You put yourself at risk.”
“Fabrizio’s not dangerous.”
“He’s a criminal.”A white-collar one. He doesn’t go around waving guns and murdering people.”
“Back someone into a corner and see how quickly they get violent.”
“He’s not armed. And I can box.”
“That’s not the point. You shouldn’t have done it.”
“So now I need your permission to do things?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“It’s exactly what you meant!”He went quiet for a moment, then admitted, “It is. I just wish you’d talked to me first.”I looked away.
He was right. That was the worst part.
If I’d shown him Valmont’s books from the start, he might’ve spotted the red flags. He was sharp, and had a better eye for finance than I ever would. Maybe then I wouldn’t have dumped five million euros into a sinking ship, and I wouldn’t be scrambling now to recover it.
It wasn’t even the money that stung. It was the humiliation of screwing up, of looking stupid. And that was why I hadn’t told Sebastian. I hadn’t wanted to lose face.
“I don’t need you monitoring my every move,” I said.
“Silva used you. He could’ve made an arrest with what he had, but he wanted more, so he pushed you to get it. He used you to boost his own career.”I knew that. I just hadn’t cared. If the plan worked, Silvagot his promotion, and I got my money back.
But the plan didn’t work.
Now I could only hope Fabrizio was too drunk to remember how desperate I’d sounded tonight,
“You should’ve come to me. I would’ve got your money back, Sebastian said.
That set me off.
I KNOW! 1 know you could’ve fixed it. You run a bloody mpire and have strings everywhere. You could make things happen with a single call But that doesn’t mean I should crawl to you every time something Eoes wrong. I don’t want to be that woman, Sebastian not going to fall apart and beg you to fix my life for There it was Every insecurity I’d buried since we got scous Sebastian’s power didn’t comfort me, it made me feel small I could ask for help, and he’d gladly give He was like a towering redwood, solid and immovable Under that canopy, I’d be protected But what if one day that tree came down?
I didn’t want to be some parasitic vine, living off someone else, incapable of surviving alone.
Maybe it was better to end this before I forgot how to stand on my own.
I touched the engagement ring on my finger. It was a beautiful piece, simple, elegant. He’d clearly gone to one of the best jewellers.
But had he forgotten I was a designer too? Why hadn’t he asked me to design our rings? Wouldn’t that have meant more?
Or maybe he hadn’t forgotten. Maybe he just didn’t think my work was good enough.
I started to pull off the ring.
“Elean!” Sebastian’s voice snapped.
I looked up.
“What?”He was staring at my hand.
“I have news.”
“So do I.” I was done being a coward. It was time to walk away from the man who seemed too good to be true.
“It’s about your father,” he said quickly.
That stopped me.
“What about him?” Wasn’t Franklin still in prison?
“He’s dead.”You found her? Lea asked.
I nodded and sank onto the barstool beside her.
“She all right?”
“She’s fine. Or she had been, until I turned up, wrecked her dinner and blew up her plan.
“Told you the PII recommended was good.” Lea smiled. use him for business intel mostly, but he handles personal cases too. 1-“She paused, reading my face.
“Don’t go well, then.”There was sympathy in her voice, but I knew her well enough to hear the schadenfreude underneath.
“Elean just needs time.”Lea waved the bartender over and ordered a Boulevardier for me.
“That’s what I said. She needs time to process the news. Alone. You showing up probably made things worse. Did she lash out?”
“No.”
I took a long gulp. It went down smooth, but it didn’t touch the mess inside me.
I couldn’t forget the look on Elean’s face when I told her about her father. Or the look that followed when I explained how he’d died.
Shock. Anger. Blame. Rage. Hatred. Even disgust.
“So I was wrong,” Lea said.
Not quite Elean didn’t blame me, not out loud anyway. Hot she did say she needed space. She didn’t think it was a good idea for us to spend the night together.
So, just past midnight, I got kicked out. I drove aimless for a while and ended up here.
I drained the rest of the cocktail and signalled for another You should slow down,” Lea said.
“You’re the one whold me drinking solves nothing. No answers at the bottom of a glass. Only delusion, escape, lies and cowardice!
I’m not drunk I wished I were If I were, I wouldn’t remember very detail I’d be able to get the moment she reached for her cing and tp tahr it all Leaving Farb and leaning bet shour had been the Lee seed to spad no thumphis Fry was me, you didn’t have had to eh hack to Moline, and m of this would r I shook my head It’s out your leall Lae was our of my best son’s wat ve severe Cheyem 264 Ken they Target “Are you sure Pierre will sign the divorce papers? Taske She’d Down to Paris with me because her lawyer said Pre had agreed to a no contest divorce.
He doesn’t want to, but his parents will force him to. The Marchands care more about their money than their image You’ve put pressure on their overseas business, and I’ve threatened to leak Pierre’s dirty laundry to the press. His parents will hogtie him and drag him to sign if they have to. They’ll be glad to see the back of me. Never liked me anyway.”I patted her shoulder.
“You’ll find someone better.”From what Kylian told me, she’d married Pierre days after meeting him. Whether it was her mistake, his, or both, wasn’t mine to judge.
“Look at us. Pair of hopeless cases,” Lea said with a crooked smile. She raised her glass.
“To friendship”I clinked glasses with her and drank.
“Do you want me to come with you tomorrow to the meeting?” I asked.
The only time I’d met Pierre was outside her hotel room. He’d been high and drunk, slamming his fists on the door. He looked like a spoilt man-child, and I wouldn’t put it past him to get violent.
“Nah. I’ll bring my bodyguards.”
“You’d better.”
“What about you? What are you going to do about Eleanor?”I stared into my drink. For once, I had no idea.
“There you are.”We both looked up at the voice, soaked in spite “Pierre Lea stood abruptly.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Catching you in the act.”
He was clearly drunk. Bloodshot eyes Breath reeking of booze.
Me this the guy you’ve been fucking behind my back?
I pushed away the finger jabbing towards my face Wash your mouth.
He’s just a friend, Lea said Her voice wavered Something about her expression made my put twist didn’t look furious. She looked hopeful?
Friend, Pierre scuffed. I kose what that means Fuckdien Say that again and I’ll make sure you can’t speak for th was already in a foud mood Pantry was pacely to be my outlet Ooh Scary man” He take shivered so scary Loukot, I’ve got geosrbumps.
I knocked his arm away Piss off “Funny. That’s exactly what I was about to say to you.” He grabbed Lea’s waist.