Filed to story: Watch Out, I’m The Lady Boss (Eleanor & Sebastian) Book PDF Free
I wasn’t joking.
The thought of closing the studio, at least for a while, had been circling for days.
The competition collection had done well, sold out quickly.
Now the hype had cooled, and the orders weren’t pouring in anymore.
The celeb commissions I’d taken on were nearly finished What was left could be wrapped up by Priya.
No reason to keep dragging it out.
I sighed and glanced around the space.
The dent in the doorframe was patched, but I couldn’t stop seeing it.
After giving Priya the rest of the day off, I grabbed my keys and left.
There was nothing urgent left to do, and I needed something with sugar and butter for a mood boost.
I headed to Yvaine’s new patisserie, parked illegally, and ducked inside.
No sign of her behind the counter.
I ordered a lemon tart and a black coffee, found a table by the window, and called her.
“Didn’t you say you’d be at the shop all week? It’s launch week. Where the hell are you?”
“You’re there?” Yvaine sounded surprised.
“I’m at the dance studio with Cade. He’s rehearsing.”
“What? His doctor literally said no heavy movement.”
“Yeah, well, try telling him that. He’s being stubborn. The show starts filming right after the holidays. All the contestants can sing and dance. He’s solid vocally, but the dancing’s where he’s shaky. He’s trying to catch up before taping starts.”
“But it’s a bone injury. He shouldn’t be pushing it. That stuff takes months to heal.”
“He’s fine,” Yvaine said brightly.
“He’s young, he heals fast. And I’m keeping an eye on him, he’s not going to drop dead mid-step. Anyway, you came all the way to the shop to find me? What’s up?”
“I just needed sugar,” I muttered.
“Today’s been a mess. Thought I’d swing by, say hi, maybe steal a croissant if you weren’t looking. Since you’re off playing dance mum, I’ll finish my tart and head out.”
“What happened?”
I told her.
She swore loud enough to make my phone rattle.
“That’s ridiculous. And that’s twice in one week.”
“Exactly what I was thinking. Apparently, my bad luck’s trending.”
“Elean, that is not normal. You need a cleanse.”
“You mean like a spa?”
“No. A spiritual cleanse. Psychic stuff.”
I blinked at the window.
A pigeon landed on the sill and stared at my tart.
“Since when are you into all that?” I waved at the pigeon; it didn’t wave back.
“Since I started sleeping with someone who burns sage before bed.”
“Right. Hard pass.”
“Don’t knock it till you’ve been to her, She’s legit. Told me I’m marrying someone five years younger in four years. Said it’s a spring wedding. April, specifically,”
“Was your hot young boyfriend standing in the room when she said that?”
“Coincidentally, yes. But that’s not the point. If you don’t want the psychic, at least go for the view. Her shop’s in Elmridge, near The Skyveil Trail. It’s a tourist spot. Waterfalls, woods, vineyards, the whole thing. G****e it.”
I did after we hung up.
Apparently, it was more than just a trail.
There was Skyveil Falls, Echo Grove, The Overlook at Dusk, Pine & Pour Taproom, and Old Bramble Farm.
And a whole street packed with psychics, tarot readers, crystal shops, and energy healing pop-ups.
In the I*******m pictures, half the town looked like a glittery fever dream.
I scrolled through a few posts.
Reviews mentioned the air smelled clean, the quiet, and the food trucks.
It wouldn’t kill me to get out of the city for two days.
Even if I skipped the psychic, I could at least eat a decent lunch and stare at a tree for once.
I started looking at hotels.
And I kept looking after dinner.
Sebastian tilted his head from the far end of the couch.
“You’re going to Elmridge?”
“Yeah. Just for a few days.”
He straightened.
“I’m coming too.”
“Absolutely not.” I locked my phone and headed upstairs.
“You’re staying here.”
I made it halfway up before he caught me from behind.
One arm around my waist, then both feet off the ground “Sebastian! Put me down!”
“No.”
He carried me straight to the bedroom.
“You’re trying to ditch me. That’s what this is.”
Yeah, but I wasn’t stupid enough to admit it out loud.
“lready made plans with Yvaine. Road trip, just the two of us.”
“Yvaine’s going?”
“Yes. She wants some kind of psychic reading. She’s looking for a good luck charm for her boyfriend.”
“Cade?”
“Yup. I figured I’d check it out too, see if the woman’s actually psychic or just stoned.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck.
His skin was warm from the couch blanket, faintly lemony.
His jaw was still unshaven from this morning and a little scratchy against my cheek.
He reached the bed and sat down, pulling me into his lap I ended up straddling him without much of a say.
“Since when do you care about psychics?”
“Since my studio got wrecked twice in one week. We’re both starting to think it’s cursed. I thought, why not? You’ve got meetings all week anyway. It’s not like you’ll be bored.”
He didn’t look thrilled.
“So Yvaine’s boyfriend gets a good luck charm… and I don’t?”
“You want one?”
“If it’s from you.”
I leaned forward and kissed the corner of his mouth.
“I’ll buy you the most expensive one she’s got.”
Sebastian slid his hand around the back of my neck and kissed me harder.
“How long are you gone for?” he asked once we both caught our breath.
“Three days.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Day after tomorrow. Morning.”
He shifted his grip to my waist and pushed me down flat against the mattress.
“Then I better make up for the three days” lost time in advance.”
The next morning, I didn’t get out of bed.