Filed to story: Watch Out, I’m The Lady Boss (Eleanor & Sebastian) Book PDF Free
There are no “justs”, Sebastian cut me off.
“As long as you’re happy, it’s worth every penny.”Soon after, Harry finished his call. He turned to Sebastian and said, “I’ve contacted the LGH legal and mergers and acquisitions team, and I’ve also reached out to the store’s owner. They’ll be here shortly.”
“Get the transfer done as soon as possible,” Sebastian told him.
“Yes, boss,” Harry replied with a nod.
I knew Sebastian’s people worked fast, but I was still stunned when, before the end of the day, I held a transfer agreement in my hands. Verris & Co had been bought by Sebastian for 200 million and transferred into my name.
“Now this store is yours,” Sebastian said.
“I… I can’t believe this,” I stammered.
“But I already have Elean & Joie.”
“Which is a studio specialising in bespoke orders,” Sebastian explained. You can keep this one as a retailer of ready-made pieces. You’ll get a broader customer base here.”I was speechless. I had no idea Sebastian had thought everything through for me. This wasn’t just a spur-of- the-moment decision, and it wasn’t simply a gift for fun.
The next day, I drove to the shop. Now that it was mine, I wanted to see how I could make the best use of it so I wouldn’t waste Sebastian’s efforts.
The store was open, and I spotted two familiar figures I never thought I would see there again.
I walked towards Pink Hair. She had slunk away quietly with Genevieve yesterday after realising Sebastian was serious about buying the entire store.
What was she doing back here? Was she checking to see if Sebastian had been bluffing?
As I approached, Pink Hair started to look uneasy. She nervously chewed on her bottom lip as she watched me.
I ignored her and turned to Genevieve, giving her a small smirk.
“What’s mine will never be yours, no matter how hard you try to steal it.”She just bit her lip and said nothing.
***
I left the mall in a much better mood.
“Where to next?” Kit asked as I climbed into the car. Sebastian had put him on chauffeur duty despite my protests that I could drive myself.
I gave him the address of an OEM factory on the outskirts of town. Priya thought they might be able to handle our custom orders, but I wanted to inspect their work in person. With a new shop under my name, there was so much more I could do. It was time to think about expanding production.
Head down, I scrolled through my tablet as Kit drove smoothly.
Suddenly, something bumped the car, and I jolted forward, held in place only by the seatbelt.
I knit my brows.
“What was that?”
“That car seems to be following us,” Kit said, his face going grim. He checked the rear-view.
“Do you recognise it?”I twisted in my seat and looked back. A black Toyota Camry trailed us, plates I did not recognise. The driver wore a baseball cap and I only caught a brief, partial glimpse of his face.
“I don’t,” I said.
A second impact hit us, harder this time, and my stomach dropped. I had a bad, crawling feeling.
Kit stamped on the accelerator to put distance between us and the Camry.
“It’s coming at us. I can’t shake them off,” he said, his voice tight as he watched the pursuer in the mirror. He was sweating, his hands trembling slightly on the wheel.
Who would be doing this? Could it be Genevieve? She wouldn’t be bold enough to try something like this, would she?
I fumbled for my phone. Just as I was about to dial the police, I changed my mind and pressed the first speed-dial number.
“Elean?” Sebastian answered on the first ring.
“Someone’s been tailing us and they’ve just hit our car. Twice now,” I said, trying to steady my voice.
“Send me your location,” Sebastian ordered, his tone going grim.
I shared my location with him at once.
The Camry struck us again, with such force that I gasped and shouted, “Faster!”
“I’m going as fast as I can,” Kit said, hands shaking.
“Any faster and we risk flipping.”
“Head for somewhere with people,” Sebastian said through the line.
“Get to a crowded area.”I relayed the instruction to Kit. He slammed the accelerator harder, but we were on a quiet stretch and the Camry had a clear run. We were originally heading out of town, and to turn back towards civilisation would take time we did not have.
The Camry struck us two more times in rapid succession. I lurched up in my seat and banged my head on the ceiling, stars exploding behind my eyes, a sharp, panicked pain.
“Elean, what’s happening? Are you all right?” Sebastian asked, his voice urgent.
“I’m fine… just knocked my head, a bit dizzy,” I managed, rubbing the throb at my forehead.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Were those gunshots?
I had never fired a gun in my life, though TV had taught me enough to recognise the sound. Belatedly, I regretted not taking Sebastian up on his offer to teach me to shoot, but there was no time for regrets.
Kit had floored the accelerator and the engine was screaming.
“They’ve got a gun, they’ve opened fire,” I shouted into the phone.
Before I finished, Kit swore.
“What?” I cried.
From the driver’s seat he hollered back, “They must’ve hit the tank! We’re leaking fuel. The car’s slowing!”
“Damn it!”Another jolt slammed my forehead into the back of the seat. It didn’t break the skin, but my head spun and pain flared.
Kit wrestled with the wheel and the car swerved to the right.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you,” he shouted, and at that moment we were struck hard again.
We were losing speed.
“I think the car’s busted. I’m going to pull into the car park, then we get out and run, understand?” Kit said, flinging his door open as he spoke.
I nodded.
“We’ll take the service paths. Their car won’t be able to follow us in,” he added.
I was grateful for those boxing lessons in high school and for keeping fit. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to keep pace with him.
“Car park ahead!” Kit yelled. It was the only sizeable structure nearby where we might hide.
I gritted my teeth and pushed myself to keep up. I heard the Camry’s engine cut out as it pulled up, but I knew the shooter would not be far behind.
We dashed across a patch of grass and a shortcut, then ran into the multi-storey car park. Our footsteps echoed ridiculously loudly in the cavernous space, where cars sat covered in dust sheets. Kit kept up a hard pace until he ducked us behind a massive concrete column, with nothing but a wall behind us.
My throat felt like sand, my legs had gone to jelly, and I collapsed onto the cold floor, sitting down hard. Kit dropped down beside me, breathing heavily.
“Shh, someone’s coming,” he whispered.
My heart slammed.
“The Camry?” I whispered back.
“Not sure,” Kit said, swallowing hard.
I hauled myself forward on my backside, peered out, and exhaled.
“It’s not them.”Kit let out a small, shaky breath.
Time dragged. We slowly caught our breath and the adrenaline began to ebb, restoring a little strength.
Another car arrived, and from the screech of its tyres it was coming fast.
My nerves tightened. Kit craned his head out, saw the car and said, excitedly, “It’s Mr Laurent’s car!”I stuck my head out and immediately recognised Sebastian’s Rolls-Royce. I had kept him on the line throughout, sending live updates of our location, but I waited until the car stopped and Sebastian stepped out before I revealed myself.
“Sebastian!” I cried, jumping up and running to him.
He quickened his pace and sprinted towards me. For a split second, his expression changed; his eyes widened with alarm and he threw his arms out. Instead of pulling me into him, those arms shoved me back.
Bang.
A shot. The gunfire cracked across the space and my ears rang. Time stretched as I watched a fine red spray bloom from his body.
Sebastian made a strangled sound, his knees buckled and he went down.
“Sebastian!” I screamed.
Kit leapt up, half-carrying, half-dragging Sebastian back to the Rolls and yelling, “Get in, get in!”
“Hospital!” I sobbed, tears falling onto Sebastian’s face as I cradled him in my lap.
“I’m fine,” Sebastian said, pale as paper. He forced his hand up and wiped my tears away, lips moving with effort.
“I’m fine.”
“Don’t talk. Save your strength,” I urged, voice shaking. I felt him struggling to breathe.
“Rest now. We’ll get you to the hospital.”
“Don’t cry. It’s okay. I’ll be fine,” Sebastian kept saying, trying to soothe me.
“I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“You’ll be okay,” I told him.