Filed to story: Watch Out, I’m The Lady Boss (Eleanor & Sebastian) Book PDF Free
And our fake marriage.
And the fact that I didn’t have a ring to prove it.
I must’ve paused too long, because Finn backtracked with a wince. Sorry, I didn’t mean to-“No, it’s fine,” I cut in.
“I’m not dating anyone right now.”Which, strictly speaking, wasn’t a lie.
Finn checked his watch.
“You hungry? Let’s head out for lunch.”
“Sure,” I said, grabbing my phone and standing up.
“But I’m buying He chuckled.
“Alright, but I’m picking the place. There’s this little bistro near Park & Fifth. They’ve got the best spicy Cacio e P** e in the city.”I blinked.
“Ha. You remembered.”
“Of course I did.”Minutes later, we slid into a booth at the bistro and ordered.
Once the waiter left, I leaned back and said, “So. Catch me up. What’s life been like post-graduation? You know my story now. What about yours? Seeing anyone?”He shook his head.
“Lawyer life’s a black hole. Billing hours kills romance. Plus… I’m waiting for the right girl.”While Eleanor was sitting in the bistro with Finn, ten miles away and sixty-eight floors up, Sebastian finally found out-second- hand-that she was suing Daniel Granger.
The moment the glass doors to his office swung shut, Sebastian hurled a thick stack of contracts straight at Cassian Langford’s chest.
The hit landed with a meaty smack.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me earlier?”Cassian stumbled back, one hand catching the papers, the other slapped to his ribs.
“Jesus, mate, trying to bruise a lung or what?
Sebastian didn’t answer.
The tension in his jaw said plenty..
Cassian straightened, rubbing at his ribs with exaggerated flair.
“Look, I didn’t know either, alright? It’s not like Daniel and I are besties in a group chat. How the fuck was I supposed to know he was running his mouth?”
“Then how do you know now?”
“Yaine’s birthday party. Eleanor had a go at him. Daniel and his girlfriend were both there. Things got… messy. I just kinda forgot to mention it.”Sebastian’s jaw flexed again.
His eyes were already dark, but now they looked like wet asphalt before a storm.
“When was her birthday?”
“Three days ago? You told me to go, remember?”Another folder slammed into Cassian’s shoulder.
“And what exactly did I tell you to do at that party? Ogle the influencers? I said watch Eleanor. That prick Granger was dragging her name through the dirt and you didn’t think to open your mouth?”Cassian held up his hands.
“Look, it wasn’t that bad. Yvaine backed her up, and Daniel fucked off with his girlfriend. Situation handled. Plus, Eleanor’s got a lawyer. She’s already suing him. What more can you do?”Sebastian jabbed the intercom.
“Get Legal up here. Now.”Cassian sank into an armchair and watched while Sebastian launched a barrage of clipped instructions at the head of Legal.
Once the door clicked shut behind the lawyer, Cassian gave Sebastian a slow once-over and clicked his tongue.
“What?”Cassian clicked again, grinning.
“Just… never seen you like this. You’re properly gone for her, aren’t you?”Sebastian’s answer was bone-dry.
“Didn’t I tell you at The Rookery?”
“Yeah, yeah. About how you met her years ago and it was all fate and stardust or whatever. But I don’t get the same energy from her, you know?”
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed.
“What energy.”
“The one you’re radiating right now.” Cassian pointed at him.
“That look on your face whenever her name comes up. You need a mirror, mate. You’re practically glowing. Your eyes are sparkling like a fucking TikTok filter.”If you’ve got time to sit there sounding like an extra from Gossip Girl, you’ve got time to leave.”Cassian smirked.
“What, are you shy now? Come on, Seb, we’ve been through hell together. I thought I’d seen every version of you. Turns out I missed the one who acts like a high school kid on is first date.
Sebastian flicked him a glance.
“Not all of us were teenage Don Juans “I’d prefer to be called a young DICaprio. Anyway, I was chatting with her at Yvaine’s party, right? Tried to dig a little. For your sake, obviously.”
“I told you to keep an eye on her. Not interrogate her.”Cassian raised both hands.
“Whoa, calm down. If it’s illegal to be a concerned friend, throw the cuffs on. Anyway, I asked her a few things-normal stuff. She was polite, yeah, but guarded. Real areful. Didn’t give me a damn thing I could use.”Before Sebastian could snap at him again, Cassian added in a hurry, Not that I was looking for things to use against her. But you know how it is, people in our circle burn each other for sport. Doesn’t hurt to do due diligence, right?”Sebastian nodded for him to continue.
“Everyone knows about her and Daniel. They were engaged, what, three years? Four? That’s practically a decade in our world. Then she dumps him and marries you in less time than it takes me to replace my tailor. You can’t tell me that’s not a red flag.”
“I told you already,” Sebastian cut in, sharp.
“I pushed for the marriage. She didn’t want it. I did.”Cassian held his hands up again.
“Alright, alright. Don’t bite my head off. I’m just saying, if this isn’t just another PR stunt and she’s actually your wife-wife, then I should get to know her. She’s gonna be part of your life, which means she’s gonna be part of mine.”Sebastian didn’t respond. His silence gave Cassian room to keep digging.
“So, yeah. I asked. Prodded a bit. And… I gotta be honest, man, I don’t think she feels the same about you.”Sebastian stilled.
Cassian pressed on.
“She didn’t seem to remember Florence. Or Eindhoven. At least, not the way you remember them.”The silence stretched.
Sebastian didn’t flinch, didn’t blink, didn’t react at all.
But Cassian had known him long enough to spot the way his shoulders lowered just a fraction.
“You didn’t tell her, did you?” Cassian asked, more gently now.
“Tell her what?”
“That you love her.”Sebastian turned away without answering.
He walked to the window.
The skyline pulsed under him, this city he’d once sworn off.
He’d come back anyway.
For her.
“I haven’t,” he said finally.
“Why the fuck not? If I like a girl, I tell her.
“Oi, be my girlfriend.” Done. If I’m dumb enough to want to marry her-God forbid- I’ll just say it. But you? You’ve been circling her like a damn border collie. You, of all people. Mr “You’re fired” before the coffee’s cold. Now you’re moving like every step might blow up.”Sebastian finally turned.
“If you were carrying a fifteenth-century Flemish reliquary, one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable, would you be sprinting with it?” He let that sit for a beat.
“Didn’t think so.”Cassian groaned, dragged a hand down his face.
“Jesus. Eleanor” not a fragile relic, Sebastian. She’s a woman. A pretty tough one at that. You’re acting like she’ll crack if you breathe too hard ear her.”
“I don’t want to scare her off.” Sebastian’s voice dropped lower, rougher.
“She’s not ready. Not yet.”Not until he’d erased Daniel Granger from every inch of her life.
His fingers curled against the desk.
The same fingers that had once skimmed her body.
The same ones that had memorised the curve of her waist, the softness of her thigh, the exact moment she’d stopped pulling away.
Now they twitched like they wanted to smash something.
Preferably Daniel’s jawbone.
Cassian looked at him sideways.
“You planning on waiting forever?
When I got back from Finn’s office, Geoffrey greeted me with lits dual calm face and a little bombshell “Mr Laurent will be dining at home tonight.”Which meant he’d probably be sleeping here tonight.
Great.
Not that I was expected to do the whole wife routine in bed-thank God but still, I was nervous.
Dinner was being served when he walked in.
We sat across from each other, all polished cutlery and polite silences.
He looked like he was waiting for me to say something, but I had no idea what.
Then he asked after the first course, “I heard Daniel Granger’s been telling people you cheated on him?”I nodded.
Soon, Daniel was going to get a nice little surprise in the form of a lawsuit.
“He’s talking shit,” I said dismissively, reaching for my wine.
“My lawyer’s on it.”Sebastian dished risotto onto my plate with a serving spoon.
He did it so naturally, like he’d been doing it for ages instead of the first time.
“I always said Daniel Granger’s unstable.”
“You’re probably right.” I stabbed a piece of asparagus. Well, this time, I’m not letting it slide. He wants to lie, he can lie to the judge.”Sebastian’s lips quirked.
Barely.