“I’ll see both of you later,” Logan says, taking off.
The second he leaves the room, the air thickens with tension. Sebastian gazes at me intensely with thinly disguised curiosity. Being the object of his attention sets me on fire. The burning spreads through my body, filling me up, but I hold his gaze.
Abruptly, he stands up. “Let’s go. Do you want to do the tour first or grab lunch?”
“I’m not hungry yet. Let’s do the tour first. I’m looking forward to it.”
He nods, gesturing me to join him. He shows me my office briefly, and then we walk in silence down the corridor. When we step inside an empty elevator, he puts a hand at the small of my back. It electrifies me, sharpening my senses, zapping to life all my nerve endings. Damn it, Ava, get a grip.
Chapter Three
Ava
Alone with him in the elevator, I keep my eyes firmly on the ground. His masculine scent is intoxicating. We stop briefly on every floor, and Sebastian explains which departments work where. Every division is here, except production—it’s in the smaller building adjacent to this one.
“How come you keep the production here too?” I ask. “Most companies outsource that activity, or move it to a cheaper location, not San Francisco.”
Leaning in to me, he says, “We don’t have large production runs, so the factory itself is small—more like a workshop. Keeping it here is motivating for the employees. Whenever they are frustrated with everyday tasks, all they need is a trip next door. They can see it’s not all numbers. It’s beauty.”
His enthusiasm surprises me. CEOs are usually all about numbers and profits, the core and essence of the company long forgotten. Then again, Sebastian created the company. He is a passionate founder.
Something tells me he is a passionate man in everything he does.
I steel myself, mentally cursing. I can’t lust after Sebastian. I have a no-fraternization clause in my contract. My boss would fire me in a minute if I crossed the line from professional to something more. I can’t afford that. I’m saving for a down payment for my own apartment in New York, which costs an arm and a leg. Owning my own place has been a dream since forever. While I was growing up, Mom always worried about rent and being evicted. When she was alive, the idea of having a place we could call ours seemed like a safe haven. I wish my mom could be around the day I finally have the keys to my very own apartment.
Anyway, a man like Sebastian—with his unbelievable looks and impressive wealth—is not in my league. Not at all.
Our last stop is the first floor. The elevator comes to a halt, and the doors open to reveal a chaos that contrasts starkly with the order above. For one, it’s an open office. Then, everyone wears casual clothing, running around as if their life depends on it. Sketches, energy drinks, and empty pizza boxes clutter the desks.
“This is the creative department,” Sebastian announces as we step out of the elevator. He raises his voice so it’s audible over the background noise of voices, printers, and general madness. “I call it our playground.”
“Brother,” an attractive blonde calls from across the room. She hurries our way, stopping in front of us. She wears a figure-hugging green dress and nude stilettos, which I eye with appreciation.
“You must be Ava,” she says. I answer with a nod. “I’m Pippa.”
“The creative genius behind everything,” Sebastian supplies.
“Aww, my sweet brother, singing my praises.”
Sebastian puts an affectionate arm around his sister. She fakes pushing him away for a split second, then returns the half hug. Warmth and a little jealously fill me. It must feel wonderful to have such a tight-knit family.
“I wish I could stay longer with you two, but I need to get about a million things done. Ava, let me know if Sebastian doesn’t treat you right. I’ll kick his ass.”
“He’s been very nice so far,” I say. Sebastian chuckles at my emphasis on nice. “He’s even taking me to lunch.”
“Well, you two have fun.” She takes off, heading back to her desk.
As my eyes follow her gorgeous stilettos, I realize the room has quieted down. Most people are behind their desks now, throwing furtive glances at Sebastian. Thanks to this newly created order, I notice the jewelry holders scattered on the desks throughout the room. They hold different things from raw gemstones to finished necklaces, bracelets, or earrings.
“This is so interesting,” I say, as we pass through the desks. “Can I see the production workshop, too?”
“We can do that another day if we want to get lunch.”
“Okay.”
I come to a stop in front of an empty desk, pointing to the necklace on the holder. “This ruby is beautiful.” Sebastian merely gives me a tight, uncomfortable nod, but I lean over the desk, closer to the gemstone, and continue. “I’ve worked with luxury goods companies before. However, gemstones and diamonds are magic. There is something so pristine about them, so pure.”
I catch Sebastian staring at me. His gaze is filled with disbelief, of all things. “They don’t look like this when they’re dug up. They must be polished first.”