“You are a beautiful woman, but I’m really not interested.”
“Ah, you’re playing hard to get. That’s no problem. I can make you hard in an instant.”
“Simone, please return to your work.”
“Let me suck you off,” she says in a very seductive voice, letting her bathrobe fall to the floor. She’s completely naked. “You can come all over me if you want to.”
Sebastian rises to his feet, Simone’s robe in his hand.
“Put this on. Now,” he commands.
I don’t dare to breathe. Simone puts on her robe.
“I can give you my number and we can meet after work,” she says.
“I will tell you this one last time. I am not interested in you. If you don’t stop this right now, I will have your contract with our company dissolved.”
Simone steps back as if Sebastian’s cracked a whip in front of her.
“Get over yourself, Bennett. I can sue you for sexual harassment.”
Sebastian laughs. “Please, try. I can afford the best lawyers. They will destroy you in court. I’ll make sure no one hires you again. Ever. You know I have the power to do that.”
Simone whirls on her heels and leaves the room.
I blink, stunned. He actually told her no? My mind must be playing tricks on me. She’s the most beautiful model I’ve ever seen, and she practically offered herself to him on a silver platter. Relief washes over me, and I begin—of all things—to sob.
Sebastian turns around, startled, and heads straight to the back of the room. To me. I pull myself to my full height.
His eyes widen. “Ava, what. . . Were you here the entire time?”
“I didn’t mean to. I came here to search for some clothes,” I babble, speaking so quickly I’m afraid he won’t understand a word. “I didn’t hear you come in, and I didn’t have a way to get out. I wasn’t spying, or. . .” I take a deep breath, fighting tears. “It’s not my fault.”
“What isn’t? Babe, you’re not making sense. Talk to me. I want to understand.”
I can’t open my mouth, because if I do, I’ll break down. It was always my fault. With Trey, it was my fault that I traveled so much. He had no choice but to cheat. With John, it was my fault that I wanted to surprise him on our anniversary. I mean, who goes to their boyfriend’s apartment without calling first? They always blamed me.
Sebastian puts his arms around me, snapping me back to reality.
“Shhh, Ava, relax. Why are you trembling?”
“You told Simone no?” The words come out as a question.
“Of course I did.”
“You didn’t even hesitate.” I still can’t believe it.
“I had no reason to. I have you.”
I breathe in and out rapidly, searching for words to tell him how much this means to me. He’s single-handedly restored my faith in humanity. I hadn’t had any idea I had lost it so completely, until I thought I was losing him too.
“You’re a great man, Sebastian,” is all I can whisper, though it doesn’t even begin to cover what I feel for him. Someone calls my name outside, and I pick out the dresses I chose earlier, carrying them on my forearm. I want to stride toward the door, but Sebastian remains in front of me, blocking my way.
>
“Ava. Wait.”
“The crew outside needs me.”