C15 Sebastian Steps In
The office felt colder than usual. Lia had arrived early, clutching the folder from last night, her thoughts racing faster than her pulse. Every shadow in the Kingsley Group tower seemed sharper, more threatening now that she held evidence of a hidden family rival.
She was supposed to be invisible, cautious, unnoticed. But someone had already found her—and others were looking.
Her phone buzzed with an unknown number.
“Watch your back. Not everyone you think is an ally is one. Blackwood knows more than he lets on.”
Lia froze. Sebastian. The name reverberated in her mind. He had noticed her on her first day, acknowledged her work ethic, yet remained distant. Could he be a threat—or the only one capable of protecting her?
Her decision made itself. She had survived this long by trusting her instincts. Today, instincts demanded caution and allies.
⸻
The Unexpected Meeting
By mid-morning, the office was busy with the usual flurry of papers, meetings, and muted conversations. Lia navigated it carefully, sensing someone’s gaze on her constantly.
“Lia,” a familiar voice called.
She looked up. Sebastian stood at the edge of her department, his posture relaxed but his expression unreadable. His dark eyes scanned her as if calculating everything about her in seconds.
“Yes?” she said cautiously.
“You’ve gotten yourself involved in things beyond your pay grade,” he said. His voice was calm but carried an unspoken warning. “Show me the folder.”
Her pulse quickened. He knows? But she also sensed a flicker of protection beneath his icy tone.
She hesitated for only a moment before placing the folder on his desk. Sebastian flipped through the papers with careful precision, his face unreadable.
“Interesting,” he murmured. “Someone is trying to control your past. And someone clearly wants to prevent you from claiming your place.”
Lia held her breath. “What… what can we do?”
He looked at her sharply. “We? This isn’t a game, Lia. The wrong move could ruin you—or worse.”
Yet, his next words carried a hint of… responsibility. “I’ll make sure you’re not taken off the board before you even have a chance.”
⸻
The Collaboration
Sebastian moved with efficiency. By noon, he had summoned a few trusted aides and briefed them on Lia’s situation without revealing her connection to the Kingsley family to anyone outside the room. Lia watched silently, amazed at how quickly he could strategize.
“You’re lucky,” he said finally, his gaze meeting hers. “You’re competent enough to survive this. Most wouldn’t last twenty-four hours with what’s coming.”
“I’m not afraid,” she said, though her voice was steadier than she felt.
“Good,” he said, and for a fraction of a second, a faint smirk touched his lips. “Fear is a luxury you can’t afford.”
Lia studied him. He didn’t coddle her. He didn’t offer false reassurance. And yet… she felt the first hint of safety she had in years.
⸻
First Real Threat Acknowledged
By evening, Sebastian escorted her to a secure room within the building—a place few knew existed, far from prying eyes and office gossip.
“You’ll stay here until I can determine who’s behind this,” he said firmly.
“I… I can’t stay hidden,” Lia protested. “I need to move, investigate—”
“Not today,” he interrupted, his tone sharp. “Your investigation without guidance will get you hurt. I’ll help you navigate this. But you follow my rules.”
She nodded, recognizing that for once, someone’s authority could actually protect her. Yet she felt a flicker of something else—a strange, unnameable tension between them, electric and restrained.
Sebastian turned, about to leave, then paused.
“Lia… you’re stronger than most. But don’t forget: even the strongest survive better with someone who sees them.”
The words lingered long after he left.
Alone in the room, Lia realized that for the first time, she had an ally in a world that had always tried to erase her. Someone who could see her—not just as a stray, not just as an employee, but as someone dangerous to underestimate.
And perhaps, slowly, someone she could trust.
