Page 9 of Sebastian

What the heck? Why would someone leave a message like that for her?

I’m watching…She had been having those weird feelings that someone was following her, even watching her when no one was around. If she did sell the bakery, she’d have enough money to run. The new ID sitting in her duffle bag under the sofa in her office flashed in her mind. She could be Emmylynn Johanson.

Her heart clenched. She didn’t want to run. She hadn’t always been Emma Sullivan, but who she was now fit her heart so completely, why would she give that up? There was no way she wanted to leave all her friends and her business and start over.

But why tell her to sell and run? If her past had really caught up with her, there was no way her business had enough equity to pay the debt she owed, plus all the interest that must have been accruing since she escaped. A sickening thought crossed her mind.

What if the note was from Sebastian? He had asked if she was interested in selling. What if he didn’t like hearing her say no? Could the car from that morning have been orchestrated by him?

Blood pounded between her ears and heat rose in her cheeks. She moved to the front of her store, looking out the window at Montgomery Equities, still lit up even though it was late at night. And sure enough, there was a shadow in a second story window. He was watching her.

Heat nearly burned her from the inside, rage coursing through her body. If he thought for a single moment that she would take the threat lightly, Sebastian Montgomery had another thing coming.

Grabbing her keys and bag from behind the counter, she stomped to the front door and pulled it open. She checked over her shoulder, and sure enough, he was still in that damn window. Flipping the lock, Emma pushed her keys into her back pocket and marched across the street. The feeling of being watched was still there, not just from Sebastian’s office, but from somewhere more distant. Maybe down the road? Her imagination was causing the hairs on the back of her neck to tingle, but she didn’t have time to stop and look. Right now, she was fuming that this man, who had unlimited resources at his disposal, would turn to death threats the very same week she’d turned down his offer to buy out her shop.

She opened the door to Montgomery Equities with such force, the Hulk would have been shocked, and stared at Natalie, sitting wide-eyed behind her desk.

“Emma. Is everything okay? How’s your arm feeling?”

“He’s upstairs, right?”

Natalie’s eyes grew wide at her question. “Who? Mr. Montgomery?”

“Yes.”

“Well, yes, he is, but he’s on a phone call right now and can’t be disturbed. I can tell him you stopped by. I’m actually not even supposed to be here right now, just had to finish up some last minute paperwork before I pick Addie up from her first dance class.”

“No. He will not get away with this.” Emma waved the card in front of Natalie.

“I-I don’t know what that is, but you’ll have to come back tomorrow, Emma. I’m sorry, but it’s late and he’s not available for another meeting before the day is through. I’m just about to head out myse?—”

“That’s fine, Natalie. I’ll mention that you didn’t want me to go up.” Without looking at the poor woman’s face, Emma turned and headed for the second floor offices.

Her feet pounded up the stairs as she searched to find the source of light she’d seen from the street just a moment before.

A tall shadow was now pacing behind a large, industrial styled desk. He was clearly on the phone, but she didn’t care. Swinging open the glass door, she registered the shocked look on his face as she began yelling.

“Listen here, Suits. You think you can just come in and bully me into selling you my shop?”

“Cooper, I’m going to have to call you back,” he said into the phone, before saying goodbye and hanging up.

“Sprinkles. I didn’t realize you’d be stopping by tonight. How’s your arm feeling?”

“How dare you!” Heat radiated off of her so strongly she was surprised he wasn’t moving back.

“You’re going to have to give me some more context. I thought we both enjoyed our playful banter.”

“You threatened me. I wouldn’t call that playful banter.”

His face turned to stone. “I what?”

“This note. Did you deliver it yourself or did you make Natalie do your dirty work for you? How that sweet sprig of a woman thinks working for you is a good idea, I’ll never understand.”

“I’m honestly not sure what you are talking about.”

He obviously was skilled at deception. Probably a part of his training in the Navy. If not there, surely in the boardroom. She couldn’t take his reaction at face value. But if he hadn’t been the one to send the note, then…no. That couldn’t be an option. It had to be Sebastian.

“This note! I know it came from you. Why else would it mention selling my business?” She threw the card onto his desk. “Did you send that car after me today so I’d feel unsafe? I saw you watching me just now as I locked up the shop. Were you trying to see if you’d upset me? Because you have.”

---