Page 66 of Closer

Emily pops her head in. “Sebastian, there’s a Lilian Edmunds at reception asking to see you. Should I send her away?”

Lil? Here? Now?

“I can tell her you’re busy if you don’t know who she is,” Emily continues.

“No. Send her up. Immediately.”

Emily closes the door with a smirk.

Lil is here. She came. Why? She hates me. I didn’t think she’d want to see me. Fuck, I’m not prepared for this.

First, I need to apologize and explain myself. That didn’t work last time, so why should it now?

Wait.

The door opens, and there she is. Lil. Looking beautiful as ever, even with the guarded expression on her face.

She steps into the office, closing the door behind her. “Hi.”

“Hi.” I gesture for her to sit. “I didn’t expect to see you.”

“I’m sorry. I—” Her eyes flicker everywhere except toward me. “I’m not here for me. It’s about Gem. I can’t sit by anymore. Oliver won’t stop, and I’m scared.” She paces back and forth in front of my desk, wringing her hands. “She’s going to his place for dinner tonight, and it’s not a public place with people around. What if he hurts her? I’m not that close with Elijah, and—”

“Hey, hey.” I stand up, rounding my desk to cup her face. “Look at me. Breathe.”

She takes a shaky breath, her eyes locking with mine, tears threatening to spill. “Gem told Mary and me to keep quiet, but how am I supposed to stand by? I can’t…”

“Shh, it’s okay.” I gently stroke her cheek with my thumb. “We’ll figure this out.”

She leans into my touch, and I forget the chaos swirling around us. All I can focus on is the warmth of her skin and the way her breath hitches.

“Lil, is Gem being threatened by Oliver?”

She nods, a single tear escaping down her cheek.

Fuck. We already suspected it, but this is confirmation. That bastard’s going to pay for this.

“Thank you,” I say.

“For what?”

“For trusting me. For telling me.”

She shrugs, pulling back slightly. “You’re her brother, so…”

Her words cut deep, an echo of the past. Back in college, when she kept me at arm’s length, afraid that getting too close would destroy her friendship with my sister.

Is that all I am to her? Gemma’s brother?

Better than nothing?

“I know it wasn’t easy for you to come here,” I say gently.

“This is for Gem.”

“Listen, about what happened at the resort… I’m sorry, Lil. Truly.”

“Not now. Please.” She blinks back tears. “I want her to be okay.”

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