Page 17 of Corrupted Memories
It’s a pathetic thing to say, but I hadn’t expected him to be so blatantly proud of what he’s done.
Sebastian shrugs. “And?”
“And he didn’t do anything to deserve this. You could ruin his career.”
He stands from his desk, unbuttoning his cuffs to tuck in as he walks toward me. I backup, bumping into the table behind me and clutching the edge of it. He stops right in front of me, the warmth of his body seeking mine, and I catch the faint tendrils of his cologne. The familiar scent shoots arousal down to my belly. Sebastian’s stoic gaze roams over my face.
“He touched what ismine. Tell me, Gianna, have you fucked him yet?”
My heart stops because why is he even asking that? Could he tell if I try to lie?
I tilt my chin up, unwavering in my stare. “That’s none of your damn business.”
The man has the gall to smirk at me. “Good, you saved his life.”
He turns away from me, and I struggle to catch my breath at his taunt. Jeremy and I haven’t been fully intimate because I haven’t had the desire to get close to someone again. Sebastian’s threat is a reminder of why I left him in my past to begin with. I swallow the bile rising in my throat and stand taller as Sebastian sits again. He grabs a stack of papers, waving them to me.
I don’t move to take them. “What is that?”
He raises an eyebrow. “Come and see.”
We stay in a stubborn staredown until I relent. Ignoring the alarms blaring in my mind, I walk tohis desk and grab it. I flip through the pages in haste, skimming the words without grasping them fully because a part of me can already guess what he wants. “This is a relationship contract?”
I glance up at Sebastian, who is watching me with a calculation I cannot place. His face gives away nothing, no emotions or thoughts about what I stated. I narrow my stare and ask, “If I take this to a lawyer, is it real?”
He rests his ankle on his knee, blinking at me as if he’s bored. “As real as any contract is. It depends on what you’re willing to fight in the court of law.”
“And you’re above the law.”
Sebastian’s eyebrow raises, something briefly flickering in his eyes. “Am I? What makes you say that?”
My throat swells, nerves making my skin tingle and heart hammer. “My brother… He said?—”
“Said what, Gianna? Be very specific. Words matter.” The coldness in his tone makes me shiver. I’d told him that once.Words matter.Because they do, especially when you struggle to tell your girlfriend of over three years I love you.
Licking my dry lips, I set the papers down and take a step back. He needs to know exactly why it will never work between us. “He said your father is part ofthe mafia.”
Amusement lights his expression. “Sure.”
I blow out a bated breath. “Oh god. See, that’s?—”
“And what did your brother say about me?”
My body freezes as Sebastian waits, a harsh glint in his eyes as he stares me down. I blink, pressing my hand to my chest as I try to calm my racing heart. Something tells me not to repeat what my brother said, a warning that I’ll make things worse. I shake my head in refusal and Sebastian tsks.
“My company is completely above board. Any federal agency is welcome at my door to audit me whenever they want.”
That doesn’t mean anything when you kill people in the streetis what I want to scream at him, but I stay silent. I wasn’t looking to have this conversation when I came.
“Tell me the terms,” I say, changing the subject and breaking eye contact. I’d never consider dating him again, but knowing what he wants can help me formulate a plan with Matt. It conveniently fits my brother’s narrative anyway.
He lets out a sigh, standing to move closer and sitting on the edge of his desk right before me. His knee brushes against my thigh and I force my feet to stay, instead of tucking my tail and running.
“You’ll break up with your little boyfriend, move in with me, and give us a second chance.”
“Or what?” I ask. “What happens if I say no?”
“Why would you say no?” Sebastian’s head tilts to the side, truly perplexed by the idea.
