by Zoe Ann Wood
“And Sebastian has used your company before?” She was curious about that—and embarrassingly jealous at the thought that she wasn’t the first woman he’d sent to Mira. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy who would ever travel unprepared.
Her new fashion guru nodded regally. “Oh yes, just this morning.”
Lori blinked. “How…?”
“He needed a pair of jeans,” Mira explained.
Oh. He’d gone to the trouble of acquiring new clothes just to go out with her? She’d told him to dress casually because she hadn’t wanted him to ruin his perfectly cut suit during their morning excursions, but she hadn’t even imagined he would take her suggestion so seriously. Selecting a dress to wear to the opera didn’t bother her so much anymore.
When her glass of lemonade was empty, Mira motioned for her assistant to roll in a rack of colorful dresses.
“We’ll start with the key element,” the older woman said, “then work our way toward the accessories.”
Lori touched one midnight-blue gown. The silk felt like water under her fingertips, embroidered with the finest silver thread to form a constellation of stars. Then she turned to Mira, anguish shooting through her. “I’m sorry, I just… I don’t know what Sebastian told you, but I can’t afford any of these. I would love to, but…” She spread her arms to indicate her cute but off-the-rack dress.
A gentle smile touched Mira’s lips. “It’s all right, dear. We both know how it feels to step into a world like Sebastian’s. But he specifically told me to charge his credit card for whatever you decide to purchase.”
Lori stuttered, “What? I-I can’t…” Then she stopped herself and took a deep breath. “I’m not…comfortable taking advantage of him.”
“But you’re not. He set this up, not you.” The older woman’s voice hardened. “I see women who only seek out men like Sebastian to gain something from them. You did not do that, did you?”
Lori shook her head. “But still… Who is he?”
Mira shook her head. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you that. We take our clients’ privacy very seriously. You’ll have to ask him.” She swiped her hand out to the side to indicate the beautiful gowns. “You get to play Cinderella for a night. Sebastian can afford it. Why not enjoy the experience?”
Lori stared at the two women, then closed her eyes and remembered Hannah’s advice. Have fun.
“All right, let’s get started.”
Eight
Sebastian
His afternoon conference video call was taking forever. The grumpy faces of his father’s company’s board members stared at him from the suite’s large flat-screen TV, to which he’d hooked his laptop in order to be able to see all of them clearly. They were not impressed with his suggestions for the future of the company.
Ranging from old to ancient, the board members were a crooked lot who’d likely encouraged his father—or enabled him—in building his real estate empire on the work of underpaid workers and bribes to city officials who were willing to expedite building permits. Sebastian’s father had always boasted that he’d turned his own father’s small business into an international monolith of a company that now secured housing for the high rollers of DC.
“Your father’s turning in his grave,” Art Jenkins growled, a lawyer who’d been a staple at every Memorial Day party Sebastian’s mother had ever organized. “This is a disgrace.”
“This is the only way we can save you all from prison,” Sebastian argued. These idiots would soon be facing inquiries from every agency that punished crooks like them, from USCIS to the IRS, now that Sebastian’s father was no longer steering the ship. “I know you’ve raked in enough cash to last you through your retirement and fund your grandkids’ college, Arthur.”
“If you think we’ll let you close the company, you’re a fool.” This came from his father’s closest confidant. “Think of your mother and sister. What this would do to them.”
It was a low blow, Sebastian decided. He hadn’t told his mom or Sophie of the extent of his father’s corruption, but Sophie was smart. She’d figured out something was wrong and had been calling him weekly to demand an explanation. This trip to Europe had foiled another one of her attempts to get him alone and guilt the information out of him.
“This isn’t up for discussion,” Sebastian said. “I’ll inform you of the process once my lawyers figure it out. This was nothing but a courtesy call.”
He ended the call to a chorus of outraged spluttering. This would be a mess of epic proportions. But his father had at least done one thing that would make Sebastian’s work easier: he’d kept the company private, never selling the shares.
Sebastian had decided to sell all assets and use the money—billions, it would seem—to set right his father’s wrongs. He’d find every single worker who’d ever received an unfairly low wage, every loophole his father’s lawyers had exploited, and he’d make every effort to fix the past.
Just thinking about it had him groaning in frustration. But he wouldn’t touch the dirty money—and he suspected his sister would feel the same.
He wanted to loathe his father for being the man he’d been. But the truth was that Sebastian’s childhood had been a happy one, regardless of what he’d told Lori earlier about not being allowed to go to amusement parks. His father was always busy, yes, but he’d sometimes found time to come to Sebastian’s lacrosse games, and he’d always sat through Sophie’s ballet recitals like a proud dad. He’d been a faithful and devoted husband—Sebastian’s mother hadn’t had to work a day after she’d married him, which suited her perfectly.
Sebastian found himself wondering whether Lorelei would be satisfied living a pampered existence like his mother. To host charity lunches with the capital’s elite and wear pearls even to a picnic with her children.
Wow, he was thinking of his and Lorelei’s children now? Ridiculous. Sebastian shook himself out of the funk, stretching his arms above his head, though the shirt and jacket restricted his movements. He wished he could change back into the jeans and t-shirt he’d worn with Lorelei in the morning, but he needed to make one more phone call, then take a shower and get ready for the evening.
He poked the Call button, and several rings later, his business partner, Evan Munroe, appeared on the screen. It was still mid-morning in DC, but Evan was already disheveled, his shirtsleeves rolled up and his hair sticking in every direction as though he’d run his fingers through it. This meant he was deep in his creative flow, probably designing an ad that would wow their clients with its sheer brilliance and simplicity.
It also meant he’d only be half-present for their conversation. Evan was not good at multitasking.
“You need to return home,” Evan barked without a greeting.
Sebastian blinked. This wasn’t the distracted tone he was used to when chatting with his friend. “What’s going on?”
“Your sister is making my life miserable. She’s been to the office three times this week and she’s distracting me from my work. I’m on a deadline here!”
Sebastian stifled a groan. “Did she say what she wanted?”
“No, of course not. She brought coffee one time and donuts the other, then strolled around the place like she was visiting for fun. Then she asked innocent little questions about our current clients and your traveling plans.”
Sophie was looking for clues on why Sebastian was behaving oddly and was playing dirty by plying his best friend with sugar and caffeine in order to sniff out the truth. Sebastian sighed. “I’ll talk to her, I promise. Just don’t let her anywhere near my computer, okay? It’s password protected, but I’m sure she of all people could crack it in a minute.”
His younger sister was something of a programming genius and owned her own startup company that would soon rival Sebastian and Evan’s in yearly revenue.
Evan grumbled some more, then fixed his gaze on the screen. “How’s it going on your side?”
“I’m meeting the Klugs tonight at the opera,” Se
bastian explained. “And we’re set for a meeting at their factory tomorrow afternoon.” The contract was the biggest one they’d gone after so far. The redesign of the popular brand would have their agency’s visibility shooting straight up.
“You need to reel them in, man,” Evan said. “I already designed some preliminary materials if you want to show off a little.”
Their company ran on Evan’s genius at design—the man brought together the minimalistic influence of his schooling and a personal eye for color and fonts—and Sebastian’s impeccable business sense and affinity for numbers. They’d won several design awards in the past four years and were rising as one of the best advertising agencies on the East Coast, especially after completing a massive rebranding project for their friend’s company, Howe Industries. Daniel had trusted them with his enterprise, and others had followed suit. Sebastian and Evan co-owned the company, and their individual net worth put them well over the multi-millionaire mark.
So Sebastian had absolutely no need of his father’s inheritance.
“I’ll call you tomorrow after the meeting,” he told Evan, determined that he wouldn’t let Lorelei’s presence distract him from doing his job. He’d kept his eye on the prize for a decade, never veering off their projected track. He wouldn’t stop now, no matter how enticing the woman was.
Evan frowned at something beyond his screen. “I can’t believe it,” he growled. “What are you doing here?” he yelled at someone Sebastian couldn’t see.
A moment later, Sophie strolled into view, leaning over Evan’s shoulder to peer at the screen. “Hello, brother! How’s Vienna? Did you get any sightseeing in or are you stuck in your hotel as usual?”
Evan was leaning away from Sophie; he’d frozen in place the instant she’d put a hand on his shoulder. Her hair hung past her face, so she likely couldn’t see Evan’s expression, but Sebastian witnessed the strain that entered his friend’s features. Huh. He would really have to talk to Sophie about leaving poor Evan alone.
He fielded her attack with a touch of smugness. “I played tourist for an entire morning,” he told her. “I even rode the Prater Ferris wheel.”
Not that it had been a wholly enjoyable experience, what with the crowds and Lorelei’s near panic attack. But he’d managed to comfort her, and she’d trusted him enough to get her through. The warm sensation spreading through his veins was…pride?
His sister studied him, and he imagined the weight of her stare even though they were an ocean apart. “Good for you. You can tell me all about her when you return.”
“I…” Sebastian stuttered, then glared at the screen. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Sophie just laughed, her tinkling voice annoying Sebastian more than he cared to admit. Sisters. She knew exactly how to get under his skin.
“Stay away from the office,” he barked. “Stop distracting people from work.”
“Of course, brother,” she replied with a sweet smile that promised mischief and trouble. “Bye, Evan!”
She breezed out of sight, and Sebastian was left with a distinct feeling that a hurricane had just swept through Evan’s office—and his own hotel room.
“See?” Evan put his face in his hands, his words muffled. “I can’t take it anymore.”
Sebastian peered at his friend. “Are you okay? Maybe you should take a couple of days off. Go to the mountains or something. Hike a little and unplug.”
Evan was nodding absently now, reading something on his phone. “Sure. In a couple of weeks, maybe. You know it’s a busy time.”
It was always a busy time. Yet Sebastian wished now that he could take the next week—or a month—off and just enjoy being with Lorelei.
“Take care,” he told his friend and ended the call.
He had an hour before he had to pick her up from her hotel. That’s when he realized she hadn’t told him where she was staying. Her prudence both comforted him—she knew how to take care of herself—and grated, because he inexplicably wanted her to trust him. He wanted her, pure and simple, and a single night at a gala wouldn’t do.
Picking up his phone, he texted her to ask where he would be picking her up.
I’m staying at Die Wiener Königin, came her reply a minute later, and his heartbeat picked up a notch. This was a step in the right direction. Maybe he could tell her who he was sometime soon. She’d need to know if their…liaison had any hope of lasting beyond this evening.
Be careful. An insidious voice whispered warnings in his head while he headed for the shower. Some women had a habit of changing completely when they found out just how much he was worth. And while his gut told him Lorelei was the real deal, this would come up sooner rather than later. His lawyer would counsel him to have her investigated, he was sure of it. After the unpleasant experience with the woman he’d dated before Jasmine, he knew it was the prudent thing to do.
He’d once been young and naïve enough to believe that someone might be interested in him—just Sebastian, not the heir to the Lynch empire. He’d gone as far as purchasing an engagement ring before his lawyer had all but forced him to check his girlfriend’s past. The image hadn’t been pretty, and the confrontation that had followed even less so. The woman had taken photos of them in a very compromising position, threatening to expose them online, which was another reason why he loathed social media. The betrayal had stung, but it had taught him to be cautious. It was also why he’d never allowed his friendship with Jasmine to progress past a very shallow stage.
But Lorelei had drawn him in. Her every smile tied him to her, and every hour spent in her company had him wanting more. Yet their relationship couldn’t begin without knowing about her past.
A relationship? Sebastian realized it was too soon to be thinking of that, yet the word settled inside him, calming his inner turmoil. She might be exactly what he needed, if only he succeeded in convincing her that he was worthy of her. That he wasn’t the crook his father had been.
Drying off and pulling on the black trousers of his tuxedo, he dialed another number. When his attorney answered, Sebastian simply said, “I need a background check done immediately. Her name is Lorelei, and she’s staying at Die Wiener Königin hotel in Vienna. That should be enough for your guy, right?”
The attorney assured him the report wouldn’t take more than forty-eight hours. Satisfied, Sebastian dressed and took an extra minute to make sure his bow tie stood straight. He didn’t care whether Lorelei took him up on his offer and visited Mira’s establishment—she would be the most beautiful woman at the gala tonight, even if she arrived dressed in a potato sack. But he wanted to make a good impression on her. The stakes had risen, and he always played to win.
Nine
Lori
Lori stared at herself in her hotel room’s full-length mirror and tried to stamp down on her excitement. She looked like a fairy princess. Or maybe a queen. Mira had told her that her dress was Tyrian purple in color—and that royals of old had paid in gold for the pigment that had been made from a certain type of sea snails. Lori had thought the stylist was joking until she pulled out her phone and Googled it. Now she was happy no snails had had to die in the making of this dress, because it was absolutely spectacular.
“Are you sure it’s not too much?” she’d asked the quiet assistant when Mira had gone in search of a perfect pair of shoes for Lori.
The young woman had shaken her head. “The ladies go all out for premieres like this one. Only the cream of society will attend tonight.”
And me. Lori now chewed on the inside of her cheek and studied her reflection. Well, at least she looked the part. If she kept silent, nobody would realize she was just a travel agent from a mediocre suburb of Philadelphia.
Then she shook herself, straightening her shoulders. She would not care what other people thought about her tonight. She would enjoy the performance, this dress, and a handsome man’s company. And dinner. She was certain she’d enjoy dinner—Sebastian had an impeccable taste in res
taurants so far.
He was picking her up in ten—no, make that nine—minutes, so she stepped into her bathroom, blinking to make sure her contact lenses weren’t going anywhere. She reapplied her sheer lip gloss, checked that her winged eyeliner was still as perfect as Mira’s assistant had made it, and sprayed herself lightly with perfume. Then she worried she might have applied too much and stood at the open window in the hope that the evening breeze would carry some of it off.
The French window of her small, cozy hotel overlooked the street, so she witnessed the moment Sebastian arrived. That same black Tesla appeared from around the corner, gliding to a soundless stop in front of the hotel. Sebastian exited the car and buttoned his tuxedo jacket, the movement so graceful it had to be instinctual. This was his element, a scene he’d likely repeated countless times.
But then he paused, glancing up, and Lori retreated half a step so he wouldn’t catch her ogling him. He turned back to the car as though he’d forgotten something, but he merely straightened his bow tie, checking his reflection in the car’s polished window.
Facing the hotel again, he ran a hand through his blond hair, then started forward with a determined stride.
Lori couldn’t keep a smile from her face. He was nervous. Maybe not as nervous as she was about attending the ballet, but not completely sure of himself either. Butterflies fluttered madly in her stomach. She grabbed her clutch and ran out the door.
Descending the stairs to the ground floor in her high heels proved a challenge: she couldn’t see her feet because of her long dress. But Mira had assured her the heels were stable enough, so Lori chose to put her trust in the woman once more and walked with all the confidence she could muster.
The expression on Sebastian’s face was so awestruck, she knew in that moment that the afternoon spent in Mira’s atelier had been worth it.
