Cecilia’s pov
I froze in the doorway, instantly wide awake.
The fog of exhaustion that had been clouding my brain vanished like morning mist under a blowtorch.
Had I been even slightly more alert, I would’ve heard the voices before barging in.
Sebastian and Amara stood on opposite sides of his bed, locked in what was clearly a heated confrontation.
Sebastian’s face was thunderous, dark with barely contained rage.
Amara looked utterly humiliated, wearing nothing but a thin camisole top.
Both heads whipped toward at my entrance.
"Cecilia..." Sebastian strode toward , his expression shifting.
I held up a hand, stopping him mid-step.
"No need to explain. Beta Sawyer asked to wake you. Clearly, Miss Amara beat to it."
I kept my tone smooth, professional, and just sharp enough to draw blood.
"Good to see you’re awake, Alpha."
Sebastian opened his mouth, then closed it.
I forced an awkward smile, glancing once more at the rest room.
"I’ll... just be going." I turned to leave.
Sebastian followed back to my office.
I heard his footsteps behind and felt a flash of irritation, but what could I do? I turned to face him.
"Perhaps we could discuss this after work?" I suggested professionally. "I should remind you that your eting with the departnt heads begins in twenty-five minutes. You might want to ask Miss Amara to... make herself presentable. Otherwise, they might get the wrong impression, which wouldn’t reflect well on either of you."
"Are you always this calm, Miss Moore?" Sebastian’s voice was low, tension pulling at every syllable.
I t his gaze without flinching. "No. Just selective."
He stepped forward and pulled into a tight embrace before I could say more.
Sebastian buried his face in the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t handle that situation properly. She ca in without warning and I wasn’t prepared. But nothing happened, Cecilia. You have to believe that."
" I do believe you. That doesn’t an I’m okay with what I walked into."I said softly, my hand instinctively moving to stroke his back.
There was no reason for him to lie.
If Sebastian wanted soone else, he wouldn’t need deception--he was an Alpha, after all.
And the scene I’d walked in on clearly wasn’t intimate--tense and awkward, yes, but not romantic.
I wasn’t stupid.
I just hated this kind of drama. Even clumsy, ineffective drama was enough to sour my mood.
Sebastian straightened up, his eyes eting mine. "I’m resolving this tonight. I warned her--one more incident and she leaves Denver. I ant it."
I arched a brow. "You warned her before. She’s still here."
I stepped away, smoothed my blouse.
"Now, if you’ll excuse , I have actual work to do. And you have a eting to lead--ideally in sothing that covers more than your collarbone."
Sebastian’s mouth quirked in a reluctant half-smile. "Go ahead."
With a sigh, I walked back to his dressing room, but Amara had already vanished.
Thank the Goddess for small rcies.
I returned and helped Sebastian back to his office, handing him his suit.
While he dressed, I straightened up the rest area, wrinkling my nose at the lingering scent of my perfu.
Then a disturbing thought struck .
Sebastian usually slept like the dead.
What if Amara had... taken advantage of him while he was out cold?
What if she’d kissed him? Touched him?
Both?
The ntal image hit like a bad tequila shot--hot, nauseating, and completely unwanted.
He was still my man-candy, dammit. And I wasn’t in the mood to share.
Sebastian was adjusting his tie when he caught glaring at him.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked cautiously.
"Nothing!" I snapped.
I stord toward the door, then whirled back around, unable to contain myself.
"Would it kill you to lock your damn door? Even n need basic self-preservation!"
Sebastian stared at for several seconds, then deliberately loosened his tie.
"Co here. You can inspect for yourself if you’re that worried."
I responded with an indignant huff.
"I’m not a TSA agent, Sebastian."
A knock at the door interrupted us. I quickly fixed his tie, then went to open it.
By the ti the executives filed in, Sebastian was seated at his desk, the very picture of corporate authority.
I stepped out, closing the door behind .
After work, I texted Sebastian that I needed to deliver Harper’s dress and left without waiting for a reply.
Sebastian’s pov
I drove back to the Black estate, my jaw tight, hands still clenched on the wheel long after I’d parked.
No sooner had I shut off the engine than another car pulled in behind mine.
Amara slipped out, her mascara streaked and her posture rehearsed.
"Sebastian, please, I was wrong," she said, grabbing my arm before I could shut the door. "I shouldn’t have done that earlier. Don’t make leave Denver--please."
I wrenched my arm free and walked toward the house without a word.
I’d called ahead to let my parents know I’d be coming ho for dinner.
My mother’s voice had been taut--the kind of tight politeness you hear when soone’s already picked a side but doesn’t want to say it out loud.
So I wasn’t surprised to find her standing stiff near the entryway, her heartbeat practically audible.
Dad, as always, tried to buffer. He smiled, a little too brightly.
"Well, isn’t this a nice surprise? Both of you ho," my mother said, her voice straining under the weight of forced optimism.
I pulled out a chair and sat. Said nothing.
Amara followed, her face pale and tight, like she was bracing for impact.
The air in the room shifted--not quite silent, but loaded.
"Mother," I said eventually.
She flinched slightly, then recovered. "Don’t bla Amara. She’s just... having a hard ti letting go. Give her a little space--I’ll talk to her."
"I already gave her space," I said, my voice flat. "I made myself clear before she ca back. You rember what I said?"
"Of course," she nodded quickly. "You said not to make trouble for Miss Moore. And she hasn’t! I heard they’ve been getting along quite well."
I looked at her evenly. "Whether she’s bothering Cecilia is beside the point. She’s bothering ."
My gaze cut to Amara.
"Would you like to spell out exactly how?"
Her cheeks flushed, lips parted, but no words ca.
I turned back to my mother.
"Showing up uninvited. Undermining my boundaries. Publicly humiliating the woman I love."
"That’s not passive. That’s targeted."
I leaned back, letting the silence do the rest.
"So here’s where we are," I said. "Either Amara leaves Denver, or I bring Cecilia here--and you can explain to her why she’s suddenly walking into a house where she’s not wanted."
"Your call."
All three of them stared at like I’d just flipped a table.
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