Page 35 of His Obsession
This was so, so stupid. What the hell was I thinking?
I press my hands over my face and groan. “I was just trying to get him out of my system.”
Gia, to her great credit, does not laugh.
Instead she says, “That was a deeply flawed strategy, but not our biggest issue right now.”
I let out a watery, miserable sound that might technically count as a laugh. “I can’t even think straight.”
“It’s okay,” she soothes. “You have time to figure this all out.”
“I don’t.” My voice cracks again. “I really, really don’t.”
There’s too much going on in my life right now. My business is finally taking off in a way I’ve only ever dreamed possible. I have a stalker dogging my every step, and to top it all off, I’m stilltrying to force myself to believe that my one night with Sebastian really was just one night. It’s a lot.
Gia disappears for a minute and comes back with water, pressing the glass into my hand until I drink.
“Okay,” she says, sitting beside me again. “We’re going to breathe. Then we’re going to talk like adults.”
I nod and take another sip of water. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“Should we try for big decisions or small ones?”
“I don’t know,” I groan. “Let’s tackle a big one, I guess.”
She nods and takes a deep breath, like she’s hesitant to say what’s on her mind. “I think you need to tell Sebastian.”
I shoot her a murderous glare, but she doesn’t shrink. She lifts her chin, defiant, in a way that says she’s not dropping this.
“Seriously,” she says, narrowing her eyes. “You two were really cute together on that dance floor. I know you were trying to keep a professional distance, but the gala is over. Why are you really avoiding him?”
Where do I even start? It’s such a complicated question, even though it shouldn’t be.
“He’s my brother’s best friend,” I remind her. “It would get messy.”
“Can’t get much messier than an unplanned pregnancy,” she points out. “Just think about it. Might be nice to open up to someone for once.”
Ouch.
“Okay.” I sigh. “You’re right. I need to tell him.”
“Good.” She grins. “Now let’s talk nursery patterns.”
I roll my eyes and take another sip of my water.
14
SEBASTIAN
It’s only ten, and I’m already in a bad mood. That’s not necessarily unusual, since I haven’t been in a good mood in days. Today is just not a great time to be dealing with the dark cloud hanging over my head.
I’ve got a security meeting at one, lunch with a hotel investor at two, and an accountant upstairs waiting to walk me through his less-than-honest books. Meanwhile, I’m distracted again thinking about Valentina. Incredibly inconvenient.
Six weeks have passed. The gala is settled. I’ve had every practical reason to put it behind me and move on. Instead, I catch myself replaying that night, wondering if I could have done or said something differently to make her come back for more.
I’m staring out the window over the LA skyline, lost in thought, when my assistant buzzes me.
“There’s someone here to see you.”
