3

Sebastian

A few hours ago, I was in New York, where I lived. But because of my task, I had to come here. I was on my way from the airport when some batshit crazy girl ran in front of my speeding car, and I managed to stop at the last minute.

"Fantastic," I muttered under my breath as I climbed out of the vehicle to confront... her. The moment I laid eyes on her, recognition struck. My father had drilled this encounter into me since I was five. Yet, the randomness of running into Melissa Atkinson, my target, right after landing in LA, was uncanny.

"Lucky you," I remarked internally.

"Are you okay?" I inquired, ensuring my car hadn't collided with her.

"What a sudden change of heart!" she retorted sarcastically. "Just a second ago, you were calling me insane, and yet here you are driving like a maniac!"

Her sassy retort drew a smile from me. She was bold, and I admired it.

"What now? Cat got your tongue?" she snapped, irritation evident in her voice. "Didn't you see the thirty-mile-per-hour speed limit? You were doing at least sixty!"

"My mistake," I smirked. "Let me make it up to you." I gestured for her to join me in the car.

"You expect me to get into a car with my potential killer?!" she exclaimed, exasperated, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Like I said, let me make it up to you." I moved to the other side of the car, opening the passenger door, and looked at her expectantly.

She appeared disheveled. A stunning mess, I should say. Her large brown eyes, usually sparkling like diamonds, were now red and swollen. Mascara streaked her face, evidence of recent tears. She stood barefoot, clutching her heels in trembling hands. Yet, despite it all, she remained a goddess. Her shiny, waist-length platinum-blonde hair danced in the wind, with a few shorter strands framing her face, adding to her allure.

"Come on. It looks like you're at a loss. Let me drop you off somewhere," I suggested, receiving no immediate response. "Unless you prefer to march barefoot for who knows how long and risk getting run over by some crazed driver," I added, referencing her earlier remark, and she smiled.

"Fine. Just because you owe me for almost running me over," she relented, sliding into the car.

Satisfied, I smiled and shut the door behind her. This was shaping up to be quite the night.

We drove for about half an hour, the sound of the engine drowning out any conversation. I pretended to focus on the road, but I could sense her eyes on me.

"Like what you see?" I teased, knowing she had been staring at me.

"Don't flatter yourself!" she retorted, unfazed, and I chuckled.

"Then stop biting your lip while staring at me, and maybe I'll stop flattering myself," I quipped, still keeping my eyes on the road. She shot me a surprised look, as if wondering how I noticed.

"I was just curious about your name," she said, attempting to sound casual. "Nothing more."

I briefly glanced at her before returning my attention to the highway. She looked adorable with her flushed cheeks.

"It's Sebastian," I replied, and she nodded in acknowledgment.

She leaned back in her seat, gazing out at the bustling landscapes of LA. We were driving along US Route 101, also known as the Hollywood Freeway. I caught her reflection in the mirror. She seemed contemplative, and I wondered what had transpired before our encounter, prompting her frantic dash as if she were fleeing from reality.

"Where are we headed?" she inquired shrewdly, as if awakening to something, and I couldn't help but smile.

We entered the gleaming lobby of the Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons hotel, and I noticed Melissa got tense. She bent down her head as if wishing she could’ve been invisible.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, slightly concerned.

“Nothing,” she hesitated. “I just… don’t want anyone to recognize me,” she whispered. She was frowning and bit her lower lip anxiously while gazing up at me from under her lengthy, black eyelashes, and my lips curled in a soft smirk. I found it cute that she was so… innocent.

“Why does it matter?” I asked, trying to hide my amusement.

“Oh, stop acting like you don’t know.” She seemed embarrassed, covering her face with her hand. “I saw my reflection in the car’s window on our way here. I look like complete chaos.”

“That’s not true. You look… cute.” I caught myself smiling at her like a fool. “Besides, you’re here with me. I’ll punch anyone who dares to say something that would offend you.”

That was so damn lame. What am I now? Her knight in shining armor?

But she smiled, and for some reason, it felt nice. “You don’t understand. They know me here. And I no doubt remind them of some kind of a pickup street girl now. Just go to check-in, and I’ll wait here. Please.” She gave me puppy eyes, and I gave in.

“Okay. I’ll be right back.”

I went to the reception, but all I could focus on was her. I glanced in her direction and saw a tiny, petite woman anxiously hiding from the world, wondering how I was supposed to see someone this fragile as my enemy?

I watched Melissa lean against the wall, reeling in embarrassment, when a desk clerk's voice snapped me out of my thought, “Here you go, Mr. Vanderbilt.” A beautiful brunette in her twenties said as she handed me the key to my suite, smiling politely, “Enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you,” I grabbed the key and headed toward Melissa, my gaze focused on her the entire time.

“We can go.” I took hold of her hand and led her toward the elevators.

I pressed the top floor button, and we watched the elevator door closing in silence.

“So?” She paused, hesitant. “You’re staying at a hotel?”

“Yeah, I’m not a local.”

“So I’ve figured.” Her eyes were carefully scanning my face. “What brings you here?”

“Business,” I stated, without the intent to elaborate.

“What kind of business?” She tried to drag something out of me, but I just smiled.I heard the elevator ring, and we headed to my presidential suite.

“WHISKEY?” I ASKED, holding a scotch bottle.

“Yeah, please,” she said quietly. “Why exactly did you bring me here?”

“I told you,” I said casually. “I wanted to make it up to you somehow.”

“It?” She raised an eyebrow and curled her lips in a soft smile.

“That I nearly hit you with my car.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” she reluctantly admitted. “You don’t have to feel obligated to babysit somebatshit crazy chick who ran in front of your car in the middle of the street, you know?”

I smiled, fetching her the drink, and she tilted her head to the side, frowning, again with a soft smile.

“What’s so funny?”

“That’s what I was thinking about you a while ago.” I’d been struggling to hide the amusement.

“Thinking what about me?”

“That you’re batshit crazy,” I scoffed. “But now—” I paused, contemplating my words.

“But now?”she demanded an answer.

“But now I see you’re not some crazy chick, but a fragile human being dealing with some shit.” She seemed surprised, and we kept staring into eachother’s eyes for what felt like an eternity. It felt weird. As if no words were needed. As if I could read right through her. As if we had some kind of an instant connection.

“Yeah, well,” she was rubbing the back of her neck with her long, slender fingers while biting her bottom lip anxiously.

She drank the whiskey I fetched her in one go while I slowly took a few steps toward her. I overlapped her hand in which she was holding the glass with mine, and our eyes locked. I gently took the drink away from her and set it aside on the glass table behind us. I tilted her chin with my fingers, and my gaze dropped down to her slightly parted mouth. I couldn’t fight the urge and brushed my thumb over her soft lower lip, and I noticed her body was shivering. Fuck, she was so gorgeous. Was it wrong of me that at this moment, all I wanted to do was rip off her silky dress, lingering against her sultry body, and fuck her against the wall behind her, so hard that all the hotel guests would hear her screaming out my name in pleasure?

“Melissa…” I whispered, leaning in with every intent to taste her luscious lips.

“Wait!” She stepped back. “How the hell do you know my name?”

Fuck!

She never told me her name. I knew I couldn’t afford such rookie mistakes. It could ruin everything. And the last thing I’d want was to ruin anything. Especially at the very fucking beginning of my task. It was just those tempting lips of hers, begging me to lick, suck, bite them, or all at once for that matter, that kept distracting the hell out of me.

“You’ve mentioned your name.” I kept my cool.

“No, I haven’t,” she objected, staring intensely at me.

I sneered and turned to sip my whiskey. “Well, maybe a cold shower would help. The toilet’s on the left.” I was trying to throw her off the scent.

“Excuse me?” I hadn’t been facing her, but her petulant voice gave away that she was nettled.

I turned to look into her eyes. “You’re not thinking clearly.”

She bit her lower lip and shifted her eyes to the side, clearly stunned. Apparently, that was what she did when she was anxious—bit her lips. And for some fucked-up reason, it turned me on. She seemed confused, deep in thought, like she was trying to replay the last hour we’d spent together to dispel her doubts.

“Anyway, you might want to wash off your…” I paused, examining her smeared makeup, trying to find the right words to name it.

“Yeah, I could use the toilet,” she said sheepishly. “It’s about time I make myself look civilized again.”

I sipped my whiskey, satisfied that I’d managed to disorientate her enough to drop the“name” topic. It was easy, but her mind was troubled with some other stuff that night. I was aware of it, and I knew I’d have to be more careful.

“Make yourself at home,” I said, gazing straight into her timid eyes.

She turned with no word, and I watched how effortlessly she swayed her hips as she headed toward the restroom. Damn, her ass. Her sexy, round butt was driving me insane. I imagined ripping off that fucking dress covering her body of a goddess from my sight and fucking her senselessly.

Yes, I’ve got a dirty mind.

I SCROLLED THROUGH dozens of the emails I’d gotten during my flight concerning some business shit when Melissa came back and instantly caught my attention. She washed off her face and obviously didn’t use any cosmetic products or whatever the hell they’re called, so she had no makeup. She pulled her hair up in a high bun, revealing her baby-doll-like face. She was so fucking naturally gorgeous. Sure as fuck, it would’ve been way easier for me to follow my plan if she wasn’t such a goddess. It was distracting as fuck. Especially that she had that angelic kind of beauty. She had those luminous, big eyes many would die for. Or her slim, long fingers she bashfully played with every time she was uneasy. Don’t even make me start on her sultry body that made her look so fragile and innocent and at the same time hotter than hell. Melissa Atkinson was a mix of everything any man could ever dream of.

“I should go home,” she whispered. Her voice was so quiet it felt like she was afraid the words would hurt if she said them loud enough.

“You can stay here if you want,” I instantly second-guessed what I’d just said. Melissa’s dark eyes grew wide as she glanced at me, astonished, probably questioning my nonsensical offer as well.

“Believe me, I’d love that, but—” she said, her suddenly gloomy gaze dropped down to her fingers she still nervously played with. I wondered what she meant by that? I thought she led an ivory tower life, considering she was a billionaire, influential daddy’s only little girl.

“But your father would be worried,” I said assumingly, trying to pick up track of what was going on in her life. I hoped she’d take off the lid once I hit the right spot.

“I bet!”she scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Anyway, could you order me an Uber or something? I had to leave my phone at my friend’s place.”

“I’ll drive you home myself.” Words just blurted out of my mouth.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

She tilted slightly to the side, frowning, scanning my face with her eyes.

“Making sure you get there safe and sound,” I added with a teasing tone, trying to play it out. “How else will I be sure I don’t hear about the girl who jumped in front of a speeding car in tomorrow’s news?”

“Oh, screw you!” She sneered, her handon her hip.

Yeah, screw me