Lillian found out at 10:17 a.m.
She wasn't even looking for it.
She was organizing internal staff updates when an automated HR notification popped up on her screen.
Termination Notice – Ethan Bennett
Effective immediately.
Her breath stopped.
She stared at the name.
Read it again.
And again.
No.
Her stomach dropped.
She clicked into the file.
Reason: Executive decision.
Her pulse quickened.
Executive decision.
There was only one executive who made decisions like that.
Her chair scraped against the floor as she stood abruptly.
Next to her desk, Sebastian's office door was closed.
Her chest rose and fell quickly.
He said I wouldn't be seeing him anymore.
Her hands curled into fists.
Without knocking, she pushed the door open.
Sebastian looked up slowly.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
"Something wrong, Miss Parker?"
"You fired him."
Not a question.
A statement.
Silence lingered.
Then, "Yes."
Her breath caught. "You actually did it."
"Yes."
"That's it?" she demanded. "Just 'yes'?"
He leaned back in his chair. "Is there something more you'd like?"
Her heart was racing now.
"You had no right!"
His gaze sharpened.
"He works for Sovereign," Sebastian said evenly. "That gives me every right."
"You fired him because of me."
"I fired him because he was no longer needed."
"That's not true!"
His jaw flexed slightly.
"Careful."
"Careful?" she echoed, disbelief flooding her voice. "You don't get to control my life like that!"
"I'm not controlling your life."
"You removed someone from it without asking me!"
His eyes darkened.
"He hurt you."
"That doesn't give you the authority to—."
"He works for me."
"That doesn't mean you get to punish him because of something personal!"
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Charged.
Sebastian stood slowly.
"You're upset," he said quietly. "But do not mistake my actions for recklessness."
"You don't get to decide what's best for me!"
"And you don't get to pretend it doesn't matter."
Her chest tightened.
"It wasn't your decision," she whispered.
His voice dropped lower.
"He betrayed you."
"That was my problem."
"And now it's solved."
Her eyes widened. "Solved?"
"Yes."
"You think firing him fixes everything?"
"It removes him from your environment."
"I didn't ask you to protect me!"
The word lingered in the air.
Protect.
Sebastian's jaw tightened.
"I didn't do it for thanks."
"Then why?" she demanded.
His silence said too much.
Before he could answer, a loud commotion echoed from outside.
Voices.
Raised.
Angry.
Lillian turned toward the door.
"What was that?"
Sebastian's expression darkened.
A moment later, Chloe rushed in without knocking.
"Mr. Wolfe—." She stopped when she saw Lillian. "Oh. You're both here."
"What's happening?" Lillian asked.
Chloe hesitated. "Ethan's downstairs."
Lillian's stomach dropped.
"What?"
"He's furious," Chloe continued. "Security tried to stop him, but he forced his way into the lobby. He's shouting about being unfairly terminated."
Sebastian's eyes turned cold.
"Of course he is."
Lillian looked at him. "This is because of you."
"No," Sebastian replied evenly. "This is because of his behavior."
"Let me go talk to him," Lillian said quickly.
"No."
Her head snapped toward him. "No?"
"You will not go downstairs."
"He's there because of me!"
"He's there because he lacks restraint."
"You can't just keep deciding things!"
"And you can't keep underestimating risk."
She stared at him in disbelief.
"I can handle him."
"I'm sure you believe that."
"And you don't?"
His silence answered her.
That stung more than it should have.
Chloe stepped forward carefully. "Mr. Wolfe… maybe we should let security escort him out before this escalates."
Sebastian nodded once. "Already handled."
As if on cue, another loud shout echoed faintly through the building.
Lillian flinched.
"That's my name," she whispered. "He's saying my name."
Sebastian moved without thinking.
He stepped in front of her.
Blocking her from the doorway.
His voice lowered. "You're not going down there."
Her breath caught.
"You don't get to decide that."
"I do."
She stared up at him.
He was close again.
Too close.
"I'm not fragile," she said.
"I never said you were."
"Then stop treating me like I am!"
"I'm treating you like someone worth protecting."
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Lillian's heart pounded.
Chloe's eyes widened slightly.
Sebastian stiffened.
He hadn't meant to say that.
Lillian swallowed. "I didn't ask you to protect me."
His voice hardened again, retreating into control.
"You don't have to."
Footsteps approached rapidly down the hallway.
A security guard appeared at the door.
"Mr. Wolfe, he's been removed from the premises. He won't be returning."
"Good," Sebastian replied calmly.
The guard nodded and left.
The tension in the room remained.
Lillian exhaled shakily.
"You humiliated him," she said quietly.
"He humiliated himself."
"You could have handled this differently."
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you?"
He held her gaze.
"Because sometimes harsh solutions are necessary."
"That's not your decision to make about my personal life."
"It became my decision when it entered my company."
Chloe shifted awkwardly.
"I'll… give you two a minute," she said softly, stepping out.
The door closed behind her.
Silence settled again.
Lillian crossed her arms. "You heard everything at the café."
"Yes."
"And you decided to act."
"Yes."
She searched his face.
"You don't even deny it."
"No."
Her voice softened slightly. "Why?"
He looked away briefly.
Then back at her.
"He works under my authority. He disrespected someone under my protection."
Her breath hitched slightly at that word again.
Protection.
"I don't belong to you," she said.
"I didn't say you did."
"Then stop acting like you own my problems."
His eyes darkened.
"I don't own them."
"Then what?"
He stepped closer.
Lowered his voice.
"I remove threats."
Her heart skipped.
"That's not normal."
"I never claimed to be."
Silence again.
Her pulse was racing now for a different reason.
"You're impossible," she whispered.
"And yet," he replied softly, "you're still here."
Her cheeks warmed.
She hated that he was right.
She hated that part of her felt… something.
Confusion.
Frustration.
A flicker of safety.
Chloe suddenly reappeared at the door, knocking lightly.
"Um… Lillian?"
"Yes?"
Chloe gave her a look. A knowing one.
"I saw him at the café yesterday."
Lillian turned slowly.
"What?"
Chloe nodded toward Sebastian. "He was sitting right behind us. I noticed when he left."
Lillian's eyes widened.
"You knew?"
Chloe shrugged lightly. "I didn't want to make it awkward."
"It was already awkward," Lillian muttered.
Sebastian didn't react.
But his shoulders were tense.
Lillian looked back at him.
"You listened to everything."
"Yes."
"And you still—."
"Yes."
She shook her head slowly.
"I don't understand you."
His voice was quiet now.
"You don't need to."
But she wanted to.
And that frightened her more than anything.