The conference room on the thirty-second floor overlooked most of Dallas.
Glass walls.
Polished steel.
A long black table that reflected the morning sunlight like a mirror.
Lillian sat one seat behind Sebastian, laptop open, fingers ready above the keyboard. Her eyes moved between the presentation screen and the people around the table.
Sovereign Technologies' development team had returned.
Two engineers.
The lead systems architect.
And the same investors from yesterday.
Everyone looked alert.
Prepared.
Sebastian Wolfe had that effect on people.
He sat at the head of the table, posture straight, expression perfectly composed. If someone had walked into the room without knowing what had happened that morning, they would never guess he had spent the night heavily medicated.
He looked exactly like himself again.
Controlled.
Sharp.
Dangerous in a boardroom.
The lead architect cleared his throat.
"We reviewed your security concerns from yesterday, Mr. Wolfe."
Sebastian's fingers rested calmly against the table.
"Show me."
The lights dimmed slightly as the screen behind them lit up.
A complex digital architecture appeared.
Layers of security protocols.
Encrypted access points.
Failsafe mechanisms.
The architect began explaining.
"We've added two additional verification layers between the interface and external devices. That way, even if someone breaches the first firewall—."
Sebastian raised a hand.
The architect stopped immediately.
Sebastian leaned slightly forward.
"Explain the redundancy system."
The man nodded quickly and switched slides.
Lillian watched the room carefully while typing notes.
Sebastian had changed overnight.
Yesterday he had been tense. His fingers had tapped constantly. His eyes had looked strained.
Today—
Still intense.
Still demanding.
But steadier.
He listened carefully.
Asked precise questions.
Cut off vague explanations before they finished.
At one point, an investor tried to interrupt.
Sebastian didn't even look at him.
"Let him finish."
The room obeyed instantly.
Thirty minutes passed.
Then an hour.
The engineers explained the new system protections.
Sebastian dismantled half of them with two questions.
"Your encryption refresh cycle is too slow."
The architect frowned.
"It updates every ten minutes."
"That's too slow."
"No one could breach the system that quickly."
Sebastian's eyes were cold.
"You don't design security for what's likely."
He leaned back slightly.
"You design it for what's possible."
Silence filled the room.
The architect slowly nodded.
"We'll reduce it to two minutes."
"Thirty seconds."
The engineer hesitated.
"That may cause system lag."
"Then solve the lag."
The discussion moved forward again.
Lillian's fingers moved quickly across the keyboard.
She noticed something else now.
Sebastian hadn't tapped the table once.
Not once.
He wasn't shaking.
His voice remained calm throughout the entire discussion.
The meeting lasted nearly two hours.
By the time it ended, the investors looked impressed again.
And slightly terrified.
Sebastian closed the final document.
"We'll review the revised system once your team completes the updates."
The architect nodded.
"You'll have them within forty-eight hours."
"Good."
Sebastian stood.
Meeting over.
Just like that.
People rose quickly.
Chairs slid back.
Handshakes happened again.
But Sebastian was already walking toward the door.
Lillian gathered her laptop and followed.
The elevator ride down was quiet.
Lillian stood beside him, tablet against her chest.
Neither of them spoke.
But the silence felt different from the morning.
Not as sharp.
Still tense.
But less fragile.
Sebastian stared straight ahead as the elevator descended.
Then suddenly said,
"You were watching me."
Lillian blinked.
"…What?"
His eyes shifted toward her briefly.
"In the meeting."
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
"I was taking notes."
"You were watching."
She hesitated.
"Yes."
The elevator doors opened.
They stepped into the lobby.
"Why?"
She answered honestly.
"You seemed… steadier today."
Sebastian didn't respond.
They walked out of the building and into the waiting car.
The hotel suite was quiet.
Sebastian had barely spoken since returning from the second meeting. He dropped his jacket over a chair and strode into the bathroom. Water started running almost immediately.
Lillian sat at the small table in the living area, tablet open. She typed meeting notes furiously but kept glancing at the bathroom door.
Minutes passed.
Then, a sharp voice called out.
"Miss Parker."
Her fingers froze.
"Yes, Mr. Wolfe?"
"I forgot clean clothes," he said. Calm. Direct. Controlled. "Bring me a black shirt and trousers from my suitcase."
"Of course," she said quickly, clutching her tablet.
Her heart raced. Not because of the task, but because she knew what she might see.
She rifled through the suitcase by the wardrobe, folding shirts and trousers into her arms. She grabbed the black shirt and trousers. Her fingers lingered over the fabric longer than necessary.
Steeling herself, she moved toward the bathroom.
The door opened.
Sebastian stepped into view.
Towel wrapped around his waist. Wet hair clinging to his forehead. Water droplets rolling down his chest.
Lillian froze.
Her cheeks burned.
His chest… defined. Muscles taut beneath wet skin.
He noticed immediately.
"Interesting expression," he said. His voice low, teasing. "You can look all you want."
"I—I'm just here to give you the clothes," she stammered. Hands shaking slightly. "You can take your clothes."
He smirked faintly. Stepped closer.
"You know," he said, voice deliberate, teasing, "you could touch it if you like."
Her blush deepened. Her fingers tightened around the clothes.
"I—I'm just handing them to you," she said. Her voice barely above a whisper. "Just take your clothes, please."
He laughed softly, rare and low.
"You're cute when you're flustered," he said.
"I'm leaving," she said, almost stumbling backward. She turned quickly, nearly dropping the clothes.
"Miss Parker." His voice followed her. "I said you can touch it."
"I—No, I'm just giving you the clothes!" She tried to sound firm. Her blush flamed hotter.
Sebastian's chuckle lingered in the doorway. "You know… that was the closest you've ever been allowed to do it without me scolding you."
She spun and fled to the living area, heart racing.
The bathroom door closed behind him.
A few minutes later, the water stopped.
She returned to her spot at the table, fingers hovering above the keyboard. Her stomach twisted at the memory.
She had just… seen him like that.
And he had teased her.
Her cheeks burned again. She scolded herself silently. Focus, Lillian. This isn't personal.
Sebastian stepped out, fully dressed now. Black shirt, tailored trousers, hair combed neatly. Polished. Controlled. The CEO returned.
He paused at the living area.
Lillian had fallen asleep on the couch. Laptop still on her lap, fingers curled slightly over the keys.
He studied her for a long moment.
Her shoulder rose slightly as she breathed. She shifted in her sleep, murmuring faintly.
His expression softened slightly—not often seen. Then he moved.
Gently, he lifted her laptop and set it on the table.
She stirred again, mumbling softly. He froze for a moment.
Then he saw her shoulders stiff from sitting too long.
His coat was draped over a chair.
He walked over, placed it over her carefully, tucking it around her so she was warm.
Lillian shifted once more, murmuring, but didn't wake.
Sebastian returned to the table. Laptop opened. Documents, emails, and spreadsheets filled the screen. Typing began. Precise. Fast. Efficient.
Every so often, his eyes flicked toward her.
She was asleep. Vulnerable. Exhausted. Yet she worked so hard. Always.
A small sigh escaped his lips. Quiet, almost inaudible.
Then the screen demanded his attention again.
A few minutes later, Lillian shifted again.
He glanced up.
"You slept while working?" he asked flatly.
She stirred but didn't wake.
"You should be taking a break," he muttered, almost to himself.
Her hair fell over her face. He tucked it gently behind her ear without thinking.
His hand lingered a moment. Then he pulled back.
A small smirk touched his lips. Rare.
He didn't sit on the couch. He couldn't.
Instead, he took his coat from the chair and folded it over her shoulders again. Checked her position. Comfortable? Warm enough? She murmured something in her sleep.
Satisfied, he returned to the table and worked.
Minutes passed. The room remained quiet except for the hum of the laptop and the faint clicking of keys.
Sebastian's mind drifted briefly. The night before, she had crossed a line. Drugged him, technically with his own medication.
Yet here she was. Sleeping peacefully. He stayed. Watching. Ensuring she wasn't disturbed. Protecting her in his own way.
"Miss Parker," he murmured, softly, almost to himself.
She stirred. Eyes half-open. Murmured something incoherent.
He said nothing. Returned to work. Focused. Professional. CEO mode.
But beneath it all… a flicker of thought lingered.
She cared.
For him.
In a way he could never admit.
Time passed. Hours, maybe. He didn't stop working. She slept. Laptop closed, fingers relaxed.
The soft smell of his soap lingered. The warmth of the coat covered her shoulders.
He typed, glanced up, typed again.
Quietly. Carefully.
Watching her.
Protecting her.
Even if she had crossed every boundary yesterday.
Even if she had been reckless.
Even if she had been impossibly bold.
He let her sleep.
And he stayed.
Because he could.
Because he wanted to.