The warm water had been soothing, but Sebastian's strength was limited. He called out, his voice tight.
"Miss Parker?"
Lillian's head snapped up from where she was organizing towels on the counter. "Yes? Are you okay?"
"I… can't get out." His voice was calm, almost detached, but the slight edge made her heart tighten.
She immediately grabbed a towel and walked toward the bathroom, hands slightly trembling. Her green eyes flicked toward him, but she deliberately avoided staring at his chest. She knew that even a quick glance would make her blush—and Sebastian would notice.
"Miss Parker," he said, a rare teasing tone in his voice. "You're avoiding looking at me. Am I that intimidating?"
She froze. "…I'm not looking. Obviously."
"Obviously." His smirk was faint, but she caught it. "Right. Because it's appropriate for a professional to stare at their boss."
Lillian gritted her teeth. "I am not staring."
He tilted his head slightly, eyes sparkling. "Uh-huh."
Taking a deep breath, she stepped closer, towel in hand. "Hand me your arm, Mr. Wolfe."
He shifted, wincing slightly, and she noticed the tension in his back. Carefully, she guided him, her hands brushing the towel along his shoulders as she wrapped it around him. Her chest pressed slightly against his as she moved, and she could feel the warmth radiating from him.
Sebastian's sharp inhale betrayed that he noticed her closeness. His blue eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, the world shrank.
"You're… very aware, aren't you?" he murmured.
"I—I'm just doing my job!" she stammered, heat creeping up her neck.
He leaned forward a fraction, their faces close. "Your job requires this kind of… proximity?" His tone was playful, dangerous.
Her stomach tightened. "I'm just… helping you get out of the bath. Nothing more."
"Oh? Nothing more," he repeated, eyes narrowing slightly, teasing, but there was something unreadable beneath the mischief.
She tugged gently, guiding him to sit on the toilet lid. He huffed, annoyed, but didn't resist. "Comfortable?" she asked, though her own heart raced.
"Barely," he muttered, glancing at her again. "You really are… persistent, aren't you?"
"I have to be," she replied, meeting his gaze briefly before quickly looking away. Her hands adjusted the towel, covering him as much as possible, though she could feel the strong lines of his chest beneath the fabric.
"Persistent," he repeated softly, almost to himself. "Like you."
Her blush deepened. "Don't be ridiculous."
She stepped back, giving him space. "I'll wait outside while you dry off," she said firmly, but her pulse was racing.
"Miss Parker…" His voice was quiet, but there was a faint edge of something intimate, almost vulnerable.
"Yes?" she asked, keeping her back straight and voice steady, though inside she was anything but.
"Do you really need to leave? Or are you avoiding looking at me again?"
She froze. "…I—obviously need to leave. You're drying off."
"Hmm." He leaned back slightly, smirking again. "Obviously."
She exhaled and gave him a pointed look. "One day, Mr. Wolfe, your teasing is going to get you in trouble."
He chuckled softly, the sound low and restrained. "…Maybe I like a little trouble."
She felt her cheeks burn hotter. "Don't start."
Once he was out of the bath, pajamas on, she guided him to sit on the bed. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up the medical cream from the counter.
The instructions were clear: apply carefully to the area where his spine had been cut. She blushed at the thought of touching him so closely, but there was no one else who could do it.
"Okay…" she muttered. "I need to lift your shirt now."
Sebastian's gaze followed her every move. "Miss Parker…"
"Yes?"
"You're very careful." His voice was low, teasing, but something softer lingered underneath.
"I have to be," she replied, swallowing hard. "This is… delicate work."
She gently lifted the shirt, revealing the new scar layered over the old one. Her breath hitched slightly at the sight. The line was precise, a testament to the surgery, but also… personal.
Sebastian flinched as her fingers touched the skin.
"Oh! I—sorry," she said instantly, panic in her voice. "I didn't mean to hurt you!"
He shook his head, calm. "You didn't hurt me."
"Then… why—?"
"I just… wasn't ready for you to touch it," he admitted quietly. His eyes flickered briefly toward hers, searching. "…Not because of pain."
Her heart skipped a beat. She realized then how little she truly knew of his vulnerabilities, and how raw this moment felt.
"Okay," she whispered, keeping her tone soft. Carefully, she massaged the cream along the scar, mindful of his reactions. Each flinch, each subtle intake of breath, made her more aware of how fragile he was—and how close they had become in this private space.
He didn't speak. Just the occasional quiet groan as she worked, and the warmth radiating from his body filled the space around her.
When she was finished, she pulled his shirt back down, adjusting it so it lay flat. "All done," she said softly, her cheeks still flushed.
He leaned back against the pillows, exhaling slowly. "…Thank you," he murmured.
"You need to rest now," she reminded him, her voice gentle but firm. "It's late. You've been through a lot today."
Sebastian opened one eye, glancing at her. "…Rest? Sleep? I don't need sleep."
"You just had major spinal surgery," she snapped. "You absolutely need sleep, Mr. Wolfe."
"I'm fine. I need my laptop. I need to…" He trailed off, gripping the blanket.
"No. You're not fine." Her voice rose slightly. "You've pushed yourself too far already. I will not let you work right now."
"Miss Parker…" His tone was clipped, but there was an edge of frustration she had rarely heard.
"You will sleep," she insisted. "Now."
Sebastian's blue eyes narrowed. "You're serious? You really think you can just tell me to sleep? You… you can't control me like that."
"I don't care if you like it," she snapped, stepping closer. "You're my boss, yes—but this is about your health. Your life. You don't get to argue with me on this."
He huffed, leaning back slightly. "And if I refuse?"
Her green eyes flashed, and a small smirk curved her lips. "Then I'll just… drug you with your own insomnia medication, like last time."
Sebastian froze mid-breath, his eyes widening for a second. Then a slow, amused smile appeared. "…You're serious?"
"Absolutely," she said firmly. "You won't get a single hour of work if you keep refusing sleep."
He leaned back against the pillows, pretending to consider her words, but she could see the tension in his shoulders. "…Fine," he muttered, almost grudgingly. "…I'll try. But I'm not happy about it."
Her shoulders relaxed slightly. "Good enough. Now lie down."
He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes fully for the first time since his surgery. Lillian stayed by his side, fingers lightly brushing the edge of the blanket, ready to adjust it if he shifted.
For the first time in days, he let himself rest—and she realized that her presence, her persistence, and her firm hand mattered more than she had expected.