“Good evening.” He paused to give Armand a bow. Straightening, he nodded to their family, but kept his gaze trained on his eldest brother.
Armand poured two tumblers and offered one to him. “I considered your tale from this afternoon at length. I’ve decided,in order to facilitate the best outcome, we should crowdsource your issue to the family.”
Everything in Sebastian went still. He’d bared his soul to Armand in confidence. “I see.”
“Do you?” His brother gave him a slow, almost lazy, smile. “I hope so. You were very helpful when I called you about Anna. One could even say too helpful. While your methods might have been questionable, your heart was in the right place.”
“Armand.” Anna rose and shook her head at her husband before coming over to give Sebastian a hug. After pulling back, she looped her arm through Sebastian’s. “Ignore him. He was right to talk to all of us. We want you to be happy.”
“Absolutely.” Alyx leaned forward. “We want to help.”
“I want to know how you kept it quiet for five years, brother.” George eyed him with a bit more respect than he usually showed. Sebastian sighed—his discretion was something George might learn from, but he didn’t know if he would advise taking such measures—except he’d had five wonderful years of Meredith to himself.
Richard grinned faintly when Sebastian’s gaze alighted on him. “I’m just here to play billiards and have a drink.”
“I’m with him.” Kate jerked her thumb at her fiancé, her solemn expression unwavering.
“Remind me not to play poker with either of you.” Sebastian tossed back his drink. No matter their reasons, they were all here. It was a show of solidarity and, while Armand definitely took the time to get his lumps in, his brother didn’t tell him to deny her or end it. “Very well. I find myself in the unenviable position of having possibly made a muck of the best relationship in my life. What do you propose I do?”
His discomfort was a negligible matter if they could help him repair the situation. No one answered immediately. Alyx shifted and he zeroed in on the uncertainty in her expression. Catchinghis gaze, she winced. “I’m sorry. I want to ask a question, and I’m really not certain how appropriate it is.”
“Ask.” Sebastian couldn’t possibly feel more exposed than he already did. “Considering you were all invited to assist me in this matter, I will do my best to answer honestly.”
“Why didn’t anyone know you were seeing her?”
He shrugged. “Because I didn’t want anyone to know.”
“Not even your family?” The disbelief sliding under her words carried more than a hint of a rebuke.
Sebastian didn’t look away. “Particularly not my family. I will not list specifics, however I have my reasons. While I will endeavor to answer relevant questions, I request in return you respect my privacy on all else.”
“The moment the press gets wind of her…” Anna spread her hands expansively, alluding to the range of possible outcomes and the subsequent media feeding frenzy.
She would know. She’d not enjoyed a moment’s peace once the press learned of her existence and her relationship with Armand.
“Precisely what I wished to avoid for her.” Sebastian nodded to his sister-in-law. “Not to mention the security concerns.”
“So what’s the goal?” The directness of Kate’s question carried no hint of judgment. “You were in a relationship with her. She broke up with you. Do you want her back? Do you want it all to go back to the way it was? What?”
“I want totalkto her.” It sounded painfully simple, and yet…
“Which is difficult if she will not take your calls.” Armand caught Anna’s hand and tugged her along with him. Seating himself, he pulled her into his lap. The very familiar and intimate ease said a great deal about their relationship as well as revealing the comfort they felt in the presence of their family.
“He could simply go talk to her,” Anna argued.
Armand smiled and brushed a kiss onto the tip of her nose. “He and a dozen or so of the diligent paparazzi? I am certain the display would be quite romantic.”
“Oh.” She grimaced. “They really are annoying.”
“Yes,” Alyx agreed fervently. “Twice this week, two have followed me into the restrooms at separate events.”
The mirth in Armand’s face vanished and Daniel frowned, but it was her husband who spoke. “We’ll talk with security. It won’t happen again.” The self-made billionaire made the statement with blunt authority. He shared a brief look with Armand, who nodded. They would handle it.
“Why don’t you make a grand gesture?” George tossed out. “Take it public. It worked when you outted Anna.”
“No.” Armand echoed Sebastian’s verbal refusal then continued, “We cannot control the variable of the press.”
Returning to Kate’s original question, Sebastian blew out a breath. “I want to talk to her. I’ve offered to send the plane and bring her somewhere private where she and I could talk. I think St. Christos would be the best location. It’s private, isolated, and…”
