Before he couldask mewhat I had been up to, I inclined my head towards the bartender and slipped away.
Leaning against the white marble cocktail bar and sipping my champagne, I watched them in silence. Piper was leaning against a new set of bar stools around the open kitchen. It’d only been 2 months since I’d been here, but she’d already redecorated the place. What else had changed?
Mark sat down on the barstool, andnodded along with each sentence out of Piper’s mouth. In high school, I had always felt the tug of a futureconsumed byblood and guns. But when I was in school with Mark, laughing about theway the teachers ranted about the supposed downfall of New York, I had been able to forget that tug.
I slammed back the champagne, ignoring the bubbles catching in my throat. While I handed it to the tuxedoed bartender, I eyed the last person I expected to see there.
Sebastian.
Hewas sitting on a white sofa that lookedlike it’dbeenconstructedout of clouds.Sebastian’slips curved into a smile that held none of the sarcasm he seemed to save for me. And he wore a short sleeve button down and dark wash jeans that molded to his muscular thighs. I hadn’t thought he owned anything other than a suit. I examined the guy he was talking to. AWall Street Bro if I’d ever seen one. He was even wearing the midtown uniform of anavy vest over a button down white shirt.
Whatthe hell wasSebastian doing here? The idea of him being at Piper’s party was as incongruous with the environment as the thought of Piper slashing a guy’s throat. And yet, Sebastian’s pose was relaxed, his arm thrown onto the back of the couch.
Part of me yearned to ignore him. To have a night where I forgot about my problems. But if this was his attempt at threatening Piper, I needed to know.
I took the refilled glass of champagne from the ever ready bartender and circled past giggling socialites in next season’s couture. It was tempting, but I ignored the glittering Van Cleef on their wrists that would put a chunk in my debt. I circled behind the back of the couch, listening to the Wall Street Bro talk about the dip in the market, and how NOW was the time to buy.
I plopped down next to Sebastian,mycrossedlegs only a few inches from his muscularones.
Those grey eyes shifted from amusement into confusion. Holy shit,this wasactuallya coincidence.His jaw clenched as I propped my elbow on the armrest. It was obvious he wanted me to leave, so naturally I did the opposite.
I settled into my seat, and fed on Sebastian’s unease. Hestayed silent for a moment, his eyes searching myexpressionwhileI attempted to keep the smirk off my face. Wall Street Bro stopped his diatribe on a ‘GuaranteedHigh Performing Investment.’ He glanced between Sebastian and I, obviously waiting for an introduction. I raised an eyebrow at Sebastian, daring him to introduce me.
Sebastian’s eyes promised retribution. Bring it on.
When no introduction came, Wall Street Bro announced, “Jared Conors the Third,” while sticking his hand out for a stiff handshake.Of course, he was ‘the third.’
“Selene, the first,” I responded, returning the handshake while watching Sebastian’s mouth shift into a stiff line.
“So how do you know each other?” I asked, savoring the barely concealed anger on Sebastian’s face. His large hand clenched a fluffy white pillow. A perverse part of me wanted him to grip me like that. God, what was wrong with me?
“Connecticut Prep School,” Jared answered, oblivious to Sebastian’s growing irritation.
“Aww, boarding school boys.I bet you have a lot of fun stories to share about Sebastian,” Isaid, enjoying the tension radiating offSebastian. Featherspoppedout the side ofthepillow.
This was going to be fun. Although the look in Sebastian’s eyes told mehe had the opposite reaction.
Jared’s eyes glinted as he opened his mouth, butSebastian beathim to the punch, “Not really.”
“Oh, Iseriouslydoubt that,” I said. My smile deepened, as I relaxed into the couch. Yeah, it was actuallyas comfortable as it looked. It was a relief for something to actually match its appearance.
Jared glanced between the two of us, finally seeming to pick up on Sebastian’s tension. Hopefully, he was quicker on the uptakeatthe trading floor.
“How do you know Sebastian?”Jaredasked.
“Yes,Sebastian. Howdo the two of us know each other?” I asked, failing to keep the snicker out of my voice.
There was silence for a moment. My grin grew asI tapped my dirt encrustedfingernailslightly against the soft fabric of Sebastian’s abused pillow.
“Through work,”he replied. Authority flashed in his eyes.They told me he would nottolerateany arguments. As if he could order me around so easily.
“We work in a verycut-throatbusiness,” I explained to Jared.
“Which business?” Jared leaned forward eagerly, probably coming up with a pitch on how hecouldtriple my retirement portfolio.
I raised an eyebrow in Sebastian’s direction giving him the floor.
Before he could come up with a response, Piper’s high-pitched voice danced across the room, “Seleeene, I see you’ve met Jared.”
