“Use the clip, Sebastian,” Helen said. “You know it makes sense. I’ll just disappear.”
“Helen—”
“I don’t want to hold you back, Sebastian.”
Brenda stared at her wide-eyed. “Helen, I didn’t mean to upset you …”
“You’re not upsetting me. You’re doing your job, Brenda. And Sebastian has a job to do, too.” Helen turned to him. “If this clip will help you get exposure for the campaign, then you should use it.”
“Brenda, please excuse us for a second.” Sebastian pulled Helen away and lowered his voice. “What’s going on, Hobbs?”
“You said it yourself. I’m not the epitome of sophistication you’d planned to date. You need an image renovation remember? I’m a hindrance and you’re worried word will get out about me, so don’t feel like you have to honor our contract. I’ll understand.”
Confusion creased his brow. “What about the money?”
“What about it?”
“Your cottage,” he whispered. “You need the money, don’t you?”
“Yes, but this isn’t about me, Sebastian. It’s about your work, your career. The campaign.”
Sebastian studied her for what felt like hours. His jaw flickered as he ground his teeth like she’d seen him do on the many swimming clips she’d found on YouTube; Sebastian on a starting block, in the zone and ready to race. Helen almost buckled under the intensity of his gaze.
“Use the clip, Brenda,” he said at last, eyes still on Helen.
“Are you sure? If it’s going to cause problems between you—”
“It won’t.” Sebastian smiled one of his easy smiles. “Do what you need to do with that clip, Brenda. Helen and I are okay with it.”
After Brenda left, Sebastian folded his arms. “So, Hobbs, you want to terminate our agreement in order to help me and the campaign?”
“Yes, I’d hate to mess things up for you.”
Sebastian studied her for another long, bone-melting moment. “Thanks,” he said at last, then walked back to the punchbag.
So that’s that, then.
He was happy to terminate their agreement after just one week?
Of course, he was.
Had she really expected it to last much longer?
Helen followed him, swallowing her disappointment. Losing out on all that money was tough, and losing out on her summer with Sebastian … well, she’d think about that later because for once, she’d done the right thing. Sebastianwasbetter off without her.
And he knew it too.
“You were spot on about us being apples and oranges,” she said. “In the UK we say chalk and cheese, that’s probably more fitting, don’t you think? At least apples and oranges are both fruits.”
“Uh-huh.” Sebastian picked up their discarded boxing gloves and replaced them neatly on the shelf, his brow creasing. What was going through his mind? Was he wondering how best to tell everyone about their break up?
“You could say I had an affair,” Helen suggested. “I mean, that wouldn’t hurt your reputation.”
Sebastian shook his head. “After your grand declaration of love to Brenda last week, she’d smell a rat.”
“Tell them we drifted apart, then. I don’t mind.”
Sebastian faced her, standing so close that his toes touched hers. He searched her face for …what? Why was he staring at her like she’d sprouted a second head? Why wasn’t he spouting on about termination clauses and notice periods?
