Page 27 of Brutal Heir

Everyone approached Sebastian like he was royalty. Even the movie stars seemed starstruck, their smiles too wide, their voices too eager. I half expected someone to drop to one knee and kiss his damn signet ring.

People didn’t just admire him. They feared him.

I understood why when one man tried to speak to me directly—sort of. He barely glanced at my face, his gaze fixed on my cleavage as he mumbled about the diamond.

Before I could respond, Sebastian shifted. One smooth step, and he stood in front of me, cutting the man off without so much as a glance.

“He was asking about your diamond,” I muttered. “Isn’t that the point of this?”

“The very last thing he was looking at was the fucking diamond. And if you think that’s why you’re here, then you haven’t been paying attention.”

A strange flutter twisted through my chest. I risked a glance at him from beneath my lashes. It was like staring at a Roman statue come to life, all hard angles and cold stone.

After close to an hour, Sebastian made it clear he was no longer interested in holding court. His ability to scatter the crowd with a mere look terrified me.

He led me to a quiet corner, partially concealed behind one of the Cour Marly’s intricate topiaries.

“I’m pleased,” he said. “You did very well.”

I toyed with the necklace chain, trying to deflect the warm flush creeping up my neck. “The diamond did most of the work.”

His brow dipped. “Stop doing that.”

“Doing what?”

“Deflecting my compliments.”

My stomach flipped. “Yes, sir.”

The words came out before I could stop them—too obedient, too eager. Shame burned through me.

He traced the curve of my exposed shoulder with his finger. “That’s more like it.”

I reached to unlatch the diamond necklace, but my fingertips kept slipping over the clasp. “I need to get back.”

“What would you do if I said no?”

My eyebrows shot up. “No? As in, I’m not allowed to leave…no?”

Keeping his intense gaze trained on me, he nodded slowly.

My pulse missing a beat, I gave up trying to unclasp the necklace and lowered my head.

What does he expect me to say?

I understood this man’s power over the surrounding people.

Clearly, he was used to being obeyed without question.

What had he said earlier? Rule number one was to obey him.

I shivered again.

I needed to calm down. I didn’t want to believe he could carry me off without protest. But I wasn’t so sure.

It was ludicrous.

He was just a man.