08
Trust.
In which Sebastian gets Mira to trust him.
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THE RESTAURANT WAS BUSTLING WITH PEOPLE. Mainly, it was the press that had caught wind that I worked there. It was called The Waterfront and was highly successful as it was situated in Central London. My manager didn't seem to mind the attention I was bringing since it was good publicity for him, but I was beginning to grow tired.
Without a doubt, my coworkers' patience was growing thin just like mine was. I was responding acrimoniously and knew that I would have to find a new job, or take Sebastian's advice and start my own restaurant.
My break was eagerly welcomed, and I pulled my jacket on before taking the sandwich I had bought earlier on that morning. Being a chef was tiresome, but in a way, it made me feel closer to my mother and even made me happy.
Sinking down onto a chair in the break room, I found myself thinking about Sebastian for the tenth time that morning. All I wanted to do was sleep and feel his arms around me.
There was something different about Sebastian. Nate was a good cuddle buddy and obviously more than that, but cuddling with Sebastian seemed to make me fall asleep within a half-hour.
Pulling me from my reverie was the vibration of my phone in my hand before I looked down and saw Sebastian's name.
A smile glossed my lips and my ears zoned in on the chatter that littered the dining room. I couldn't possibly work in that kind of environment, especially when I knew most of the people were there for me.
My sandwich was eaten with a lack of gaiety and I almost screamed in shock when a flash entered the room. The man had left as quickly as he came, but the feeling he gave me lingered.
The shortness of breath that hit me hard had me whimpering as I realised what was happening. My hands shook and I quickly placed my phone down when I released a trembling breath.
Tears quickly gathered in my eyes and I wanted to scream at myself for being so weak. All the attention was getting to me since everywhere I went had to be documented. I went from being looked over by every single person I passed on the street to people doing a double-take when they saw me.
I didn't regret meeting Sebastian, but I was beginning to feel the repercussions of making out with him at the club. Dizziness overtook me, my shoulders sinking further into the chair once I closed my eyes to at least try to control my breathing.
Picking up my phone once more, I pressed on Sebastian's phone number, hearing it ring before he picked it up almost instantly. "I want to get out of here."
There was a beat of silence. "I'm getting you a bodyguard." He said with a tone of finality. "Have you been crying?" he asked in a low, concerned voice. His words were slowly enunciated, but it did nothing to calm the panic attack that was rising.
"I just—," I swallowed hard. "There were cameras—and I can't breathe and—," my words were broken up by short gasps. "I'm sorry."
"Shit," he swore angrily, spitting out orders before he came back to me. "Pumpkin, don't be sorry. This is all my fault. Just breathe with me." I focused on his breathing. "In. Out. Just relax, George will be there soon."
I freed my hair from its bun, passing a hand through it to smooth it down. Matching his breathing, I calmed down after a while, a forlorn sigh escaping my mouth.
"I'll sort everything out, Mira. I promise."
After telling my manager in full detail why I didn't feel safe working there anymore, I left with my last paycheck, which was enough to last me for a short while. George had brought me a coffee and was a great conversationalist on the way to Sebastian's office.
Harrington Technologies had a modern yet simple design and it seemed that Sebastian ran a tight ship. All the people that I had passed on my way up only glanced at me once before resuming back to their work.
His secretary, who I was reminded was named Rachel, gave me a warm smile before allowing me to pass. Sebastian was seated at his desk, his ear pressed to his phone when his gaze met mine.
He swiftly ended the call when the door closed behind me. Standing up, his arms were wrapped around me within seconds. "I'm doing an interview later today," he muttered to me when he pulled back. "And I'm going to clear everything up. Let everyone know that we're just friends."
Taking a seat on the couch that was situated closer to the window, I stared at the view he had from his window. Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral and The London Eye could be seen. I deflected a small smile to him, lying down on the couch to cover my eyes with my arm.
"I quit my job."
Peeking at him momentarily, guilt had washed over his features. "What do you want to do now? Do you want to open your own restaurant?"
I slowly nodded. "I could work on my own terms. I'd have to take a loan from the bank to help me set it up."
Sebastian shook his head. "You definitely deserve the £100,000 I offered when I first met you. You're being harassed because of me."
My teeth sunk gently into my bottom lip as I pondered on his offer.
"Mira," he grasped my attention, and the sincerity shone in his dark eyes. "I'm not taking no for an answer. Go property hunting today if you feel better. Everything that's happening to you is because of me, and if this is a way I can help you, then I will."
Silence descended upon us. "Can we cuddle?" I asked, shyness fleeting across my features. "I really need to sleep."
Sebastian pushed his chair back prior to approaching me. His hand reached out to grasp mine and he laid me on top of him, my head resting on his chest and our legs tangling. His other hand rested on the small of my back, his faint heartbeat calming me down.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
When I stirred again, another person had entered the room and was conversing with Sebastian in a hushed manner. He seemed as if he had just come in, and I deduced that he did the interview at the time I was asleep.
"It's not true," Sebastian murmured. "None of the rumours are true, and if they were, don't you think I would've told you and not have clarified to the press that I'm just her friend?"
"I don't know, Ash," the person slowly responded with an undertone of bitterness. "You don't tell us anything anymore."
Sitting up on the couch, I wiped my eyes with grogginess, momentarily unaware that their attention had turned to me. Sebastian smiled softly from where he was sitting, the man standing in front of him watching me with a curious expression.
"Mira," Sebastian waved a hand to the person in front of him. "This is my father Wyatt Harrington. Dad, this is Mira Casey."
Mr Harrington held out his hand politely, shaking mine as he threw another wary glance at his son. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mira. I was just leaving." He turned his attention back to Sebastian. "I'll call you later, and for God's sake, visit your family more often."
He directed a stiff smile his father's way as he left his office, closing the door quietly behind him. There was a silence that drifted into the air for a few moments before Sebastian spoke up.
"Good nap?"
I nodded with a small smile, my eyes catching the clock that was hung on the wall. It had gone just past 3, which meant that I wouldn't be able to go property hunting.
"I pulled a couple of strings with a few friends of mine. There are three properties for you to see today." Sebastian informed me, contradicting my thought seconds before.
"Thank you so much." I genuinely grinned his way, feeling so much gratitude that I stood up and brought him into a hug.
He laughed, wrapping his arms around me. "No problem."
"Has anyone ever told you that you're such a kind-hearted person?" I curiously questioned when I stepped back. He was always giving and expecting nothing back in return, and of course, it was appreciated by a lot of people, but I wondered what he got from it or if he simply enjoyed the feeling it gave him to help people.
A blush scattered across his cheeks and he dipped his head. "A couple, yeah. I like helping people whenever I can."
Sitting down on an empty space on his desk, I saw that he was looking at numbers on his computer. He took a seat and wrung his hands before positioning his chin on top of them.
He noticed that I seemed curious, and took the time to explain his businesses. "I own Harrington Technologies as I built it from the ground up." He began, keeping eye contact with me. "I also own shares in the companies that I invested in when I was younger, and currently I've started a hotel chain."
"What are they called?"
Sebastian smirked. "Well, this isn't really reaching far with ideas, but Harrington Hotel. It makes sense as my name is well known."
Checking his watch, he tapped the table before he stood up once again. "Come on, the first viewing is soon."
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Where restaurants were opened depended on location, location, and location. After the first viewing, the thought that the plan I had for years was finally being put into motion.
My mother was never able to open her own restaurant so I vowed to her before she died that I would live out my dream for the both of us. In a way, it was my thank you to her for everything she had ever done to me.
I knew that opening a restaurant wouldn't be a quick process and it would be stressful. Other than my savings and the £100,000 Sebastian was giving me, my mother had saved money away for her restaurant until she died. On her deathbed, she had told me that she assigned that money to me in her will.
"I was thinking," Sebastian's deep voice pulled me from my thoughts. "That we could watch some movies tonight if you're feeling up to it."
The guilt remained settled in his words, and I could tell he was trying to make things right even though he already had. Tearing my gaze from the car window, I met his gaze. "I'd like that."
A smile overtook his features and he placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. My heart sped up whilst I looked into his alluring eyes.
"Your place?"
Nodding, Sebastian withdrew his hand as George started up the car. My head lolled back on the window before my phone flashed on with a call. Looking down, I was slightly surprised to see Lena's caller ID.
"Hey," she greeted happily. "I'm having a girls' night tomorrow with a couple of friends and wondered if you wanted to come? You can bring a friend too."
Ada was the first person on my mind. She definitely knew how to party and needed a night out again. "I'd love to. Text me?"
"Definitely. Well, talk to you later, I'm about to go on set."
Hanging up the phone, I placed it back on my lap, sneaking a quick glance at Sebastian. I felt like a teenager all over again with the feeling that encapsulated every inch of me. Even though I would never tell him, the way he made me feel was foreign to me.
I hadn't even known him for very long and there I was, feeling my heart speed up when he only smiled at me. I would say that we were fairly comfortable with each other because of the cuddle pact, and I felt like I had known him for years.
When we finally arrived at my apartment, the first thing Sebastian said was: "We should build a fort."
My grin involuntarily widened and I threw him a glance over my shoulder as I dropped my bag on the couch. "What are we, five?"
Sebastian simply lazily smiled. "You love the idea, come on. It'll be fun. Bonding time." He sang playfully, which pulled a laugh from me.
I quickly changed into something more comfortable, taking the blankets and pillows with me. We built a sturdy fort within 10 minutes and an idea entered my head. "I'll get food from the kitchen."
There was a variety of food that I gathered from the fridge and cupboard, and my mouth watered at the pepperoni pizza rolls that were in the freezer. Placing them in the oven, I set the separate timer before walking back to our makeshift fort.
"There are pizza rolls in the oven," I informed Sebastian as he surveyed the movies that Netflix displayed.
"What about Deadpool?"
I instantly agreed, knowing that it was on my list and I had wanted to watch it for a while. Settling down on the pillows next to Sebastian, I quickly set another alarm on my phone so that the pizza rolls didn't burn and wrapped myself in a spare blanket.
"Thank you for today," I turned him to me just seconds before he pressed play. "I really appreciated it."
He looked away shyly. "You're welcome."
We got through the whole movie and managed to finish all of the food, including the pizza rolls, which was probably the highlight of my day.
Sebastian draped his arm over me, pulling me closer to him quietly. "You were practically falling asleep during the movie." He laughed as I looked up at him.
My hair, not tied up with a hairband, was slightly messy and he slid errant strands of my hair behind my ear before cuddling me so my head was tucked into his neck.
"What about cleaning up the fort?"
Our legs tangled. "I'll take you to your bed and clean up before I leave."
Thinking no further, I focused on his intoxicating smell as my arm wrapped around his waist. Surely, he could feel my rapid heartbeat against his chest, which caused warmth to flood my cheeks.
"I'm going to miss this when the cuddle pact ends," I confessed. "I'm already feeling sleepy."
"I'll be here for you for as long as I can," Sebastian responded soberly. "And besides, I like helping you fall asleep so if you still need the cuddles after the pact ends, you have my number."
"Promise?"
Pulling back, I sleepily met his gaze. "Do you trust me?"
I nodded almost immediately. He made me feel incredibly at ease and it wasn't just because he gave me a bodyguard, but the way he cuddled me made me feel like I wouldn't have nightmares.
"Then you know I'd never lie to you."
His hand drew imaginary shapes on the small of my back and I couldn't help but smile into the crook of his neck.
He made me feel safe.