Ivy's POV
Still at the Italian bistro, having lunch with my elder sister.
"How are you preparing for the art auction we'll be hosting tomorrow?" I asked.
"Well, first of all. The workers will be resuming work tomorrow. You can't keep doing everything by yourself. But aside from that, I can say I'm one hundred percent ready for the auction," She replied.
"That's good."
'At least you'll get to socialize. Mingle with some of the handsome bachelors that'll be attending."
"We'll see if there'll be anyone I'd be interested in."
We laughed.
A few minutes later, we've finished eating and are ready to go back to work. But as we leave the bistro I couldn't help but think about Sabastian.
Lila's hands are on the steering wheel. She turns to me for a quick glance and turns back to the road.
"You okay?" She asked.
"Yes I am fine," I replied.
"You're sure? Cause from my angle, it seems like you're somewhere else mentally," She added.
"I'm fine. It's just... nothing."
"No, no, no. Tell me, please. What is it?" She asked.
"It's the person I was talking to last night," I answered.
"Oh! Yes. And what about him? It's a him right?" She asked again.
"Yes. Sabastian Cain."
"Hmm, Sabastian Cain. Such a handsome name if you ask me," She smiled.
"Stop it. But yes, it's a handsome name. And he's one fascinating fellow as well," I added.
"He's the one you've been thinking about?" She asked.
"Yeah. He actually escorted me home last night."
"Really?"
"Yes. We walked to my house together. He insisted on doing so cause he wanted me to feel safe and be safe."
"That's cute. But you do know that you showed a stranger where you lived. Do you know where he lives?"
"Well... No. But he lives around. He said he moved into this area a few months ago. So I'll be bumping into him sometime."
"Okay. I'd like to meet him," She said, as she turned the car towards the museum.
"Don't you think it's a little early for that now?" I asked.
"I don't think so. I'm just excited to meet this person who's responsible for you zoning out every second."
"Yeah, sure."
"Do well to invite him for the auction tomorrow. It'll be nice to introduce us to each other," She giggled, as she carefully parked the car and turned off the engine.
"We're not dating yet. So I don't get what this is all about, Lila," I said, stepping out of the car.
"I'm so happy for you, you've never been this out of place over a guy in like years. So of course, I'm excited for you," She said, stepping out of the car.
"Now I regret telling you about him," I said.
"Oh, please. Stop it. Okay, I'll stop teasing you about him," She said as she jumped on me, wrapping her arms around my neck. "Let's get inside, shall we?"
I head back to my workshop, arranging the artwork I restored. I brought them out and carefully placed them in their respective areas.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
After a long day of entertaining visitors to the museum, I walked up to Lila's office.
"Hey!" I said as I stepped inside her office.
"Hey!" She responded with a phone in her ear. "Yes, sir. Of course, we'll be expecting you."
As she finished with the phone call, I made myself comfortable in her office chair with a glass of water I had gotten from her dispenser.
"Ivy, when are you getting home?" She asked as she dropped her phone.
"I have one last thing to do before I leave," I answered.
"And what is that? I thought someone had come over to change your car tires?" She asked again.
"Yes."
"Or are you still waiting for your mysterious man?" She burst out laughing.
"My goodness, why did I even tell you about him?" I frowned.
"Anyways, I, on the other hand, have to leave right now. The kids are stressing the nanny and I have to go see what's up before my husband returns from the office," She said.
"Oh yeah," I whispered under my breath. "Your family."
"Ivy... you can always come to stay with me for a while. You know my doors are always open to you."
"I know. But don't worry about me. You should leave, I'll help you finish work here," I said.
"Oh, really? Thank you very much. You're the best sister in the world."
"I'm your only sister."
"Of course. You're more than enough," She said as she kissed me on the cheek and rushed out of the office.
As she leaves, I go over to her desk, arranging her folders, and placing them in their respective areas. As I finished clearing up her desk, I locked her office and went down to my workshop to get my bag.
I decided to wait for Sabastian but after a few minutes that felt like hours, I thought to myself that he wasn't coming. I grabbed my keys and locked my workshop and left the museum.
As I turned the lock on the back exit of the museum, an unsettling chill ran down my spine. The echo of the lock clicking into place felt final, like a door closing on a chapter I wasn't ready to end. The silence enveloped me, amplifying the sound of my heartbeat as I took a deep breath and stepped out into the dimly lit parking lot.
My footsteps echoed on the pavement, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. The shadows danced around me, and every rustle of the leaves sent a jolt of fear coursing through my veins. Trying to shake it off, I quickened my pace, my mind racing with thoughts of the day and the conversation I'd had with Lila.
That's when I saw him. Sabastian was leaning casually against my car, his posture relaxed yet intimidating in the cool night air. My heart stopped, and a wave of shock washed over me. I hadn't expected him to be here, and the suddenness of his presence left me momentarily paralyzed.
His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, his shirt half unbuttoned, leaving his chest exposed to the rays of the moonlight, and he looked every bit as charming as I remembered. But something about the way he stood there made me feel cornered, vulnerable in the half-light. I had been so lost in my thoughts that I hadn't even heard him approach.
A rush of adrenaline coursed through me, mixing with an unexpected thrill. I felt a mixture of fear and excitement as if I were standing on the edge of a precipice, unsure if I would freefall or fly. My breath caught in my throat, and I took a hesitant step forward, trying to gather my thoughts and make sense of the situation.
"Sabastian!" I called out, attempting to sound casual even though my heart was racing. It felt surreal, like a scene carved straight out of a romance novel, yet the pulse of fear that lingered in my chest reminded me of the reality I was in. What was he doing here? Did he mean to surprise me, or was there more to this encounter than I understood?