A few days passed before Sebastian finally called in his first debt.
Anne had expected him to be dramatic about it—to send some cryptic text like "your time has come" or "the contract is sealed." But no.
Instead, he just messaged:
Sebastian: "Tomorrow. 7 PM. Dress warm."
Anne stared at her phone. "That's it?"
No details. No explanation. Just a time and a vague instruction.
She should've been annoyed. But instead, she felt her heart pick up speed.
Damn him.
She debated pushing for more details but stopped herself. This was part of the game. And if she was going to play, she'd play by his rules.
The next evening, she met him at a quiet street corner near the river. The city lights flickered against the water, reflecting like shards of gold across the surface.
Sebastian was already there—coat buttoned up, hands in his pockets, glasses catching the glow of the streetlights.
He looked... calm. Self-assured. Like he knew exactly how the night was going to go.
Anne stopped in front of him, raising an eyebrow. "So? Where are you dragging me?"
Sebastian just smirked. "You'll see."
He turned and started walking. She rolled her eyes but followed.
After a few minutes of walking, she finally gave in. "Okay, I give up. What's the plan?"
Sebastian tilted his head, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "You trust me?"
Anne blinked. The question threw her off. "That's a weird thing to ask before a date."
Sebastian stopped walking. "Is it?"
She frowned. "Yes."
Sebastian didn't move for a moment. Then, without warning, he reached for her wrist.
Her breath caught as he gently pulled her forward—not forceful, not hesitant, just... sure.
Then she saw it.
A small wooden boat, tied to a dock, rocking gently in the water.
Anne's eyes widened. "Wait, no way. You're not—"
Sebastian shot her a look. "You lost the bet. You owe me. And I'm collecting."
She gaped at him. "You're collecting by putting me on a boat?"
Sebastian smirked. "You wanted unpredictable."
She wanted to argue. To tell him he was insane.
But the truth?
She loved it.
And from the way he was watching her—he knew it, too.
Sebastian stepped into the boat first, steadying it as he held out a hand. Waiting.
Anne hesitated, eyeing the rocking wooden floor beneath him. "You're serious about this."
Sebastian's lips twitched. "I thought you liked risks?"
She huffed but took his hand. His grip was firm—sure, like always. And just like that, he pulled her forward. He was really slim, but the strength he actually had was unpredictable. He pulled her in a second like she weighed nothing.
She landed in the boat closer than she expected, their faces just a little too near.
Sebastian didn't move. Didn't let go right away.
Anne cleared her throat. "You're really committed to this debt thing, huh?"
Sebastian released her hand and grabbed the oars instead. "Of course."
He rowed them out onto the water, the city lights reflecting around them, turning the river into a mosaic of gold and black.
The air between them settled—not awkward, not tense. Just charged.
Anne let her fingers drift over the edge of the boat, touching the water lightly. "So."
Sebastian didn't look at her, but she knew he was listening.
"Why me?"
Now, he looked.
"What do you mean?"
Anne met his gaze, expression unreadable. "You could've made a deal with anyone. You could've ignored me in that bookstore. But you didn't. Why?"
Sebastian was quiet for a moment.
Then, finally, he spoke. "You want the real answer?"
Anne narrowed her eyes. "I don't want a poetic one, if that's what you're asking."
Sebastian smirked, shaking his head. "Fine. No poetry."
He rested his hands on the oars, leaning slightly forward.
"Because you remind me of a puzzle I can't quite solve."
Her stomach twisted.
Sebastian watched her reaction carefully. "And I like puzzles."
Anne scoffed. "So I'm just another game to you?"
Sebastian tilted his head. "Did I say that?"
Anne opened her mouth—then closed it.
Because no, he hadn't.
She looked away, suddenly very aware of how small the boat felt.
Sebastian, however, didn't push.
Instead, he exhaled and stretched his arms behind his head. "Besides. You already know my reason."
Anne frowned. "Do I?"
Sebastian smirked. "I told you the night we walked home."
Her breath caught.
You. He had said that. Casually, like it wasn't a big deal. But it was.
And now, out here, with nothing but water and silence surrounding them—
She finally believed him.
A sudden gust of wind rocked the boat slightly.
Anne instinctively reached for the edge—only to have Sebastian grab her hand instead. Pulling her closer. His grip was warm. Steady.
She looked up, heartbeat hammering. "I wasn't gonna fall."
Sebastian smirked. "I know."
But he didn't let go.
Not yet.
And she didn't pull away.
The boat rocked again, but this time, the only thing unsteady was her breath.
The boat rocked gently, the world beyond them reduced to nothing but water, light, and the space between their hands.
Anne exhaled slowly. "Are you always like this?"
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
Anne's gaze flickered to their hands, then back up to him. "Like you always know what you're doing."
Sebastian smirked, but it was softer this time. "I don't."
Anne tilted her head. "Really?"
Sebastian leaned back slightly, but he still didn't let go. "I just like to act first. It saves me from overthinking."
"Overthinking what?"
Sebastian was quiet for a moment, then smirked. "That's for me to know."
Anne rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. The boat drifted in slow circles, and for a while, neither of them spoke. Sebastian was watching her again—not in the way people normally did, but like he was genuinely trying to understand something. Anne wasn't sure if she liked that.
Or maybe—
Maybe she did.
Eventually, Sebastian sighed, tilting his head toward her. "Tomorrow."
Anne blinked. "Tomorrow what?"
Sebastian's smirk returned. "Another session."
Anne narrowed her eyes. "What about it?"
Sebastian leaned in slightly, voice dropping just a bit. "You should pay attention."
Her stomach flipped.
Anne tried to sound unimpressed. "I always pay attention."
Sebastian chuckled, finally letting go of her wrist. "We'll see about that."
And just like that, he picked up the oars and started rowing them back.
The moment should've ended there.
But it didn't.
Because when Anne looked down at her wrist—she swore she could still feel the warmth of his hand.