Sebastian shifted under the blanket, wincing as a dull ache pressed into his spine.
"I—uh—can't get this right," he muttered, voice low.
Lillian stood immediately. "Let me help." Her green eyes met his. He didn't move away, didn't protest. She noticed the subtle tension in his shoulders. He wasn't used to this.
She leaned over, tucking the blanket around his shoulders. One wrong step—her foot slipped.
She stumbled forward.
Her chest landed against his.
Sebastian hissed. "Ah—careful!" His hand shot up to steady her. The contact sent a strange warmth through him.
Lillian froze.
Her eyes widened.
She realized how close they were. His chest—solid, strong—pressing against her. She felt heat rise to her cheeks.
He noticed.
"Miss Parker…" His voice was low, rough, almost a whisper.
She swallowed. Heat pooled in her chest. Her hands instinctively gripped the blanket.
They leaned closer without realizing it. Small, instinctive movements. Their faces inched toward each other.
Her breath hitched. His jaw clenched. Blue eyes darkened, a flicker of uncertainty passing through.
And then—
The door burst open.
Chloe.
Both jerked apart.
Lillian stumbled back, gripping the arm of the chair for balance. Sebastian's eyes darted away, rare pink tint on his cheeks.
Chloe stopped mid-step. Her gaze swept the scene: blanket slightly askew, Lillian pressed too close, Sebastian looking… flustered.
"What was that?" Chloe asked, voice sharp, but teasing.
"Nothing," Lillian hissed, pulling Chloe into the hallway. "Just… helping him with the blanket!"
Chloe's lips curved. "Uh-huh. Blanket-helping." She raised a brow. "Sure. That looked… intimate."
Lillian's face flamed. "Chloe!" She tugged on her arm. "Out! Now!"
Chloe let herself be pulled but grinned. "You're blushing. Green-eyed and flustered. Admit it."
"I'm not!" Lillian snapped. Heat surged anyway. "And I could never like someone like him! He's my boss, nothing more!"
Chloe laughed. "Yeah, sure. That's why your face looks like you just got caught staring at him chest-first."
Lillian groaned. "I did not stare at his chest!"
Chloe tilted her head, smirk widening. "Uh-huh. Accidentally fell on him, intense eye contact… totally platonic, right?"
Lillian's hands clenched. "It was an accident! That's all! Stop reading into it!"
Chloe chuckled. "And yet, you're thinking about it. Admit it, Lillian."
"I… I don't—." She stopped herself, heart hammering. Her mind kept replaying his warmth, the feel of his chest.
"Exactly," Chloe said. "You're in way over your head. And you don't even know it yet."
Lillian groaned. "I hate you sometimes."
"And yet," Chloe said, smirking, "you keep talking to me. And your face tells me everything. Green eyes wide, cheeks flushed… total giveaway."
Lillian's thoughts shifted. "Chloe… seriously… how does he even have the energy to stay in shape? He's always at the office, always working."
Chloe laughed, leaning against the wall. "I have no idea. He's insane. Either he's hiding a secret personal trainer, or he just… somehow never stops moving. Seriously, it's exhausting just watching him run a company."
Lillian bit her lip, thinking about the solid, impossibly toned chest she'd accidentally pressed against. Her pulse raced.
"I… I don't get it. He's always at work. How does he even have time?"
Chloe raised a brow.
"Maybe that's why he's… intimidating. Perfect, controlled, and completely unreachable. You ever notice how effortless he makes it look? Like nothing fazes him?"
"I… yeah," Lillian admitted softly, her face heating again. "And yet… he's human. I mean, the other day… seeing him vulnerable…" Her voice trailed off.
Chloe smirked knowingly. "Oh? Did the CEO's rare vulnerability make your heart skip a beat?"
Lillian flushed crimson. "I… Chloe! Stop!"
"Relax, I'm just teasing," Chloe said, laughing. "But admit it—something about him getting all… human in front of you… messes with your head."
Lillian groaned, burying her face in her hands. "You're impossible. I can't—."
"You're thinking about him," Chloe interrupted. "Every time you replay what happened in that hospital room, every slip, every moment of closeness… your brain won't let it go."
Lillian exhaled sharply, forcing herself to calm down. "I… I can't. He's my boss. It's impossible."
Chloe's grin softened. "You're kidding yourself. That's exactly what everyone thinks until they realize… yeah, they like him. Way more than they thought they would."
Lillian groaned again, pacing slightly. "I… I just… I can't think about it right now. I can't."
Chloe leaned closer, voice gentle but teasing. "Oh, you will think about it. And you'll remember the way his chest felt, how strong and solid he is, how close he let you get. You'll never forget that feeling."
Lillian's heart thumped faster. "Stop… just stop…"
Chloe smirked.
"Nah. You'll thank me later. Trust me. You've just stepped into a storm, and he's the eye. He's impossible, stubborn, relentless… and somehow, utterly captivating."
Lillian's mind drifted back to Sebastian. The warmth, the nearness, the intensity in his blue eyes—her pulse raced just thinking about it. She shook her head, trying to push it away. But deep down, she knew. She couldn't stop thinking about it.
Chloe noticed the blush deepening. "Yep. Totally goner. You don't even realize it yet, but you're caught. Hook, line, and sinker."
"I… I—." Lillian struggled for words. She wanted to deny it, to fight it, but the memory of his chest, the warmth, the fleeting eye contact… it lingered, searing itself into her thoughts.
Chloe's grin widened. "And what's funny is… you definitely noticed it too. That chest, that warmth… admit it. You like him. Maybe more than you want to."
Lillian's pulse raced uncontrollably. "I… I… I don't—."
"You do," Chloe said softly, leaning back. "And mark my words… the man in question probably doesn't even realize the effect he has on you."
Lillian's green eyes softened, lips pressing together. "He's… complicated. Impossible. I can't…"
"You'll figure it out," Chloe said. "But for now… just admit, somewhere deep down, that he got to you."
Lillian exhaled, heart racing. She didn't argue. She couldn't. She just nodded slightly, keeping her thoughts to herself.
Chloe smirked knowingly. "Green eyes, flustered, chest-first, falling-into-each-other… your secret's safe with me. But oh, the look on your face… priceless."
Lillian groaned. "I'm never going to hear the end of this."
"You'll survive," Chloe said with a wink. "But just remember… that chest? That warmth? He's going to haunt your thoughts for a long time."
Lillian's mind drifted once again to him. Sebastian Wolfe—cold, stubborn, impossible—had somehow broken through every wall she'd built. And somehow… she knew that part of her didn't want to go back.