The morning sun streamed through the tall windows of Sebastian Wolfe's mansion, spilling across the polished floors and modern furniture.
Lillian Parker stepped inside, balancing a stack of folders in one arm and a coffee in the other.
"Wow, you've brought the whole office with you," Sebastian said, leaning against the doorway of his study, arms crossed, smirking.
"I need everything," Lillian replied, setting the folders on the large mahogany table.
"Evidence, timelines, witness statements… just in case."
Sebastian shook his head with a faint laugh.
"You're dramatic. But I like it."
"You like it because you're equally dramatic," she shot back, smiling.
He walked past her, brushing her shoulder lightly.
"Maybe. Or maybe I just enjoy seeing you so serious about something that matters."
Lillian felt her cheeks warm.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. Wolfe."
"Is that a challenge?" he asked, his blue eyes glinting.
"Maybe," she replied, leaning over to arrange the folders neatly.
Sebastian smirked and gestured toward the chairs.
"Come on, let's make ourselves comfortable. This mansion is our battlefield today. No distractions. No prying eyes."
Lillian smiled softly.
"Finally, some privacy. I like that."
Sebastian settled into one of the chairs across from her.
"Good. Now, let's prep for the trial. Ethan Bennett won't know what hit him."
Her hands hovered over the first folder.
"I still can't believe he… attacked you right as you were leaving the office. It's insane."
"I know," Sebastian said evenly.
"But the police have everything. Witnesses, surveillance, statements. I'm prepared."
Lillian glanced up at him.
"And you're calm about all of this?"
He leaned back, hands behind his head.
"I've survived worse. And now I have you here to help. That makes me even calmer."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You're trying to get me to blush, aren't you?"
"Maybe," he said, leaning forward, resting his elbow on the table.
"Maybe I like seeing you flustered."
"Unbelievable," she muttered, hiding her smile behind her coffee cup.
Sebastian's expression softened.
"I also managed to clear an entire day to meet your parents."
Lillian froze.
"Wait… what?"
He tilted his head, amused.
"Your mother and father. I cleared my schedule. We'll meet them soon."
Her heart skipped.
"You did? Really?"
He nodded, leaning back in his chair.
"For you."
Lillian couldn't resist. She set her coffee down and stood, walking over to hug him tightly.
"Thank you. Really… thank you."
Sebastian hugged her back, one hand on her back, the other brushing her hair.
"Don't thank me yet. Just survive the trial prep first."
"I'll try," she said, laughing softly.
Pulling back slightly, he smirked.
"You know, I like it when you laugh like that. Makes the serious work more tolerable."
"Are you serious? Or flirting?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Both," he said calmly.
"Mostly flirting, though."
Lillian rolled her eyes but couldn't stop smiling.
"Typical."
They sat down, spreading out the folders. Sebastian leaned over, pointing at a statement.
"This is key. Ethan's movements were tracked by multiple cameras. See the timestamp here? That's when he approached the lobby."
Lillian nodded.
"And security saw him near the exit at the exact moment you were leaving."
"Yes," he said.
"We need to establish that clearly. Timeline matters."
Her fingers brushed his hand as she reached across the table for a pen.
She froze, meeting his gaze.
He didn't pull away.
"Everything okay?" he asked softly.
"Yes… yes, I'm fine," she stammered, heart racing.
"Just focused."
"Focused and cute," he muttered, making her blush even deeper.
She swatted his arm lightly.
"Stop it. You're impossible."
"And yet you're still smiling," he teased.
They went through the evidence methodically.
Every statement, every timeline, every photograph.
Lillian asked questions, Sebastian answered, and the air between them was charged with playful tension.
"Do you always enjoy being right about everything?" she asked, gesturing toward one of the reports.
"Always," he said smoothly.
"And do you always enjoy arguing with me?"
"Sometimes," she admitted, smirking.
"Sometimes?" he repeated, leaning closer.
"That's a little vague."
"Fine," she said, laughing softly.
"Yes, I enjoy arguing with you."
Sebastian's smirk deepened.
"Good. I like honesty."
After a pause, Lillian hesitated, then asked, "About meeting my parents… do you… do you really want to meet them? Or is this just because I asked?"
He looked at her seriously.
"I want to meet them. I want them to know you're happy. And I want them to know I'm serious about you."
Her chest warmed.
"You're… amazing."
"And you're dramatic," he replied, earning another laugh from her.
Hours passed quickly.
They shifted from evidence to potential courtroom questions.
Lillian would play the role of Ethan's lawyer, asking provocative questions, and Sebastian would practice the answers.
"Why would you want to do this?" she asked, grinning as she held a notepad.
"Practice makes perfect," he said.
"Besides, I like seeing that fire in your eyes."
She rolled her eyes but smiled.
"You're impossible."
"Impossible, yes. But effective," he replied, reaching for her hand across the table.
Their fingers entwined lightly.
Lillian's cheeks flushed, but she didn't pull away.
Instead, she teased, "Do you do this with all your secretaries?"
"No," he said softly.
"I only have one secretary."
She felt her heart skip.
"That's… really sweet."
Sebastian leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"Also… if we survive all of this trial prep, there might be a reward waiting for you."
Her eyes widened.
"A reward?"
"Maybe," he said with a sly smile.
"Depends if you behave."
She laughed, leaning back in her chair.
"You're unbelievable. I can't believe I'm falling for this while prepping for a trial."
"That's the idea," he said softly.
"To keep you… distracted… in the best way possible."
The rest of the afternoon passed in a mix of intense focus and playful banter.
They laughed at mistakes in her practice answers, Sebastian teased her for overthinking scenarios, and she jabbed at him for being too cocky.
Eventually, Lillian closed her folder with a sigh.
"I think that's it. I'm ready. Hopefully."
Sebastian studied her, smiling softly.
"You're more than ready. And I couldn't ask for a better partner in this… or in life."
Her stomach fluttered.
"You really are something else."
"And you're something worth protecting," he said quietly, reaching for her hand again.
Lillian's eyes softened.
"I just hope my parents like you. I wasn't expecting them to be so… okay with us."
"They will," he said confidently.
"They'll see what I see. You're brilliant, kind, and remarkable. And they'll know I'll treat you well."
She leaned across the table impulsively, hugging him tightly.
"Thank you. Really."
He hugged her back, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"For what?"
"For being you. For everything."
"For letting me," he whispered.
They pulled back slightly, smiling at each other.
The mansion was quiet, the afternoon light bathing the room in warmth.
Sebastian stood, brushing off his pants.
"Now, you should go. Rest a little before tomorrow. The trial prep will continue, but we've done enough for today."
Lillian nodded, still smiling.
"I will. But… thank you. For everything."
He smirked.
"You're welcome. But don't forget… the reward."
She laughed softly, rolling her eyes.
"Impossible."
"Maybe," he said softly.
"But you love it."
She shook her head, smiling.
"I do."
And for the first time that day, with the trial looming and her parents meeting on the horizon, Lillian Parker felt a quiet confidence.
With Sebastian by her side, she was ready for anything.
Outside the tall windows, the city hummed quietly.
Inside, they shared a private world of laughter, strategy, and stolen glances—preparing for a battle they would face together.