After Daniel left the room with Sebastian's schedule, the penthouse fell quiet again. The silence here was different from the silence in Willowbrook. Back home, quiet meant the soft turning of book pages downstairs or the gentle clinking of cups while my grandmother brewed tea. Here, the silence felt larger. Like the space itself was holding its breath. Sebastian glanced down at the tablet Daniel had handed him, scanning the information quickly.
"Looks like your day is already busy," I said.
"It usually is."
He placed the tablet back on the counter and picked up his coffee again. For a moment neither of us spoke. I was still trying to get used to everything around me the polished marble counters, the tall windows stretching across the living room, the view of Aurelia City spreading endlessly below. It felt like stepping into another universe.
"There's something I should mention," Sebastian said after a moment.
I looked up.
"There's a dinner tonight."
"A dinner?"
"A business one. Investors, board members… people I can't ignore forever."
"Oh."
The way he said it made it sound less like an invitation and more like an obligation. He studied my expression carefully.
"You're welcome to come with me."
The offer surprised me.
For a second, I imagined walking into a room full of people like Sebastian—people who lived in towering buildings and spoke about numbers and deals and companies that probably earned more money in a day than my bookstore had in ten years. My stomach tightened slightly.
"I think…" I hesitated before finishing my sentence. "I think I should stay here tonight."
Sebastian didn't look offended.
Instead, he nodded calmly, as if he had expected that answer.
"That's perfectly fine."
"I just arrived," I added quickly. "Everything still feels… new."
"It is new."
"And I don't want to embarrass you in front of your business partners."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"You won't embarrass me."
"I still think I should wait."
He studied me for a moment longer, then nodded again.
"Take all the time you need."
Something about that simple sentence made the tightness in my chest ease.
No pressure.
No expectations.
Just time.
Sebastian finished his coffee and set the cup down.
"I'll be out most of the afternoon," he said. "But you're free to explore the penthouse. The building staff already know you're here."
That sentence alone made my heart skip slightly.
The building staff.
The idea that people in this towering skyscraper knew I was here made the situation suddenly feel much more real.
"And Selena?"
"Yes?"
"If you need anything, Daniel can arrange it."
Before I could ask what that meant, Sebastian's phone vibrated again.
He glanced at the screen and sighed softly.
"Work never waits."
I smiled slightly.
"I figured."
A few minutes later he was already preparing to leave. Watching him put on his jacket and walk toward the elevator made the penthouse suddenly feel much bigger. He paused before stepping inside.
"I'll be back later tonight."
"Good luck at your dinner."
The elevator doors slid closed, and he was gone. For several minutes, I simply stood there. Then I slowly walked back toward the windows. The city below was alive with movement cars flowing along wide streets, people moving in every direction, sunlight reflecting off endless towers of glass. I still couldn't believe I was here.
A soft chime suddenly echoed through the penthouse. I turned in surprise just as the elevator doors opened again. Daniel stepped out, still holding the same sleek tablet. For a moment he seemed unsure whether to approach. Then he walked forward politely.
"Miss Selena."
"Hello again."
His posture was professional, but the surprise from earlier had softened slightly.
"Mr. McGrey asked me to ensure you're comfortable while you're staying here."
"That's very thoughtful of him."
Daniel nodded.
"He also asked me to make a few arrangements."
"Arrangements?"
"Yes."
He tapped something quickly on his tablet.
"A driver will be available if you'd like to explore the city. I've also arranged a private appointment at a nearby spa this afternoon."
"A spa?"
"And afterward, a stylist will meet you at a boutique. Discreetly, of course."
I blinked.
"That sounds… like a lot."
Daniel allowed himself the faintest hint of a smile.
"Mr. McGrey prefers preparation."
"I don't even know what I would wear to half the places in this city."
"That's precisely why the stylist will assist you."
His tone remained calm and efficient, but there was something reassuring about the way he spoke.
Not judgmental.
Not condescending.
Just… helpful.
"And no one will know?" I asked quietly.
Daniel understood what I meant immediately.
"No one outside this building will be informed of your presence," he said smoothly. "Mr. McGrey values discretion."
That single sentence told me a lot about the world I had stepped into. A world where privacy had to be protected carefully. A world where attention could be dangerous.
"Thank you," I said softly.
Daniel nodded again.
"The car will be ready in thirty minutes."
He paused before adding one more thing.
"And Miss Selena?"
"Yes?"
His expression softened slightly.
"Welcome to Aurelia City."
For the first time since arriving, I smiled. Because somehow that simple sentence made the city feel just a little less overwhelming.