Chapter 99

Stella

Today is just another lazy day that passes by for me. It is a busy day regardless, though, filled with me vetting possible new employees for my business as well as accepting ad rejecting new jobs. I have made myself at home on my couch with my laptop on my lap as I type away.

Sebastian came for a visit during his lunch break but he stayed after his time was up, claiming that time spent with me is better than time spent at work. I blushed at the comment and rolled my eyes at him, telling him that his comment was just too cheesy but he just smiled and laughed with me.

He sits on the couch with me, my les draped over his lap while I work. His fingers run up and down my shins as I explain the new jobs to him, trying to get his opinion to see if it is worth my time or if I should reject it.

“How long will it take you?” Sebastian asks. His hand clasps my ankle and gives it a little wiggle, causing me to smile.

“It’s just a simple firewall, so not too long,” I respond, my eyes never leaving the screen. “I could honestly do it right now if I wanted to.”

“Then what is stopping you from doing it? Hm?” he counters, pulling on my legs to draw me closer to him.

“Is ‘pure laziness’ good enough of an answer?” I cheekily ask him. Sebastian rolls his eyes and grabs my laptop, moving it closer to him.

“Where is the accept button? I’ll claim it for you so you have to do it,” he says. I gasp and reach out, smacking his arm. Sebastian laughs and pushes the laptop away from me, clicking the accept button. “See? Now you can buy yourself one expensive coffee with that job.”

“Really? I’d rather use your money,” I joke with him. He laughs and rolls his eyes giving the tops of my thighs a gentle pat.

“Ha-ha,” he sounds out his laugh, “very funny. We all know you are miss independent.”

Before I can answer, Sebastian’s phone begins to ring. I draw my knees up to my chest and watch as he stands up, sharing a sympathetic look with me as he answers the call.

“What is it?” he asks, his entire light and happy demeanor changing in a matter of seconds. I frown and listen as he hums along.

I reach over and grab my laptop, placing it right back onto my lap as Sebastian mumbles into his cell phone. I know he wants to keep me away from the mafia activities as much as possible and for that I am grateful, but I feel horrible that he cannot openly speak about it while in my presence no matter how many times I tell him that it is okay.

“I have to go,” Sebastian says after he hangs up the call.

“Okay! I understand,” I reply with a small smile on my face. He shares a sympathetic look with me and comes back towards me, sitting back back. “When you come back, I’ll have the firewall done and we can go out to dinner? My treat?”

“I…” a small smile spreads across Sebastian’s lips. He reaches out and brushes some of my hair out of my face tucking it behind my ear. “I would really like that. I’ll text you when I’m on my way, okay?”

I nod and smile. Sebastian stands back up and leans down. He presses a sweet and gentle kiss onto the top of my forehead and my cheeks heat up.

Without another word, he heads towards my door and leaves, locking it behind him. I sigh and lean back into the couch, closing my eyes. I take a deep breath and try to steady my nerves, pushing away thoughts of a certain someone from my mind.

There is a knock at the door. I open my eyes and sit up, raising an eyebrow at it.

“Sebastian?” I ask aloud. “Is that you?”

There is no response except for the sound of loud fumbling from outside. I shrug and stand up, walking towards the door. He must have forgotten something and didn’t want to take his keys out.

I open up the door and put the smile back onto my face but am surprised to see a line of deliverymen standing outside. My eyes shoot open and I step to the side, watching as they begin to file inside my apartment.

“What…” I stammer, moving to the side, “what’s going on? What is all of this?”

“Good afternoon, ma’am,” a shorter man enters. He holds out a card to me, which I take, and places his hands behind his back. “You are the very special recipient of a very special gift! Open up the letter once we leave!”

“Okay,” I slowly nod. I look down at the card in my hand.

It is a white envelope with my name written in cursive in the middle of the paper. I flip it over, trying to see if there is any other sign of who it could be from.

Oh! Wait! Could it be from Sebastian? Is that why he had to leave so soon? That sly dog…of course he would do something like this!

A smile blossoms across my face and I look up at the deliveries that the men bring inside of my home. There is an abundance of flowers and white boxes. There are smaller boxes, too, which velvety finishes on them.

I hold back my excitement, loving that Sebastian has decided to spoil me for no reason at all. There is no motive behind it and there are no other reasons why he would need to come back into my good graces.

“Ma’am, may we please get your signature?” the man from before asks.

I nod and walk towards him. I take the pen in hand and sign the electronic handheld device in his hand. He smiles at me.

“Have a great rest of your day!”

And with that, the rest of the delivery people leave. I close the door behind them and lock it. I slowly turn around and press my back against the door.

Multiple bouquets of flowers sit on my countertop. The white boxes have been open to reveal delicious looking desserts. A chocolate cake, cookies, croissants, and even macaroons fill my countertop with the glorious and sweet feast.

Beside them sits jewelry boxes filled with diamond clad pieces. Necklaces, earrings, and rings all sit on the inside of the blue velvet boxes. I move across my apartment in awe, taking it all in, with the envelope still in my hand.

I rip open the white paper and pull out the white card. Flipping it open, my smile drops as soon as I recognize the handwriting on the inside.

Stella,

I hope these gifts find you well. I would love the chance to talk to you and show you just how sorry I am.

Love, Adrian

I close the envelope and walk towards the trash. I drop it inside and look around.

The specialness of the gifts has been lost. They are all now reminders of the life that I have left behind, something that I do not want to remember. I grab my phone and bring it to my ear, calling my father.

“Dad? It’s Stella. I was wondering if I could borrow a spare van and a bodyguard to help me with something. What? Oh, yeah, it’s nothing. I just need to throw some stuff away at the dump.”