Page 80 of Bid For Me
With that, he turns on his heel and leaves the room, his presence lingering like a storm cloud.
I exhale slowly, the tension in my chest easing slightly. “Thanks,” I say, glancing at Seb.
He gives me a small, wry smile. “Don’t thank me yet. He’s not done with us.”
I nod, knowing he’s right. Alexander doesn’t let go of control easily. But for now, I’ll take the small victory.
Seb sinks into the armchair opposite me, loosening his tie with a tired sigh. “You holding up?” he asks, his tone softer now.
“Barely,” I admit, running a hand through my hair. “I just...I feel like I’m losing myself in all of this. Like I’m disappearing.”
His gaze sharpens, and for a moment, I see the man beneath the carefully polished exterior – the one who cares more than he lets on. “You’re not disappearing, Elle,” he says firmly. “You’re still you. And if my father can’t see that, then that’s his problem, not yours.”
I give him a weak smile, appreciating the sentiment even if it doesn’t quite ease the weight pressing down on me. “Thanks, Seb.”
He nods, his expression unreadable, before standing and heading toward the door. “Take the day,” he says over his shoulder. “Forget about the wedding. Do something for yourself.”
I watch him go, a strange mix of gratitude and frustration swirling in my chest. He means well, but even Seb can’t fully shield me from the whirlwind of expectations that comes with being a Sterling-Knight fiancée.
I take a deep breath, trying to push the thoughts away. For now, I’ll take his advice. I’ll reclaim a piece of myself, even if it’s just for a little while.
I watch Seb head toward the door, his shoulders tense beneath his perfectly tailored shirt, and I feel a pang of something – gratitude, maybe, or longing for something more genuine between us.
“Seb,” I call out before I can stop myself.
He pauses in the doorway, glancing back at me, one brow raised in silent question.
I take a deep breath, feeling uncharacteristically vulnerable. “Spend the day with me,” I say, my voice softer than I intended.
His brow furrows slightly, and he takes a step back into the room. “Elle, you’ve been trying to get away from all of this. Fromme. It’s why I’ve kept my distance. Why would you want to spend the day together?”
I shrug, trying to sound casual even as my heart pounds. “Maybe I’m tired of fighting every moment. Maybe I just want...to feel normal for a little while.”Maybe I’m lonely and I miss you.
Seb’s expression softens, and after a beat, he nods. “Okay,” he says, his voice low. “What do you want to do?”
I blink, surprised he agreed so easily, but I quickly recover. “No wedding talk. No press. Just something simple. Something real.”
A slow smile tugs at his lips, the kind that’s rare and a little disarming, and his gorgeous eyes twinkle in a way that makes my stomach swoop. “Simple and real, huh? I think I can manage that. Let me change, and we’ll go.”
An hour later, we’re strolling through the city, the crisp autumn air a welcome reprieve from the suffocating opulence of the Sterling-Knight estate. Seb traded his usual bad boy attire for a dark sweater and jeans, paired with a woollen coat. The look is sophisticated and it surprisingly suits him, the dark navy of the coat setting off the bright gold in his eyes. I’m in a cozy knit dress and boots, with my own designer woolen coat, but mine’s cream. For once, we look like regular people, not the couple plastered across gossip columns.
“Coffee first,” I announce as we pass a quaint café. “I need caffeine to survive this date.”
Seb smirks, holding the door open for me. “Date, huh? Didn’t realise this was official.”
I huff in amusement, stepping inside. “If you’re going to spend the day with me, you might as well commit to it.”
He orders for both of us – black coffee for himself, a latte for me, along with a plate of pastries to share. We find a quiet cornerby the window, and for a moment, it feels like the rest of the world fades away.
“This is nice,” I admit, sipping my drink.
Seb leans back in his chair, his gaze lingering on me. “It is,” he says, his tone thoughtful. “I can’t remember the last time I did something like this. No plans, no expectations. Just...being.”
I smile faintly, surprised by his honesty. “You should do it more often. It suits you.”
He chuckles softly, shaking his head. “You’re the only person who’d say that to me.”
The rest of the day unfolds in a way that feels almost surreal. We wander through the streets, stopping at little shops and markets. I drag Seb into a second-hand bookstore, the kind with mismatched shelves and that wonderful smell of old pages.