Chapter 11

11 APOLOGY ACCEPTED

ABBY

It’s been a week since my last encounter with Seb, and he didn’t bother anymore. Why would he talk to me anyway? I accused him, and I was being judgmental and demeaning. I didn’t apologize. I know Dad was very disappointed, but he didn’t say much.

I spent my entire time with Drew. We went shopping, and he even went with me to my mani-pedi. We did a picnic together in the park. We fed ducks, and he even borrowed a bubble gun from the little boy. We had sandwiches, fruits, and ice cream we bought from the ice cream stand. I’m back in my life, and the only difference is the constant checking of Dad’s security. Even though they didn’t come close, but it’s still irritating.

“Have you apologized to Seb already?”

“Nope. I still feel embarrassed.”

“It’s been a week, Abbygail. Swallow your pride, and it’s your fault, after all,” Drew says.

“What would I say that I’m sorry for being an idiot and that I judged you? Then I would ask him to marry me?” I snort.

“Well, you really have to beg him to marry you. I’m not sure if he would make it easy for you this time, but just apologize first.”

“Shit. Now it’s getting harder. If it’s not for my parents, I’ll never do this. Ever. This is ridiculously absurd,” I say and take a huge breath.

“Can I ask you something?” He gives me an intense look.

“Sure. Shoot away.” I look at the sky, and it’s so clear and blue.

“Are you having nightmares lately?”

“No. Why?” I lie.

“Sure?”

“Yup. Why?”

“Nothing. Good to know.”

We visited Mom twice. Dad is back to his work and never mentioned marriage.

I walk down to our enormous breakfast table after taking a shower and change of comfortable clothes. Dad is having his breakfast, he’s in the middle of sipping his coffee when he notices me.

“Good morning, pumpkin. Drew left for the gym. How’s your sleep, sweetheart?” he says with a delightful smile.

“Morning, Dad. I see we are back to pumpkin. Drew never missed a day. Maybe it’s a part of his work to stay fit.” I start my breakfast with toasted bread, scrambled eggs, fresh fruits, and a cup of coffee.

I feel nervous about what I’m about to ask. Dad looks at me when I’m about to say something. I sip my coffee instead.

I know I have to talk to him anyway, so I take a breath and clear my throat. “Dad, can I ask you something?”

He looks at me curiously. I roll my eyes because I see the glint in his eyes. “Sure. Go ahead, pumpkin.”

“I just want to ask Seb’s number. I want to apologize properly. I mean not on the phone. Do you think you can give it to me?” I look down at my plate when I feel my face start to burn.

“He already saves his number on your phone. You just didn’t check it. And how do you apologize properly, Abbygail? After what you did in his office.”

I blush when I remember what I did. “Um. I want to ask if I could meet him. That’s why I want his number. And um, I want to ask you if it’s okay. I mean, I want you to know that I want to meet him.” I’m so stupid, and I can see now the amusement in his eyes.

“He’s probably in his home right now. I’ll let Howard send you after your breakfast.”

My eyes widened. “I don’t think Sebastian would be pleased to see me at his house. Don’t you think I should call him first?” I suggest quickly.

“Don’t bother. He’s expecting your apology a few days ago.” Dad chuckles. I feel mortified as I slump my back to the chair.

***

After breakfast with Dad, I dress presentably. I choose a red skirt and white lacy sleeveless button-down shirt and red stilettos. I tied my hair in a high bun. After checking myself in the mirror, I head down to the car waiting for me.

I’m excited to see him again and nervous as hell at the same time. What if he doesn’t want to see me? What if he’s just going to mock or humiliate me?

The car stops at the black steel gate with a huge H on it. After being checked by his security, the gate slides open. Howard drives slowly to the massive parking area. At least three cars in front and one that catches my eyes, and it’s the blue Bugatti Chevron if I’m not mistaken. Another one is the black SUV and a black Mercedes SLS. I get out of the car, and I’m amazed by the view—a gigantic fountain in the middle of the driveway. His home is a 19th-century European brick mansion. This place is a perfect getaway from the noise of the city with a very peaceful neighborhood, fresh air, and a lawn where you just want to spread a blanket and lie down with a good book to read. Before I can go on wandering around, the owner himself appears at his door.

“Look who finally showed up,” Seb says with the brightest smile on his face. I smile with the best smile I can master without fainting in front of him. God, he looks just perfect as I imagine.

“Well, hi. Thank you for letting me show up on such short notice.”

“Almost a week is not short notice anymore. Can we head inside already? It’s not proper to keep my guest standing outside, shall we?” He motions his hand with a smirk on his face, and he just reminds me of how I shooed him away the first time we met.

“Lead the way, Mr. Hughes.”

He chuckles at the way I address him. He leads me inside his home, and I feel a hand on my back. I shiver at the touch that I missed for a few days. He must have noticed my reaction because he removes his hand.

A modern European interior design. It looks classy with two stairways on both sides, a huge crystal chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. A classic black grand piano, cozy couches on the right side, floor to wall glass windows, and from the left side are a Mediterranean style designed. Few paintings were mounted on the wall that I recognized from famous French painters.

He said that half of this house has been renovated, furniture has been replaced to modern, appliances had changed to high-tech ones. The previous owner did a very good job keeping this house and still looks beautiful from the outside.

“Welcome to my humble abode.” He smiles. And God, those dimples. I have to grip my purse tightly to stop squirming.

“You look good, by the way.” Well, he looks good to eat, just in a navy blue shirt and jeans. I can see the muscles in his torso and the traces of his six-pack abs. I can see his gorgeous butt from his ripped jeans. Shit. I’m checking him out.

I clear my throat. “Thanks.”

“Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, tea? I have milk and OJ?” he continues, “I’m actually making brunch for myself. So I figure to wait until you arrive. Let’s go to the kitchen.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to interrupt your brunch. I should’ve come later.”

“Not at all. Just woke up a little late. After I spent dinner with my parents last night, I went to meet some friends, had a couple of drinks then headed home. So I overslept,” he explains.

“You haven’t had your breakfast yet. I’m sorry.” I bite my lower lip.

“Don’t be. Too late for breakfast.” We talk till we reach his gorgeous kitchen with a dark countertop, stainless steel appliances. He motions me to sit on the stool with the same color of cupboards and cabinets. He’s busy collecting the ingredients for his branch while I’m busy checking out his kitchen. I guess this is not the only kitchen he has in this house just like what we have at the mansion.

My eyes land on his gorgeous ass. Again. I feel a heat rushes to my face. What I’m doing is so embarrassing.

“So, um. Can you cook?” Shit. Why I even ask. He places some lettuce, ham, tomatoes, sandwich bread, olives, and some cheese.

He looks at me and smiles. “You don’t have to cook just to make a sandwich, Abby.” God, I’m so ashamed right now. Why I didn’t even think of that?

“I guess, it’s too obvious that I don’t know anything in the kitchen? Back in college, Drew used to cook on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. When it’s my turn, we ordered take-out. Or we eat out if he doesn’t feel like cooking. So I’m more of cleaning the mess,” I explain.

“So your roommate. For how long?” He starts slicing tomatoes.

“Since I started college. Dad and Mom didn’t mind though. At least he is not messy and he didn’t bring girls to our apartment.”

“Coffee, tea, or juice?”

“Huh?” I stare at him.

“What would you like to drink?”

“Oh, I had coffee. Juice, please?”

He pours OJ into glass and hands it to me. I almost drop it when our fingers touched. We both look at each other, and I’m the one who breaks them first.

“I-I’m sorry. I almost dropped it.”

“You apologize a lot. Let me guess. This is the Abbygail when she’s not mad? But you still didn’t apologize for what you did in my office,” he says with an amused look.

“I—” I take a deep breath.

“Relax, I’m just messing with you. It’s alright.”

“No. It’s not alright. You were right. I accused you of something that was not true. I called you names, and that was how my parents raised me. I was better than the woman you met a week ago. I shouldn’t have assumed in the first place. Please, I’m asking for forgiveness, and I sincerely apologize for my behavior.” I look at him in the eyes, and he looks pleased with my apology, but he doesn’t say a word, and that worries me. I guess I should try a little bit better.

Instead of saying something, he places a plate of sandwiches in front of me. Another plate on my side and a glass of juice too. He sits beside me, and I can instantly feel the heat radiating between us that ignites in my body. He takes a huge bite of his sandwich and eats silently.

When he notices that I haven’t touched mine, he looks at me and says, “It’s not poisonous. I have no plan for another funeral. Eat, Abby.”

I stiffen, and my mind goes back to my mother—the reason why I’m here.

“Sorry. I don’t mean it like that.” He touches my wrist, and I flinch. I squeeze my eyes shut not to overreact.

“Abby.” He sighs, and I clear my throat.

“Thanks for the sandwich.” I take a bite, and it’s good. I chew it nicely to avoid choking. I have a lot of embarrassments already, and I don’t want to add another one to the list.

We talk during our meal mostly about his home that he’s been here for almost two years, and what he likes about this house is the old cellar that even his parents don’t know about. He mentions that he collects fast cars.

Then we talk about his college days, and he’s a football fan, but never played because he said it’s too violent for him. At twenty-one, he was already working at his father’s company, and at twenty-three, his dad did an early retirement and said they wanted to travel the world while they still could. So Sebastian took over his dad’s seat as CEO.

I volunteered to clean after we’re done with our brunch, but he refused and said that I’m his guest.

We walk out of his kitchen and we stop in front of a mahogany door. After a few presses on the security pad, I hear a click.

“This isn’t what I think it is, is it?” I joke.

“What? That I’m going to murder you and bury you in the cellar?” he says while twisting the doorknob and flicking the light on.

“Yeah. I mean exactly like that. Your office? Wow, there must be a secret passage to where I’m going to get murdered, right?” I check out his office.

“There is definitely a secret passage that the two of us only know. You, poor little thing will be buried down here, under where I stand.”

My throat has gone dry. I lick my lips and I start to have goosebumps. My palms start to sweat. With my heart is beating faster, I breathe deeper as I can. I am not going to pass out in front of him. I take a few deep breaths, and that’s when he comes closer to me

“Abby, are you okay? You look pale again.”

I stiffen. I can’t move, and I can’t speak either. I feel suffocated. I squeeze my eyes shut and take another deep breath.

“Abby? Baby, are you okay? Talk to me, please?” I feel his hands cupping my face, and I start to tremble. He doesn’t what happened to me, and I’m not ready to open up for him. “Open your eyes for me. What’s wrong? You don’t want in my office? Tell me. You know I’m not going to hurt you, Abby. I’ll never hurt you.” I hear the worry in his voice. I breathe and breathe as I hold his shirt tight as if I am getting strength from my grasps.

Think of the beautiful beach, the sunny blue sky, the smell of the sea in the air. I can smell his cologne now, and it makes me a little bit calm. I start to open my eyes, and I know he’s not going to hurt me. He’s just joking, and he doesn’t have any idea what I have been through.

“Abby. Baby, are you okay?” I can see his gray eyes closer, and I can feel his breath on my face. We’re so close to each other, and no other man has ever tried to get closer like this to me.

“I-I am so so sorry. I don’t mean to panic.”

He guides me to sit on the couch. Embarrassment is finally getting through me. I cup my face with my hands as I realize that I almost blackout.

“Do you feel claustrophobic?” he asks. His concern is so deep in his voice. “Abby, you don’t have to tell me anything. I’m sorry.”

“I feel better now. No. I’m okay now. I’m sorry. So what’re you going to show me again? Do you have a playroom too?” I smile at him. I rise from my seat and grab his hand. He looks surprised at what I did.

“Are you sure your okay? We can do it another time.”

“Sebastian, I’m perfectly fine now. So you read all these books or just for decoration purposes to make you look cool and mighty.” I smile at him as if nothing happened.

“Cool and mighty?” He looks amused. The smile alone makes my heart flutter.

“Yeah. I like a man who read books, and I find them cool and mighty.”

He nods. “I keep that in mind. Those are not just for decoration purposes. I read most of them. I don’t have a particular genre. A few of them were my college books.”

“Well, I read books a lot. What can I say, I’m a geek, I just don’t wear glasses,” I say proudly.

He goes to his desk and presses something under it. ” Yeah, I remember that you said when we first met. I guess we both have something in common, after all, Miss King.”

How the heck did he remember what I said before? He smirks at me. God, that smirk just melts my panties. Yeah, it ready did. What can I say? I’m just a girl.

“I guess we have lots in common that we’re about to figure out, Mr. Cool and mighty Hughes.” I give him the best smile I can muster.

I’m not his type. Keep that in mind, Abby.