Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Chapter 27 Fiona’s ears folt all tingly and hot from Sebastian’s breath as she pushed his face away with her hand, Backing off, she touched her still-burning ears and shot him a fierce look.

“Mr. Quinn!” she snapped, fuming, thinking Sebastian must be messing with her on purpose. He had leaned so close that his lips practically tickled her ear, feeling almost like a bite. It left her with an awkward, electric jolt of discomfort.

‘All I did was spout some nonsense, and he has punished me already. Shouldn’t that have been the end of it?’ she thought. With any other guy, Fiona would’ve thought he was trying to hit on her. But if it were anyone else, she would’ve already taught him a lesson he wouldn’t forget.

Fiona was like a cornered wildcat, her angry glare a clear warning. Sebastian just looked at her and nodded, an annoyingly knowing smile on his face.

In her head, Fiona kept repeating, ’80 million dollars… 80 million… Keep cool. Don’t lose your temper.’ She flexed her fingers, her knuckles cracking audibly, signaling she was a second away from throwing a punch.

Sebastian watched her, his expression deep, his Adam’s apple moving as he spoke. “You’re not gonna take a swing at me, are you?”

But of course…she wouldn’t dare. Fiona’s mind raced to Sean’s words. Why would a guy like Sebastian, who doesn’t give a hoot about money, bother with someone as money-hungry as me? But just to spite Charlotte and Nathan, would Sebastian go to such lengths to help me? It seems like too much trouble. He must have some other motives, she concluded in her mind.

Suddenly, Fiona pieced together another rumor about Sebastian. ‘Maybe Sebastian isn’t into women at all Word is he might be into men. And he’s no spring chicken, he’s already in his thirties. Granny even mentioned that with all the guys hanging around him, someone from the Quinn family’s been hounding him, sending women his way. He’s probably looking for a fake girlfriend to throw them off.

“I’m from a village and seen as someone who’s after cash, and my own folks don’t want me. I’d be the perfect cover for him. He’s probably grilling r about Sean to make sure there’s no real chemistry there that could mess things up for him. With that thought, everything clicked for Fioria. Even powerful guys had their own problems. And if she played her cards right, with Sebastian’s generous nature, she might just hit the jackpot again.

me “What’s on your mind now?” Sebastian’s intense stare brought Fiona back to the moment. He sounded dangerous. Compassion filled her eyes, and she reached for her phone in her pocket, b y p a s s i n g all those unread messages to open her photo gallery.

“Mr. Quinn, check this out.” Fiona leaned in, excited, handing over her phone. “Here are some fresh snaps I took back at the hotel. They might be weak and nowhere near as impressive as you and your friends. But hey, they’re loaded, totally different from those scrapping by on their looks alone. Interested? I’ll zap these pics your way later.” As Fiona breezed through the photos on her phone, her enthusiasm was evident, Sebastian now understood exactly what Fiona had been thinking. He looked at all those men, clad in only their underpants, striking various suggestive poses, and his face turned gloomy with anger. “Fional” he snapped, and the turquoise bracelet on his wrist cracked from the grip of his anger. “How could you snap these? And keep them on your cell? Erase them already!”

Fiona jumped to defend her phone instantly. “You can’t just erase them! That would be so unfair. It’s my phone!” She blurted out, then caught herself, knowing she flow off the handle too quickly. Calming down, she explained, “Look, those guys were trying to hit on me. All I’m doing is giving them a taste of their own medicine, I’ll make them cough up some cash for the photos first, then I’ll hit delete.” She gazed at Sebastian, hoping he’d understand, and added softly, “I thought you’d like them, that’s why I shared them with you. Why are you flipping out?”

Sebastian sighed, his anger cooling down. “Just this once. Don’t do it again, okay? And do not look at other men’s bodies,” he said with a hint of a softer tone.

Fiona was busy chanting “80 million dollars” in her head and nodded like a good girl. Once she ditched the engagement and grabbed the cash, she’d not allow him to boss her around again.

Seeing her half-hearted nod, Sebastian just shook his head and rolled down the car window. After letting the cool air in for a few seconds, he rolled in back up. Looking at her, he seemed defeated. “Who said I liked guys? I don’t, okay?”

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Chapter 27 Fiona quickly responded, “Hey, liking guys or girls is a personal thing. No judgment bere.”

He shot back, “Fiona, if I find you wondering about this again, trust me, you’ll find out soon enough which I prefer “Does he mean to show me by dating some girl in front of me…? The thought panicked her. Wary of Sebastian reading her thoughts, she dodged his eyes and looked down.

By 11 p.m., they pulled up to Summerlyn Garden. Outside, the rain poured and the wind howled. Just looking at it sent chills to Fiona.

Unbuckling her seatbelt, Fiona turned to grab the coat Sebastian had tossed to the back earlier. As she reached, she felt a coat being draped over her shoulders. She glanced up to see Sebastian covering her with a navy blue coat-not the one Sean had given her “Mr. Quinn, you keep it. I already got a coat,” Fiona said.

But Sebastian wasn’t taking no for an answer, “Wear this,” he insisted.

Fiona thought it over and didn’t argue this time.

Just like Sean had earlier, Sebastian fixed up Fiona’s coat, and then they both stepped out of the car.

Evan was there with a black umbrella. Fiona reached out for it, but Sebastian was quicker. Embarrassed, Fiona mumbled, “Thanks a ton for tonight, Mr. Quinn, It’s real late. You should head back and get some rest. I’ll treat you to dinner once I cash in on those photos.”

Evan cracked a smile. “Mr. Quinn lives here too.”

Fiona gave Sebastian a surprised look. ‘Sebastian lives here too? How have I never bumped into him?” she wondered silently.

“Let’s go inside,” Sebastian said, draping his arm over Fiona’s shoulders and angling the umbrella to shield her as they entered the apartment building together.

Evan watched them go, thinking they made a striking pair. Yet Fiona seemed utterly oblivious to Sebastian’s affection for her. This was the first time he’d seen a woman pull all kinds of stunts around Sebastian and still get by. Sebastian was livid, but somehow, he couldn’t lay a finger on Fiona.

Fiona, catching the look on Sebastian’s face as he followed her out of the elevator, started, “Mr. Quinn, this is my stop. You really don’t need to.” But before she could finish, Sebastian was already punching in a passcode across from her place. The door swung open.

“Sebastian lives right across my place?’ she thought, stunned.

“A buddy’s place. I’m just crashing here for now,” he explained.

Fiona, still a bit spaced out, finally pieced things together, “You know, I’ve heard the Quinn family’s got some real complicated ties. Even a big shot like you isn’t free from the drama. Mr. Quinn, I’m good at keeping secrets. Need help? I’ll take a hit, let alone be your cover.”

She backed up to her door as she spoke, pressing her hand where her fingerprint would unlock it. As soon as she ended her offer, she slipped inside and shut the door fast.

Sebastian stared at the closed door and gave a soft knock.

Through the door, Fiona’s voice floated out. “Mr. Quinn, I’ll do it, and I don’t even want a dime for it.”

Sebastian’s eyes dimmed, but then he allowed himself a small smile. He walked over to his window, hitting up Evan on the phone. “Clean Sean’s coat and return it to him yourself. As for Paul and his crow, let’s not mess with their businesses for now. Keep them stewing in jail a little longer.”

If their companies tanked, Fiona wouldn’t see a cent from them, and that’d definitely tick her off.