The city lights filled the view outside Sebastian’s office window.
He stood there with one hand in his trouser pocket and the other resting against the window frame, quietly watching the streets below.
Cars moved along the roads, their headlights passing through the dark.
The office was quiet at this hour with only the low sound of the air conditioning in the background.
The door creaked open slowly followed by a loud thud and a muffled “Ow!” Sebastian didn’t need to turn around to know exactly who had just walked into his doorframe.
“Boss!” Leo’s voice was a bit too loud in the quiet office.
“I brought the reports you asked for about tomorrow’s dinner.
Everything’s pretty much ready for the celebration.
The catering is confirmed, the security team has been briefed and the guest list is finalized.”
Sebastian remained silent, his back still turned to the room.
“Um, sir?
I also brought the updated seating arrangements.
I did have a small accident with the original copy.
I spilled coffee on it.” He gave a nervous smile.
“So I recreated it from memory.
I think I got everyone in the right place.
Probably.”
Sebastian turned slowly, his expression unreadable.
Leo immediately straightened his posture and his eyes widened as if he’d just seen a ghost.
“The coffee incident was minor.” He blurted out.
“Most of the documents are still readable.
You can definitely read the important parts… And the server is fine.
I protected it.”
Sebastian remained silent.
“I mean, I jumped in front of it when the cup slipped.
I didn’t think.
My body just moved.” Leo gave a small nod as if proud of himself.
“So technically, the server is alive because of me.” He hesitated.
“Although…
I did scream a little.”
Sebastian’s lips pursed into a line as he stared at him, then he walked to his desk and sat down, picking up a pen.
“The arrangements?”
“Right!
The arrangements!” Leo went through his papers.
“Everything is perfect.
Except maybe one small thing.
I may have accidentally invited your cousin twice.
And possibly your uncle’s ex-wife.
But in my defense, she still uses his last name, and she was very nice on the phone.
I think she mentioned her poodle just won some regional championship and…”
Sebastian’s phone buzzed on his desk.
He glanced at the screen then answered it without a word.
“Sebastian, darling,” a woman’s voice came through from the other end.
“I trust you’re ready for tomorrow’s dinner?
I’ve personally selected the wine menu.
None of that cheap swill they tried to serve at the New Year celebration last year.”
Leo’s eyes widened in recognition of the voice.
He took a slow deep breath and closed his eyes.
“Mother,” Sebastian said, his voice flat.
“Don’t ‘Mother’ me with that tone.
I’m calling about that old woman,” Mrs.
Valerius continued, her usual stern voice taking over.
“Do you know what she’s planning for tomorrow?
She’s invited some of her…
friends.
The artist with that hair piled halfway to the ceiling and that circus performer who juggles knives.
Knives, Sebastian.
At your company’s celebration!”
Leo’s eyes opened wide as he bit his lip, trying not to laugh.
He covered his mouth with his hand and took another slow breath as if preparing himself for a long story.
“That’s not the worst of it,” Mrs.
Valerius continued.
“Remember last year’s New Year celebration?
She brought that fortune teller who told everyone their future.
The one who said I would have a ‘challenging year’ ahead.
Well, she was right about that, but only because I had to put up with your grandmother all year!”
Sebastian picked up his pen and tapped it slowly against the desk.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because someone needs to control her!” Mrs.
Valerius snapped.
“She’s going to ruin tomorrow’s dinner.
She’ll probably bring that fire breather she invited last year.
He nearly set the curtains on fire before the party even started.
Those curtains cost more than Leo’s annual salary!”
Leo coughed at the mention of his name.
He knew she was exaggerating about his salary but he couldn’t help feeling a little proud.
He had been the one who stopped the fire.
“Sebastian, are you even listening to me?” Mrs.
Valerius asked.
“I have a company to run,” Sebastian said.
“If you have issues with her guest list, take it up with her.”
“You know I can’t talk to her!
Every time I try to reason with her, she argues with me.
That old woman has never admitted I was right about anything!”
“Then don’t go to the dinner.”
The other end went silent.
Then, “You are completely useless.
It must be a family trait on your father’s side.”
Sebastian didn’t respond.
A moment later, the call ended.
Leo finally let out the breath he’d been holding.
“Well, that went as expected.”
Sebastian slowly lifted his gaze to him, his expression unchanged.
“The arrangements for tomorrow are complete?”
“Yes, sir.
Everything is set.
Except for the accidental inclusion of your uncle’s ex-wife.
But I can fix that!
I’ll call her right now and un-invite her.
Or maybe I should just pretend she was never invited in the first place?
That might be easier.
People forget things, right?
Especially when they’re busy with important company celebrations and poodle championships.
I’m sure she’ll understand.”
Sebastian didn’t react to his nonsense.
He simply leaned back in his chair.
“That’s all for tonight.”
“Right!
Of course!
I’ll just…
take these files and make sure everything is ready.” Leo gathered his papers and backed toward the door.
“I’ll take care of the seating arrangements too.”
The door closed behind him, leaving Sebastian alone in the office again.
He returned to the window and looked out at the city.
He stood there without moving.
The office was quiet now, just as it had been on so many nights before.
He had gotten used to the silence, but that didn’t mean he liked it.
A tiny familiar voice suddenly came from the doorway.
“Daddy!”
Sebastian turned toward the sound.
Sophie stood at the open door looking up at him.
Something in his expression softened when he saw her though it disappeared almost as quickly as it came.
“I missed you!” Sophie said as she walked into the office.
Then she puffed out her cheeks and frowned at him.
“Didn’t I tell you to stop staying at work so late?”
She put her hands on her little hips.
“You’re doing it again!
Standing by the window like you always do.
If Auntie Belle didn’t bring me here, I wouldn’t even know what you were doing.” She stared at him in disbelief.
“Daddy, are you hiding from me?
Do you not want to go home because I’m troublesome?
Is that why you’re always working?”