Sebastian sat in his study going through the financial reports on his desk.
He often worked late at night when the house was quiet and there was no one to disturb him.
The study door suddenly creaked open softly.
“You’re still working?”
Sebastian didn’t need to look up.
He would know that voice anywhere.
Soft, melodic, with just a hint of mischief– Seraphina.
He kept his eyes on the documents in front of him.
“I have to finish these quarterly projections.”
Seraphina walked across the room, her bare feet silent on the soft rug.
She pulled the big armchair by the window over to his desk, sat down in front of him and crossed her legs.
“Projections can wait,” she said, her voice dropping to a whisper.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
Sebastian finally looked up, his expression unreadable as he took in the sight of her in the silk robe he’d bought her last month.
The deep blue color brought out the gold flecks in her eyes.
It was tied loosely at her waist, showing more than it hid.
“Claire,” he said, his voice strained.
“I’m almost done.”
“No, you’re not,” she insisted with a knowing smile.
“You’re never almost done.
There’s always one more report, one more meeting, one more emergency that needs your attention.”
She stood up and walked around his desk, her hands trailing along the wood as she moved.
He watched her in the reflection of his computer screen, his pulse quickening despite himself.
“Come to bed,” she murmured as she leaned over his shoulder.
Her breath was warm against his ear.
“I’ve missed you all day.”
“I have to finish this,” he repeated though he was starting to give in.
“Then I’ll keep you company,” she said sitting on the edge of his desk.
She picked up a crystal globe with their wedding photo inside from the desk.
“Remember our honeymoon?
You couldn’t tear yourself away from business calls then either.”
“That was different,” he protested weakly.
“Was it?” She put down the object and moved behind his chair, her hands massaging his shoulders.
“You work too hard, Sebastian.
You always have.”
Her fingers worked magic on his knotted muscles and he found himself leaning back into her touch despite his intention to focus on work.
“Someone has to provide for this lifestyle you’re so fond of,” he said in a soft voice.
“Is that what you think I want?” she whispered, her lips brushing against his neck.
“All this?” She gestured casually at the expensive furnishings and the art on the walls.
“I’d rather have you.”
He closed his eyes and let himself sink into the moment.
“Please make me some coffee,” he said suddenly, his eyes snapping open.
Seraphina’s hands went still.
“Coffee?
So you’re planning to stay up all night?”
“Just a little longer.”
She sighed dramatically.
“No coffee.
If I make you coffee, I know exactly what that means.
You’ll work until dawn and then sleep through breakfast.”
“Claire…”
“Don’t ‘Claire’ me” she said firmly as she cut him short.
“No coffee.
Either you come to bed with me now, or you come to bed alone.”
He turned in his chair to face her, one eyebrow lifting as he took her hand in his, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
“Just one cup?
Please?”
She studied his face for a moment then rolled her eyes playfully.
“Fine, one cup.
But you owe me.”
“I always owe you,” he murmured.
She leaned down and gave him a soft lingering kiss that promised more to come.
“Don’t be too long.”
As she walked toward the door, Sebastian leaned back in his chair resting his knuckles against his jaw.
His eyes remained fixed on the doorway even after she disappeared…
***
“Sir?
Sir?”
Sebastian blinked.
Chloe was standing in the doorway, holding a silver tray with a cup of coffee on it.
“Your coffee is ready, sir.”
Sebastian glanced at the tray before looking back at the reports on his desk.
“Put it there.”
Chloe nodded and placed the coffee on the desk.
“Will there be anything else?”
“No.
You can go.”
“Good night, sir.”
Sebastian gave a small nod in acknowledgement.
Once the door closed, he picked up the coffee and took a sip.
It wasn’t nearly as good as the one Seraphina used to make.
A few minutes later, the door creaked open again.
This time it was Sophie standing in the doorway.
Her small frame was lit by the light from the hallway and she was wearing a pink nightgown with a stuffed rabbit clutched to her chest.
“Daddy, you’re still working?” she said softly.
Sebastian looked up from the reports on his desk.
“Sophie.
What are you doing up?
It’s past your bedtime.”
“I couldn’t sleep,” she said walking into the room.
She went straight to him and climbed onto his lap without asking.
Sebastian glanced at her before returning his attention to the papers on the desk.
“You should be in bed.
You have school tomorrow.”
“I know,” she sighed.
“But I was thinking.”
“About what?”
She was quiet for a moment, then she looked up at him.
“Can I call Auntie Belle ‘Mommy’?”
Sebastian’s hand which had been resting against her hair, stopped for a second.
His expression remained unchanged.
“Isabelle is not your mother.”
“But you’re going to marry her, right?”
“Yes, we’re engaged.
She’ll be living here soon and she’ll take care of you when I’m working.”
“But that’s what happens when people get married,” Sophie insisted, her voice taking on the adult tone she sometimes used.
“The woman becomes the man’s wife, and the wife becomes the girl’s mommy.”
Sebastian didn’t answer.
He looked at her for a moment before resting his hand against her hair again.
Sophie lowered her eyes.
“Will I ever have a mommy?”
Sebastian went silent again.
He had expected this question sooner or later but that did not make it any easier to answer.
“You have Chloe,” he said.
“She takes good care of you.”
Sophie shook her head against his chest.
“Chloe isn’t Mommy.
She’s just a nanny.”
“I know.” He didn’t say anything else.
There was nothing useful he could tell her.
He couldn’t change what had happened, and he wasn’t going to make promises he couldn’t keep.
“Daddy?” she spoke up again.
“Yes?”
“We have a new teacher at school,” she said, her voice changing abruptly.
“I don’t like her.”
Sebastian looked down at her.
“What did she do?”
“She scolded me,” Sophie said, sitting up straighter.
“She said I’m spoiled and that I don’t know how to behave.”
The look on Sebastian’s face changed.
His expression became colder and his eyes settled on Sophie.
“What else did she say?”
Sophie thought about it for a minute.
“She said that I needed someone to teach me how to act.
That maybe my Mommy should have taught me better.”
Sebastian’s hand stopped moving.
“What did you say?”
“That’s what she said,” Sophie insisted.
“And she made me apologize to Michael even though it wasn’t my fault.
He touched my things.”
Sebastian’s jaw tightened slightly.
He knew Sophie could be difficult, but that was not what concerned him most.
The teacher had brought up her mother, a subject that should have been handled with care.
If the woman knew anything about Sophie, she should have known better than to use Seraphina in a lesson.
“Which teacher was this?” he asked.
“I don’t know her name,” Sophie said.
“She’s new.
And she’s not a good teacher.
She doesn’t even know how to teach properly.”
Sebastian studied her face.
Sophie was clearly upset but he knew better than to take everything she said as fact.
“Alright.
Go to bed.”
“But Daddy…”
“No buts.
You have school tomorrow, and I need to work.”
Sophie pouted but nodded.
“Okay, Daddy.”
Sebastian lifted her from his lap and walked her to her room.
He waited while she got into bed, pulled the blanket over her, and made sure she had everything she needed before leaving.
When he returned to his study, he picked up his phone and made a call.
“Leo.”
“Yes, sir?” His assistant answered immediately, as if he’d been waiting.
“Find out the name of Sophie’s new teacher at Westbridge Academy.”
There was a short pause.
“Right away sir.
Should I pull her file as well?”
“Everything you can find.”
“Of course, sir.”
Sebastian ended the call and placed the phone on the desk.
His eyes moved to the reports he had been reading earlier but he no longer had any interest in them.
His daughter’s teacher had crossed a line and he intended to find out exactly what had happened before deciding what to do about it…