The Sovereign tower pierced the grey morning sky.
Cold glass.
Sharp lines.
Power.
Inside the lobby, employees hurried to start their day.
Phones rang.
Shoes clicked across marble floors.
Lillian Parker pushed through the revolving doors faster than usual.
Her eyes immediately scanned the lobby.
Her chest was tight.
She had woken up alone.
Sebastian was gone.
No note.
No message.
Nothing.
Three weeks ago he had undergone spinal surgery.
He was still supposed to be recovering.
And yet he had vanished before sunrise.
Her phone buzzed in her hand.
She looked down.
Still no reply.
Four messages.
Two calls.
Ignored.
Her jaw tightened.
She marched toward the elevators.
"Morning, Lillian."
"Good morning."
"Hey Lillian—."
But she barely responded.
Her mind was racing.
The elevator doors opened.
She stepped inside.
Pressed the button for the executive floor.
The ride felt slow.
Too slow.
Her reflection stared back at her from the mirrored wall.
Frustrated.
Worried.
Angry.
Mostly angry.
The elevator dinged.
Doors opened.
The executive floor buzzed with activity.
Assistants moved between desks.
Phones rang.
Low conversations filled the air.
Lillian stepped out.
Several employees greeted her.
"Morning, Lillian."
"Good morning."
But she walked straight toward Chloe's desk.
Chloe looked up from her computer.
"Lillian?"
"Where is he?"
Chloe blinked.
"Sebastian?"
"Yes."
"He's in a meeting."
Lillian frowned.
"A meeting?"
"Emergency board discussion."
Her frustration flared.
"He shouldn't even be here."
Chloe sighed.
"I said the same thing."
"He's still recovering."
"I know."
"He shouldn't be working twelve-hour days."
"He's Sebastian."
Lillian crossed her arms.
"How long has he been in there?"
"Almost an hour."
Lillian looked down at her phone.
Still no response.
"He ignored my calls."
"His phone is probably on silent."
Lillian shook her head.
"I woke up and he was gone."
Chloe frowned.
"He didn't tell you?"
"No."
"Not even a message?"
"No."
"That's… rough."
Right then the conference room doors opened.
Executives began stepping out.
Murmuring quietly.
Then Sebastian appeared.
Tall.
Sharp suit.
Perfect posture.
Like he owned the building.
Which he actually did.
His eyes lifted.
They landed on Lillian.
He froze slightly.
"Miss Parker?"
She walked straight toward him.
Fast.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
Her eyebrows shot up.
"What am I doing here?"
Several nearby employees looked up.
Sebastian lowered his voice.
"Miss Parker."
"You left the mansion without telling me."
"I had work."
"You're still recovering."
"I'm fine."
"You're not supposed to be working like this."
"I disagree."
Her frustration bubbled.
"You disappeared!"
"I went to the office."
"You ignored my calls!"
"I was in meetings."
"You could have told me before leaving!"
"I didn't think it was necessary."
The hallway grew quieter.
Employees slowed down.
Some openly watched.
Lillian stared at him.
"You didn't think it was necessary?"
"No."
Her disbelief was obvious.
"You're unbelievable."
Sebastian glanced around.
"This conversation is inappropriate for the workplace."
"Oh I'm sorry," she snapped.
"Should I pretend everything is fine?"
"You're being dramatic."
"I was worried about you!"
"That concern wasn't needed."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"You're still recovering from surgery."
"It was three weeks ago."
"You're not fully healed."
"I'm perfectly capable of working."
"That's not the point!"
"Yes it is."
Her chest rose with frustration.
"I stayed up helping you for weeks."
"I never asked you to."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Chloe's eyes widened.
"Mr. Wolfe…" she muttered under her breath.
Lillian blinked slowly.
"You never asked me to?"
"No."
"I took care of you."
"That was your choice."
That hurt.
Badly.
"I was helping you recover."
"You were hovering."
"I was worried about you!"
"I didn't need that."
Her voice shook now.
"Wow."
Sebastian's expression hardened.
"You're creating a scene."
"I'm not creating a scene."
"You're arguing with the CEO in the middle of the executive floor."
"Oh, so now it's about hierarchy?"
"You work here."
"And?"
"And this behavior is unprofessional."
The words stung.
Employees nearby pretended to work.
But everyone was listening.
Lillian laughed bitterly.
"So that's what this is about?"
"This is about professionalism."
"No."
Her voice trembled.
"This is about you pretending I don't matter."
"That's not what I said."
"You didn't have to."
Sebastian's patience snapped.
"You're overreacting."
Her heart dropped.
"I was worried about you."
"I didn't need your concern."
Her eyes burned.
"I cared about you."
"And I never asked you to."
The words landed like knives.
Chloe looked furious now.
"Mr. Wolfe, stop—."
But Lillian spoke first.
Her voice was quiet.
Very quiet.
"Don't worry, Mr. Wolfe."
The formal name echoed sharply.
"I won't make that mistake again."
Sebastian's jaw tightened.
But he didn't speak.
"I won't interfere in your life."
Her eyes glistened.
"But let me make one thing clear."
She took a small step back.
"I don't care about you anymore."
The floor went silent.
Someone quietly gasped.
For the first time Sebastian's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
But Lillian had already turned.
She walked quickly toward the elevators.
Her vision blurred.
Chloe rushed after her.
"Lillian!"
The elevator doors opened.
Lillian stepped inside.
Chloe caught the door before it closed.
"Wait!"
Lillian wiped her eyes.
"He didn't mean that," Chloe said softly.
"Yes he did."
"No—."
"He meant every word."
The elevator beeped.
Chloe hesitated.
"Lillian…"
"I'm done."
Her voice broke.
"I'm really done."
The elevator doors slid shut.
Chloe slowly turned around.
The executive floor was completely silent.
Employees stared at Sebastian.
Sebastian Wolfe stood motionless.
Cold.
Expressionless.
But his fists slowly tightened.
Because deep down…
He knew something.
He had pushed her too far.
And this time…
Lillian Parker might really be gone.