MY EX's BILLIONAIRE BROTHER

6: LET'S THE GAMES BEGIN

Sebastian glared at the woman seated in his office and wondered why she was so vile and cold and… beautiful. It was obvious where Kristine got her fortunate looks from. He could also understand why his brother, Lewis, had fallen hard, for the daughter of Jezebel. Much to his disbelief, the woman was claiming she never sold her daughter, and neither did she lay the heinous accusations against Lewis. Sebastian thought her acting was impressive. She didn't even bat an eye. Any other soul apart from the McCain's would have fallen for the cheap theatrics already. Sebastian shook his head in amusement. Well, two can play a game, he thought smugly.

He had seen the way she had racked her stunning eyes over his body when she thought he wasn't looking. She wasn't any different from the many women and men alike to find Sebastian desirable. He will do to her exactly what she did to Lewis. Make her fall irrevocably for him, and then shatter her heart in the most brutal way he could think of. Perhaps, it will quench his thirst for vengeance and ease some of his guilt.

“So you are calling me a liar?”

He asked in reference to her narration and her insistence of denial.

Josephine gulped, looking at her interlocked fingers which lay on her lap. “No, but my child was stolen from the maternity ward,” Sebastian noted the slight tremble in her voice. She was vulnerable. He took the chance to turn on his charm.

He got to his feet and rounded the desk, standing just a few meters away, and leaned on the desk, towering over her.

“Do you want to see the proof?” he asked, deepening his voice intentionally and zeroed in his smoldering gaze on her face. She let out a nervous breathless sigh, locking her eyes with his. He saw her uncertainty, desperation, and something else in those marble gray eyes, lust. She didn't utter a word for a while, so he prompted.

“Josephine,” using her first name with ease and familiarity, threw her off balance for a second. She groaned. The handsome, sexy devil was surely and deliberately getting under her skin.

“What proof?” she rasped, chuckling bitterly. “I have been looking for my daughter for the last seven years, so believe me when I say I didn't sell her.” She sniffed. “I am not the monster you think I am, Mr. McCain.”

The heartfelt declaration caught Sebastian off guard. But it disappeared just as easily. He reminded himself it was all just an act. So, when he stretched his hand to wipe away a lone tear from her soft cheeks, it was a flattering act on his part. His thumb lingered on her face for the effect, and her nervous swallows gave Sebastian the achievement he needed.

He withdrew his hand and walked back to his seat. He unlocked a drawer on his desk and pulled out a file, which he graciously passed to Josephine. Furthermore, he then leaned back and began scanning her as she scanned the file. “How is this possible?” Josephine whispered. Next to her father's signature on one of the documents, hers was curved neatly. Sebastian just smirked, expecting her to come up with a quick lie to defend herself but instead, she began sobbing. Silent, painful, tears. Even a lout could have seen how astonished she was, but Sebastian merely marveled at her supposed melodramatics. If it was his pity she wanted, he was so ready to give it. He pushed a box of tissues towards her, cooing, “Joss…” He had once heard Lewis use the same alias on her. He surprised himself pleasantly, at the ease with which, he performed.

“I don't understand,” she moaned, sniffing. “I don't remember signing this.” She lifted her eyes to Sebastian, who was fighting back a laugh. He had his share of crazy, but she topped. When she pinned those familiar eyes that Kristine inherited on him, he shifted, straightening his back. Those eyes could make even a stronger man cave.

“You don't believe me,” she surmised, watching him intently.

“No, I don't.” He answered truthfully with a chuckle. “I don't think you would believe you, either.” He rasped, throwing a different file at her this time. With shaky fingers, Josephine opened it, dreading what she would find. Her breath hitched as an audible gasp tore out of her throat. She snapped her eyes back to Sebastian, and he was calmly watching her. Her eyes widened with a million questions.

“How did you get these pictures?” She asked softly. Sebastian lifted his brows knowingly, daring her to drop the act. “Seriously,” Josephine insisted, reading into his body language.

“You took them,” Sebastian answered calmly, making Josephine's eyes pop wide open. She expected him to say Lewis took them because she didn't remember taking any compromising pictures of them.

“I did not!” She blurted in anger. She narrowed her eyes at Sebastian, “I would remember taking such.” She threw the folder in front of him.

Sebastian frowned. “Aren't you the one who gave your parents these as proof that Lewis r*ped you?” The whole office went dangerously quiet. Josephine wanted Sebastian to repeat his claim, so she can be sure she heard the correct thing. While Sebastian waited patiently to hear the excuse, she had for him. After almost a minute of nothing, Sebastian spoke. “Got nothing to say?”

“Lewis never raped me,” she whispered in defeat. “And I never accused him of such.”

“What games are you playing at?” Sebastian bellowed, getting on his feet. “You ruined my brother's life because of that lie.”

“I truly don't know anything about this,” she began sobbing again.

“Then why the hell did you lie? Did anyone threaten you?” Sebastian just wanted to understand why she hurt such a sweet soul like Lewis.

“Mr. McCain, this is the first time I am seeing those pictures," Josephine articulated each word like she was speaking to a child. “And I never claimed Lewis raped me. I can easily swear on my life.”

“Your life means nothing to me,” Sebastian retorted. Josephine rose angrily, ready to storm out of his office, but Sebastian was quick to stop her as she opened the door. He clasped her hand with his and used the free one to push the door shut. Josephine found herself sandwiched between the hard wood and a very muscled flesh. She tried wiggling free, but all she managed to do was rub her butt on his bulge.

“Stop,” he growled breathlessly. Josephine stilled, gulping when she felt his front pressing tighter on her. She turned hoping to get out of the awkward situation, but instead, she ended up pressed, back, against the door. Sebastian studied her features close. Under different circumstances, he would go for her. His hands were now on either side of her frame as he hovered over her 5.6" with his 6". She swallowed nervously, parting her lips slightly. Sebastian eyed those inviting lips and wanted to damn the consequences and lick them. He leaned, intending to do just that when her tongue darted out. She ran it over her bottom lip slowly.

“Dammit,” he growled, stepping back hastily like she had burnt him. The woman was alluring, there was no question about that. It made him wonder if he will be able to proceed with his plan without falling into her clutches.

The landline rang.

“McCain,” he muttered, without bothering to look at the caller ID. “Again?” He asked in obvious exasperation, looking at his watch. “I am coming out,” he said. “Thanks, Anna.” He hung up. He then glanced at Josephine, who was staring at him.

“I will see you out, Miss Lawrence,” he grumbled. He looked anxious, and Josephine found herself wishing to know why. And somehow Sebastian reckoned it from the curious gape she sprouted.

“My daughter is sick again,” he air quoted the sick part shaking his head, but closely one could see the amusement in his baby blue eyes.

“She missed you,” Josephine retorted, the same excuse Kristine had used on him, making Sebastian chuckle. A good, honest chuckle.

“This time she is not getting off easy,” he gave a mock grunt, opening the door. And there she stood. The little girl in question. “Daddy,” her infectious smile made Sebastian sigh. “My tummy hurts, honest.” She claimed quickly, and something in her tone alarmed Sebastian. He took quick strides and went on his knees in front of her, feeling her temperature. She didn't have a fever. He rubbed her belly and it was surprisingly bloated.

“What did you eat?” He asked in concern.

“Only what you packed for me,” he had specifically asked her to stick to her own lunch since she began faking her stomach aches. But this one was real. He knew it. “Anna, cancel the rest of my appointments for the day,” he instructed in a rush. To his daughter, he said, “wait here.” He rushed back to his office to gather his stuff.

Kristine turned to a frozen Josephine. “Hi,” she waved shyly, wondering why daddy's friend was staring at her with her mouth open. Josephine blinked. Her daughter had just waved, and she didn't know how to react.

“Who are you?” The little girl asked curiously, tilting her head to the side.