Chapter 13-Crossing the line
1648 Words
Ashley
The weekend was finally here.
For the first time all week, I could breathe.
Well, sort of.
My mind was still running in circles, trying to figure out how exactly I was supposed to play investigator while simultaneously becoming part of Sebastian Voss’s life.
I was supposed to start Monday.
That was the plan.
But Monday suddenly felt too far away.
I needed to see him.
I didn’t know why.
Maybe I needed answers.
Maybe I needed to convince myself that I hadn’t made the biggest mistake of my life.
Or maybe I simply wanted to see him again.
Before any of that, though, there was something I needed to do.
I had to tell Marcus I wasn’t coming back.
Velvet Noir didn’t open until later in the evening, but Marcus was usually there early, buried in accounting, paperwork, and God knew what else.
I found him in his office.
He looked up when I walked in.
“I won’t be returning.”
For a moment, he stared at me.
Then he laughed.
Not mockingly.
Almost knowingly.
“I knew this day would come.”
I smiled.
Marcus had always looked like he’d walked straight out of the nineties and refused to leave. Greasy hair, oversized clothes, heavy gold chains hanging around his neck, and enough jewelry to make him look like he was permanently dressed for a music video.
But underneath all of that, Marcus had always treated me differently.
He never tried to sleep with me.
Never touched me inappropriately.
Never made me feel like I owed him anything.
He always said I reminded him of his daughter.
They were estranged, although from what I’d heard, she had built a successful career as a nurse.
Maybe that was why he’d always looked out for me.
He reached into a drawer and pulled out an envelope.
“Your last paycheck.”
I took it.
“Thank you.”
He leaned back in his chair.
“Take care of yourself, hmm?”
“I will.”
“And don’t come back here.”
I frowned.
“Marcus…”
“I’m serious.”
His expression softened.
“I don’t ever want to see you in this club again. Or any club.”
I swallowed.
“Go get that degree. Be something of yourself.”
I smiled.
“I will.”
He stood, and I walked around the desk, giving him a quick hug.
“Thank you.”
He patted my back.
“Go.”
I walked out of his office before either of us could get emotional.
Outside, I pulled out my phone.
I stared at Sebastian’s number for a few seconds.
Then typed.
Can I see you today?
Three dots appeared almost immediately.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Before he could respond, my phone rang.
I answered.
“Hello?”
“Miss Simmons.”
I smiled.
“My name is Ashley, Voss.”
There was a pause.
“Of course it is.”
“I’m not expecting you until Monday.”
I sighed.
“I know, but…”
“I’ll send my driver to pick you up.”
I blinked.
“What?”
“Stay where you are.”
“How do you know where I am?”
A low chuckle came through the phone.
“I know all things, Miss Simmons.”
I rolled my eyes.
“That’s not creepy at all.”
“And be sure to lock up that contraption of a vehicle properly. Wouldn’t want someone to mistake it for scrap metal.”
I laughed despite myself.
“Very funny.”
“I thought so.”
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
He knew where I was.
Of course he did.
A few minutes later, a black SUV pulled into the parking lot.
The windows were tinted so dark I couldn’t see through them.
The back door opened.
I hesitated for half a second before getting inside.
The door closed behind me.
The ride took us into a part of California I’d only ever seen in movies.
Beverly Hills.
The streets were immaculate. The houses looked like museums. Every vehicle seemed more expensive than anything I’d ever owned.
I’d never been on this side of the city.
I couldn’t afford to come here even if I’d wanted to.
The SUV finally stopped.
The driver opened the door for me.
I stepped out and looked up.
The building in front of me was enormous.
Elegant.
Almost intimidating.
I walked inside.
A blonde receptionist greeted me with a professional smile.
“Miss Simmons?”
“Yes.”
“This way.”
She led me toward an elevator.
The doors closed.
The ride seemed to last forever.
When the doors finally opened, I stepped out and froze.
The penthouse was breathtaking.
Modern.
Chic.
Expensive without being gaudy.
I had expected a stereotypical bachelor’s apartment filled with dark furniture and empty bottles.
Instead, there were paintings covering the walls, carefully selected pieces of art, soft lighting, and furniture that looked like it belonged in a magazine.
I stepped inside.
The elevator doors closed behind me.
Suddenly, I became painfully aware of what I was wearing.
Messy bun.
University T-shirt.
Distressed jeans.
Sneakers.
I looked completely out of place.
“Miss Simmons .”
I turned.
Sebastian stood several feet away.
No suit.
No tie.
No polished businessman persona.
Just a dark shirt and trousers.
Casual.
Relaxed.
And somehow even more breathtaking.
It was strange seeing him like this.
Human.
Almost.
“Miss Simmons ,” he repeated.
I smiled.
“I told you. Ashley.”
His lips curved.
“So very eager to see me, were you?”
I rolled my eyes.
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
He held out his hand.
I stared at it for a second before placing mine in his.
His fingers closed around mine.
Warm.
Firm.
He led me into the living room and gestured toward an oddly shaped sofa.
“Sit.”
I sat.
Almost immediately, a woman appeared carrying drinks and a large charcuterie board filled with fruit, cheese, crackers, and other small foods.
She placed everything on the table and nodded toward Sebastian before leaving.
He gestured toward the food.
“You must be famished. Help yourself.”
“Thanks.”
I reached for a grape.
Then looked at him.
“Why me?”
His eyebrow lifted.
“Why not you?”
“You did your research on me.”
I sat back.
“I could steal from you and not give a damn.”
He chuckled.
“Then that would speak to your character.”
He picked up a grape.
“Not mine.”
He popped it into his mouth.
His eyes never left mine.
“And you wouldn’t be bold enough to try.”
He swallowed.
“I can assure you of that.”
I narrowed my eyes.
He smiled.
There was something infuriating about how confident he was.
“Since you’re here,” he said, standing, “I’ll get the contract.”
He disappeared down a hallway.
And finally, I breathed.
I hadn’t realized I’d been holding my breath.
Why did this man have such an effect on me?
It was maddening.
He hadn’t even touched me.
Barely.
And yet my entire body felt overly aware of his presence.
I forced myself to focus.
I was here for a reason.
The investigation.
The internship.
My future.
I couldn’t forget that.
A few minutes later, Sebastian returned carrying a thick folder.
He placed it in front of me.
“Read everything.”
I opened it.
The contract was detailed.
Very detailed.
My duties as his personal assistant were clearly outlined.
My working hours.
My availability.
Travel expectations.
Events.
Galas.
Charity functions.
Business dinners.
He would provide me with a phone, laptop, and any other equipment necessary to perform my job.
I would stay at his penthouse on weekends and any other days he deemed necessary.
Then I reached the section about clothing.
I frowned.
“I have to wear clothes selected by you whenever I’m around you?”
“Correct.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re representing me.”
I looked at him.
“That doesn’t mean you get to dress me.”
He leaned back.
“It means I expect a certain standard.”
I continued reading.
There was another clause.
I stopped.
My eyes narrowed.
“What’s this?”
He looked at the page.
“Which part?”
“No romantic relationships.”
I looked up.
“I’m not allowed to date anyone?”
“While you’re employed by me.”
“Why?”
He was quiet for a moment.
“Because you’ll be introduced to parts of my life that I keep private.”
“And?”
“A romantic partner complicates that.”
I stared at him.
“So I’m supposed to give up my dating life for a job?”
“For access to my world.”
His answer was immediate.
I looked back down at the contract.
This wasn’t a normal assistant position.
Not even close.
It felt like I was signing away pieces of my independence.
I should have walked away.
I should have stood up, handed him the contract, and left.
But then I remembered my case study.
My future.
The internship.
The opportunity sitting directly in front of me.
If getting where I needed to go meant dealing with the devil himself, then so be it.
I picked up the pen.
Sebastian watched me carefully.
I signed my name.
Ashley Simmons.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Sebastian picked up his glass.
I reached for mine.
He raised it.
“To new beginnings.”
I clinked my glass against his.
“To new beginnings.”
I took a sip.
And somewhere deep inside me, I knew I’d just crossed a line.
I just didn’t know which side of it I’d end up on.
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