Knots Between Us

Chapter Sixteen

The rain had worsened by the time she stepped out of the restaurant. There had been no car to pick her up—nothing but slick streets, the cold drizzle, and the distant hum of traffic. Her heels clicked against the wet pavement, each step slower than the last, soaked and shivering, her hair clinging to her neck.

She considered turning back, thinking of standing under the awning forever, letting the storm wash over her. But then the man from the bar—the one she hadn’t expected to see again—appeared at the curb, holding an umbrella just for her. Without a word, he guided her toward a waiting cab.

Emma climbed in, soaked through, hugging herself as the warmth of the cab slowly seeped in. The driver didn’t speak; the silence of the moving car mirrored the quiet churning inside her.

By the time she reached her apartment, she was trembling, soaked to the bone. She shed her jacket and shoes in the entryway, leaving small puddles behind her, and stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door against the night and the storm.

The shower hissed to life, the hot water crashing over her tense muscles, washing away the rain but leaving Sebastian’s words, his gaze, his controlled authority, lodged deep in her chest. She leaned against the tiles, letting herself shiver under the heat, letting the storm outside mirror the one inside.

He’s my boss. Nothing more.

She repeated it like a mantra, pressing her palms to the walls, willing herself to reclaim the ground he had unsettled.

Connor’s voice floated up softly from the phone later, breaking through the haze. “Emma… are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said, her voice steady, even if her pulse still thundered. “Just… cold.”

The reassurance wasn’t for him. It was for herself. She would weather this, she decided. She would reclaim her strength, her focus. Nothing—neither Sebastian nor the storm—would take that from her.

Wrapped in a towel, she finally pulled on a nightshirt and collapsed onto the bed, letting exhaustion and adrenaline mingle. When her phone buzzed again, Andrea’s voice was sharp with concern, but Emma answered calmly, already knowing how to filter what mattered from what didn’t.

She would survive this night. She would survive him. And she would come out of it stronger.

Two weeks later

Two weeks had a way of folding ordinary days into something sharper—tighter—until small victories felt like rebellions. Emma stood at the edge of that clean, quiet triumph, clipboard in hand, watching the neat rows of files she'd organized and feeling, for the first time since Sebastian’s list, that she’d taken back a little of herself. She’d spent fourteen days turning his impossible tasks into order, and the office smelled faintly of ink and paper and the quiet satisfaction of a job done well.

Tonight, the reward—or the test—arrived wrapped in chandeliers.

Emma’s jaw dropped the moment she stepped into the ballroom. Gold light pooled over linen and crystal; laughter rose and dipped like music. Men in midnight tuxedos and women in gowns that shimmered at every turn moved through the room with the ease of people used to being seen. The A.S.R. police fundraiser had pulled the city’s glitter into one cavernous space, and it felt, for a breath, like something from another life.

“Damn. I’ve never seen anything like this,” Rory breathed, eyes bright as he took it all in.

“DUDE,” Jackson crowed, slapping Rory’s shoulder and pointing. “NO FREAKING WAY—that’s Mark Hamill.”

They were already halfway to the celebrity before Andrea’s clipped voice stopped them in their tracks. “DO NOT forget that you are still employees of A.S.R.,” she warned, looking every inch the matron of order. “Act like fan girls and I will have your asses kicked out.”

“Yes, mom,” Jake teased, sidestepping as Rory lingered and admired Andrea the way a fool admires a star. “You look beautiful,” Rory murmured, the compliment soft enough to make Andrea’s dark skin bloom with color. She had on a gold halter that cinched at the waist, chiffon falling in a gentle cascade; her loose curls were pinned up on one side, and she looked, for once, unguarded.

Emma gave a small, private smile, but there was no time to linger. Andrea grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the chaos behind the polished doors: the kitchen. The back-of-house was a different kind of theater—heat, orders, and the sharp crosstalk of people keeping a hundred moving parts in line.

“Wow,” Emma breathed, stepping into the controlled frenzy.

“NO.” Andrea snapped—too loudly—and Emma flinched. “Mrs. Jennings is allergic to cashews. Do you really think she should get the cashew chicken? Check. With. The. List. PLEASE.” Her agitation unfolded in clipped syllables; Emma’s smile was sympathetic and private.

“I could really use you,” Andrea confessed in a low rush. “Two other girls were supposed to cover this. One quit, one got fired. I’m stretched thin. I don’t think I’ll last the night—someone’s going to end up in the hospital if I don’t—”

“Andrea.” Emma took both her friend’s shoulders, steadying the torrent. “Tell me what to do.”

Andrea exhaled like a woman who’d been given a spare tank of breath. “You handle the floor. Walk the room. Be everywhere. Keep an eye on food allergies, incoming VIPs, and please—do not let anyone get near the pool.” She squeezed Emma’s hand once, grateful. “You’re the best person for it.”

Emma nodded and stepped out onto the terrace where the gala hummed under a soft sky. Two weeks of tiny victories had taught her to move with purpose; tonight, that purpose wore a dress and a Bluetooth earpiece. She threaded between servers and guests, clipboard tucked to her side, eyes catching details others missed: a napkin out of place, a tray that needed clearing, a hostess smoothing a nervous smile.

Across the room, Sebastian stood apart from the glitter, a slate of gray in a sea of black tie. He scanned the crowd the way men like him scanned markets—efficient, private, always assessing. Emma felt the shadow of his attention before she saw him: the subtle tightening at the base of her neck as his gaze tracked her. He had the look of a man used to holding the room in the palm of his hand; tonight, his attention snagged on her like a compass.

Sebastian was counting the minutes till he could get out of the place. No conversation, no music, no one was of any interest to him. He excused himself from the group that stood with him and his sister, talking about god knows what. Pulling out his phone, pretending to take a call he stepped away. Exchanging greeting and pleasantries on his way to the terrace, he didn’t see her.

Emma took the clipboard, her directions and headed out to the floor. She was adjusting her Bluetooth in her ear, before she could pay attention to where she was going. Emma slammed into someone hard.

Instinctively Sebastian wrapped his arms around the soft curves that were so nicely mold against him. She grabbed on to him for support.

“I am so sorry” she said. Sebastian was about to snap till he saw Emma’s face. As if everything else melted in the background, all he saw was her. Her light eye makeup, ruby red lips, and her deep auburn hair that were in a low messy bun was giving her an ethereal look. He saw her jade green eyes widen at the realization of who she bumped into.

Emma looked at Sebastian’s face for any hint of anger but only found an odd mixture of emotions. She pushed gently against his chest only to have him tightened his hold around her waist. Emma gulped at the sensations that was filling her body, she pushed harder against him breaking whatever spell that had been cast on him.

Sebastian cleared his throat, looking everywhere else but at her. Emma scooped down to grab the fallen clipboard. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of her, she looked breath taking. The simple deep red mermaid floor length dress with s***h neckline, off the shoulder, illusion full sleeves was hugging her hour glass shape beautifully.

“Excuse me” she said and walked away. With every step the high side slit of her dress exposed a leg, extenuating her length. From across the floor, Danielle watched with curiosity at her brother’s reaction. She had never seen Sebastian look at any woman twice, but for some reason he couldn’t stop himself from looking back at this one.

Emma practically ran away from Sebastian; the same confusing emotions were threating to come to the surface. She knew he would be here but why couldn’t she control her heart from beating like a drum.

“what are you doing here?” Emma stiffened at Lanie’s voice from behind her. Straightening her shoulders, she just smiled tight lipped at her.

“Was there something I could do for you, Ms. Shelton?” she asked as professionally as she could.

“Figures, besides being the help how else would you be able to enter such a party. Especially in that dress, if you would even call it that. what season is that from anyways?”

“Have a good night, Ms. Shelton” She said with a forced smile and started to walk way. Before she could get any further, Lanie tipped her glass spilling her drink right at her feet, Emma gasped stepping back just in time.

“oops, Sorry, my hand slipped, you going to get that.” Emma gave her a disbelieving look. Some of the close by people were now staring at them. Looking around, her gazes met with Connor who was heading her way. Sebastian’s hand tightened a little harder around the glass he held, trying to keep himself from doing exactly what Connor had in mind. His jaw clenched when Emma softly shook her at Connor stopping him from coming over.

“Can I get someone over to me for clean-up please, a guest couldn’t hold her drink.” Emma said in her Bluetooth. Few of the guest snickered, Lanie looked at Emma like she wanted to do something.

“Would you like me to get you a refill Ms. Shelton, maybe something nonalcoholic, seeing how you can’t seem hold your alcohol, better yet would you like me call you a cab or something.” Emma said with most sarcastically sweet she could muster.

“YOU” Lanie said taking a step towards her.

“Oh, I am so sorry I forgot, Mr. Rask is looking for you” Emma cut her off, stopping her in her track.

Lanie whirled on her heels and stalked off. Emma smiled in satisfaction, giving Connor a thumbs ups. Her smile faded when she caught Sebastian’s gazes, a pang of hurt went through him at that.

Emma turned away from him, he had the strongest urge to walk up to her and demand the same smile she gave to Connor. Instead, he excused himself and walked out to the terrace. He breathed in the cool muggy air, trying to get himself under control. So many thoughts and emotion were hitting him. He closed his eyes trying to push them away.

“Hello, Sebastian” he froze, he never thought he would ever hear that voice again in his life.

He turned slowly, hoping that it was the alcohol that was making him hear things. Sure enough it was Olivia, the biggest mistake of his life. It had been more then three years since he had seen her.

“What in the hell are you doing here, I don’t remember inviting trash.” He seethed, she just chuckled.

“oh I missed you” she cooed.

“Cut the bull, what do you want?”

“you know that’s what I loved about you, straight to the point”

“love? Are you even capable of feeling any emotion?” Sebastian spat.

“I want to see him”

“LIKE HELL YOU WILL” Sebastian bellowed, the few people that were on the terrace exchanged uncomfortable looks and slowly made their way inside.

Danielle frowned when she heard Sebastian’s words carrying over the soft music and noise. She calmly made her way towards him.

“he is my son; I have a right to see him”

Emma had been walking around making sure everything was in order. She stopped when she heard a woman’s voice coming from the terrace. A tall blond woman who she could have sworn she had seen before, stood in front of a very angry looking Sebastian. Emma thought she knew his anger but the pure hate and anger on his face at the moment was something she had never seen before.

“YOU have NO rights to him, you signed those rights away a long time ago, he is my son, only mine” Sebastian said menacingly taking a step towards her. Emma was impressed when the woman stood her ground.

“Olivia?! What is happening here?” A brunette with a slender body stepped next Sebastian placing a supportive hand on his shoulder.

“Di, so nice to see you” the blonde cooed.

“Maybe you can talk some sense into this stubborn brother of yours, I just want to see Orin.” Olivia said to Danielle.

“Olivia this isn’t the place or time to talk about this” Danielle said softly, Sebastian stood stiffened and still.

“I have been trying to get in contact with him for the past month and he had not once talked to me, I am des…”

“there is NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT” Sebastian raised his voice.

“Bash, not here” Danielle said softly, trying to calm him down.

“Di, three years!”

“Three years this woman has been out of our lives and now all of a sudden she wants to be a mother to Orin.” Sebastian stated the facts.

“What? You ran out of the million I gave you to get the hell out of my son’s life” he spat. Emma felt disgusted at the thought of someone paying off a parent to leave. This was hitting her very close to heart.

“It’s not about money Bash”

“DON’T call me that, you have no right to use that name, get the f**k out of here before I do something we both regret it.”

“I was young and not ready to be a mother, unlike your mother I am here aren’t I?!” Olivia said.

Emma saw Danielle going pale, and Sebastian going rigid as if she had physically slapped him.

“What did you just say?” Danielle stood in front of him.

“Banshee, look at me” She said trying to get his attention, but his cold murderess stare never wavered from Olivia.

“SEBASTIAN” Danielle snapped, finally getting some attention.

“Go, I will handle it here, just go please, just leave” Danielle said literally pushing him out the door. Emma watched Sebastian storm off with so much effort.

“HOW DARE YOU?” Danielle seethed angrily.

“Di, I just want to see my son, please” Olivia whimpered.

“Whatever game you are playing Olivia, let tell you one thing,” Danielle said stepping closer to Olivia.

“NEVER EVER play the one you just played again. I might have convinced him somehow, but with what you just did. There is no way in hell I will ever let a woman like you in my nephew’s life.”

“Now I don’t want to see you here, if I see you, I will have to throw you out in front everyone. consequences be damned” Without waiting for any answer, Danielle stalked off joining the party like nothing had happen.

Emma felt angry and sad for Olivia. How can someone be this cruel, granted she did abandon her son. But, she did feel bad enough to come back and try to be a mother, how can you not at least give her one chance. Emma was about to go to the distraught woman, when she saw her wiping the tears away nonchalantly. She dug out her phone and dialed.

“Hey Babe,” Emma listened confused.

“I am trying love, but you know he is a tough nut to c***k” Olivia continued.

“Don’t worry I will have him invest or deal with me, knowing him, he will give me any amount we want just to get rid of me.” Emma felt anger rising in her, Sebastian had been right, she was no mother. Emma balled her fists, every ounce of her body was buzzing with so much hate and anger. She had to find Sebastian and tell him what Olivia was planning.

She turned to go find him. “NO ONE”

Those two words echoed in her minds stopping her from going any farther. Emma gulped the lump of hurt that had formed in her throat. Sebastian had his sister, he wasn’t stupid and if he wanted to pay this woman off that was his problem. Shaking off the annoying feelings, she went back to the work she was doing before.