The Case
1240 Words
Sierra spent the entire drive home telling herself she was fine.
She wasn't.
Her hands remained steady on the steering wheel, her expression composed, but her mind kept replaying the same two words.
**A promise.**
Sebastian had said it like he meant it.
And that was the problem.
Sebastian Vale never made empty promises.
Three years ago, when he had promised to love her despite everything standing between them, she had believed him.
That had been her first mistake.
Believing him had been easy.
Leaving him had been the hard part.
Sierra pulled into the underground parking of her condominium and shut off the engine.
For a moment, she simply sat there.
She closed her eyes.
*He's back.*
She hated how those words still had the power to make her heart race.
Her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
“Hello?”
“Sierra, it's Daniel.”
She sighed.
“What happened?”
“You need to check your email.”
“It's almost midnight.”
“I know. That's why I'm calling.”
She frowned.
“Is it urgent?”
“Very.”
---
Ten minutes later, Sierra was sitting at her kitchen island, laptop open in front of her.
The email was from the senior partner of her law firm.
**CONFIDENTIAL — NEW CLIENT**
She opened the attached file.
Her eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
**VALE GROUP HOLDINGS.**
Sierra stared at the screen.
“No.”
She scrolled further.
The case involved a major acquisition, several corporate subsidiaries, and a complicated dispute involving ownership rights.
It was worth billions.
And the lead counsel?
Her name.
Sierra immediately picked up her phone.
She called Daniel.
“You knew about this.”
“I suspected.”
“Why wasn't I informed?”
“Because the client requested you personally.”
Her stomach dropped.
“Who?”
Daniel was silent for a moment.
Then—
“Sebastian Vale.”
Sierra closed her eyes.
Of course.
Of course he had done this.
“This is a conflict of interest.”
“No, it isn't. You're not personally involved with the company.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I know.”
She rubbed her forehead.
“Daniel, I can't represent him.”
“Why?”
Because three years ago, she had loved him.
Because three years ago, he had been the one person she couldn't think clearly around.
Because tonight, after three years apart, one look from him had brought all of it back.
Instead, she said:
“It's complicated.”
Daniel sighed.
“I figured you'd say that.”
“Find someone else.”
“Too late.”
“What do you mean?”
“The meeting is tomorrow morning.”
Sierra sat upright.
“What meeting?”
“Ten o'clock.”
“With whom?”
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
Then he said quietly:
“Sebastian.”
---
The next morning, Sierra arrived at the Vale Group headquarters exactly eight minutes early.
She told herself it was because lawyers were never late.
Not because she had spent twenty minutes deciding what to wear.
Not because she had changed outfits twice.
And definitely not because she wanted to look unaffected.
The receptionist greeted her immediately.
“Good morning, Atty. Santillan. Mr. Vale is expecting you.”
“Thank you.”
She stepped into the private elevator.
As the doors closed, Sierra exhaled slowly.
*You're here for business.*
Nothing else.
The elevator opened on the executive floor.
A young assistant approached her.
“Mr. Vale is waiting for you in his office.”
Sierra nodded.
“Thank you.”
She walked toward the large glass doors at the end of the hallway.
The assistant opened them.
And there he was.
Sebastian stood with his back toward her, looking out over the city.
No tuxedo this time.
Just a white shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms and dark trousers.
He turned.
His eyes immediately found hers.
“Good morning, Atty. Santillan.”
The formal greeting irritated her more than it should have.
“Mr. Vale.”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“You're calling me Mr. Vale now?”
“We're at work.”
“Right.”
He gestured toward the chair opposite his desk.
“Sit.”
Sierra remained standing.
“You asked for me as counsel. Let's discuss the case.”
A slow smile appeared on his face.
“You haven't changed.”
“I've changed a lot.”
“I noticed.”
Their eyes met.
For a moment, the room felt too quiet.
Then Sebastian walked toward his desk and placed a folder in front of her.
“This is everything.”
Sierra opened it.
She scanned the first few pages.
“This acquisition is massive.”
“Yes.”
“And you're personally overseeing it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“Because it's my company.”
“You have an entire legal department.”
“I wanted you.”
The words stopped her.
Sierra slowly looked up.
“I'm sorry?”
“I wanted the best lawyer.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“You could have hired anyone.”
“I could have.”
“And yet you chose me.”
“Yes.”
She closed the folder.
“This is inappropriate.”
“Why?”
“Because you and I have history.”
His expression hardened.
“We do.”
“And that could compromise my judgment.”
“Will it?”
“No.”
“Then what's the problem?”
Sierra stared at him.
The old Sebastian would have smiled.
The old Sebastian would have teased her until she laughed.
This Sebastian didn't.
He simply watched her.
Waiting.
Finally, she said, “I don't mix business with personal matters.”
“Neither do I.”
“Good.”
“Then we shouldn't have a problem.”
Sierra picked up the folder.
“I'll review the documents and have my team prepare the initial legal assessment.”
She turned toward the door.
“Sierra.”
She stopped.
She didn't turn around.
“What?”
His voice softened.
“Did you ever regret leaving?”
Her fingers tightened around the folder.
She turned slowly.
“This meeting is about your acquisition.”
“That's not what I asked.”
“And I'm not answering.”
Sebastian held her gaze.
“That's an answer too.”
She opened the door.
Before stepping out, she looked back at him.
For one dangerous second, she saw the man from three years ago.
The man she had loved.
The man she had left.
Then the moment disappeared.
“I'll see you tomorrow, Mr. Vale.”
She walked away.
Sebastian watched the door close behind her.
Only then did his expression change.
He reached for the second folder on his desk.
It wasn't related to the acquisition.
It contained photographs.
Documents.
And one old photograph of him and Sierra together.
His thumb traced the edge of the picture.
Three years ago, Sierra had walked away without telling him the real reason.
She thought he had never discovered the truth.
She was wrong.
Sebastian opened the file.
Inside was a single document.
A document that could change everything.
His eyes hardened.
“Three years, Sierra.”
He closed the folder.
“You left me once.”
A faint, dangerous smile touched his lips.
“You won't get the chance to do it again.”
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