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1325 Words
Chapter 6 — A Third Option
Sebastian held her gaze for a moment longer before breaking the silence.
“You seem surprised.”
Evelyn rested her hands lightly on the folder in front of her.
“I don’t make a habit of discussing my personal affairs with strangers.”
“Neither do I.”
His answer came without hesitation. “But today, your personal affairs have become a business matter.” She arched a brow.
“Have they?”
“They have.”
Sebastian reached for another folder on the coffee table. Unlike the first, this one was noticeably thicker. He opened it. Inside were neatly organized reports, newspaper clippings, financial analyses, and market forecasts. Evelyn immediately recognized the headlines.
THE WEDDING THAT SHOOK TWO EMPIRES
SINCLAIR GROUP STOCKS FALL AFTER PUBLIC SCANDAL
MORRISON HOLDINGS RUMORED TO SEEK STRATEGIC ALLIANCE
Her eyes lingered on the last headline.
“So…” She looked back at him.
“You’ve investigated me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Sebastian closed the file. “Because I don’t enter negotiations unprepared.” That answer made perfect sense. It was simply…Who he was. Evelyn leaned back slightly.
“So this meeting is a negotiation?”
“It depends.”
“On what?”
“Whether you’re willing to negotiate.”
She studied him carefully. Every word he spoke felt deliberate. As though he’d already considered every possible response before she’d even entered the building.
“You know about Arthur Morrison,” she said.
“I do.”
“You know about my father.”
“Yes.”
“You know I’ll lose my inheritance if I refuse.”
“I do.”
Each answer was calm. Matter-of-fact Not once did he express sympathy. Not once did he say he was sorry. Oddly enough…Evelyn appreciated that. Pity was exhausting….Facts were easier to deal with. Sebastian folded his hands.
“Your father gave you thirty days.”
“Arthur Morrison gains a young wife.”
“The Sinclair Group regains market confidence.” “And if you refuse…” His dark eyes met hers.
“Sophia Sinclair becomes the presumptive heir.”
The words landed with unnerving precision. Evelyn exhaled slowly.
“You’ve done your homework.”
“I have.”
“And what conclusion did you reach?”
Sebastian didn’t answer Instead, he asked a question of his own.
“What do you want?”
She frowned.
“What?”
“What do you want, Miss Sinclair?”
Not what Richard wanted. Not what the board wanted. Not what Ethan had wanted. Her. The question lingered in the air between them. No one had asked her that in years.
She thought of the wedding. Of her father. Of the company. Of Arthur Morrison. One by one…Every decision in her life had been made with someone else in mind.
What did she want?
The answer didn’t come easily. Finally…She looked Sebastian directly in the eyes.
“A choice.”
He remained silent. She continued.
“I don’t want revenge.”
“No?”
“No.”
“You don’t want Ethan Hawthorne back.”
Her expression didn’t change.
“No.”
“Your inheritance?”
She paused. “I built my career because I loved the company.” Not because she loved the inheritance.
“Then what do you want?”
For the first time since entering the office…Evelyn allowed herself complete honesty.
“I want the freedom to decide my own future.”
Sebastian regarded her for several moments. Then…Almost imperceptibly…He nodded. As though she’d just confirmed something he’d suspected all along.
Sebastian rose from his seat and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. The skyline stretched endlessly before them. People often believed empires were built on ambition. Sebastian knew better. They were built on leverage. He slipped one hand into his pocket.
“Your father believes you’ve been backed into a corner.”
Evelyn remained silent.
“He believes you have two choices.”
Sebastian turned to face her.
“The first…”
He spoke as though presenting a report to his board of directors.
“You marry Arthur Morrison.”
“The Sinclair Group stabilizes.”
“Investors regain confidence.”
“Your father gets the alliance he wants.”
“Arthur Morrison gains a young, capable wife.”
He paused.
“You lose the right to choose your own future.”
The words hung heavily in the air.
“The second option…”
He continued just as calmly.
“You reject the marriage.”
“You lose your position as heir.”
“The board rallies behind your father.”
“Sophia Sinclair becomes the Sinclair family’s successor.”
“You keep your freedom.”
“But lose everything you’ve spent years building.”
Evelyn’s fingers tightened around the armrest. Neither option belonged to her. Both required sacrifice. Both benefited someone else. Sebastian walked back toward the seating area.
“You’ve approached this as though it’s a negotiation between you and Richard Sinclair.”
He shook his head once.
“It isn’t.”
“What is it then?” Evelyn asked.
“A negotiation between two families.”
She watched him carefully.
“My father needs a marriage to reassure the market.”
“Arthur Morrison needs a strategic alliance.”
“My father wants to keep Hawthorne Capital away from Hawthorne Group.”
He paused.
“Everyone is acting in their own interests.”
His gaze settled on hers.
“Except you.”
The room fell quiet. Evelyn couldn’t argue because he was right. For years…She had been solving everyone else’s problems. Sebastian picked up a slim black folder from the coffee table. He placed it in front of her.
“I believe you’re solving the wrong equation.”
Evelyn looked down at it but didn’t open it.
“What is this?”
“A third option.”
Her brows knitted together.
“My father made it very clear.”
“He believes there are only two paths.”
Sebastian’s expression remained unreadable.
“He’s mistaken.”
Evelyn slowly lifted her eyes.
“There is always another move.”
She searched his face, trying to understand where this conversation was leading. “You speak as though you’ve already solved my problem.”
“I have.”
A flicker of skepticism crossed her face.
“You seem remarkably confident.”
“I don’t deal in confidence.”
He met her gaze without wavering.
“I deal in probabilities.”
The corner of Evelyn’s mouth lifted ever so slightly.
“A businessman until the very end.”
“And you’re an executive until the very end.”
The faint smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Neither of them had come here seeking comfort. They were discussing strategy. Nothing more. Evelyn rested a hand on the unopened folder.
“If this is your third option…” She looked directly at him.
“…what do you gain from it?” Sebastian didn’t answer immediately Instead, he stood. He buttoned his suit jacket with practiced ease and walked toward the window once more. When he spoke again, his voice was calm Almost matter-of-fact.
“Your father needs a marriage.”
“Arthur Morrison needs a wife.”
“My father needs me occupied with matters outside the Hawthorne family.”
He turned to face her.
“And I…”
His dark eyes held hers.
“…need a wife.”
The office fell silent. Evelyn stared at him. She wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly.
“What exactly are you suggesting, Mr. Hawthorne?”
Sebastian walked back to the table. He gently pushed the black folder toward her. This time…She opened it. The title on the first page read:
CONFIDENTIAL MARRIAGE AGREEMENT
Her breath caught. Slowly…She looked up. Sebastian’s expression never changed. He held her gaze for a long, quiet moment. Then, in the same composed tone he’d used throughout their entire meeting, he said,
“Marry me.”
- Writer
