RULES AND TEMPTATIONS
485 Words
Amara barely slept that night. The mansion was too quiet. The kind of quiet that echoed in your chest and made you think too hard. And knowing Sebastian Black was two floors away, probably brooding in a king-sized bed made of gold and secrets? Not helping.
By 6 a.m., she was dressed and ready. Simple jeans. A clean tee. Hair tied up. She didn’t need to impress anyone—especially not a man who thought smirking was a valid communication style.
She padded downstairs and found Liam already in the playroom, sitting in the corner with a book. No sound. No eye contact.
Amara didn’t force it. She just sat on the floor, a few feet away, and started stacking blocks like it was the most normal thing in the world. Every now and then, she’d glance at him, smile, and go back to building.
After twenty silent minutes, Liam shuffled closer.
Progress.
She didn’t even look up. “You can help if you want. But fair warning—I’m a very serious architect.”
He hesitated… then placed a single block on the tower.
She smiled to herself. “Nice. Promotion incoming.”
A slow clap startled her.
She turned and saw him—Sebastian—leaning against the doorway, dress shirt unbuttoned at the top, sleeves rolled, coffee in hand, watching like a man who saw more than he said.
“You’re good with him,” he said.
Amara shrugged. “Kids don’t like being treated like pets. They just want time.”
Sebastian’s eyes flicked to the block tower. “You’ll find this job requires more than playtime and pep talks.”
“Let me guess: high expectations, impossible standards, and absolutely no room for mistakes?”
“You catch on fast.”
She rose, dusted her hands, and faced him fully. “Don’t worry. I didn’t come here to flirt or fail.”
He stepped closer—just enough to invade her space but not quite touch her.
“You’re here to work. That’s it.”
“Crystal clear, sir.”
His jaw clenched at the “sir.” Good. Let him feel a little off-balance.
But before he could reply, Liam toddled over and took Amara’s hand, pressing his tiny fingers into hers like she was the only steady thing in the room.
Sebastian’s face cracked—just slightly. Pain. Regret. Maybe guilt?
“You’ll be taking him to his speech therapy sessions,” he said gruffly. “My driver will handle transport. Keep your phone on.”
“Got it.”
“And Amara?”
She stopped.
“No surprises.”
She nodded, but inside, she was already breaking that rule. Because this wasn’t going to be simple. Not with his eyes burning through her. Not with this tension crackling like thunder behind glass.
And definitely not with Liam holding her hand like he never wanted to let go.
- Writer
