Contractually Yours: An Arranged Marriage Romance (The Lasker Brothers Book 4)

Sebastian buys me dinner afterward and drops me off. He doesn’t try to pressure me to have sex with him, and I certainly don’t offer.

Would an overt refusal to sleep together deter him? Pretty much any woman has had the experience of men getting annoyed—and losing interest—if she didn’t want to sleep with them.

But a man who dropped to his knees and crawled to prove himself to you doesn’t sound like the type to give up over sex—or a lack thereof, my female vanity says gleefully.

I toss and turn all night. I can’t deny I felt excitement—and was overwhelmed by his gesture when he tossed away his pride. But is that enough? Am I just going to forgive him after that one gesture, when I’ve lost so much?

What about his saying it was love? Do I really buy that? He said he’d sign the divorce papers, so he doesn’t want me as his wife anymore. Maybe he just wants a girlfriend? No, that doesn’t make sense. He could have any woman he wanted.

Then… Maybe he just feels guilty?

Of course. This has to be him overreacting to that sense of guilt. It can’t be about love. He’s going to think he’s done enough by the third “date.”

I get up around nine and exercise. Unlike my old place, this one doesn’t have a fully equipped gym. A treadmill and a very basic bench and some dumbbells. No barre. Still, I get a decent run and stretch.

Matthias hands me some coffee when I exit the gym. I drink it gratefully. I’ll do some yoga in the afternoon because… Well, I need something to do. It’s just so weird not to have my day scheduled down to the second—no pressing meetings, no urgent emails or texts that require my immediate attention. My life has been one crisis after another—most of them due to Bianca.

It’s nice just to be able to breathe and focus on myself.

I hold the mug and look out at the tranquil ocean. Is this what Sebastian meant when he said the sculpture was about the calm to come after the storm? I’m still unhappy about losing my position as CEO, but now that I’ve had some time to sort out my thoughts, I think I’m more upset over never getting a fair chance to prove myself than the actual ouster. I’m not egotistical enough to believe that I should be CEO regardless of leadership ability. Peery Diamonds isn’t my personal toy. It’s a company responsible for thousands of employees and countless customers and partners.

At least Karen is the interim CEO. I hope the board makes her permanent—she deserves it—rather than bringing in an outsider. She’s one of the most capable executives I’ve ever worked with. I know she’ll maintain good stewardship of the company.

I swallow the last bit of coffee and then shower. When I come down for breakfast, Matthias shows me an enormous bouquet of gorgeous purple hydrangeas.

“These just came for you.”

My heart races. “Thanks.” I take the card. I don’t need to read it to know who sent it, but I’m dying to know what he wrote.

Hope the flowers make you smile. And no, this doesn’t count as a date.

I laugh and pick up my phone.

–Me: Do you know that in Korean flower language, hydrangeas mean heartlessness and cruelty?

–Sebastian: Ah, but that’s BLUE hydrangeas. PURPLE hydrangeas indicate sincerity and a true heart.

I grin.

–Me: Guess you did some research.

–Sebastian: Of course. When you left, the venture fell upon me. Hae Min wanted to kick my ass for what happened to you, and told me they didn’t want to proceed.

Well, there’s your answer as to why he went that far yesterday. Money and a foothold in Korea, which is a new market for Sebastian Jewelry.

I don’t know why I suddenly feel so dejected. I knew it wasn’t because he loved me or anything outlandish like that.

–Sebastian: Before you think I want the dates to salvage the project, I don’t. They agreed to continue. But I have to liaise directly with them.

My emotions shoot right back up. This simple text exchange is like a rollercoaster for my heart.

–Sebastian: By the way, keep next Saturday free for our second date.

–Me: What are we doing? Another special gallery?

–Sebastian: Nope.

–Me: What am I supposed to wear?

–Sebastian: Anything you want.

–Me: You’re unhelpful.

–Sebastian: I’m indulgent. :wink-emoji:

I shake my head with a laugh. Indulgent…? Is that what he calls his clue-deprived response?

Although I teased him about another gallery, I doubt he’ll do the same thing twice. That wouldn’t be like him.

My heart is doing cartwheels as I imagine what he’s going to do on the second date. I mentally go through what I have in my closet and decide I don’t like anything.

I’m going shopping.

I put on a bright red top, boot-cut jeans and a pair of cowboy boots I picked up in Texas on a business trip a couple of years ago. I’ve never worn them. They aren’t the kind of thing a jewelry CEO would wear to the office, and most of my time has been dedicated to Peery Diamonds.

I put simple solitaires on my ears and head out.

“James hasn’t brought the car around,” Matthias says. “Let me just call him.”

“Don’t. I want to drive myself.”

“Are you quite sure?” He’s been anxious ever since the ouster.

“Yeah. I’ll be okay.” I smile, putting on my sunglasses. “Just want to have some fun outside the house.”

He smiles. “Very good. I was a bit worried when you stayed in for so long.”

“Did I?” Then I realize he’s right. I didn’t leave the house until Sebastian asked to see me. “Sorry I worried you. I’ll try to do better.”

“No need to apologize.” His eyes are kind as he regards me. “You’ve always done your best.”

An urge to hug him pumps through me, and I give in. As I wrap my arms around him, he stiffens in shock. “Thank you,” I say.

I leave Matthias looking cutely nonplussed and head to the garage. Today seems like a bright red Ferrari kind of day. As I speed past the gates, my phone pings with a call from Yuna.

“Hi, Lucie! Do you have some free time?” she asks.

“Today? Sure. But if it’s about your daughter’s bracelet, you’re better off contacting the L.A. store directly. I’m not at Peery Diamonds anymore.” I try to sound bright and cheery.

“Oh, this isn’t about that. I heard about what happened. I’m so sorry. It’s partly my fault.”

Her fault? “How?” The question comes out more sharply than I intend.

“I should’ve told Eugene to buy some shares in Peery Diamonds. We sometimes do that with our venture partners. But this time, with so many miscommunications, that just fell through the cracks.”

The tension eases. Yuna didn’t betray me. She’s just upset she couldn’t do a better job of protecting me.

“Thanks for that, but I’m fine.” I consider for a second…then decide, why not? “You know what? I’m going shopping right now. You want to join me?”

She squeals a little. “Of course! Shopping is my number one hobby! Where are you going?”

“I honestly have no clue. It’s for a date.”

“With Sebastian?”

“How did you know?”

“I told my father and brother there was no way in hell we were going to do the project without you. But Sebastian said if that were a condition, he wouldn’t be able to convince you of what you meant to him.”

“Which was what, exactly?” It comes out before I can catch myself.

“He’ll just have to show you,” she says slyly. “I’m not going to make his work any easier. The man needs to grovel until you’re satisfied. Anyway, he doesn’t want you to think he needs you back to continue the project. He said he’d rather cancel it altogether.”

I gasp. Sebastian never told me, even though he could have while we were texting earlier. “There’s a steep penalty for pulling out without just cause.”

“I guess winning you back was more important. Besides, ‘a steep penalty’? It’s just money. He can afford it.” Yuna lets out a diabolical laugh. “He can’t afford to lose you, though.”

I bite my lip as uncertainty and hope go to war. What would he lose by losing me? I don’t understand what I bring to the table for him.

Yuna adds, “He should pay for hurting my friend.”

“You’re going to make me cry.” My voice cracks a little.

“Why?” She sounds genuinely confused. “I’m telling the truth, Lucie.”

“But you hardly know me.”

“I know you’re smart, patient, honest, sweet and generous. You’ve never faked anything with me or my family, especially my kids.”

“But I know who you are. Don’t you ever think I’m using you?” Bianca’s toxic accusation that I used her to make myself feel better rings in my head.

“No. You didn’t yell at Liam when he spilled the milkshake on your dress, and you had no clue who his mom was. Trust me, I know when people want to use me. Most people who approach me want something. Not you. If I don’t become friends with people like you, who can I be friends with? I’m going to cry if you tell me we can’t be friends.” She adds the last part with a sad sigh.

“We can be friends,” I choke out, half laughing and half crying.

“Awesome! As for shopping, if you can’t think of a store, let’s go to my favorite. Is that cool?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sending you the address right now.”