<h4>Chapter 98: Chapter 98 Unexpected Encounters</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    My phone started ringing just as I was pulling out of the parking garage.


    It was Alpha Sebastian.


    Please don’t tell me there’s more work...


    I sighed, pulled over, and answered. "Hello, Alpha Sebastian."


    "Come back up," he said. His voice was calm, steady—and not really asking.


    "...Of course."


    I hung up, turned the car around, and headed back to the building with a reluctant groan.


    After parking, I dropped off my bag in my office and rushed upstairs to the executive floor.


    I paused outside his door, took a deep breath, then knocked and stepped in.


    He was just closing hisptop and rising from his chair.


    His eyes met mine—sharp, unreadable. "You seem eager to leave the second the clock hits five."


    Wait—how did he know I’d left? His door had been shut the whole time.


    Then it hit me. My flushed face. My breathing. He’d heard me rush back.


    "I had ns tonight," I said, trying to keep my voice even. "So I left... on time." I made sure to stress thatst part.


    "Important ns?" he asked, like it was casual conversation.


    He walked over to the coat rack, picked up his jacket, and shrugged it on.


    Somehow, even that simple motion looked impossibly elegant when he did it.


    "Your prioritiese first, of course," I replied with a professional smile.


    Alpha Sebastian continued adjusting his sleeves before ncing at me again. "Don’t consider me. If you have urgent matters, you can tell me."


    His tone was unusually gentle. His eyes gazed at me with what appeared to be genuine concern—a look that could easily lure someone into letting their guard down.


    "Perhaps you should first tell me what you need, Alpha Sebastian," I responded, maintaining myposure.


    "Hmm.Cecilia certainly has admirable professional standards," he remarked with an approving nod.


    Hah, I knew it was a trap.


    His opening line had already betrayed his displeasure.


    There was no chance he’d genuinely be concerned about my ns afterward.


    Questions like "Is it urgent?" and "Don’t consider me" were merely tests of my attitude.


    This man excelled at digging pits for people, coaxing them to jump in, then circling like a predator... He might have made an excellent con artist in another life.


    Alpha Sebastian finally revealed his purpose, "There’s an impromptu business reception tonight. You’ll apany me."


    With that, he picked up his phone from the desk and walked toward the door.


    I followed him, my mind racing. Impromptu? Who schedulesst-minute events that anyone would actually want to attend? Who couldmand Alpha Sebastian ck’s presence on such short notice?


    As we exited his office, Beta Sawyer emerged from the assistant’s room. "Alpha Sebastian."


    "That’s all for today. You can leave," Alpha Sebastian told him without breaking stride.


    Beta Sawyer’s expression brightened at the prospect of leaving early, but then he noticed my look of despair as I rushed to my office to grab my things before hurrying back.


    "What’s happening?" he whispered.


    "I have to apany him to some business reception," I muttered.


    "That wasn’t on today’s schedule."


    "It is now."


    We exchanged a few hushed words as Alpha Sebastian waited by the elevator, his back to us.


    When the elevator arrived, Alpha Sebastian entered first, and we followed, positioning ourselves behind him.


    I couldn’t help the disappointed expression on my face.


    If not for what had happened at lunch, I might have been eager to apany him—a chance to establish new connections under my new identity.


    But tonight, I had more important matters to attend to.


    After moving past my initial anger earlier today, I’d been contemting the settlement agreement. I’d wanted to discuss it with Harper, get her perspective.


    Beta Sawyer, noticing my glum expression, bravely spoke up. "Alpha Sebastian, what if I apany you to the reception instead?"


    "I need a femalepanion," Alpha Sebastian replied dryly, checking his watch. "Are you female?"


    "So I’ll just wear a dress," Beta Sawyer said jokingly.


    Alpha Sebastian checked his watch, then replied, deadpan, "You can borrow one from HR. Just don’t trip on the heels."


    Beta Sawyer muttered, "Ruthless," under his breath.


    I bit back a smile.


    As we exited the elevator, Beta Sawyer gave me a look that screamed I really tried.


    I nodded solemnly: I know, I know.


    If he’d persisted, our heartless boss might have actually threatened his manhood.


    Who would dare challenge that? I certainly wouldn’t.


    Beta Sawyer was a good colleague—he just couldn’t fight a battle against an Alpha.


    We parted ways in the garage. I followed Alpha Sebastian toward his car, quickly texting Harper: Something came up. I’lle to your ceter tonight.


    Harper didn’t respond—likely busy with work.


    As we reached the car, I naturally moved toward the driver’s side, only to find someone already there.


    "Hey," a young, handsome man with short, stylish ck hair greeted me with a bright smile that revealed perfect white teeth.


    He had a small ck cross earring on his cartge and wore a white T-shirt that revealed tattoos extending from his neck down his arms.


    For a moment, I wondered if the car had been hijacked by some kind of punk. But something about him seemed vaguely familiar.


    "Do you find him attractive?" Alpha Sebastian bent down beside me, following my gaze into the car.


    Ignoring his teasing, I asked, "Who is he?"


    "The driver. Isn’t it obvious?" Alpha Sebastian replied.


    "...Very obvious," I conceded, not wanting to pursue the matter.


    I moved to open the rear passenger door. "Alpha Sebastian, please get in."


    He slid into the backseat.


    The door closed with a decisive thud, and I noticed his expression darken slightly as he watched me walk around to the front passenger seat.


    Once inside, I greeted the driver. "Hello."


    "Hi there, I’m Tang," he replied cheerfully.


    "Nice to meet you, Tang," I said politely.


    I put on my earphones, effectively ending the conversation.


    During the ride, I touched up my makeup, though my mind was elsewhere.


    When we arrived at the hotel hosting the reception, I finally asked who had invited him on such short notice.


    "Mr. Jude," Alpha Sebastian replied.


    "Him? Are you close?" I asked, surprised.


    "Not particrly."


    "Then why...?"


    Alpha Sebastian turned to look at me, his smile disarmingly charming yetpletely insincere. "No particr reason. Just thought I’d socialize a bit."


    Yeah, right. I’d sooner believe wolves could fly.


    The word simple didn’t exist in Alpha Sebastian’s vocabry.


    I did believe him when he said his rtionship with Mr. Jude was merely cordial.


    When we’d yed golf together recently, I’d sensed they maintained a strictly professional rtionship—certainly not close enough for Alpha Sebastian to ept ast-minute invitation.


    Which meant he wasn’t here for Mr. Jude at all, but for someone else.


    Alpha Sebastian ced his hand lightly on the back of my head, his smile knowing. "It’s not thatplicated."


    That definitely means it’s extremelyplicated!


    It was only after we’d walked a few steps that I realized how close we were standing.


    And I hadn’t even noticed.


    Somewhat rmed, I moved several steps to the side, touching my hair where his hand had been. "Right, I understand."


    We entered the hotel floor with therge terrace.


    The moment we walked in, we drew everyone’s attention—but I was immediately distracted by the familiar face I spotted in the crow.