A Pinch of Sugar (Lights Camera Insta-love 1)

I wish he’d woken me up with a kiss or some kind of reassurance, because as I pull on the white robe, my heart is beating in my throat. What will today bring? Is there a chance Sebastian wants our relationship to go somewhere? If he doesn’t, how am I going to go back to my black and white world where I hide my needs, my true self?

At the threshold of the bedroom I square my shoulders and take a deep breath. I’ll never know what’s possible if I don’t ask.

Expecting to see Sebastian in the living room, I freeze when I see a man I don’t recognize. He’s a short man. Young. He’s wearing a suit and he’s flipping through a folder of paperwork in a very agitated manner.

“Uh. Hello?”

“Look who’s decided to wake up.” The man glances up with a tight smile. “Would you mind getting dressed? I’ll need you to sign a non-disclosure agreement before you leave.”

“A…what?” I shake my head to clear it of the shock. “I mean, I know what an NDA is, but why do I need to sign one? Who are you and where is Sebastian?”

“I’m his assistant, Dan. The one who set out all the ingredients for your little baking class last night?” His tone is snide. “I hope you had fun.” He runs his eyes up and down my body in a lewd manner. “It certainly looks like it.”

“Where is Sebastian?” I whisper past numb lips.

“I don’t know. He probably went out so I could clean up the mess before he gets back.” By mess, he means me. That much is obvious. “Please get dressed. I’d like to get the document signed.”

Pain begins to bloom in my chest, gradually but thoroughly. “Do you do this often? Have women sign agreements that they won’t speak to the press about—”

“Your one night with Sebastian?” He shrugs. “It’s definitely been a while, but I’ve done it a few times. It’s ugly but necessary.”

I can’t speak. Or move.

He flicks a hand toward something to my right and I find my work uniform and bra folded neatly on a console table “If you don’t mind…?”

My hands are shaking as I pick up the garments and turn back into the bedroom, dressing with tears burning my eyelids. Is this really happening? Did my night with Sebastian really mean so little to him? He couldn’t even end things to my face, he had to ask his assistant to do it? There’s a hole in my lungs and it’s growing so fast, I feel short of breath. Dizzy. But I manage to get my button-down and black skirt in place and walk on trembling legs back to the living room.

Dan starts talking without looking up. “You caused quite a stir last night. All the gossip sites are going crazy with pictures of Sebastian carrying a woman half his age out of a restaurant. I’ll be spending the day spinning the story so he doesn’t come out looking like a sleaze bag who dates fucking teenagers.”

“I’m twenty-one,” I say uselessly, taking a seat on the couch. “I-I…are the pictures really going to cause a problem?”

“Not if I do my job. Speaking of which…” He slides an open folder in my direction. Words jump out at me from the page. Alice O’Donahue, henceforth known as Party B, agrees to keep confidential any information imparted by Sebastian Cove, henceforth known as Party A. Furthermore, Party B agrees to keep confidential any activities engaged in with Party A, including but not limited to sexual congress…

Not wanting to read another word, I pick up the pen and sign my name at the bottom in shaky script.

“Thank you,” Dan says briskly, plucking the pen out of my hand. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to pack Mr. Cove’s belongings so he makes his flight on time.”

I lurch up from the couch and shove my feet into my heels. I spin in a circle looking for my purse, wanting to slap myself when I realize I left it at Landmark last night. That leaves me with no phone, no MetroCard and no cash.

“There’s a couple of twenties for a cab on the counter,” Dan says breezily.

Hating how cheap it makes me feel, I have no choice but to pocket the money on my way out the door. I don’t even make it to the elevator before my heart seems to rupture and liquefy in my chest.

You are a stupid, naïve girl, Alice.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

8

Sebastian

I’ve got an armful of blue bags and I still feel underprepared when I step off the elevator onto the penthouse floor. I found the perfect the engagement ring moments after I stepped into Tiffany’s. A thick band of diamonds interwoven like leaves. Leaves that remind me of the green of Alice’s eyes. Before I could pay for it, though, I found a necklace that made my cock hard, just imagining it draped around her neck. And then I wanted her in bracelets, five for each arm, so I could listen to them clink when I fuck her. I barely escaped without buying the whole shop.