Sebastian Henry’s office was a mess of papers, invoices, and unopened envelopes—an outward reflection of the chaos he refused to acknowledge. The blinds were half‑drawn, letting in slanted afternoon light that cut across the room like sharp blades. His temples throbbed. His accountant had just left after delivering yet another warning about overdue payments, and Sebastian was in no mood for company.
Unfortunately, Cecilia Henry never cared about his mood.
She barged into his office without knocking, her perfume arriving a full second before she did. “Sebastian,” she snapped, “I need money.”
He didn’t look up from the spreadsheet on his screen. “No.”
Cecilia blinked, offended. “Excuse me?”
“I said no,” he repeated, jaw tight. “I don’t have anything to give you right now.”
“You don’t h
