Chapter XXI

As expected, I ate alone in our hotel room while Sir Sebastian was on his bed, changing into his sleeping attire. He didn't eat his dinner and his anger didn't dissipate yet. With the faint light from the light lamp, his eyebrows were still furrowed while looking at his laptop.

An awkward silence was circulating the room after I took a quick shower and changed into my sleeping attire. As I couldn't take the silence, I decided to go out without informing Sir Sebastian.

I just couldn't fall asleep if that kind of atmosphere was lingering around. It was annoying and I couldn't just decide to change the room because I needed to inform my boss for his approval.

I felt like he just came back from the stony man when I first met him upon arriving at Huntington's Inc. All the hard work I did, all disappeared in an instant.

Sighing, I decided to go outside to the beach as I roamed my eyes. I watched as more people were strolling around the seashore with their friends. I could have wished Marlou was here with me. I would like to have a chit-chat with him.

As I was about to traverse on the other side of the road, I bumped into a bulky man whose head was wearing a dark blue hood over his head.

"S-Sorry," I automatically said when I bumped into him.

He faced me, still lowering his head. Then he bowed before me before he took a stride away from me.

"Wait," I called him but he just continued walking away. I furrowed my eyebrows when I managed to sniff his familiar perfume when he passed by me. "He smelled like Sir Sebastian..." I murmured, watching him going out of my sight.

"Cejay!"

I immediately turned around when I heard Sebastian's voice. That surprised me seeing him down here, running towards me. He was still wearing his sleeping attire.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. Then I looked from left to right. "H-How did you know I am here?" I asked, confused.

"One sec," he said, catching his breath. He even put his hand on his knee.

I chuckled at his action. "Is this a sign of aging, Sebastian?" I asked playfully. He just shot me a glare. I just laughed. I took his arm. "Let's take a seat, shall we?" I said through cackling and gently pulled my boss to the nearest bench. "Now, inhale and exhale deeply, Sir Sebastian."

He followed my advice. He took an inhale then he exhaled it.

"Shall I buy you some bottled water?"

Sebastian shook his head. "No need." He sighed and leaned to his seat. "I have never run like that." Then he shot me a glare. "Like what are you doing here alone in this place? You didn't inform me that you are going out." There was annoyance visible on his face. "What if you got lost and you have no phone for me to contact you?"

Um... Wait... What? What is happening?

I blinked twice, not understanding why he was irritated right now. Should I be the one who must be irritated because I ate alone and he sulked around the corner?

I narrowed my eyes on him. "How can I inform you if you are still hot-headed when I leave the room? How can I possibly inform you when you have the aura that you don't want to talk to anyone?" I couldn't help hissing at him.

I don't want to get annoyed at my boss but the way he was acting right now was very irresponsible. He acted like it was my fault in the first place as to why I left the room.

"You could have at least left a note or a text," he said, hissing as well.

This man... The audacity of this man... "You didn't even eat the food I took out!" I couldn't help exclaiming in annoyance. "The audacity of you ordering me to take it out when you didn't touch it when I arrived!" I rolled my eyes and stood up. "Suit yourself. I am going to take a stroll whether you like it or not!" I huffed and flipped my hair.

"Cejay, wait!" I gasped when he stopped me and spun me around to face him. I was so disoriented from his action that I only responded by blinking. "I-I will eat it."

"What?" Eat what?

Sebastian sighed. "I will eat the food you took out..." he said then he looked away.

I blinked again, not believing what I was witnessing right now. Did he just look away and act like a shy person?! Am I seeing it right? Is this true?

I approached him and touched his neck. Then I touched his forehead. There were no signs that he was having a fever.

"What are you doing?" His forehead is knitted. He gave me a weird look.

"Are you okay, sir?"

"Huh?" His bewildered expression was priceless.

Cute. I chuckled. "It is my first time seeing the shy type of yours, Sir Sebastian." I grinned. I should have taken a picture. He looked so cute with that kind of attitude earlier. "I should have taken you a photo." I smiled sheepishly.

He smirked. "Good thing you never had a chance." He placed his hand on top of my head which made me frown. He suddenly knew how to get back on me. That was so annoying. "Didn't you like to stroll first? Why don't we do it right now?"

"Why don't you eat your dinner first?" I jerked his hand away from me. "You're heavy!" I huffed and snorted which earned him a low chuckle.

"Fine, fine. So you won't get sulked there. Shall we then, Cejay?"

I lowered my gaze seeing his hand offering to me. I only blinked and didn't know what to do. Should I accept his hand? Would it be weird if I accept it?

"Um..." How should I decline? "Okay." Wait. What did I do? Why did I accept his hand? I am supposed to decline then why did my hand move on its own accord? Why did Sebastian suddenly grasp it the moment I accepted it?

"Don't get the wrong idea."

I glanced up from what he said. "Huh?" His touch sent tingles down my spine that made me disoriented for a second. "How did you know that I am here in this place, Sebastian?"

He turned his head at me then he looked away, focusing his eyes on the road. "Just an instinct."

"Instinct?" I asked in disbelief.

Sebastian gently gripped my hand. "Yes." 

I just frowned. I don't want to believe him but his answer convinced me that he was telling the truth. I secretly sniffed him. The male cologne I chose for him was lingering in my nose. It was so alluring.

Then I remembered something.

"Sir."

"Hmm?"

"Remember the cologne I picked for you?" I asked, turning my head at him as I waited for his response.

He met my eyes with a perplexed expression. "What about it?"

"I bumped into a hooded man. He has the same height as yours." Now I remember. He has the same height as Sebastian. My height was on his chest level like Sebastian's.

"Did he hurt you?" He stopped walking and faced me. His serious expression was lingering over me.

I stopped walking as well since he was holding my hand. "Not really." I sniffed him again which made him step backward, looking at me weirdly. He even had to release my hand. I grinned. "He has the same smell as you. He is wearing the same perfume." I shrugged. "Nothing serious. It's just that I remember you, Sebastian, because of his smell."

He looked at me, wide-eyed. Then he smiled lazily. "That's flattering, Cejay. Should you also admit that you have a crush on me as well?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on!" I stepped back. I distanced myself away from him just as how cringe he said those words. The fuck... Is he freaking serious right now? "Just because I compliment you, it does not mean I have a crush on you, no." I scoffed and approached him. Then I tapped his cheek. "Wake up, Sebastian. Not everyone will fall for your charms. Tsk. You must be hallucinating because you haven't eaten your dinner yet." I showed him a fake smile.

His lips curled up into a smirk. "Maybe you are correct, Ms. Merryweather."