Tempest // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 70*

CW: mature content

Rosie had been extremely hopeful that time and distance would simmer down whatever was happening between her and Sebastian.

He had been promoted permanently at Gringotts, working closely alongside Liam which meant he now had his own private office, rather than having to share a space with other curse-breakers, and that gave them not much time to even be co-workers. With Rosie working on small tasks delegated to her and the other curse-breakers, Sebastian was performing more duties that required him at his desk buried in work or in meetings, meaning the distance between them both their older siblings had requested was well and truly set.

But rather than focus on the positives and how it meant she had time to process the feelings and push them away until they were gone so she could move on with a new chapter of her life, Rosie instead sat at her desk and let her mind wander.

Because she was truly feeling that the phrase absence makes the heart grow fonder was actually real.

When Sebastian didn't make it to the team lunch with the rest of them, she wondered just what he was doing, picturing him poring over a desk, buried in paperwork doing all the very, super duper important business a Head Curse-Breaker did.

And when they did manage to pass each other during the day, he was unable to offer her anything more than a small smile and a wave, and that made her crave more.

She itched for conversation, his company. Texting briefly at night and chatting about mundane things like how busy work was, how annoying Anne and James were and how equally annoying Isabelle and Lewis were being too.

How rude they were able to have happy and loud relationships while Sebastian and Rosie were kept apart.

But after a month and a half of barely any contact at work, a tap on the shoulder from Lucas interrupted Rosie from a spot of research.

"Sebastian wants to see you."

"Now?" Rosie asked, turning and stretching her neck.

"Yeah, now. I know it's almost knock-off time, but he promised it would be quick." Lucas said, pointing at the clock at the wall that indicated 5pm was near.

Rosie thanked Lucas and packed up her things to save time, figuring when she was done talking to him, she'd simply be heading home.

She approached his office, scoffing with a grin at the sign on his door that pompously stated:

Sebastian Sallow
Head Curse-Breaker

She knocked softly and Sebastian's almost sleepy sounding voice called out, "Come in, Rosie."

"How'd you know it was me?" Rosie asked, pushing open the door softly.

"I don't normally summon people, especially this late in the day," Sebastian replied, hopping up from his desk and walking to the otherside, leaning back against it, "Besides, you're the only one I know would agree to a meeting at 5pm"

"This is a meeting, is it?"

"Well, an impromptu one. Here, sit down," Sebastian gestured, collecting another chair from the corner of his office.

He placed it on the same side as his own, rather than opposite it and ushered her to sit down.

"When I say impromptu, I mean it. Liam's been working on this with me today and I thought I'd let you know now, rather than when we sit everyone down later to talk about it," Sebastian said, sliding a yellow file across to her.

Rosie's eyes flickered over the folder, gaze immediately settling upon the name written at the top.

James Callahan - Case #23654