The Cursed Proposal

Chapter 20: A Risk Worth Taking

As Kaya stared at the handsome man with piercing blue eyes in front of her, she considered his question about how she had known the right code. The truth was, Kaya had found it by accident, and it didn't entirely make sense to her. So, before answering Sebastian, she figured she'd need to do a bit of investigating on her own.

After Kaya mentioned Robert Benson to Sebastian, he called someone Kaya only knew as Oliver. Sebastian asked him to investigate the truck driver, following Kaya's hunch, while his arm circled her waist. Kaya instinctively rested her hands on his chest, inhaling his scent up close.

Once the call ended, Sebastian took Kaya to lunch at the same restaurant they'd visited before. Although it was the place where they'd been caught by the reporter, Kaya loved it—it reminded her of Greece, a place she dreamed of visiting someday.

The day went by with Sebastian focused on finishing his work and Kaya back to her laptop occasionally sneaking onto Wattpad. She knew Sebastian was giving her a sneaky glance whenever she did.

***

The next day, Kaya stubbornly insisted on staying home. She even convinced Sebastian's staff to support her in persuading him. Although a bit upset, Sebastian finally agreed after a lengthy breakfast debate. He left alone, kissing Kaya on the forehead before heading to the office.

After spending time in the kitchen with Mrs. Adelberth, Kaya returned to her laptop and researched Robert Benson's case. Although the news of him being Kaya's hit-and-run driver had been released right after the accident, it had only gained traction that morning, thanks to Dimitri's article. Once again, he was spinning Sebastian's so-called curse as the cause of the chaos.

Kaya was almost certain the city square had been overly crowded for an opening day. Her accident might have been coincidental, as no one knew she'd planned to go there—the decision to hang out with Emily had been spontaneous. This means Robert Benson was running from something and accidentally almost hit Kaya and Emily.

She checked her navigation map to see what lay beyond the junction where the accident occurred. The map showed only office buildings, government facilities, banks, museums, galleries, and an opera house—nothing unusual. Still curious, Kaya looked up images of Benson's car from news reports. Though the angle was blurry, she searched for more details about where it might be stored.

She soon found the location and informed Arthur she was heading to the outskirts of town. She grabbed her keys and drove to a junkyard co-owned by the police department nearby.

Knowing she wouldn't have easy access without proper ID, Kaya parked at a nearby café and walked over. The junkyard was relatively deserted, with workers scattered only in certain areas. Kaya's experience working for a newspaper back in college gave her confidence as she snuck in, scanning for Benson's car.

It was in bad shape; nothing looked salvageable. Benson was lucky to have survived. Putting on gloves, Kaya began searching for a rectangular object, perhaps an envelope. She didn't find that but did uncover a torn pocket notebook and a broken phone wedged between the passenger seat cushions.

Taking her findings, she hurried out, narrowly missing the workers as they returned for lunch. Once she was back in her car, she immediately called Sebastian.

"Hello, Sunshine. Miss me?" he teased. Kaya rolled her eyes, sensing the grin behind his words.

"Bastian, be serious. Look, I'm near the outskirts of town. I found something, and I'm heading to your office now. Don't go anywhere." She hung up before he could respond, knowing he'd be furious that she'd investigated alone.

Driving toward Sebastian's office, Kaya noticed a car tailing her. As it drew closer, she sped up, realizing the driver was attempting to force her off the road. After a few bumps to her rear bumper, she swerved into a narrow alley, maneuvering her small car to shake off her pursuer. Her tail finally gave up as the path narrowed further, too tight for their vehicle. Kaya quickly drove her car away from the tail and entered Sebastian's office parking lot.

Breathing a sigh of relief, she pulled into Sebastian's private parking lot, heart pounding with the familiar rush of excitement. She missed the thrill of chasing leads and racing to uncover evidence, the kind that had driven her journalism days.

The pumping adrenaline rushed to her veins as she stepped on the pedal to keep her car flying fast on the road. She missed the experience more than ever now.

She closed her eyes as she calmed her jolted heart. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes—only to meet an angry gaze from Sebastian himself. Oops, she thought, I'm in trouble.

***

"I can't believe you went ahead, even after I told you to let me handle it!" Sebastian's office door banged open as he stormed in, startling Margaret outside. Kaya offered Margaret an apologetic smile before facing Sebastian's frustration.

"I know, I'm sorry, Bastian. I just couldn't help myself," Kaya replied, hoping to soothe him. But Sebastian had reached the end of his patience. Kaya could see he was genuinely upset, something she rarely witnessed.

Kaya could see how hurt he was and how the blue eyes she always adored were changing color to darker blue. His voice was sharp and laden with worry, agitation, concern—and something deeper, a care that warmed her heart, even as he scolded her. Her heart couldn't take it if she lost Sebastian because of her recklessness.

Finally, he paused, slumping against his desk. "Maybe...maybe I can't keep you as my fiancée. If I do, I'll only keep putting you in danger." His words hit like a punch, leaving Kaya frozen.

"No!" She rushed to him, hugging him tightly. "You always protect me; it's my fault this time. I just...I wanted to help you."

Sebastian didn't return her embrace. She feared his decision was final, that he'd truly decided to let her go. Desperately, Kaya cupped his face, forcing him to meet her gaze.

"You can't leave me. And I won't leave you, either. If you try to break up with me, I'll tell the press that I... I'm pregnant with your child!"

Sebastian's eyes widened, shock and disbelief flickering as he took in her words. Kaya flushed, half-embarrassed yet resolute. She couldn't lose him—not like this.

"Kaya, you can't just—" he began, his voice low with warning. But she shook her head, her grip on him tightening.

"I mean it, Bastian," she whispered, voice raw and vulnerable. "I can't bear the thought of you pushing me away. If you really want to keep me safe, let me stand beside you. Don't keep me at arm's length—I can't live like that."

Sebastian's face softened, regret flashing in his eyes. Slowly, he raised a hand to her shoulder, his touch gentle as he gazed into her eyes.

"Kaya," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "You drive me insane, you know that?"

Her heart raced, warmth flooding her cheeks. His fingers traced her jawline, his gaze lingering on her lips before meeting her eyes once more.

"Well, that's my specialty," Kaya said, letting out an awkward laugh. But her words faded as Sebastian took a step closer, his presence suddenly towering over her. Her hands, hanging awkwardly at her sides, drifted up to rest on his shoulders, almost as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She could feel his gaze on her, intense and unyielding, making her pulse quicken.

Silence fell between them, thick and charged. Kaya drew in a shaky breath, her fingers gently curling around the fabric of his shirt. She felt him lean in, his breath warm against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. Her eyes fluttered closed, her heartbeat thunderous.

Then, his lips met hers, soft yet certain, and everything else fell away. It was gentle at first, a tender press that slowly deepened, speaking all the things they couldn't quite put into words. His hands found her waist, pulling her closer, and Kaya felt her heart race, her breath hitching as she leaned into him, savoring every second.

For that brief time, the world faded away, leaving only the two of them, lost in each other. Kaya knew she never wanted the moment to end.

To be Continued.