SCARRED HEARTS

CHAPTER 7: THIN LINE

The days felt heavier now. Every step she took in the office, every glance she exchanged with Sebastian, was charged with something she couldn't quite name. The lines between work and something else, something more dangerous, were becoming more blurred with every passing moment.

Lila tried to maintain control, telling herself that this was just the stress of the job, the overwhelming expectations. But deep down, she knew it wasn't just the work. It was him.

Sebastian had a way of inserting himself into her thoughts, lingering in the corners of her mind when she wasn't even looking for him. The way he'd invaded her space that night, his proximity, the challenge in his words—it had all left her rattled, her pulse still racing even days later.

She thought about the night he closed her laptop and told her to rest. The words haunted her: You're just as capable as I am. Part of her resented it, hated the idea of him thinking he knew her limits better than she did. But another part of her... liked the idea that he saw something in her that even she wasn't sure existed.

It was a Wednesday morning when everything finally cracked.

Lila was at her desk, trying to focus on the mountain of reports she'd been asked to go through when the door to her office opened with that same quiet efficiency. She looked up, half-expecting to see Sebastian standing there, but it wasn't him.

It was someone much worse.

A man in his late thirties, wearing an expensive suit and a smug grin that made Lila's stomach twist. His sharp eyes swept over her before he spoke.

"You're Lila, right?" He didn't wait for her to answer. "I'm Ethan Carrington. Sebastian's associate. He asked me to have a little chat with you."

Lila stood up, her instincts telling her to prepare for whatever this man had in store. She forced a smile, keeping her posture polite but stiff.

"I'm Lila," she said, her voice even, though her thoughts were racing. Why didn't Sebastian come himself?

Ethan's grin widened. "I know," he said, strolling casually to her desk as if he owned the place. "We've all heard a lot about you. Impressive work ethic, they say. You're really catching up, huh?"

Lila didn't answer immediately, unsure of where this was headed. She had worked hard, but she knew better than to let someone like Ethan think it was all for nothing.

"What exactly is this about?" she asked, her voice steady.

Ethan leaned in, lowering his voice slightly, though there was no one else in the office. "Sebastian's been impressed with your performance. He thinks you have potential. But he also thinks you need a little... guidance to make sure you're on the right track." He gave her a pointed look, and there was something unsettling in the way he said it.

Lila's chest tightened. "Guidance?" she repeated, wary.

Ethan's smile faltered, but only for a second. Then he was back to being charming. "Oh, you know, the usual. You're doing great, but Sebastian wants you to understand the stakes. He's got plans for you, Lila. Big ones. But you need to be ready. And for that, you'll need someone to teach you the ropes."

Lila frowned. "Teach me the ropes?"

This wasn't what she had signed up for. She'd thought Sebastian had wanted someone who could handle things on their own, someone who didn't need extra attention. She wasn't sure if this was a test or some sort of manipulation.

Ethan took a step closer, and Lila could feel the weight of his gaze on her, like he was trying to read her, figure her out. "Yes. Someone who can make sure you're... prepared for the kind of people you'll be working with. We have to be careful with who we trust around here, Lila. This world can be... cutthroat."

Lila bristled at his tone, but she forced herself to remain calm. "I can handle it."

Ethan chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in it. "We'll see. You'll find that Sebastian's vision for you is a bit more... demanding than you think."

Before Lila could respond, he turned to leave, but not before pausing at the door and glancing over his shoulder. "Oh, and don't worry," he said smoothly, "I'm sure you'll make a great addition to Sebastian's little... inner circle. Just don't take too long deciding if you're ready. He doesn't like to wait."

The door closed behind him, and the weight of his words hung in the air.

Lila sat back down slowly, her heart thumping in her chest. Inner circle? What the hell was that supposed to mean?

The next few hours passed in a blur. Lila couldn't focus on the reports in front of her, her mind racing with everything Ethan had said. Why hadn't Sebastian spoken to her himself? Why had he sent Ethan? Was this all part of some test she wasn't prepared for?

As the clock ticked down, she found herself staring at her phone, her fingers hovering over the screen, debating whether to text Sebastian. She had never been the type to ask for reassurance, but now, the uncertainty gnawed at her.

Do I want this? She wasn't sure anymore.

Just as she was about to put her phone down, it buzzed, and her heart skipped a beat. The screen lit up with Sebastian's name.

Her breath caught as she opened the message.

"I need you in my office. Now."

Lila's pulse raced. He never used to be this direct. There was something about the message that felt like a command rather than a request. And when she read it again, she realized how much power it held.

With shaky hands, she gathered her things and left the office, trying to steady her breathing. As she walked down the hall toward his office, the air seemed to thicken, each step heavier than the last. Her mind was a swirl of questions, none of which she was sure she wanted answers to.

When she reached his door, she knocked, and a voice from the other side—Sebastian's voice—called out, "Come in."

Lila pushed the door open, stepping inside. He was sitting behind his desk, his eyes flicking up to meet hers as she entered, a small, unreadable smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

"Sit," he ordered, his tone commanding but smooth.

Lila hesitated for only a moment before doing as instructed, sitting down across from him. The tension in the room was almost suffocating, and she could feel her heart hammering in her chest.

Sebastian didn't immediately speak. Instead, he watched her, his dark gaze calculating as though he was waiting for something.

Lila couldn't take it anymore. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with the frustration she had been holding back.

Sebastian's smile grew, a knowing glint in his eyes. "You're asking the wrong question, Lila." His voice was low, soft, and there was something about it that sent a shiver down her spine.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice tight.

He leaned forward, his eyes locking with hers. "The question isn't what's going on, Lila. The question is, are you ready to step up? Because once you do, there's no turning back. No more hiding behind your desk. No more pretending you don't want this."

Lila's breath caught in her throat. She wanted to say something, to argue, but the words wouldn't come. He was right. She had wanted this, wanted him to notice her, but now that she had his attention... she wasn't sure what to do with it.

Sebastian's gaze softened just slightly. "Don't worry," he murmured, "I'll show you exactly what you're capable of. But first, you have to stop running from it."

Lila swallowed hard, her mind spinning, her body taut with the tension of the moment. She didn't know if she was ready, but somehow, in the pit of her stomach, she could already feel herself moving toward him.

There was no going back now.