SCARRED HEARTS

CHAPTER 13: WALLS WE BUILD

Lila hadn't expected to see Sebastian again so soon.

The next day, as she sat at her desk in the small, cozy office she rented above a boutique café in the heart of the city, the last thing on her mind was a confrontation with him. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

Her phone buzzed on the desk—an unknown number flashing on the screen. She almost ignored it, her finger hovering over the decline button, but something stopped her. Curiosity? Fear? Maybe both. With a soft sigh, she accepted the call, pressing the phone to her ear.

"Lila." His voice was smooth, unmistakable, even through the brief connection.

Sebastian.

She swallowed. "What do you want?"

There was a faint chuckle on the other end. "I'm surprised you picked up." His tone was casual, like they hadn't just had an intense, uncomfortable dinner the night before. "You really are more unpredictable than I thought."

"I'm not interested in your games, Sebastian," she said, her tone clipped. She leaned back in her chair, trying to steady her nerves. The last thing she wanted was to be swept up in whatever mind game he was about to throw at her. "What do you want?"

"I thought I'd drop by," he replied. "I've got a bit of business in the area. Thought I'd make it a personal visit."

Lila's stomach dropped. "No. Absolutely not." Her hand tightened around the edge of her desk, her fingers digging into the wood. She couldn't have him walking into her space, into her world. Her life wasn't for him to invade, to probe into.

"I'll be quick. Promise," he said, his voice smooth as honey. "I've got a meeting in thirty minutes. I won't stay long."

Before she could say another word, he hung up.

Lila stared at the phone in her hand for a long moment, her mind reeling. He couldn't be serious.

But then again, Sebastian didn't do things by halves. If he said he was coming, he was coming. And there was nothing she could do to stop him.

Shaking her head, Lila forced herself to focus. This was just another one of his manipulative tactics, wasn't it? To get under her skin, push her boundaries. She had to resist. She couldn't let him see her flustered—couldn't let him see how much she was struggling with the way he was starting to pull her in.

Her hand hovered over the keyboard, but she couldn't focus. Not when his presence, his voice, echoed in her mind. I'm not going anywhere, Lila.

She hated that she couldn't stop thinking about it.

Minutes later, she heard the soft rattle of the door as it opened. Her gaze snapped up from the screen, and there he was, standing in the doorway like he owned the place, his tall frame filling the space. Dressed in a sharp suit—too sharp for this small office, for her—Sebastian looked like he'd just stepped out of a magazine ad, all sleek lines and crisp edges.

"Sebastian," she said, her voice clipped, fighting to keep her composure. "I told you not to—"

"I know," he cut her off, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. "But here I am." His eyes roamed around the room, taking in the mismatched furniture, the shelves of books, the window that opened to a view of the street below. "Not exactly the high-rise I was expecting, but it has... character."

Lila didn't respond. She simply turned back to her desk, hoping that if she pretended he wasn't here, he'd leave.

But Sebastian didn't leave.

Instead, he took a step closer, his presence a constant weight on her chest. She could feel his gaze on her, sharp and unrelenting, even as she tried to focus on her computer screen.

"Busy?" he asked, leaning against the back of the chair opposite her.

"Not really," she said, her voice tight. "I was just finishing some work."

"Hmm." He didn't sit, choosing instead to remain standing, his posture relaxed but commanding. "Nice place you've got here."

Lila didn't meet his gaze. "It works for me."

She heard a small chuckle from him, and though it should have annoyed her, it only made her more on edge. There was something about the way he said things, like he always knew exactly how to provoke her without raising his voice. It made her want to scream.

Instead, she took a deep breath. "What do you want, Sebastian?"

"Straight to the point," he said, nodding. "I respect that." There was a glint of something in his eyes—something dangerous, something that made her throat tighten. "I just wanted to see if you were alright after last night."

Lila froze, her heart lurching in her chest. Last night. Of course, he was talking about the dinner. About the conversation they'd had. She hadn't thought about it for hours, but now, it came rushing back—his words, his gaze, his insistence that she wasn't hiding anything.

"Why wouldn't I be alright?" she asked, her voice icy, trying to keep the walls high.

"Because you're not fooling me, Lila." His voice was low, steady, and for the first time, there was something softer in it. But it was still intense, still commanding. "I know you. You don't open up easily. And I'm not going to sit around pretending that I believe you when you say everything's fine."

Her fingers clenched into fists on the edge of her desk. "I don't need your help, Sebastian."

He didn't flinch at her words. In fact, he took another step closer, almost close enough for her to feel the heat radiating off him. His scent, the faint trace of cologne, filled her senses, and for a moment, she forgot to breathe.

"I'm not offering help," he said quietly. "I'm offering understanding."

Lila's breath hitched. Understanding? Was that what he thought? That all he had to do was offer a few words, a little patience, and she'd open up to him? He had no idea what he was dealing with.

"You don't know anything about me," she said, her voice fierce.

"I know more than you think." His words were almost a whisper now, and she felt the weight of them settle over her like a heavy fog. He was right. He did know something. Something she had tried so hard to bury.

Lila stood abruptly, standing taller than him despite the space between them. "You don't get to do this, Sebastian."

But as she moved to step around him, his hand shot out, fast as lightning, and he caught her wrist.

Lila froze. His grip was gentle, but it was enough to make her heart skip a beat. His fingers were warm against her skin, and his touch was like fire—both comforting and alarming at once.

"Let go," she demanded, her voice low and steady, even though her pulse was racing.

Sebastian hesitated, his gaze locking with hers. For a brief moment, the world around them seemed to fade—the clutter of the office, the distant sounds of the street below, even the tension between them—it all faded to a dull hum as he simply looked at her.

"You're more complicated than I thought," he murmured, his thumb brushing over the pulse in her wrist. "But that's why I'm not going anywhere."

Lila jerked her wrist out of his grasp, a surge of panic flooding through her. "Don't touch me, Sebastian. I told you before. I don't want this."

His lips twitched, but he said nothing as she stepped back, her breath shallow. The air between them had thickened—there was no denying the tension, the electricity sparking between them.

"I'll go," he said finally, his voice still low but steady, "But I'll be back. You're not getting away from me that easily."

Lila didn't respond. She simply watched as he walked out of her office, his presence lingering in the air long after the door had clicked shut behind him.

She sank back into her chair, her hand pressed to her chest as she tried to calm the beating of her heart.

She was playing a dangerous game. And she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep the walls from crumbling.