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It isn’t going to help anything for him to be on opposing sides with my father. Now more than ever, I need a constant in my life, and I need to feel sure that nothing will happen to make me lose Sebastian. He and my father fighting would definitely risk that.

I head down the hall to my father’s office, knocking on the closed door. I hear his gruff “Come in” a moment later, and step inside, trying not to look as nervous as I feel.

The moment my father sees that it’s me, his jaw tenses. “Estella, if this is another attempt to talk me out of arranging your marriage—” he begins, and I shake my head quickly.

“It’s not.” I hold my hands up placatingly, approaching his desk. “I just wanted to ask if I can go out tonight.”

Right to the point.My father has never been one for beating around the bush, though, and the longer I draw it out, the more irritated he’ll become with me. I know that for a fact.

“Out?” His forehead crinkles. “Where do you want to go?”

I take a deep breath. “It’s my friend Marilee’s birthday. She’s the one who came to my party.”

“I don’t know who that is.” He looks down at the stack of paperwork in front of him, making it clear that I’ve interrupted him. “Whose daughter is she?”

“She—” I swallow hard. “She’s one of my friends from college.”

I see my father’s expression change immediately, and I feel fairly certain that I might as well leave now. But I’m already here, so I can’t help but try to make my point. I feel trapped, standing in this small room while my father judges my friends and the life that I wanted outside of the confines of the family, and suddenly I very, very much want to go tonight.

“Hm.” He grunts. “Where is this party?”

“It’s at a bowling alley. She sent me the details—I’d have to check exactly where. But Sebastian will go with me, and if you want anyone else to go as security, that would be fine?—”

“No.” He looks up at me. “Absolutely not, Estella. What are you thinking? Those aren’t the kind of friends you need now, anyway.”

“Dad—”

“No,” he repeats. “And I’m busy, Estella. Is there anything else?—”

“Sir, if I can speak freely?”

Sebastian’s voice from behind me makes me jump. I hadn’t heard him walk into the room, and I twist around, surprised to see him there. His jaw is tense, and he’s looking squarely at my father, who fixes him with an expression of deepening annoyance.

“What is it, Sinclair?”

“Respectfully, sir,” Sebastian begins, his voice taut in a way that suggests that he’s having a difficult time keeping itrespectful. “Your daughter has been grieving for days. She’s been having a hard time, as I know you and everyone else have been, as well. But she doesn’t have much of an outlet for it, right now. I think it would be good to let her go out for one night with her friends. I’ll be right by her side, of course sir, and I can bring a few extra men if need be. She’ll be home by whatever time you want.”

My heart leaps in my chest as I stare at Sebastian. I feel it drop a moment later when I look at my father, and see that his expression has turned icy.

“You’re out of line, Sinclair,” he growls. “I said no. There’s no reason for her to be out with those girls—and whoever else they might bring along. Other boys, probably. You think I want my daughter out at a place like that?”

Sebastian’s jaw clenches. “Of course not, sir,” he says calmly. “I apologize.”

My father nods tautly. “Think before you speak,” he says coldly. “Bodyguards are a dime a dozen, son. I can replace you as easily as I hired you.”

A jolt of fear runs through me at that. Sebastian gives a terse nod, pivoting on his heel and walking out. I look at my father, waiting for him to say something else, but he’s already deep in his paperwork again, not paying me any attention. As far as I can tell, the subject is closed for him.

I hurry out of the office, following Sebastian. He’s stopped a few yards down the hall, and I catch up, grabbing his arm. I feel him tense the instant I touch him, and I let go, looking up at him. I feel defeated, and I know it probably shows on my face.

“I thought you didn’t listen in on meetings,” I whisper. Sebastian looks at me, and the intense anger in his eyes sendsa jolt of alarm through me—mixed with something else. A not entirely unfamiliar warmth that I still don’t understand.

“I wanted to know what he was going to say,” Sebastian growls. “And it was basically what I expected. Which is why you’re going anyway.”

I stare at him. “What? What are you talking about?”

“You’re going tonight. Your father might think it’s fine for you to waste away here, shrinking a little more every day while he finds some rich asshole to marry you off to, but you need your friends. You need to get out of this fucking mausoleum of a house. And I’m going to see that that happens.”

A thrill runs through me despite myself. “You are?” I squeak, still looking at him wide-eyed. I’ve never been the rebellious type. I’ve never really needed to be before now—I’ve never wanted to go out to clubs or go out drinking, and everything I wanted to do…college, seeing my friends occasionally, I was able to do.