Page 18 of Best Kept Vows (Savannah’s Best #6)

Sebastian

T here was peace in my home, and it felt like Lia and I were making progress.

I tried my best to be home every evening, but I wasn’t able to get home today because we were wining and dining a customer. Lia said that was fine because she was going to have drinks and dinner with her colleagues.

“To a successful partnership agreement,” Theo Marlow, a furniture designer, said as he raised his glass for a toast.

We all toasted.

Jane was there as the COO, along with Marek East, our Chief Commercial Officer who had landed the mammoth deal, and Stacy Thunes, our head of HR.

Since Jane asked me to have a drink at her place, I’d started to avoid being alone with her in rooms and even in public settings, taking another colleague along.

It was a precaution because Jane’s behavior bothered the hell out of me—she flirted and, on more than one occasion, brought up Lia, asking questions that I felt were inappropriate. It wasn’t overt, so I couldn’t tell her to cut it out, but I had veered our conversations away from my wife.

At least with others around, she wasn’t going to be so forward.

Well, that’s what I thought as we ordered food and drinks at the Artillery Bar in Savannah’s historic district.

The eatery was known for its upscale cocktails, shareable plates, and sleek vintage charm, and seemed a fitting place for celebration.

Our table was still buzzing from a successful meeting and the lucrative deal we’d closed, but I didn’t want to be here.

I wanted to be home with my wife. I had admitted that my need to be with her was driven by fear of losing her.

I was scared that, with her new degree and job, she’d leave me, and that thought was intolerable.

I loved Lia—but more than that, I needed her in my life. Considering how everyone in my family and everyone at work all wanted something from me, it was a balm to my soul to have someone who wanted me .

“Thank you for your trust in us.” Marek clinked his glass of whiskey with Theo’s.

“I have to say, Sebastian, you have turned the company around,” Theo noted.

Had I? It didn’t feel that way with the revenue going the way it was.

I felt like the sword of Damocles was hanging over my head, ready to strike.

Tick-Tock. Tick-Tock.

“Well, Theo, with this amazing leadership team supporting us, I see no other way but success.” It was true.

I trusted my leaders. They were great. However, given the market's direction and the company’s long history of mismanagement from a process and personnel perspective, it was a tough climb out of a very deep hole.

The conversation, thankfully, moved on to golf as both Theo and Marek were avid golfers, and they compared notes over some championship game they’d both been to.

Jane ordered another round, the sparkling lights of the bar reflecting in her eyes, brighter than usual.

Her laughter rang out louder, and her hand occasionally brushed mine.

She was tipsy and dangerously flirtatious, and I found myself treading carefully with every interaction, wary of upsetting the delicate balance between professionalism and a line we couldn’t uncross.

Excusing myself to the bar, I stepped away from the group, pretending I had to take a phone call for a moment of clarity. I walked out of the restaurant and leaned against the wall, grateful for the brief escape.

“Seb, all okay?”

I turned to find Jane beside me, her hand casually resting on my arm.

“Jane, please call me Sebastian .”

“It just slips out sometimes. Tonight was incredible, wasn’t it?” she purred, leaning close enough that I could smell her perfume—floral, heavy.

“Yeah. Great win,” I answered carefully, stepping away. “We should call it a night. I should pay the bill. ”

She tilted her head, smiling playfully. “What’s the rush? The night’s still young, Seb …astian.”

I cleared my throat, uncomfortable. “Jane?—”

“You know, I can tell how you feel about me,” she stated softly, ignoring my subtle retreat.

“I think you’re a very capable COO.”

She laughed, her head thrown back. “You’re very handsome, you know that?”

“Jane,” I warned, keeping my voice steady but firm, “you’ve had too much to drink. Let me call you an Uber.”

She took a step toward me. “Why don’t you take me home yourself? Come inside…see where the night takes us.”

I was stunned into silence, not from temptation but from disbelief. Before I could respond, my gaze landed on a familiar figure.

Lia was walking by us, clearly with the intent of entering the bar.

Her eyes were wide with shock. My heart stuttered. She’d heard Jane’s offer—seen her standing far too close, and the hurt on her face was unmistakable.

“Lia….” Her name fell helplessly from my lips.

Jane glanced over her shoulder, and to my surprise, the corner of her mouth lifted in a smug, knowing smile. “Hi, Lia. How are you?”

I sidestepped Jane to stand next to my wife. Lia stiffened, but when I put an arm around her, she didn’t push it away.

“Not so good, Jane,” Lia said, steel in her voice. “You propositioning my husband does not put me in a good mood. ”

Jane waved a hand. “Your husband spends all his time with me,” she slurred. “What does that say to you? You know he skipped your anniversary dinner because I asked him to.”

“I skipped it because we had a crisis,” I snapped.

Jane licked her lips. “You can lie all you want, Seb…astian. But I know the truth. Be honest. You’re not happy with her. You’ve been unhappy for a long time. Stop being noble. You want me —I see it in your eyes every day.”

The woman was drunk and deranged.

Disgusted, I stepped further back. “You’re wrong, Jane. Go home.”

She laughed bitterly, eyes flashing with anger. “You’re a coward, Sebastian Boone. I’m offering what you want, and you’re too scared to admit it.”

“Goodnight, Jane.” I led Lia into the restaurant, but she shook her head.

“Baby—”

Aurora and Luna joined us; they came from the other side of the restaurant, where they probably had parked their car. They looked at Jane, then me, and I saw the curiosity in their speculation.

“Sebastian, meet my colleagues, Luna and Aurora.” Her tone carried a quiet dignity that unsettled me deeply. “This is my husband, Sebastian.”

I nodded in greeting, and they responded stiffly.

“I’ll see you at home in a couple of hours,” Lia said softly. Her voice cut through me more painfully than if she’d screamed. I watched her go inside with Luna and Aurora, feeling completely helpless.

Jane’s eyes followed me, but I ignored her, she was on her fucking own.

I went inside and asked the server to bring the tab to our table, my eyes seeking my wife, who seemed to have disappeared. Had they gone to another place? Were they in a private room? Where?

I wanted to text her, but I didn’t. She said she’d see me at home, and I’d just have to suck it up and wait for that.

“Where’s Jane?” Stacey asked.

I gritted my teeth. “She wasn’t feeling well. She had to leave.”

Stacey nodded and then looked at me, concern clear in her eyes. “All okay?”

I shook my head. “We’ll talk on Monday. Yeah?”

“Yeah,” she agreed.

“So, Sebastian, I hear you’re going to sign a deal with Carter Industries?” Theo asked.

I put my game face on and answered him. After an hour of torture, I managed to close down the evening and head home.