Sebastian stared at the door for a few minutes once he heard the click signaling that it had been tightly shut. If he was being honest, Andin's resignation had shocked him. Through and through. He had never thought that she would quit her job.

"Damn," he hissed under his breath so that the one person who just had shaken his world on the other side of the room would not hear a thing. He had tried his best to remain cool and calm in conveying his response earlier because the last thing he wanted was for Andin to realize how important her role actually was. If she knew how scared he was to lose her, she would be inclined to overvalue herself.

He blinked as a thought came to her. Perhaps she wanted to quit because the money was not enough. Maybe the reason why she had handed in her resignation was that she wanted to ask him for a promotion. This thought only lasted for a few minutes before he realized that this was wrong. Andin had the highest salary any secretary could have. Sebastian had just made a quick phone call to his eldest brother, Thornton, and Andin's salary was almost twice of his brother's secretary's. Money definitely was not the reason. She would not be able to find another company that would pay higher than how much Sebastian had been paying her.

Then it must be something else. For the next hour, albeit he had the contract in one hand and his pen in his other hand, he could not think of anything but the reason behind Andin Williams's resignation. He must know. He simply must. If he were about to lose his precious secretary, he had to know.

His telephone rang and he picked up the receiver.

"London Star is calling for you on line one, Sir," said the source of his headache.

"Thank you, Miss Williams." He pressed the button to take the call. "London," he greeted.

"If you must know, dear Sebastian, I am currently not wearing anything on my person," London said in a seductive tone. "So tell me, how far away are you from Suite Lacoste on the thirtieth floor?"

"Quite far considering I'm still in my office," he answered matter of factly then added, "but not for long."

* * * * * * *

As Sebastian was sitting at the restaurant on the ground floor of the five stars hotel — one of the famous hotels in Washington D.C. albeit not the one owned by his brother Declan, he failed to find the reason as to why on Earth he had decided to meet London here and not in the Lacoste Suite that he had already booked beforehand. He lifted the cup from its saucer and took a sip. The bitterness of the coffee awoke his senses yet it still could not help him settle his matter.

The invitation was there and all he had to do was go upstairs and finally satiate his hunger, yet he simply lost the will to do that. This was getting ridiculous, he told himself, shaking his head. London Star was one of the most beautiful women in the entire Washington D.C. and perhaps even in the United States and yet his attraction towards her had been dulled by his intolerable obsession with his little secretary, Miss Andin Williams. Perhaps he had lost his mind. Perhaps that was the only reason that could explain his illogical state of being.

Whichever it was, he still needed to face the angry woman who was currently walking towards the table he was occupying. "Seriously?" said London once she sat her arse down on the seat across the table in front of him. "What's wrong? You're not acting like yourself. You've been that way since last week." When he did not say anything, she sighed loudly. "You need to tell me, Sebastian."

The waiter came and took the wrong time to ask if London needed anything. She was about to yell when she realized where they were and how it would damage her public image. "Could you please be a dear and bring me a glass of red wine?"

"Do you have any particular brand or preference, Ma'am?" the waiter asked.

Again, London swallowed her annoyance in the face of the public. "A Merlot or Pinot would do." Once the waiter had left, London shifted her attention back to him. "Tell me what is wrong. I would prefer it if you tell me than pretend nothing is up. At least if I know, we can decide to either work it out or end things."

Hearing her say that gave him some sort of assurance. He was half expecting her to cause chaos or be all dramatic about it. He should know better that they were both adults. "I think this relationship has run out of its course."

"I guessed as much." London shook her head, smiling. If she was being honest with herself, she had known this for a few days now, especially since his birthday party. He had become distant and their sex life resembled a deflated balloon. They had barely even had a proper kiss. "So who is it?"

Sebastian lifted his brows, saying nothing. He found himself rather amused with how calm she was acting and how true and on point her guess was. Perhaps it had been obvious that he was not interested in her any longer.

"You could at least tell me who you will date after this. Who's replacing me?"

He wasn't the type to beat around the bush, yet he had to think twice before finally replying to her. "What makes you think there is someone else?" he asked curiously.

London tossed her hair to one side then put her elbow on the table. She rested her chin on her palm as a dangerous smile formed on her luscious red lips. "For one, I'm not a fool." She shrugged nonchalantly. "I could easily tell. I knew what I was getting myself into and although I initially thought that we were going to last for at least two more months; it became crystal clear to me when you started avoiding me and seemed reluctant to even kiss me."

"You are a beautiful woman, London."

"Oh, I know. Don't worry." The gorgeous actress, who had first started as a model when she first debuted in the entertainment industry, flicked her hand with the kind of sass which was only owned by people who were aware of how good they looked and were confident about it. "So, back to the point. Who is it? Is it Erica?"

"Erica?" Sebastian was not sure what had made London think that he was interested in Erica. Moreover, he was not sure who this Erica was.

"Erica Jennings. You know, my friend that I introduced to you about a month ago at New York Fashion Week after-party." The waiter came back with her wine and she thanked him.

In truth, he had forgotten who Erica was and what she even looked like. Still, he found it easier to simply remain quiet than to argue. The matter was settled anyway. Their relationship had come to an end.

"No, it can not be Erica. She's too wrapped up in that love triangle with the Italian cameraman and French model." London leaned forward, her eyes inquired. "Is it someone in the music industry?"

"Can you please drop it?"

"No." London smiled, she was clearly enjoying this.

"I must get back to the office." Sebastian finished off his cup of Joe and signaled the waiter. When the waiter came, he asked for the bill and gave him his MasterCard.

London narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "It can't be someone from the office, can it?"

"Why the hell not?" He was not sure why he felt offended but seeing the shocked look on London's face, he was compelled to give reasoning to his outburst. "All women in my company are decent looking. No one looks hideous."

"Maybe," London gave a mocking smile then took a sip of her wine. "Is it your secretary?"

He stared at her and knew if he didn't give her an answer, she would keep on going at him. "Yes," he finally admitted.

London looked even appalled that her guess was right. She had merely guessed that because many men fall for their secretaries. That was how office affairs started. "Wait, so you really do like your secretary?"

"Yes." Sebastian saw no point in denying it.

She shook her head, eyes wide. "I never would have guessed that."

"Why?"

"She is..." She shrugged as she struggled for the right words. "Ordinary, I guess."

Ordinary? Andin? With her gorgeous hair and deep hazel eyes and sassy pink mouth. She was not ordinary, but he supposed he had thought that, too, on more than one occasion. But there were those other occasions. Those times when he couldn't take his eyes off her. Didn't want to take his eyes off her. Like during his birthday party last week when they were on the dance floor and her body melted to his when they were in his bedroom. Those rare occasions when she did not blow hot and cold. When she was hot and hotter.

"But I suppose it does make a sliver of sense judging by how you were looking at her during the dance at your birthday party on Friday." London pouted. She still looked like she was in disbelief that she, the gorgeous actress, was beaten by a mere secretary.

"What do you mean?"

"You looked at her like you could not wait to tear her clothes away and have sex with her."

She wasn't entirely wrong. He had been having a rock-hard erection at that moment. Yet her next words shocked him.

"And there's something more." She frowned, her eyebrows joined in the middle of her forehead. "The way you look at her is like she is the only person in the room that matters." Pouting her plump lips, she threw him a dagger. "You never look at me like that."

He did not bother to reply and when the waiter came back with his card, he simply stored it back in his wallet. He was not paying much attention because, at that moment, he made a solemn pact with himself. No matter what it would take, he was going to make Andin Williams fall for him.

He wished there was someone he could talk seriously to about this, but all of his friends were not the type of people he would sit down with to have conversations about romance unless it involved one-night stands, and his family could get the wrong impression. With their father passing away, his mother always wanted their children to get married and settle down. It was as if she had made it her life mission to see it through. Two of his brothers were already married and Sebastian knew if he showed as much as a slight indication of having this conversation about romancing Miss Andin Williams, his mother would want him to make it to the aisle.

Still, maybe Thornton or Declan could help him figure out just what was going on in his head regarding Andin. He should give them a call. Perhaps Declan was a safer bet since he was in China which evidently is thousands of miles away from here. He could not possibly tell Mom about it should Sebastian decide to confide in him.

One thing for a fact was that he would not confide in the woman sitting in front of him. Sebastian collected his things and stood up. "Goodbye, London."

Then he left without looking back.