Chapter 3 A SPARK IN THE COLD

The boardroom was quiet as Sebastian walked in, his presence commanding attention with every step. He was the epitome of power-his tailored suit, his sharp jawline, and the cold, calculating look in his eyes made it clear that he was a man who could not be swayed. The meeting with his board members had been scheduled weeks ago, and while his mind was still preoccupied with the events of the previous evening, there was no room for distraction now.

"Mr. Hale, the figures are clear," one of the executives said, adjusting his glasses. "The merger with Voss Enterprises will be a game-changer. But we still need to address some of the finer points."

Sebastian nodded curtly, his eyes scanning the room, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Scarlett. Her eyes. That damn smile. Even now, hours after she had left his office, he could still feel the magnetic pull she had on him. She had come in, asked a simple question, and yet-something had shifted in him. Something he hadn't expected.

"No need for further discussion," Sebastian said, cutting off the murmurs around the table. "Move forward with the deal. I'll sign the necessary papers."

The room fell silent, the board members exchanging glances, clearly puzzled by his abrupt decision. They had expected more scrutiny from him, more questions, but Sebastian had made up his mind. He wasn't interested in the details. Voss Enterprises would be crushed, just like the rest. No one could challenge him.

But inside, his thoughts were still tangled with Scarlett's face, her defiant gaze, and the way she made him feel vulnerable in a way no one ever had. How had she managed to breach the walls he'd so carefully built?

He stood, collecting his things with the same deliberate calmness that had earned him his reputation. "You'll have my signature by the end of the day," he said before leaving the room without another word.

The hallway outside the boardroom was cold and sterile, much like his life. He had everything he could ever want-wealth, power, respect-but it felt empty. He had been alone for so long that the quiet had become deafening. Now, after just one encounter with Scarlett, it was as if the silence had been broken.

Sebastian was halfway to his office when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen. It was a message from Damien.

"I need to talk. Come by later."

He hesitated for a moment, then typed back a response.

"I'll be there."

But even as he typed the words, he felt a gnawing uncertainty inside him. He wasn't sure what Damien wanted to discuss, but for the first time in a long time, Sebastian didn't feel like his business was the only thing that mattered. His mind was still on Scarlett.

---

Later that night, as Sebastian entered the dimly lit bar where he had arranged to meet Damien, he felt an unexpected sense of apprehension. His best friend was seated at a corner table, his usual confident demeanor replacing the familiar casualness. Damien looked up as Sebastian approached, his expression unreadable.

"You've been quiet lately," Damien observed, raising an eyebrow. "What's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Sebastian took the seat across from him, the familiar weight of his emotions threatening to overwhelm him. He tried to push it down, but Damien knew him too well.

"I'm fine," Sebastian said, his voice tight. "Just... dealing with some things."

Damien studied him for a moment, clearly unconvinced, before leaning forward.

"If this is about that woman you met, I suggest you do yourself a favor and walk away," Damien said bluntly. "You're not the type to get involved with someone who could change everything."

Sebastian froze, the mention of Scarlett sending a ripple of unease through him. He didn't want to admit it, but Damien was right. She was a complication-something he couldn't afford.

"Don't tell me how to live my life, Damien," Sebastian snapped, his voice a low growl. "I know what I'm doing."

Damien let out a sigh, clearly not buying it. "You're not the man you used to be. You're becoming someone else. And I'm telling you, this-her-whatever it is, it's not worth it."

The words stung more than Sebastian cared to admit, but he couldn't deny the truth in them. He had worked so hard to build his empire, to create a life where no one could touch him, and now, Scarlett had somehow gotten under his skin.

He clenched his jaw, standing up abruptly. "I don't need your advice, Damien."

Before Damien could respond, Sebastian turned and left the bar, the weight of his unresolved emotions threatening to swallow him whole. As he stepped out into the cold night air, he realized that his thoughts weren't on the deal he had just signed or his empire. They were on a woman who, in the span of a single conversation, had turned his world upside down.

And for the first time in years, he was afraid.