AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The trip to Paris was heaven, but I was afraid the openness I experienced with Sebastian wouldn’t last. I didn’t want to be a pessimist, so I tried to focus on the change in him and hope that it meant he felt more for me, and that our relationship was more than an affair. The issue about my being his intern would be gone in a couple of weeks when I graduated, so the only issue then would be my father.
I wanted to talk to Sebastian about coming clean about us to my father. While my father would likely be surprised, I also believe he’d be supportive. The age difference couldn’t be a factor as he was seeing someone who was significantly younger than him. It might be strange that his friend is sleeping with me, but he could get over that.
On Monday, when I got to the office, Sebastian wasn’t there. His secretary said he’d be out for the day meeting with his suppliers and manufacturers, and talking with export people about this new deal planned for the French market. A part of me worried that he was avoiding me, but I pushed that aside. On the plane home, he hadn’t shown signs of regret about letting me into his heart a little more.
I headed to the marketing department and started on my next project.
“Hey Hammond. How was Paris?” Niall stood next to the computer station I was working at.
“Very French,” I answered.
“Pretty lucky that you got to go.”
I looked up at him wondering if he suspects the real deal between me and Sebastian. “Oh?”
“It must be nice to have friends in high places.”
I frowned.
“If your dad wasn’t friends with the boss, perhaps one of us, who slave here every day could have gone instead.” His facial features were amicable, but I heard the annoyed tone.
“You wouldn’t have liked it. They eat snails there.”
He squinched up his nose. “Still, must be nice.”
I shrugged. “I wasn’t there for the marketing aspect. He wanted me to learn about the deal making. If he does it again, chances are he’ll take someone from the legal team or distribution department.”
“I knew I was in the wrong side of the business.”
I laughed.
“You okay? You’re looking a little green around the gills?”
“Just jetlag I think.”
“Well, if you need to take off, let me know.” He left me to work, but within another hour, I was feeling worse and asked to take the rest of the day off.
I headed home and went to bed, sleeping the rest of the afternoon.
I woke to a text from Sebastian, telling me he was sorry he hadn’t seen me at work and he hoped I felt better soon. I smiled as I read and re-read that text. He probably would have sent it anyway, but I wanted to think it was a sign that he was coming around. If I was lucky, when I finished school, and was no longer his intern, we’d be able to be open about our relationship.
On Tuesday, I woke still feeling puny in the stomach. I didn’t have a fever so I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I dragged myself to class, but I was so tired and my stomach was so unsettled that it was hard to concentrate. After meeting with my thesis advisor, and checking in with my next professor to tell him I wasn’t feeling well, I headed home and went back to bed.
“Leah?” My father’s voice woke me in the afternoon.
“Yeah dad.” I was buried under a blanket on my couch, not feeling much better than I did earlier in the day.
“I hear you’re under the weather.” He sat on the coffee table and pressed a hand to my forehead.
“Yes. I hope it’s just a 24-hour thing.”
“Too much fun in Paris, maybe.”
I studied his face to see if he had any inkling to the type of fun that I had, but his expression was teasing. “Maybe.”
“Everything alright with your studies?”
I nodded. “I’m on track to finish up in the next two weeks.”
He smiled. “I wish your mother were here. She’d make you feel better. And she’d be so proud of you.”
I held his hand. “Thank you, dad.”
“I’m heading out to see Sebastian. Is there anything you need from your internship?”
“Why?”
He cocked a brow. “So, you don’t fall behind there.”
“No, I mean why are you seeing Sebastian?”
“For one, he’s my friend and two I have a little board business to discuss.” A shadow crossed his face, as if he wasn’t looking forward to talking with Sebastian about board business.
“Is everything okay?”
He patted my arm. “Everything is fine. You rest. Do you need anything? I can have Lois make you some soup.”
I shook my head. “No thank you. I’m just going to sleep it off.”
“I’ll check on you later.”
After he left, I tried to sleep more, but couldn’t. What the heck was wrong with me? I was normally healthy as a horse. I got up to get some water and use the bathroom.
