convinced would hold . he didn’t look away from her this time . if anything , he looked more alert than before , like he was bracing for whatever came next , even if part of him wasn’t sure he actually wanted her to leave .
he went quiet for a moment , properly quiet this time , the kind that meant he’d run out of clean responses and didn’t trust the next ones not to make things worse . then he stood .
slowly. deliberately. the chair scraped softly against the floor as he stepped around his desk , —
laughing ,
“ ok , fine i’m not sorry . “
eyes focus on his , darkening .
“ you’re right—- i know exactly what i’m doing . “ she rolls her eyes . “ figured guys like you wanted to be some hero . but since i was wrong … “ vilah’s mouth twisted to a smug smile . +
posture controlled in a way that didn’t quite match the tension in his expression . " get out , " he said . the words landed sharp , but not loud . and even as he said them , there was something uncertain underneath it , like he was setting a boundary he wasn’t entirely —
the armrest of his chair before stopping himself . " you came in here saying you wanted to apologize , " he continued , eyes narrowing slightly as they returned to her . " but you’ve spent the last minute testing boundaries instead . "
" i think you’re trying to get a reaction out of me , " he said flatly , though the edge in his voice had dulled into something more measured . " and i don’t think you’re confused about what you’re doing while you do it . "
he leaned back again , fingers tapping once against —
he let out a short , disbelieving laugh , more air than sound , like his brain needed a second just to reject the direction this had taken . " don't put words in my mouth , this isn't going your way . "
“ that’s not an answer . “
brown eyes zero in on him , squinting . she leans back against the door casually . mischievous little smile .
“ i know i’m fuckable . you could just agree , if you’re oh so scared . “
throat , leaning forward a little as if posture alone could fix the situation . " you can’t just—- " another pause , his gaze briefly dropping to the desk before snapping back up to her . he exhaled sharply through his nose .
" that’s not a question you should be asking me . "
sebastian went still for a second , like her words had physically interrupted his thoughts . that was … not where he expected this conversation to go . his mouth opened , then closed again . " i—- " he started , immediately hating how unsteady it sounded . he cleared his —
“ because i respect you … and if a man like you doesn’t find me desirable … who will ? “ she shrugs , glued to the door . “ i mean . do you find me desirable ?—- excuse me —- fuckable ? “
sebastian stared at her for a long moment , utterly unconvinced by the innocence she was trying to sell . the pout . the carefully lowered gaze . the tiny note of insecurity in her voice . he knew exactly what she was doing . another sigh escaped him .
" seriously ? " he —
she plays coy , acting innocent . timing the right moments to look away . feigning insecurity . “ it’s hard to forget . i mean you saw my body . and . you threatened to block me . am i ugly ? “ she pouted
muttered , pinching the bridge of his nose . his chair creaked as he leaned back , fixing her with a tired look . " no , you're not ugly . " the answer came far too quickly for him to have considered it .
realizing that , he grimaced , quickly trying to change the topic . —