I lifted up and went back watching my laptop screen.
«I would say no.»
«I understand. I won't try to stop you any longer, it would be useless by the way. But I am going to help you only within certain limits. Just to be clear: I am not getting close to that cursed house anymore», he told me resigning to the idea that I had made my mind and my intention was to go all the way.
I tenderly smiled, he was doing all that for me and I could imagine how much it was costing to him.
Josh was very emotional, he lived everything to the ninth degree and feared the Winterbournes more than everything else. Beliefs that had been instilled in his head as a baby, and that was the result.
«Thanks Josh, I really mean it... thank you», I told him getting up from my seat to give him a hug.
I had just bent over him when the editorial's chief, William Sullivan, a masterful man, despotic and gruff in his ways, broke quickly in our office. He coughed noisily before speaking: he was a chain smoker. Probably he was paying the consequences of that unhealthy vice.
Sullivan was not particularly loved in Hazycreek, he was hated by many, mostly his employees.
«Cross!» he called in full voice with his usual irreverent tone.
Me and Josh snapped to attention. I took a deep breath and I wore the good-obedient-girl mask.
«Tell me, Mr. Sullivan», I answered showing off my best smile.
He peered at me with his stern eyes and rubbed his grizzled beard.
«People need news. Find something about Rose Weather and write one of your articles. We need to ride the wave», he ordered me, again coughing.
«I am working on it. I was right about to exchange a few words with the Weather», I informed him with calm voice.
«Ok. Go on. But don't take too long, Reb», he concluded blatantly just before turning around and leaving our office.
Sophia Sullivan, the chief's wife, came running, wobbling on stilettos.
As her husband, not even she stood out for sympathy, she was considered an inept goose capable only of acting as a secretary to her husband.
She stopped in front of him with shortness of breath and all her unkempt brown hair. She looked at him in a shocked and agitated way while Josh and I stood watching the scene.
What could have happened?
«Sebastian Winterbourne asked for consulting with you», she reported with the breathlessness that came along with her words.
The chill seemed to drop in the ward. There were long seconds of silence.
A Winterbourne in town and without warning?
That for sure was a sensational event.
The fact that Sebastian had shown himself to the editorial office was somewhat strange. the Hazy Daily was owned by the Winterbournes and that may have been the only reason for his visit, however, my distorted mind suggested that was not the only reason.
William Sullivan hesitated caught off guard. He cleared his throat.
«So? Without an appointment?» He said looking unnatural.
Those weren't the right questions; he was stalling as if he had panicked. Sophia nodded.
«He's waiting for you in your office», she concluded in an uncertain and shaky voice.
I grinned under my moustache. I took pleasure in seeing those two troubling.
The Sullivans always put on a lot of airs and addressed others with superiority.
How would they cope with someone they feared too?
The chief editor clenched his fists and grunted something confused. He looked around and clapping his hands shouted:
«Come on, everyone to work! What are you doing standing there?».
The whole department moved after stopping to witness those moments. We returned to our desks leaving Sullivan to his fate.
«I wonder what he came to do», I whispered to Josh as I watched husband and wife disappearing through the elevator door.
«That's not our business», he replied, belittling the whole matter in a moment.
I snorted and gave him a push.
«I want to meet him.»
I could not let that opportunity pass me by.
I had the chance to further my investigation over the Winterbourne family by talking to Sebastian again in a completely casual way. After all, he showed up at the Hazy Daily. I would have simply let myself be found near the boss's office.
«Don't do foolish things, Reb», Josh said pursing his lips.
I looked straight into his eyes. I wouldn't have done anything reckless walking in front of Mr. Sullivan's door at the right time.
«Nothing will happen to me in such a crowdy place and in broad daylight. I'll make it look like a coincidence.»
My best friend sighed, spreading his arms. I hugged him, he wrapped and hugged me as well.
«Thanks, Josh. I promise, I'll be careful», I whispered.
In a while I remembered Hanna's words. I asked myself if I was sending him the wrong messages. If he had different feelings regarding me, maybe I was fooling him. I drove away those harshly thoughts.
I had something else to focus on: Sebastian Winterbourne.
Two endless hours had passed when the deep voice of Winterbournes' heir woke me up.
«Very well, I'd say that with this we are done.»
He had raised the tone of his voice so much that his words sounded clear.
All that time I had been lurking along the management corridor. There was only the stationery, a bathroom and Sullivan's office.
More than once I had tried to eavesdrop their conversation but the words came to me distorted and confused, I could not understand anything.
I took a deep breath and swallowed. I got a stack of A4 paper from the warehouse, tucked it under my arm, and slowly walked to the study door.
«I'll let somebody taking you to the exit.»
«Don't worry.»
«I insist.»
«This way you are offending me Mr. Sullivan. There is no need, I know the way.»
I did not understand the chief's answer, but I found Sebastian's tone rather arrogant.
Those rich people full of themselves!
I thought with disdain, I couldn't stand that kind of people, those who, aware of their wealth, assumed brazen and insolent attitudes towards the others.
I put my annoyance aside just in time to see the haughty Winterbourne heir coming out of the office and closing the door behind him.
He noticed me instantly.
His sinister irises settled on my figure and remained glued to it.
I hesitated for a moment, then, with a firm step, I joined him.
«Rebecca.»
«Sebastian.»
Our eyes remained chained to each other.
I couldn't stop looking at those eyes.
He was staring at me with a cheeky smile, a dimple had appeared on his right cheek decorating that face with rigid features, so perfect that it looked carved in marble.
«And so, we meet again, Rebecca. What a coincidence, isn't it?»
We were side by side, the air was impregnated with Sebastian's scent, I could almost feel it all over me.
«I am a journalist. I work in this place», I boldly answered. I had to keep a low profile, but I wouldn't have ever let him believe that he had me in his grip.
Not me.
«I am aware of your job, Rebecca.»
Rebecca.
My name bounced off his lips like a hypnotic symphony, I liked the sound it was making.
Suddenly something clicked in my head.
«You knew you would have found me here», I murmured with a thin voice.
Sebastian looked at me and gifted a sarcastic smile.
What should I have read on it?
He had a way of expressing himself that I found twisted to say the least, his phrases were riddles to solve and mysteries to unravel.
«Did you find Beck's ?»
The tone of his voice brought me back to consciousness.
Sebastian Winterbourne was able to numb me with just his presence, but charisma, money and a beautiful face would not be enough to fool Reb J. Cross.
I shook my head just closing my eyes, then I returned focusing on Mr. Richness.
«Oh, Beck's. She was waiting me at the car. Luckily, she is an intelligent dog», I slowly replied hoping to appear as natural as possible. I brought the stack to my chest and squeezed it with both hands.
I saw Sebastian grin, he lifted his arm and ran his fingers through his hair, adjusting the shiny black tuft. It reminded me of a crow's feather.
«Very well», he observed looking at the ceiling.
«I wanted to apologize for last night», I said catching back again his attention.
I was pierced by his mysterious eyes, then his mocking smile appeared again. He looked at the corridor that we both should have walked.
«Would you walk me out?» he asked me pointing the way as a gentleman.
It was the perfect occasion for having a chat.
He was a snob with too much self-esteem, aware of the power he wielded and convinced that with money he could have bought everything. People included. This was the idea I had made of him by observing his attitudes and his behaviors. Nonetheless, there was something in him that tickled my stomach, distracting me and sending me into confusion.
«Let's go», I said showing him the way
«You can also leave those papers here. I know you don't need them», he hissed passing by and overcoming me in a few strides.
I was shaken by a tremble of anger. I threw the stack on the ground, weathering the temptation of throwing it at him.
«How insolent!» I muttered to myself as I was picking up my pace to catch up with him again.
«What brings you in town?» I asked right before turning the corner.
The second-floor ward turned to look at us. I could feel everyone's eyes pinching my skin.
But he didn't seem to care at all about what was happening around, perhaps he hadn't even noticed how much the tones had subsided upon our arrival, there was only a background buzz of chatter and gossips.
«Business: you know, this place is mine, Rebecca», he replied haughtily, turning in my direction.
Of course, I do, you boor.
I answered in my mind biting my tongue.
It was only thanks to Winterbournes' money that a small village like Hazycreek could boast the presence of such a renowned and avant-garde, although modestly sized, editorial board.
I looked at him closely, a tingle in my thighs made me flare up.
Why did I think him that way?
What was happening to me?
Concentration and professionalism. He is going to be your article.
I recited in my mind like a mantra.
Sebastian was only a means to my ultimate goal.
«Your presence here is something extremely rare. You don't often show around», I teased him ready to embed any response from him.
Sebastian let out an amused snort.
His presumption made me nervous, but I couldn't look at him without feeling somehow intrigued.
«This is what happens when people fear who is stronger than them», his answer was brief and chilling, I remained silent in an attempt to understand its true meaning.
We reached the elevator; I pressed the door opener and in a short time that metal box welcomed us inside.
«What are you working on?» he went on turning a little in my direction, without realizing I imitated him, we found ourselves face to face and my heart sped up.
«On the Weather case. Sullivan wants an article as soon as possible.»
«Do you think this is my family's doing?»
He got straight to the point without dancing around.
He surprised me; I never expected such frankness.
I was afraid of not being able to handle that situation and I would have had to arm myself with all the will in my possession in order to reach the target without allowing myself any distraction.
Who knows why it was so difficult for me.
Sebastian was disarming. He had an elegant bearing, refined features, a persuasive charisma and lots, lots of charm.
And I felt weak in front of him. His every gesture, every word that was coming out of that perfect mouth, intrigued me, unleashed daring thoughts, uncontrolled emotions.
All this, confused me.
«No, maybe I'm the only one in town who doesn't think so», I replied just as direct.
Suddenly I found myself stuck against the elevator wall.
He forced me to back away without noticing his sudden movement.
He lifted one harm and placed his hand against the metal sheet, he touched my head, imprisoning some of my tufts of hair under his fingers. He observed me with those contrasting eyes of his: one of an angel and one of a demon. He lowered himself on me and put his mouth to my ear. He was towering over me.
«Maybe you are wrong», whispered caressing my neck with his cold breath.
I winced.
Why does he have this effect on me?
He wanted to scare me, why on earth feeding those rumors?
He was playing a part, the one that the dogmas of the past had attributed to the Winterbournes.
He wouldn’t fool me.
I placed my palms against his chest, it seemed so solid and resistant that I had to take a breath of air before being able to push it. He barely raised, but he didn’t move from there.
«Maybe not», I pressed pushing him again.
An acoustic sound announced the doors opening. The entrance hall revealed in front of us.
Sebastian composed himself as if nothing had happened, adjusted his shirt’s collar and took the road to the exit.
I followed him worried about the consequences of this unexpected situation.
«You have always been a rebel, Rebecca», he declared ready to tease me again.
I became suspicious.
«We don’t even know each other.»
«I remember you since you were a baby. We always went to the same schools, and like everyone else, you kept me distant.»
Sharp, cutting words came out of his mouth. Stinging daggers, hitting me in one side.
I almost felt guilty.
Sebastian remembered me and the first memory that came to his mind was the worst. I too had contributed to his marginalization from Hazycreek's life.
Not that he was looking for someone's company, in fact he had that slightly snobbish attitude since he was a child. He always looked bored and absent, as if nothing stimulated his attention and didn't deem anyone worthy of even a glance.
However, since I was a child, I had always observed him in secret. I found him interesting and his eyes intrigued me.
The thing that baffled me the most, however, was the fact that he really remembered me. We weren't even the same age. He knew I was a reporter for Hazy Daily, and that I didn't have a dog.
I wondered if he studied everyone so scrupulously.
We went outside.
A luxurious black car was parked a stone's throw from the front door.
«You always seemed so disinterested», I stated controlling my voice.
He rummaged in his trouser pockets and pulled out an electronic key.
«And you had anarchist blood. You loved swimming against the tide and I am glad to discover you haven't changed that much.»
The car's headlights came on and I moved my attention to the vehicle. It had tinted windows.
We had never spoken to each other before the previous night, never a nod, an exchange of words, perhaps a few glances but nothing more. Sebastian, however, knew me thoroughly, but I did not know anything about him.
A sense of uneasiness drained my throat stopping my salivation.
«See you soon, Rebecca», he exclaimed opening the door of his car.
«Maybe», I objected lifting an eyebrow.
He approached quickly, with one hand he caressed the side of my face, bringing a lock of hair behind my ear.
«I say yes», he answered in a deep whisper.
His fingers slipped down my neck, causing goosebumps where his touch brushed me.
I couldn't answer, I was petrified looking at him with my thoughts a bit clouded.
Sebastian smiled as he retraced his steps, he got into the car and, getting into gear, drove away.
My brain clouded over. I couldn't think objectively no more.
«That was Sebastian Winterbourne, isn't it?»
Hanna's voice turned into a shattered stained-glass window in my ears. It was like waking up from an advanced catatonic state.
«Oh, Hanna.»
«That was Sebastian, right?» she pressed me with her face tense in a grimace of concern. She was taking Beck's for a walk.