Chapter 2 On Sebastian’s Terms

“You’re getting married, or you are out of the company,” an old man, no older than seventy-five, threatened his grandson as he took a sip of his tea. His relaxed position opposing his poisonous words greatly irritated his young relative.

Sebastian smacked the table with both his palms hard, causing the dishes and utensils to shake and clatter. “You’re going to just kick me out that easy? But I was the one who did the impossible and merged Eden into our company.” He gripped the fabric by his chest. “I am the CEO of Elysian!”

Unmoved by his roughness, Edmond Adams continued with his drink and calmly replied, “And I’m the chairman of the board of directors. So whatever I say goes.”

Sebastian knew his grandfather’s stubbornness was through the roof, but to insist on controlling his personal life was a different matter. “What is this obsession with my marriage?”

For a moment, he saw a gloomy expression flash on Edmond’s face. “I’m getting older by the minute and seeing you have no life outside this business is my greatest concern as of the moment.” If he didn’t force Sebastian to take at least a few days of vacation or spend some time with him, Edmond was sure he’d have lost him too. He knew the consequence of losing yourself in your work since he saw it in Sebastian’s father.

After losing his own company and then falling into bankruptcy, his father wasn’t able to take on the pressure. Having no one to share his grief with from Sebastian’s mother dying in childbirth, he decided to hang himself in their attic. This left Edmond to be Sebastian’s only relative left at the young age of eleven. He watched his grandson grow to be a cold and emotionless man, despite his best efforts. Maybe a woman in his life would change that.

Surprised at his grandfather’s honest worry, Sebastian quietly said, “That’s not an excuse.” He realized his only family just wanted someone to take care of him, but it was his life. Marriage or even going into a relationship should be by his own choice.

“It is if I want it to be,” Edmond’s determined resolve insisted.

“But you can’t force me to do this!” Sebastian’s frustration was reaching its boiling point. Not even his dear old Grandpa was allowed to dictate his actions.

“Then you are out of the company. You won’t be welcome in the office any longer.” Their heated discussion began to throw off the peace in their manor’s garden. Sebastian realized he wasn’t going to win this argument. “You can’t be serious.”

Edmond could only exhale deeply. “It has been more than five years since SHE left.” Sebastian’s head whipped toward his grandfather’s direction. No one has mentioned her in a long time. And he didn’t know why his heart still clenched even without her name being brought up.

“People move on, grandpa. It’s time you stop broaching that topic,” Sebastian said with gritted teeth. “Have you? Moved on that is.”

“Yes, a long time ago.” Maybe if he kept telling himself he has indeed moved on, it would happen.

“So it won’t be a problem then.” Edmond brought out envelopes with the different logos of high institutions. “I’ve already received quite a few proposals from other companies. Everyone in this country wants to match you up with their daughters. Even some sons, whichever you prefer.” He showed Sebastian the said papers and beckoned him to choose.

The gears in the CEO’s brain began to move. There has to be a way to stop this old man’s foolishness. If he wanted him to get married, he could. But it would be on Sebastian’s terms. Having thought of a quick solution, he pushed the envelopes back. “I didn’t want to say anything because it could cause an uproar. I can’t marry any of these people, Grandpa.”

“And why is that?” Edmond looked back and forth between his grandson and his assistant, Robert Simon.

He could already imagine it. A lovely wife by his side for the public to see. But behind closed doors, a stranger who he didn’t have to bother with. He just needed to make a win-win situation for both of them. And his grandfather will never trouble him about it again, then he could focus on the company. “It’s a fairly new relationship, but I already asked her to be my wife.”

Both Robert and Edmond spoke at the same time.

“Sir?”

“What?”

Sebastian faced his assistant and made a face as if saying, “Just go along with it.” He patted Robert’s shoulder and said, “It’s fine, Robert. Maybe it is time to tell the world.” His brain started racking for any woman’s name to give as an excuse.

“Who is it?” His grandfather asked.

Shit, who should it be? He knew that he can’t invent a random name because Edmond would be able to sniff the bullshit out right away. His Grandpa was a bloodhound when it came to lies. Sebastian’s sweat dripped from his temples before he was able to blurt out a name, “Andrea Scout.”

He saw Robert cringe from his peripheral vision while his grandpa’s face was unreadable. “Andrea Scout, THE actress.”

“Yes.” All he needed was someone to act as his wife, so an actress would be a good fit. Why Andrea Scout of all people? He wasn’t sure, her image just popped into his head at the last minute.

“Miss Andrea Scout, my favorite actress.” Sebastian wanted to punch himself. Of course, how could he forget? Edmond always mentioned her whenever he had the chance. She was, in his grandpa’s eyes, the most beautiful and ideal artist, even with some controversies she was involved with.

Maybe that’s what gave him the idea. He did recall his grandpa saying something,  along the lines of, “I wish someone like Andrea Scout was my granddaughter-in-law.” Has the chairman been trying to influence his choice of women right from the start?

“I don’t believe you. I’m going to ask her myself.” Edmond signaled for his butler to hand him his phone. Andrea was under Eden Artists Agency. So when the merge happened, she was also taken in under by the Elysian company, much to the chairman’s delight. So that made it easy to track her through just one phone call.

“Uh, Grandpa, wait.” Sebastian’s panicked eyes met with Robert’s. The assistant quickly brought out his tablet to see Andrea’s information and schedule. “Why should I wait? And why do you look so distressed?”

“Chairman, I’m sorry to interrupt.” Robert stepped in closer to show the device. “Miss Scout is currently filming on one of our sets and after that, she has an interview.” Sebastian internally cheered at the information and his assistant’s speed.

“Oh yes, she has that new stalker movie. Then fine, but I’ll definitely meet with her as soon as possible,” his stern voice let Sebastian know that if he was caught bluffing, there would be a harsher punishment.

Robert’s chuckle filled the car as they quickly drove off to Andrea’s location after that meeting with the chairman. “What are we going to do about Miss Scout?”

Sebastian’s head ached at the problem he created. He closed his eyes and massaged his temples. “Find out everything you can about her, now. I’ll have to talk to her before Grandpa gets to her.” Hopefully, they don’t find anything too complicated about her. He wasn’t sure why, but she seemed to have a lot of haters.

Sebastian remembered his grandpa’s face before they left. He had the most genuine smile he had seen in a long time.

“Sir? You may have made a mistake choosing her.” Robert passed the device with the screen showing Andrea’s accounts and private information. Bright red numbers got his attention. “She’s fifty million in debt. Plus, she spends most of her earnings in a hospital. We’re still looking at why that is.”

It was Sebastian’s turn to smile. “Robert, that is not a mistake. That is leverage I can use to make her agree to this marriage contract.”

>>>

Ren paced back and forth in the Elysian building. “What’s taking them so long?” If they in fact discovered Andy’s debt, then both of them should be in that office. The assistant’s heart was racing with anxiety thinking of what they were doing to her friend in that room. “That woman’s been through so much shit,” she mumbled under her breath while rolling her sleeves as if getting ready for a fight. “If they so much as touch her.”

But before she could charge into the CEO’s office, a stunned Andy came out to the lobby. Ren ran up to her and quickly held her hands. “Hey, are you okay? What happened there?” It took only a second for her to notice an expensive-looking ring on Andy’s finger. “Andy, this wasn’t here before.”

“The CEO gave it to me,” Andy finally snapped out of her stupor, to which Ren scoffed. “Why? Is he going to marry you?” The funny thought made her laugh. Knowing her past, Ren was familiar with her friend’s belief that love and marriage were not real. Therefore, they were the last things on Andrea’s list of desires.

A shadow from behind Andy emerged. “Yes, I am,” it answered for her.

The lobby came to a standstill as Ren craned her neck up to the person who had just spoken. “Ren, Mister Adams and I-”

“Sebastian.”

“Yes, sorry. Sebastian and I are getting married,” Andy said faintly like she was ashamed of what she just uttered. Her head bowed in surrender.

Confusion circled Ren while she observed the new couple. Then it all clicked. There had been rumors for a long time now about the chairman wanting his grandson to get married. That and Andy’s expression could only mean one thing. “So they really knew about your debt.”

The three people’s eyes widened in shock at how quickly she was able to make that connection. Sebastian then pulled Andy’s hands from her. His large but slender fingers covered her dainty ones. “I apologize for the sudden news. But you’ll be extremely busy in the next few months.”

Ren raised her eyebrow at his possessiveness. For such a sudden relationship, he sure was being overprotective. She observed how comfortable he looked beside her like they’d truly been together for some time.

Robert spoke up from behind, “They are getting married in two months. Sir Adams wanted to do it right away but Miss Scout wanted to finish shooting her movie first.”

“And it looks like we don’t have to announce anything.” The four of them looked around. A crowd began to form and take pictures of the two holding hands. Never in the public’s minds could they imagine the CEO openly being affectionate to a woman.

“Sorry, but I had to say yes, Ren.” Andy put on her practiced beam on her lips, one that she used when having to act like she was happy.

Meanwhile, in the Adams mansion, Edmond turned his television on. “Elysian CEO Sebastian Adams seen holding hands with actress Andrea Scout. Some people are commenting on the shiny jewelry on her hand. Are we hearing wedding bells soon?” The news anchor giddily said while pictures of the two were plastered on the screen.

Andrea had her usual bright smile while Sebastian held his stoic manner. They looked as if a gleaming ray of sunlight was trying to thaw an iceberg.

Edmond gave out a contented sigh. “That boy beat me to it. I was about to announce it anyway so he didn’t have a chance to run away from it,” the grandfather grumbled to his butler. “Let’s just hope he really has moved on from Lilith.”