The Forgotten Valentine - Chapter 4

Sebastian

The following day I had a bouquet of Elena’s favourite flowers delivered to her office along with her favourite delicacies. I apologised for not being able to join her that evening for a Valentine’s Day dinner.

In return, she sent me a timepiece with the same apology.

I had felt incredibly uneasy since Elijah’s visit yesterday. His words hit home and made me wonder just who exactly I am working myself to the bone for.

Granted, I am doing this for my family, but who says they will all still love me when my workload starts to lessen? So, I asked my PA to begin compiling the resumes of suitable candidates to stand beside me as my COO.

I just have to face tonight, and then I will be free to spend my time with my family again.

I hope after this Elena will still feel the same about me, surely our love wouldn’t crack under this little pressure, right?

Shaking my head, I dive into what leftover work I had yesterday, and it puts my mind at ease that after today I won’t be staring at these walls for the next three weeks.

---

Elena

Blimey, what the heck is wrong with me?! I can’t do anything but stare at the beautiful bouquet of flowers on my desk. Sebastian remembered Valentine’s Day, whereas I forgot like the idiot I am.

This can’t go on any longer; I need to put my husband first after today. I can’t keep on throwing myself into work like this and expect him to wait for me patiently.

Something needs to be done, and after this evening, I’ll make sure to show my husband just how much I still love him.

The day seems to go by quickly, and by half-past six, I am ready to head out to my meeting with a woman who could shoot my literary house to the next level. I must admit that it feels daunting to be here, knowing how much power this woman holds.

The concierge at the hotel seems to know who I am and who I am to meet here because he leads me straight to the restaurant. But something feels off…

It's Valentine’s Day, and the place is empty, save for one seat in the middle.

It’s obscured by a diamante curtain, similar to the Lumiere - certainly, that woman wouldn’t have gone out of her way like this. When I step through the curtain, my eyes widen when I see a table set up for two with red wine and dinner already set.

Oh, my gosh, is she perhaps a lesbian? Does she have a crush on me and is using this as a smokescreen?!

Suddenly feeling an itch in my neck, I turn around to get the heck out of there, only to run smack bang into a chest.

A very familiar chest.

A very, very familiar Tom Ford smelling chest.

“Sebastian?!” I ask incredulously, looking up into my husband’s equally confused face. Man, I forgot how dashing he looks in a tailored suit.

He frowns. “Elena, what…? What are you doing here?”

“I can bloody well ask you the same thing!” I exclaim, taking a step back. “I’m supposed to be meeting with the CEO from SLH!”

Sebastian’s frown gets even deeper, and then he looks behind me and spots the single table in the middle. “I’m supposed to be meeting with CEOs from Tokyo,” he murmurs, then walks over to the table.

“Wait-!” I cry out, but then he picks something up from the table - a tablet with a video paused?

“What is this?” He asks as I come to a stop next to him, then I reach over and press play.

At first, a bunch of cartoon hearts float by, then “Happy Valentine’s Day” comes into view… along with the naughty faces of my brother Isaac and Elijah Somersett!

“What in the world….”

“Hey, tarts, I am sure you are both standing there looking as confused as an average bloke who mistakenly walked into a gay bar, but rest assured, nothing is out of the ordinary,” Isaac says, the grin on his face growing even more prominent.

“What Isaac is trying to say is that he and I have planned this little get together for the two of you a month in advance already. We had a feeling you would be so wrapped up in work that you would have forgotten about the day you both love.”

I look at Sebastian as Elijah says this and he gives me a coy smile. “You forgot as well?” he asks with a cheeky smile and I chuckle.

“I did, yes,” I say, shaking my head but then something occurs to me. “Wait, what about-”

“Now I am sure you’re wondering what happened to your most important meetings. Rest assured, they have been moved over to tomorrow, in advance, I might add by your lovely PA's who were in on this plan, to give you a chance to spend this evening together.” Isaac says, then leans his chin on Elijah’s shoulder.

Elijah winks and scoffs. “Now, forget about your bloody work and start focusing on your marriage. Who else am I going to hold a candle to with my own relationship? Get on with it, start loving and appreciating one another again and for god sake, don’t let your love of work come in between your marriage again!”

“I think what Elijah is trying to say is enjoy the evening and Happy Valentine’s Day!” Isaac says, then pops a wink before the screen went black.

Sebastian scoffs, then puts the tablet back before turning to me.

“You look beautiful as always, petite pâquerette,” he says as a gentle look slips into his eyes. He then reaches out and wraps his arms around me, and I can’t help but sink into his embrace.

“I’ve missed you so much,” I murmur, tears suddenly slipping down my cheeks when I hear him calling me that old endearment. “How did we get to the point where our family has to be underhanded just so we can spend some time together?”

I feel him stiffen, but then he lets out a long sigh. “I’ve missed you as well, Elena, so bloody much that I am not even sure how I’ve been functioning this entire time. But I promise you now,” he says, then grips my shoulders and looks into my eyes.

“I will never push you or our children to the side again. That stops today. You are my treasure and so much more important than any business meeting.”

I nod, wiping the tears from my cheeks; thank God for waterproof mascara. “I promise as well.”

Sebastian leans into me and then kisses my forehead. “I forgot how it felt like home being in your arms. I love you so much.” He says, embracing me once more.

“I love you too!”

We stood there for a few minutes before making our way to our table. “Let’s get on with this, then shall we?” He says, pulling out my chair for me to sit in.

That evening we spoke about everything under the sun, everything we’ve been missing about one another and what has been happening in our business lives. We spoke about the children and how they’ve grown up to be perfect little things with their own little personalities.

After this, Sebastian booked us into one of his hotels and we made love until my voice became hoarse from screaming, then fell asleep holding one another.

Of course, the next morning we did our usual ritual of washing one another under a hot shower, before making love once more.

I can’t believe how we both were so blindsided with work that we let our marriage and little family fall to the wayside. Well, it ends here; I will no longer put anything in front of my family ever again. No matter how important it might be to my working life.

I won’t allow my little family to become the second choice in my life; no one deserves to feel like they’re not important to the one they love.

Of course, it's thanks to Isaac and Elijah poking their nose into our personal lives, that Sebastian and I see clearly now. I must remember to thank those two tarts (not to mention our lovely PAs!) properly later on.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!