"My thirtieth birthday is in two weeks." He explained slowly, "At that point, I will lose all that I have worked so hard for."
"Why?" I challenged, waiting for his story to fall apart. Still, nothing added up.
"My father's company has been in our family for generations. The bylaws are antiquated, outdated, and frankly, very silly." Sebastian shrugged.
"And?" I pushed, crossing my arms in front of me, blocking him off.
"At thirty, if unwed, it shows a lack of responsibility, a lack of willing to shoulder true burden." He continued, eyes flitting away, "Though I rather think it shows a focus on what is important..."
"And what is important?" I spat, still all riled up though I had no true reason to be.
"I already told you, my work is important. My family has built up this business for generations and I have devoted my life to it. That is what is important to me. I haven’t had time to trounce about taking a wife or making children. I haven't had time to get married." His voice heated up with anger, eyes all too serious.
Quietly, I shook my head, sinking back down into the seat.
The now cold cup of coffee gazed up at me, reflecting my forlorn and confused face.
"Is this real?" I whispered, unable to look at the man beside me who I would soon call my fiancée. If I were to accept this crazy deal, that is.
"It is." He whispered back, reaching over once more to take my hand, "If only I could be so lucky as to have you at my side."
Uncomfortably, I tugged my hand back, "You don't need act like that." I muttered, fighting hard against the blush that crept up my neck, "I know you don't mean it. You don't even know my last name."
"Brooks." Sebastian said without hesitation.
I blinked, startled, suddenly worried I was in the presence of a stalker. Was this all a ploy to lure me back to some dungeon like in a scary crime drama?
He cleared his throat uncomfortably, "I ran a background check."
"So you get to stalk up on me and I don't get to do the same to you?" I frowned at him, crossing my arms, "That doesn’t seem fair."
"Feel free to hire a private investigator." He replied calmly with a shrug, "But I promise I'm clean as a whistle. I live with my nose to the grindstone, nothing extraneous there."
"I can't afford to hire a PI." I replied honestly, still frowning.
"You find one, I'll pay for it." He continued.
"And pay him off so I won't find out all about your mafia connections..." I mumbled under my breath.
When I finally looked back at the billionaire, he was almost smiling. It seemed to me that was as close as he ever got. Had he smiled once since childhood? Or had it only been when he sank his teeth into one of my mother's cookies?
"I am sorry to spring this on you." He said gently, "But I swear to take 'no' for an answer. I'm not here to force you into anything. I would ask you to keep in mind how much I have helped you, however, and how much more help I could offer."
"You’ve done so much for my parents’ bakery already." I sighed, knowing already what my answer would have to be. My mother and father had taught me to pay back debts, after all, and take nothing for free.
"Even though this is a bit out of the ordinary, I can promise you that I will do all I can to make this place thrive again. Marketing, advertising, you will have it all if you become my bride. You'll have access to more money than you could imagine."
"I don't want money." I sighed, rubbing my hand against my forehead.
I'd been only hours away from losing my home and my business, yet why did my life feel so much more complicated now that those matters were settled?
"That doesn't surprise me." Sebastian said softly, "That's part of the reason I chose you."
"And the other part was what?" I asked, "Desperation?"
He smirked, hands folding once more, "A bit."
I took a sip of the coffee, not minding at all that it was cold as ice now. I could barely taste it.
I stared up at the ceiling, then slowly let my gaze wander over the aisles of the bakery.
It wouldn't be long now until those aisles and cases were full once more. Could this place truly be turned back into a bustling little sweet spot?
If anyone could help me with that, it was sexy billionaire Sebastian Davis.
"Well then." I said, helplessly.
There was nothing else to do. I could have always just taken the man's money and run, but I just couldn't do that to him. For whatever reason, I felt an obligation to return the favor and show my gratitude. If it weren’t for him, I would be out on the streets at this very moment.
He'd helped me, now it was my turn to help him, as strange as his request may be.