STAY FOR THE NIGHT

"I'm afraid it's too late to take you home. You'll have to stay here until tomorrow," Sebastian declared, his expression unreadable, leaving Charlotte wondering if his concern was genuine or not.

"I'll take the guest room. You can stay here," he continued, shrugging on a shirt.

Charlotte remained frozen, uncertain how to respond. Could she trust Sebastian enough to spend the night?

She then rationalized that if he had ulterior motives, he would have acted while she was unconscious.

To clarify her boundaries, she stated firmly, "Just to remind you what I said back at that lovely restaurant, I'm not going to sleep with you."

Sebastian chuckled softly, his eyes winking. "You see me putting on a shirt, don't you?"

He gestured invitingly. "Come, let's grab a midnight snack if you're hungry."

Charlotte wished she could decline but her rumbling stomach betrayed her resolve, overriding her desire to decline. Perhaps due to the fact that she haven't eaten a decent meal all day,

"Could you please make me some noodles?" she asked, her eyes pleading.

Sebastian's face lit up with a warm smile. "Of course!" he exclaimed, seemingly surprised she accepted his offer.

****

As he prepared the noodles, Charlotte observed from the kitchen counter.

Stirring the pot, Sebastian turned to her with a playful grin. "Won't you be regretting this in the morning? Noodles induced bloating, don't it?" he teased.

"And how did you know that?" Charlotte inquired, setting her phone on the table. She had just finished texting Natalie and Rachel, reassuring them she was safe and wouldn't be returning home.

"Did one of your flowers tell you?" She continued, her brows furrowed in slight irritation.

Sebastian's smile broadened. "Maybe."

An awkward silence immediately descended, lasting a minute as Sebastian finished up.

Sebastian broke the little ice, presenting Charlotte with a steaming plate of noodles. "Your dinner."

"Thank you so much," Charlotte said sincerely, digging in.

Sebastian smiled warmly, observing her delight.

"You know why I'm drawn to you?" he asked, his tone soft.

Charlotte paused, noodles halfway to her mouth. "What did you say?" she asked between bites.

 "Because you don't like me." he muttered.

With a gentle gesture, he encouraged her to continue eating, his eyes probing..

After finishing her meal, Charlotte drained the glass of water and sighed contentedly.

"Thank you, Mr. Sebastian," she said, standing up. "I'll do the dishes."

Sebastian swiftly intervened. "No, please, allow me. I don't permit ladies to lift a finger in my home."

Charlotte's eyes narrowed. "With all due respect, Mr. Sebastian, if you think chivalry will win me over, you're mistaken."

Sebastian tilted his head, intrigued. "Really? I thought I'd already made progress."

Charlotte's brows furrowed, hands on hips. "Why would you think that?"

"Don't worry about it."

He gathered the plates and headed to the kitchen, leaving Charlotte puzzled.

As he washed the dishes, his gaze drifted to Charlotte, observing her eyes fixed on her phone as she scrolled through its contents. 

His mind wandered back to her panic attack, her small hands clutching his as she struggled to breathe. His brow creased with regret washing his features. For the first time, he doubted his original plans. Maybe Charlotte was different, not like the others. Maybe she had that panic attack because she was afraid of him.

"Your phone's ringing, Mr. Sebastian," Charlotte's voice interrupted his thoughts, shattering the quiet contemplation.

Sebastian snapped back to reality, his head jerking toward the sound. "Huh? My phone?" He quickly located the phone and answered, water droplets clinging to his hand.

Raymond's name flashed on the screen. Sebastian recalled his earlier attempted call from the club, which hadn't gone through due to the poor reception.

"Raymond," Sebastian said firmly, curiosity lacing his voice.

But instead of Raymond's response, loud music blared through the line.

"Raymond?" Sebastian repeated, his tone growing impatient.

The call dropped, leaving Sebastian staring at his phone in frustration.

"Raymond, Raymond," he muttered.

Charlotte, who had been intentionally ignoring him, looked up. "Is everything alright, Mr. Sebastian?" she asked, concern softening her voice.

Sebastian dismissed Charlotte's concern with a wave of his hand. "It's just my buddy Raymond. He calls me whenever he's had too much to drink."

Under his breath, he added, "And hopefully, he hasn't done something reckless."

Charlotte's eyes narrowed, her interest ignited. "What?" she asked, squinting.

She suddenly recalled her glasses and reached for them, an unusual gesture. She hadn't worn them much since getting prescribed.

Sebastian jumped in before she could ask again. "Never mind. Let's get you to bed."

He dried his hands, his expression thoughtful. "You must rest again."

Charlotte nodded, standing up.

As they reached Sebastian's room, he asked, "May I borrow your phone?"

Charlotte's eyes widened, fear flickering across her face. "What do you need it for?"

Sebastian's warm smile reassured her. "Just give me a moment, and you'll see."

He extended his hand, to take the phone.

Charlotte hesitated before handing over her phone, silently praying he wouldn't confiscate it or harm her.

Sebastian's fingers closed around the phone, and he swiftly entered his number.

"Here you go," he said, returning the phone. "Call or text if you need anything. I'll be in the room at the end of the hall"

Charlotte pointed down the hall, her smile uneasy. "That room, you said?"

Sebastian nodded. "Yes, that one."

Noticing her unease, he asked, "What's wrong? You don't need to be afraid, I promise."

His soothing tone aimed to calm her.

Charlotte's gaze dropped to her feet, her tone hushed. "That's not it."

Sebastian leaned over, his ears inches from her lips. "What did you say?"

Charlotte's eyes snapped shut, her words tumbling out. "I can't sleep alone! Please, stay with me till I fall asleep."

Sebastian's jaw dropped, confused "You want me to stay with you till you fall asleep?" he repeated, his tone laced with surprise.

He tilted his head, studying Charlotte's expression, searching for clarity.

"You want me to...sleep with you?" Sebastian clarified, his words steady, ensuring he understood her request correctly.

Charlotte's eyes flew open, and she hastened to correct him. "No, not like that! Just stay with me, keep me company till I drift off."