Virtue and Vice

Chapter Eleven - End of Part One

A/N: Here's the last chapter of Part One. I've decided to merge the two books so don't fret. There will be more coming.

I'm not sure how you will feel about this chapter but know that lovestories aren't always the smoothest journeys. Sebastian and Cassandra will prove that. 

Enjoy! I may not be able to post right away because I have some family visiting so I won't have as much time. In the meantime, check out my other story, The Mischievous Mrs. Maxfield. Thanks!

Please VOTE and COMMENT! 

***I want to dedicate this chapter to JessGirl93 whose books I enjoy very much. She's on a mini-hiatus so I'm pulling my hair a little bit waiting for an update on The Bad Boy's Girl because it's a totally awesome read. This is a symbol of my fervent wish to see what happens next between Tessa and Cole.***

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Two days later, I was fretting over my empty inbox wondering if I was going to hear about any of my other scholarship applications before school started.

I had already worked out a schedule with Sebastian.

I was going to leave this Friday and spend several days packing up my stuff before flying out to Philadelphia exactly a week later. All my flights were booked and I had a spot reserved in residence already. 

I had cried quite a bit as we were booking the flights and Sebastian held me in his arms for a while, soothing and reassuring me that it was going to be alright. 

He had a shareholders' meeting that Friday I arrive in school but he was going to fly out on the weekend to help me settle down before classes started.

As to when we were going to see each other next, I didn't know. 

We hadn't planned that far ahead. 

Sebastian mentioned something he was working on but he wouldn't quite tell me. I was certain he wasn't moving to Philadelphia—it was too far away when his work was here. 

He had actually been quite busy after that day of our trip downtown that I'd only seen him in the evenings when he came home from work now that he had started to ease back into it again.

I was planning dinner in the kitchen when Sebastian called.

"Jennison's going to pick you up in an hour," he told me without preliminaries. "Dress for dinner and bring the key I gave you for your birthday."

I smiled. "What do you have planned, Sebastian?"

"It's a surprise," he said mysteriously. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Alright," I said, putting back the produce I'd taken out on the counter. "I'll get ready."

"I love you."

I grinned. "I love you, too."

Since his declaration at the cemetery, Sebastian hadn't been reserved in saying it to me over and over again. He always had this bright, excited gleam in his eyes whenever he said it as if it amused and surprised him to find himself capable of saying them in the first place.

I showered and fixed up my hair into a loose bun and slipped into one of my new clothes—a cobalt blue silk shift dress with a romantic, ruffled neckline. I wore my white slingbacks with it and topped it with a small, knit cardigan.

"Hi, Jennison," I greeted the bodyguard warmly as he helped me into the car.

We briefly exchanged pleasantries and he even went on to tell me that the property management company who was looking after the house was going to send over a couple of their staff to help me pack up.