A Waltz With Wolves (Book II in The Harrison Inc. Series) | ✓

Chapter Fifty-Six: It's Okay To Not Be Okay

I call him. He answers on the third ring, and I come straight out with it.

"What's wrong with Sebastian?" I ask him. "What happened during the meeting?"

Isaac sighs, "Leslie, I'm sorry, but right now isn't a good time to talk about it."

"What do you mean?" I try not to let the irritation seep into my voice. "What happened, Isaac?"

"Leslie—"

"After all the shit I've been through this week, the last thing I need is for you to keep even more secrets from me, especially when it involves Sebastian."

There's a silence that lingers over the phone. A cold breeze flows through the courtyard, chilling my skin.

"We're not in the best state to talk about what happened," he then says. Those words, a short explanation, are explanatory enough.

"Did Salvador do something to Sebastian?"

"No," Isaac answers bluntly.

I dance around the name, filled with anxiety right before I say it. "Alejandro?"

The quiet response is a "yes" enough. I close my eyes, controlling the way I want to respond.

"Try to give Sebastian some space tonight, Leslie. We'll talk more tomorrow."

And then he hangs up without warning. I'm left with more questions than answers that start accumulating once Isaac's voice is gone. I breathe in, hold for five, exhale slowly. I need to keep my nerves down because there are many different ways I could react to this.

I enter the house and close the door behind me. Dinner is done, the smell rich and savory to the senses but incapable of getting me out of the thoughts I'm trapped in. Viv, platting the food, sees me walk in and knows something is odd.

"Don't call Sebastian down for dinner," I tell her. "He's tired."

"But he needs to eat," she says, concerned. "He eat good, he'll feel better."

"I know, but—"

"You tell him, 'come down and eat!' And he will."

Then she turns back to what she was doing before. The security guard eyes the staircase after Viv's speech, but I stop him from making any moves; he's the last person that Sebastian wants to see. Then again, I wonder if I'm the last person he'd want to see?

I walk into the foyer and climb the stairs. The ascent seems more looming and strenuous like there's an evil fate awaiting me at the top of the staircase. But there isn't, only Sebastian in his room, the door closed at the end of the hall.

When I reach the tall door, I knock lightly. "Sebastian? It's me. Can I come in?"

No answer. I press my ear against the door and listen. The faint sound of a shower running can be heard on the other side of the door. I turn the knob, thankful it's unlocked but surprised at the same time.

I close the door behind me. The TV is on, paused; TMZ is playing. I see Sebastian's name on the left of the screen as one of the topics. It's most likely about the shooting at the Christmas party since Sebastian was indeed reported there as a guest. Or maybe it's about him and Claire. I did answer a few emails today from blogs and PR reps who were asking about their relationship, to which I answered (lied) that they're stronger than ever.

I pick up the remote and hover my thumb over the play button; I'm in publicist mode again, protective over my client. But I realize that I need to be in a different mode. For him.

I set the remote down.

He's definitely in the shower like he said he would be. His clothes, sprawled on the floor, make a trail to the bathroom. His boxers are the last article of clothing, sitting on the border between the room and the bathroom. I pick up the clothes out of habit and put them in the laundry hamper in his closet. Then, without knowing what I'll say to him, I enter the bathroom.