The True Luna's Forbidden Temptation - Chapter 51: Chapter 51

After everything that happened to me in almost a decade, I never imagined that I would sit in the back of a limousine looking like this.
The driver remains silent. Eyes forward, window up. It seems to me that he has seen worse—possibly stranger passengers. I watch the city lights flicker past the tinted glass while keeping my hands folded in my lap.
Sebastian had a dress sent to me. It was made of black silk, sleek and elegant. The kind that clings to the body like a subtle temptation. I have just enough makeup to cover up months of restless nights, and my hair is pulled up with a few creative strands left loose. Not overly dramatic. Just enough to make me feel like I’m the old me again.
When Sebastian asked me to have dinner with him, he never told me where the limo will take me. Just hung up after saying, "Be ready by seven."
I am not even sure if this dinner was business or something else.
‘Of course, it’s business! Why wouldn’t it be?’ I silently scold myself.
Sebastian is my stepbrother, after all. I should not be expecting something else, and I definitely should not be feeling nervous right now.
I look at my phone. No fresh texts. Just a friendly reminder: Dinner at 7.
The limousine turns left from the main road and slows down. The wealthy in this neighborhood purchase privacy, and everyone else knows not to linger. A tall structure stands before me. It looks deserted, and with the exception of the lights on the upper floors, it is mostly dark.
The limo comes to a stop and the driver gets out to open the door for me.
At first, I don’t move. My hands tremble on my lap.
‘What’s the matter with you, Analise? It’s just dinner to discuss the formalities behind Sebastian’s offer to you as CEO of t he SB Capitals.’
I survived Tyler. I built TL Glam from scratch. I can definitely do one dinner with my stepbrother!
Finally, I step out of the car. The air feels colder than I expected. I wrap my arms around myself as I walk up the steps towards the entrance of the building.
The lobby on the ground floor is dimly lit; there is no desk or receptionist. Only a mirrored glass elevator and a bouquet of white lilies.
As soon as I step into the building, a man approaches me. He’s tall, with golden brown eyes and coppery brown hair.
He asks, "Ms. McGregor."
Not a question. A statement. Which means he already knew who I was.
I give a nod.
"Julian Hayes. I will escort you up.”
I follow him quietly.
We are both quiet during the elevator ride. I use my peripheral vision to observe him. No visible tatoos. No rings on his fingers. Yet, somehow, a strange familiarity prickles my spine as his eyes meet mine in the elevator mirror.
"Have we met?" I inquire, unable to resist.
He gives me a slight nod. “I see you finally decided to open that envelope.”
Suddenly, it clicks in my head. I remember who he is.
“That was you?”
He shrugs.
I heave a sigh. “Why did you warn me against it? Did I make the wrong decision coming to him?”
He doesn’t answer for a long moment, until the elevator door opens. He steps outside and turn to me. I don’t follow him. Instead, I raise a brow at him, indicating that I’m still waiting for an answer.
He heaves a sigh and say, “Whether it’s the wrong decision or not, I’m going to be here for him. It is my duty to defend him with my life.”
‘Fuck! What kind of an answer is that?’
What is Sebastian hiding from me?
As I step outside the elevator, I see moonlight spill into the silent hallway. Julian leads to a black door.
I follow him quietly.
The door swings open revealing a candlelight table set for two. The glittering skyline is visible through a full wall of glass.
Sebastian is standing with his back to the window at the far end. His hair was tamed, a single lock fell across his brow, and his suit was tailored. He turns, and I'm sixteen all over again, fully aware of what a magnificent creature my stepbrother was.
He waits for me to come closer. “Damn! She looks perfect!” he whispers, or at least that’s what I thought he said.
“What?” I ask as I walk closer.
He raises a brow at me. “What do you mean?”
“You whispered something just now,” I say.
He stares at me as if I have completely lost my mind. “I didn’t say anything.”
Is it just me? Was I imagining things?
But come to think of it, if he whispered something just now, how could I possibly hear it when I was still a good fifteen feet away from him?
“Are you sure?” I ask. “I thought you said that I looked…” I trail off. ‘Perfect!’
Yeah. I probably imagined it. How could he possibly say ‘that’?
“Anyway,” I say. “You look… different.”
"Older?"
"More like you."
He smiles and pulls a chair out for me.
A waiter shows up, pours wine, and disappears.
I take a sip of my wine. "So, I assume this is a business dinner meeting.”
I suddenly feel nervous as I wait for his answer.
Sebastian responds, "Doesn’t matter. I just want to have a nice dinner with you. After all, it has been years since we had dinner on the same table.”
I get flushed. "Your bodyguard…”
“Julian.”
I nod. “I hope he doesn’t get the impression that this is a date.”
Sebastian raises a brow. “Who said this isn’t?”
I stop short for a moment, swallowing hard.
"You're wondering why I asked you here."
I shrug, turning away, to hide my blush.
"I assumed it had to do with your offer to me as CEO of SB Capitals.”
"In part. But it’s more of I want to treat you to something nice.” He points to the skyline and the candles. “I’m assuming it has been a long time since your ex-husband made an effort to take you out on a nice fancy dinner like this.”
I scoff. “If he ever took me out on a dinner at all.” I sigh sadly. “You’re right. It’s been damn too long.” I smile at him. “Thank you. This is amazing.”
"So, are you. It kills me that someone made an effort to make you forget that.”
I blinked. The compliment comes too naturally. I realize that Sebastian genuinely means that.
“When we were growing up, you would always tease me. Made me feel like I wasn’t worthy of your time,” I giggle. “Now, you’re showering me with compliments.”
I expect him to laugh, and feel embarrassed, but instead, he just stares at me quietly.
“It’s okay. We were kids. You just like to tease me. I get that.”
He shakes his head. “That’s not it at all.”
“Oh? Then what is it?”
He sighs. He sounds frustrated. “Back then, I was realizing one thing.”
“What?”
“That you could be my weakness,” he whispers.
‘Wait, what did he just say?’