Page 79 of Bid For Me

I climb into the bed, pulling the covers up to my chest as Seb walks around to the other side. He slides in cautiously, keeping a respectful distance between us, but his presence is enough to soothe the restless energy buzzing beneath my skin.

The room is quiet, the only sound is the soft rustle of the sheets as we settle in. I turn onto my side, facing him, and find him already looking at me, his expression unreadable in the dim light.

“Thank you,” I whisper, the words barely audible.

He nods, his gaze holding mine for a beat longer before he closes his eyes. “Goodnight, Elle.”

“Goodnight, Seb.”

As the silence stretches out between us, I feel the tension in my body begin to ease, the weight of the day’s events fading away. With Seb beside me, solid and steady, sleep comes easier than I expected.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Elle

The days are blurring together.

Every morning, I wake up with the intention of heading to the boutique, only to be thwarted by Alexander’s meticulously planned interruptions. Cake tastings, venue walk throughs, floral consultations – there’s no end to the list of ‘urgent’ appointments he insists on overseeing.

Each time I bring up work, he waves me off with that infuriatingly smooth dismissal, reminding me that theSterling-Knight bridehas priorities beyond ‘selling handbags’.

It’s enough to make me scream.

I’ve spent so much time pretending to care about table settings and seating charts that I’m beginning to forget who I am.

Seb does his best to keep me sane, but even he can’t always rein in his father. He hovers when he can, his quiet presence a comfort during Alexander’s more controlling moments, but his patience seems as frayed as mine. If not more so. And if Alexander isn’t around, Seb is nowhere to be seen. Ever since the night we slept together, but didn’tsleep together, I swearhe’s been avoiding me, unless it’s for the sake of keeping up appearances with his father.

I don’t know what I’ve done wrong, and the extra stress of worrying about that, on top of everything else, is wiping me out.

And so the days drag on, each one more exhausting than the last. It’s been seven days since the engagement announcement, and the wedding is in a week.

I’m in the sitting room, scrolling aimlessly through my phone, when Alexander strides in with his usual air of authority.

“Elle,” he announces, his tone brisk. “We need to finalize the guest list. The invitations must go out by the end of the day.”

I suppress a groan, setting my phone down. “I thought we already went over this.”

Alexander’s eyes narrow. “We did. But there have been...adjustments. Certain names that must be included, others that need to be removed. The Sterling-Knight name commands respect, and the guest list must reflect that.”

Before I can argue, Seb appears in the doorway, his tie slightly askew, his expression a mix of annoyance and exhaustion. “Father, give her a break,” he says, leaning casually against the doorframe. “You’ve been hounding her nonstop since she moved in.”

Alexander turns to Seb, his gaze sharp. “This is not your concern, Sebastian. Elle understands the importance of these preparations.”

Seb’s jaw tightens, and he pushes off the doorframe, crossing the room in a few long strides. “I think we can manage the guest list without treating Elle like she’s part of some corporate takeover.”

I blink at Seb, surprised by the steel in his voice. He’s always been firm with his father, but this feels...different. Like he’s finally drawing a line.

Alexander raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “This wedding is a reflection of our family. I won’t have it mishandled because the two of you think you’re above a little hard work.”

“Hard work?” I cut in, unable to hold back. “I’ve done nothing but attend appointments and meetings for days. I haven’t been to work since I moved in, and you’ve made it clear that my career is irrelevant compared tothis.”

Alexander’s gaze snaps to mine, and for a moment, the room feels impossibly still. Then he speaks, his voice cold and precise. “Your boutique will survive without you, Elle. But this wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Perhaps you should adjust your priorities accordingly.”

Heat rises in my cheeks, and I open my mouth to respond, but Seb beats me to it.

“Enough,” he says sharply, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “Elle’s been more than accommodating, Father. It’s one bloody day. It’s time you started treating her like a partner in this, not a pawn.”

Alexander stares at Seb, his expression unreadable, before finally giving a curt nod. “Very well,” he says, his tone clipped. “I’ll handle the guest list myself. But don’t forget, Sebastian – you have a responsibility to this family. Both of you do.”

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