The private jet descended through the clouds as the Dallas skyline slowly appeared beneath them.
Golden sunlight reflected off the tall buildings.
Lillian Parker looked out the window, watching the city grow closer.
A small smile crossed her face.
"Dallas again," she murmured.
Sebastian glanced up from the tablet in his hand.
"Second time," he said calmly.
She nodded.
"The first time we came here… it was for the smart-home interface prototype presentation."
Sebastian leaned back in his seat.
"And now we're here to close the deal."
"That sounds much more serious," she admitted.
He watched her for a moment.
"You handled the first trip just fine."
"That was different."
"How?"
"We weren't…" she hesitated.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Dating?"
Her cheeks turned pink.
"Yes."
Sebastian smirked slightly.
"Well," he said calmly, "I don't see how that makes the meeting harder."
"It doesn't," she said quickly.
"Good."
The jet touched down smoothly on the runway.
Lillian straightened her blazer.
Sebastian stood.
"Ready?"
"I think so."
"You'll do fine," he said.
She nodded.
"Thanks."
A black Sovereign company car waited on the tarmac.
Two executives stood beside it.
One of them stepped forward immediately.
"Mr. Wolfe," he greeted respectfully.
Sebastian shook his hand.
"Good to see you again, Richard."
Richard smiled.
"We're glad you could come back to Dallas."
His gaze shifted toward Lillian.
"And Miss Parker."
She smiled politely.
"Nice to see you again."
Richard nodded.
"I remember you from the first interface demonstration."
Another engineer stepped closer.
"You were the one coordinating the compatibility testing, right?"
"Yes," Lillian said.
The engineer frowned thoughtfully.
"Actually… there's something we've been discussing."
Lillian tilted her head.
"What is it?"
"We're worried about compatibility with older home networks."
Sebastian stayed quiet, watching.
Lillian answered immediately.
"The interface detects older routers and automatically lowers signal complexity."
The engineer blinked.
"It does?"
"Yes," she said calmly.
"We added a fallback protocol during phase two testing."
The engineer quickly checked his tablet.
A moment later he looked up.
"…She's right."
Richard raised his eyebrows.
"Well," he said, impressed, "that settles that."
Sebastian leaned back slightly.
"Lillian Parker handles most of the interface logistics," he said.
"If she says something works, it works."
Lillian tried not to blush.
Richard smiled.
"It's good to see the project in capable hands."
An hour later they arrived at the hotel.
The lobby was elegant and quiet.
Marble floors reflected the warm lighting.
Sebastian walked up to the front desk.
"Reservation for Sebastian Wolfe."
The receptionist's eyes widened slightly.
"Of course, Mr. Wolfe."
She typed quickly.
"Your executive suite is ready."
Then she added cheerfully,
"One room."
Lillian froze.
Sebastian slowly turned toward her.
"One room?" he repeated.
Her face turned bright red.
"You told me to book one!"
He raised an eyebrow.
"I was teasing you."
The receptionist looked like she was trying not to laugh.
Sebastian accepted the keycard.
"Well," he said calmly, "looks like we're sharing."
"Sebastian!"
He was already walking toward the elevator.
"Come on, Lillian."
Inside the elevator, Lillian stared at the floor.
Sebastian looked perfectly relaxed.
She finally sighed.
"You could have warned me."
"About what?"
"That you were joking."
He smirked.
"You're the one who took it seriously."
"You're impossible."
"And yet you're dating me."
She rolled her eyes.
"That's still under review."
He chuckled softly.
The elevator doors opened.
They stepped into the executive suite.
The room was massive.
A living area. A work desk. Floor-to-ceiling windows.
And one very large king-size bed.
Lillian stopped walking.
"You've got to be kidding me."
Sebastian removed his jacket and tossed it onto a chair.
"Relax."
She grabbed a pillow.
"You're sleeping on the couch."
He glanced at the couch.
Then back at her.
"You booked the room."
"You told me to!"
He smirked again.
"You really do listen to everything I say."
She pointed the pillow at him.
"Don't push it."
He raised his hands in surrender.
"Fine."
An hour later the room looked like a small battlefield.
Documents covered the desk and the bed.
Two laptops were open.
Lillian sat cross-legged on the bed reviewing the presentation slides.
Sebastian leaned against the desk watching her.
"You take this very seriously," he said.
She looked up.
"Of course I do."
He tilted his head.
"Most secretaries wouldn't."
She shrugged.
"Maybe I'm not most secretaries."
"That's true."
She glanced at him.
"You don't sound surprised."
"I'm not."
She smiled slightly.
Sebastian walked over and sat beside her on the bed.
"What are you reviewing?"
"The interface rollout timeline."
"Anything concerning?"
"No," she said.
"Just making sure everything runs smoothly tomorrow."
He watched her quietly.
"You're very dedicated."
She shrugged again.
"You trusted me with this project."
"And you've earned that trust."
She looked at him, surprised.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
"Thank you."
He smirked.
"You're also very bossy."
She laughed.
"You're harder to manage outside the office."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
"How so?"
"You tease too much."
"That's because it works."
She rolled her eyes.
Two hours later Lillian's eyes were drooping.
Sebastian noticed.
"You should sleep."
"I'm fine."
"You're falling asleep on the presentation slides."
"I am not."
She yawned.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
"Very convincing."
She sighed.
"Fine. Five minutes."
Five minutes later she was asleep.
Sebastian carefully moved the documents away from her.
"Hopeless," he murmured softly.
He pulled a blanket over her.
The room became quiet.
Midnight.
Sebastian stared at the ceiling.
Wide awake.
He sighed quietly and sat up.
The familiar restlessness in his chest returned.
Insomnia.
He stood and walked to the window.
Dallas glittered below.
Behind him Lillian shifted slightly.
"Sebastian…?"
He turned.
She was half asleep.
"Go back to sleep," he said softly.
She squinted at him.
"You're not sleeping."
"Jet lag."
She sat up a little.
"Did you take the medication?"
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Not yet."
She crossed her arms sleepily.
"Take it."
He smirked.
"You're bossy when you're tired."
"Yes."
He walked to his suitcase and pulled out the small amber bottle.
Lillian watched him.
"Take one," she said.
"Yes, doctor."
He swallowed the tablet.
She nodded.
"Good."
He returned to bed.
"You worry too much," he said quietly.
She was already drifting back to sleep.
"Someone has to…"
Her voice faded.
Sebastian looked at her.
Peaceful.
Comfortable.
Close.
Something about her presence made the tension in his chest ease.
His thoughts slowed.
His breathing relaxed.
And within minutes…
Sebastian Wolfe fell asleep.
For the first time in days.
Because Lillian Parker was there.