Chapter 99: Chapter 99

Usually, Fathia is the laziest when it comes to visiting the Energy Building. Besides her own trauma, it reminds her of her responsibilities. Seriously. It's not that she doesn't want to be responsible. But the world behind the desk with lots of reports around it, that's not her at all. She prefers to wrestle with various flowers and fertilizers and soil.

Arranging artificial flowers into a beautiful and elegant bouquet for an event. Also, fresh flowers as a lovely bouquet to be given as a gift to someone.

That's what she enjoys.

However, if it weren't for an emergency call that Fathia couldn't avoid, she wouldn't be strolling here. Wearing five-inch heels to enhance her semi-formal look, she walks confidently. A semi-flannel pink shirt with blue stripes paired with well-fitted jeans. Her long hair is wavy. Her makeup remains natural because Fathia herself doesn't like her face being too heavily made up.

The rhythmic sound of her heels echoes as she heads to the 35th floor. Also, when a few of Vino's subordinates approach her in the lobby. Fathia often wishes she could protest to the owner of the 35th floor so he wouldn't act so arbitrarily, but... that man is as annoying as usual.

"Miss Fathia," they greet her in unison. Following her steps toward the elevator. Fathia just nods slightly, letting them surround her. Her focus is solely on her destination. Until finally, those steps lead her right to Sebastian's room. The three staff members who were surrounding Fathia earlier quickly leave her. And once again, Fathia merely nods.

Vino has been waiting for her. It's evident from Vino who immediately opens Sebastian's room door and says, "Mr. Sebastian is waiting inside, Miss."

It's not once or twice that Fathia has asked them never to call her Miss,' it sounds too old-fashioned, but Vino is still Vino.

"What's the matter, Vin?" Fathia is quite curious because there's been no news at all apart from her having to attend a meeting at Group Azure.

"I'm not quite sure, Miss. Just following orders."

Fathia rolled her eyes in annoyance. Vino was Sebastian's perfect curtain. The moment Fathia stepped into the room, the arrangement of which hadn't changed a bit, Sebastian halted his activity of studying the reports Vino had provided.

"You called me in, Sebastian? Couldn't you have just called?" Fathia was seated in front of Sebastian, making herself comfortable.

"Can you meet foreign investors over the phone?"

Fathia pursed her lips. "Why didn't you tell me last night? At the very least, if I knew we were meeting foreign investors, I wouldn't have worn something this casual," she complained, looking down at her outfit, which she felt wasn't quite appropriate.

"You still look beautiful."

Once again, Fathia rolled her eyes. "Tired of being called beautiful."

Sebastian chuckled. He pushed his chair back to get closer to Fathia. Meanwhile, the lovely girl just traced every move Sebastian made through the corner of her eye. Until Sebastian was right in front of her, leaning on the chair's armrest on both sides of Fathia, and he pinned her so she couldn't look anywhere else. Although, in reality, Fathia didn't want to divert her attention anywhere other than Sebastian.

"Don't get tired of the compliments. You really are beautiful."

Fathia smiled slightly. She touched Sebastian's jaw as if addicted to it. Causing him to close his eyes and savor the moment. "The scar on my face isn't too noticeable anymore, right?"

Sebastian shook his head gently. "It's smooth now and you look like Fathia Bernessa Claire again."

A year had passed since everything got better. The relationships within Fathia's family had grown stronger, even though Kenzo had gone to Malaysia for work. He didn't want to be in Group Azure, not because he didn't want to support his cousin. Fathia herself understood the reasons why Kenzo chose to leave. If only Fathia could step down from Group Azure, she would've done it.

But that was highly unlikely.

The transfer of the highest authority in Group Azure took place a month after Alef Walker's trial. Group Azure was returned to its rightful owner. After much consideration and specific consultations with Ronald, whom Fathia had appointed as her family's lawyer, Fathia asked Sebastian Sachdev to take over Group Azure again.

Some corrections were made to the company's documents due to one of the founders being involved in a legal matter. Also, there were specific amendments concerning the power within Group Azure, which was now in Sebastian's hands. According to Ronald, the most viable candidate to ensure the continued success of Group Azure was Sebastian Sachdev. It's not that Fathia couldn't afford to hire someone else who might be more competent than Sebastian, but Fathia didn't want to take the risk.

Sebastian knew Group Azure well and understood what needed to be done the most. Plus... their wedding was happening a month from now. All the preparations had reached about 70%. Even though Fathia wasn't overly busy, she still had to oversee everything. When she remembered the wedding arrangements, Fathia suddenly recalled her promise with the boutique.

"Sebastian, we're fitting our outfits tomorrow. Don't forget."

Sebastian smiled gently, in turn tracing Fathia's face with his fingertips. Making the girl close her eyes, biting her lower lip. Suppressing the sudden surge of emotions caused by Sebastian's touch.

"I won't forget, Fathia," Sebastian whispered right by Fathia's right ear. Teasing Fathia was the best part of Sebastian's life now. Especially when her head suddenly spun in every direction where Fathia surrendered under his control. Ah... if it were called surrender, Sebastian disagreed with this part. There were times when Fathia genuinely surprised him. He never imagined that the innocent girl had turned into a cunning seductress who increasingly left Sebastian flustered.

Delaying the wedding for two years after that romantic proposal in Beverly Hills? No. Sebastian didn't want that. One year was the most Sebastian could tolerate for their relationship. Fathia's reason was that she had to finish her studies first. Sebastian agreed with this. Education was important, but for other reasons, like stabilizing Group Azure first, Sebastian didn't want to understand.

"What do you mean not stable, Fathia? Under my control, Group Azure is fine. I could expand if not for Alef getting in the way," Sebastian said, half frustrated at the time. Meanwhile, on Fathia's finger, the beautiful ring he gave her shimmered, accepted with a smile full of affection from the girl he loved.

"Then you have to stay in Group Azure. Make Group Azure bigger."

Suddenly, Sebastian fell silent. While Fathia smiled cunningly.

"You're setting a trap for me, aren't you?"

And laughter rang out. "Well, yeah. I'm not going to take over Group Azure. I know the reports. How much money is coming into my account. If it's not enough, I'll ask you to transfer more."

Naturally, that made Sebastian annoyed all of a sudden. He held the girl in his embrace. Trailing his fingers along her waist and back with tickles, their laughter resonating.

"But we'll get married after you've really graduated. No more delays," Sebastian asserted without wanting any argument. Meanwhile, Fathia was breathless from Sebastian's tickling. Fathia leaned against Sebastian's neck; both of her arms perfectly draped there. To prevent her from suddenly collapsing from laughter-induced fatigue. And in this moment, it truly made Fathia feel loved by this man.

"Yeah. We'll get married a year from now." The statement was met with a long kiss to close the night of the romantic proposal Sebastian had prepared for Fathia. Where it was truly just the two of them. Not that they didn't want to be witnessed by family or relatives, Sebastian felt that if Jess or Kenzo were present, their romance would always be disrupted.

"Sebastian," Fathia grumbled, held back by Sebastian's increasing antics. It's not just whispers she's receiving, but a small touch, so incredibly small that it gently lulls Fathia without mercy. "This is the office."

"I know. Who said this isn't our room?"

"Sebastian!" Fathia exclaimed, slightly pushing the man. Who now burst into a hearty laughter. "Cut it out. Remember your promise not to touch me before the wedding."

Sebastian surrendered once he got this warning. "Fine," he said with slumped shoulders. "But I've missed you so much, Fathia."

Fathia shook her head uninterested, but a daring idea, dangerously daring, popped into her head. She stood up and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going, Fathia? We have a meeting in an hour. You haven't gone through the files," Sebastian warned.

As soon as Fathia heard the click of the door, which Sebastian knew meant the room was now locked, the man looked bewildered at the girl who was now walking towards him without hesitation.

"The meeting's in an hour?"

Sebastian nodded. And as Fathia's hand reached for his belt with a possibly sensual movement, Sebastian's mind was no longer on the report sheets.

"We still have time to fool around a little."

Damn!

"Where's the innocent and naive Fathia?"

Fathia just chuckled. "Taught to be a seductress by Sebastian."

Sebastian didn't have to wait long to taste the sweetness of Fathia's lips that always haunted him. He savored as much as he could now. Pecking on the surface of these peach-colored lips one by one. A little impatient, Sebastian pushed aside that long hair to the right so he could play in the smooth neck hollow of Fathia. He also kissed the faded scar thanks to the surgery Fathia had a few months ago.

"But I don't want to mess up, Tian." Before his consciousness started thinning due to Sebastian's touch that he missed so much, Fathia had to speak.

"So?"

"Just consider this an appetizer. For the main course, you'll have to wait another month." Fathia freed herself from Sebastian's embrace. "Close the blinds, Sebastian. No disturbances allowed. I won't have it."

Sebastian laughed. He snatched the remote control from the glass wall surrounding his room. The black curtains descended slowly until the point where Sebastian's entire space was sealed just as the girl wished. Before he even placed the remote back, Sebastian was startled by Fathia's action where she squatted right in front of him.

Slowly undoing the belt on Sebastian's pants and carefully removing the hook that was there. Also, another layer of Sebastian's that was already proudly displayed in front of her.

"You're quite daring, Fathia."

Before truly claiming the man's possession into her mouth, Fathia just grinned slightly. "Who taught me, huh?"