Chapter 2
Last night at 11 PM, Sebastian's message finally came:
"Tomorrow morning 7:30 AM. Upper East Side, 1205 89th Street apartment. Make breakfast. I like everything bagel with cream cheese, extra shot espresso, fresh orange juice. Don't be late."
I was so excited I barely slept! The first day of my $200,000 monthly salary job - I absolutely couldn't screw this up!
I stayed up all night researching Sebastian's social media, creating a detailed "Sebastian Preferences File."
"A $200,000 girlfriend needs $200,000 level professionalism!" I pep-talked myself in the mirror.
At 6:30 AM sharp, I rushed out of my dorm with a carefully prepared breakfast bag, terrified of being even a minute late. But when I stood in front of the luxury apartment building on the Upper East Side, a problem emerged...
These damn 600-degree myopic eyes!
I squinted at the building number in front of me, then at the address on my phone. 89th Street... should be right, right?
I took off my black-rimmed glasses, wiped them clean, and put them back on. Still couldn't see clearly. The numbers blurred into a mess before my eyes.
"Whatever, all these buildings look fancy anyway. This must be it," I consoled myself.
So I waited downstairs for two whole hours.
The coffee in my breakfast bag went from scalding hot to lukewarm, and the bagel was getting soggy. I started panicking: "What if Sebastian thinks I stood him up? Screwing up on day one means goodbye to $200,000!"
Just when I was about to have a breakdown, the apartment door opened.
A tall figure in a Tom Ford navy suit emerged, morning light casting perfect shadows across his face.
My heart nearly jumped out of my chest: "Sebastian!"
Finally! I was so excited I almost jumped up, rushing toward him: "Sebastian honey! I made your favorite bagel!"
The man turned around, revealing a handsome, gentle face. I didn't have time to look closely - I just shoved the warm coffee into his hands and stood on my tiptoes to give him a sweet good morning kiss.
"Mmm... your cologne smells different. Did you switch brands?" I pressed against his chest, taking a deep breath. It really did smell different from yesterday... fresher somehow?
The man froze for three seconds, then smiled gently: "I think... you might have the wrong person."
"What?" My brain short-circuited instantly. I stepped back, squinting hard at the person in front of me.
This face... seemed indeed a bit different from Sebastian? The eyes were gentler, the smile more sunny, and... wait, even the jawline was different!
Oh my God! What had I done?!
"I'm not Sebastian, but..." the man's voice was deep and magnetic, making my heartbeat even more chaotic, "I'd be happy to be your Sebastian."
My face instantly turned red to my ears, burning like it was on fire: "Oh my God! I... I just..."
"Gave me the sweetest breakfast I've ever received." The man raised the coffee in his hand, eyes full of amusement, "Thank you."
"No no no! This is a misunderstanding! I was waiting for my... my..." I stammered, not knowing how to explain this weird employment relationship. Contract boyfriend? That sounded too bizarre!
Just when I wanted to crawl into a hole, an icy voice came from behind:
"Waiting for your what?"
I stiffly turned around to see Sebastian standing at the entrance of the opposite building, his face livid, eyes that could kill.
My blood froze instantly: "Sebastian! You... why are you over there?"
"I've been waiting in the correct building for two hours." Sebastian's voice was cold as Arctic ice, "While you're here giving my brother a love breakfast and kissing him?"
"Brother?!" I was so shocked my jaw nearly dropped. What was happening? What kind of melodramatic plot was this?
The gentle man in front of me smiled and extended his hand: "Daniel Blackstone. Nice to meet you...?"
I mechanically shook his hand, my brain in complete chaos: "Becky... Becky Miller."
I screamed internally: Why didn't anyone tell me Sebastian had a brother? And that he lived next door?!
Sebastian strode over, his face black as a thunderstorm: "Becky, come here."
"I just... I'm nearsighted! I'm directionally challenged!" I frantically explained, feeling like a schoolchild caught misbehaving, "I couldn't see the building numbers clearly, waited at the wrong building for two hours! Then with my 500-degree myopia, I saw a handsome guy in a suit and thought it was you!"
Daniel chuckled softly: "That's the cutest explanation I've ever heard."
Sebastian glared at Daniel: "Don't laugh!" Then turned to me, his voice carrying undeniable command: "Get in the car."
"Wait." Daniel suddenly spoke up, pulling an elegant business card from his suit pocket and handing it to me, "If my brother doesn't treat you well, remember to consider me."
The moment I took the card, it felt like the air solidified.
Passersby started whispering: "Wow, two hot guys fighting over one girl..."
I wanted to find a hole to crawl into! What was all this?!
Sebastian's face darkened further as he grabbed my wrist: "During the contract period, you're mine. Focus!"
His grip was strong, pulling me toward a black Maserati parked nearby. I was yanked so hard I nearly fell, but didn't dare resist.
The car door slammed shut with a "bang," and I felt like I was locked in a pressure cooker.
Over the engine's roar, Sebastian's voice cut like ice: "Starting tomorrow, I'm retraining you. We're establishing a complete girlfriend code."
"I really just mistook him for you..." I whispered defensively, stealing a glance in the rearview mirror. Daniel was still standing there, watching our car with deep, intense eyes that made my heart race inexplicably.
"Rule number one: You can only look at me." Sebastian stepped on the gas, "Rule number two: No physical contact with any other men."
I rolled my eyes internally: This wasn't a girlfriend code, it was a prisoner code!
"Rule number three: Keep your phone on 24/7, respond to my messages immediately."
"This is an employment relationship, not a prison..." I couldn't help mumbling.
Sebastian suddenly braked hard, turning to look at me: "What did you say?"
Our eyes met, the atmosphere in the car tense as drawn swords. I looked into Sebastian's eyes, seeing flashing anger and... something else. Was it jealousy? Or possessiveness?
"I said... I'll follow the rules." I finally compromised. After all, $200,000 monthly... worth tolerating a little tyranny.
Sebastian restarted the car, but I noticed his knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel. Was he angry? Or nervous?
"Do we look that much alike?" After a while, Sebastian suddenly asked, "Similar enough that you'd mistake us?"
I paused, then answered honestly: "Um... there is some resemblance, especially in height and build..."
Sebastian's face darkened even more.
I quickly tried to salvage the situation: "But you're much more handsome! Really! Daniel looks too gentle, you're more masculine, more charismatic!"
Sebastian's grip on the steering wheel relaxed slightly, and his expression wasn't quite as stormy.
"Next time," he glanced at me sideways, "you can only kiss me."
"Huh?" I looked at him blankly, blinking.
Sebastian suddenly chuckled softly: "I'm joking. Don't worry, I know we're just in a contract relationship."
Just a contract relationship... then why did he just say "you can only kiss me"? And what was with that possessive tone?
Also, when he laughed just now, he looked completely different from usual - not so cold and hard, but rather... gentle?
No, Becky, what are you thinking? This is just a work relationship, don't read too much into it!