'Hi.' I say rather breathlessly.

I choose to walk up the stairs to Sebastian's office, only because I'm finished with confined spaces. My parents are literally smothering me in their presence. I need space.

'Hey.' Sebastian says looking up from the pile of paper he's standing over. 'Did you get the flowers.'

'Yes Sebastian. I got your flowers.'

'And...'

'And... no to both. No rematch. No, I don't forgive you.'

He shrugs and looks back down. 'Your loss.'

I walk over to him, so we're standing either side of his desk.

'Why are you here then?' He asks

'You don't want to see me?' I reply. I place my hand down on the desk.

Sebastian holds my gaze before his eyes trail down to my wrist. 'Who gave you that?'

I look down to where his eyes are trained and back up to him.

'Did Theodore get you that bracelet?'

'No,' I cross my hands behind my back. 'My parents got it for me.'

He scoffs. 'How rich are your parents?'

'Old money rich.' I roll my eyes. 'I thought you would know.'

'I don't know everything Alexis. There are some things I would prefer to just find out.'

I raise my eyebrows. 'Like when my birthday is?'

He laughs. 'Well, I already know that.'

He walks further behind his desk, opens a draw and takes out a small black box. What's everyone's obsession with jewelry?

He slides it over to me. 'Happy birthday Alexis.'

'What is it?'

He smirks. 'Open it and find out.'

I roll my eyes and pick up the box. I pop it open and I see a necklace with a deformed piece of metal set in the middle.

I look at him.

He shrugs. 'It's so you always remember I won.'

I scoff and shake my head. 'Fuck you Sebastian.'

I suppose he's caught on to the fact that I hate losing.

'Help me put it on?' I ask, lifting it out of the box.

He comes behind me and I lift my hair out the way.

He fastens the necklace slowly. Purposely brushing his fingers against my neck. When he's done with the latch he trails his fingers down the nape of my neck. His touch sends shivers down my spine.

I turn around. 'Thank you.' I whisper.

'So your parents are here for your birthday.'

He didn't ask a question but I reply like it is one. 'Yeah.'

'Is Alice here?'

I shake my head. 'No, she's coming at the weekend.'

'So, what are you doing today?'

'Dinner with my parents... and my boyfriend.'

The muscles in Sebastian's jaw tick. 'So, you, Theodore and your parents tonight.'

I shake my head. 'No.'

Sebastian's eyebrows raise.

'They want me to bring the dark haired boy I've been galavanting around with.'

'Oh. So,' He lets those words sit in the air for a while. 'Not Theodore.'

I shake my head. 'Not Theo. No.'

I see the small smirk threatening to betray what's going on in his head. 'You told them about me?'

'Nope, my parents paid someone to follow me.' I say

His eyebrows furrow. 'You didn't know someone was following you?'

'No Seb- Really? Why would I know that?'

He shrugs. 'I- Well I knew, I just assumed you knew.'

I stare at him in disbelief. I'm just going to go ahead and add that to the list of things Sebastian has done to piss me off.

'I don't know Lexi. People follow me around and I know.'

'Well that's an occupational hazard isn't it.' I sneer.

He rolls his eyes and scoffs. 'Next time i'll tell you, okay?'

'Fine.' I take a deep breath in. 'Will you come to dinner?'

He nods. 'Yeah.'

His eyes flick down to my neck, where the necklace sits, and back up to my eyes. He smiles. He's looking at me but his eyes are far away.

I clear my throat. 'I'll text you the time and place, okay.'

He nods, so I turn and leave.

______________________________

I'm sitting in the restaurant in a black dress, actively ignoring my fathers stare and my mothers nattering about single men back home.

A familiar deep voice sounds at the other side of the restaurant. I spin my head to face him. His eyes meet mine. I smile. He walks right towards me. He's dressed in what seems to be one of his finer suits, probably handmade italien knowing him. I suppose it's nice to know that Sebastian has more than one piece of clothing.

He stretches his hand out in front of my father. My father rises to meet it.

'Mr and Mrs Camden, it's so nice to meet you.'

He shakes my fathers hand and takes a seat.

'It's so nice to meet you too, we've heard so much about you.' My mother says, sipping on her rather large glass of wine.

'Not from me.' I mummer

My mother glares at me over her glass.I'm going to make an educated guess and say, she's had more than one of those today. Her and my father must have argued about something. Probably me.

'You're definitely our favourite boyfriend. You know, between that blonde boy and you.' My father says.

My eyes narrow. Why on earth does he think he gets a choice.

'I am?' Sebastian asks

'Yes, you certainly have more qualities than... Theodore.' My mother says.

The funny thing is, she says his name the same way Sebastian says it. She says it like Theo is something on her shoe. I mean, his lack of money probably puts him on the bottom of her shoe but that shouldn't be her problem.

'Maybe, we should talk about something else...and you two,' I point between my parents. 'Should mind your own business.'

'Watch it Alexis.' My father warns

'Watch what? The two of you need to stick your nose somewhere else. Maybe you should pay attention to your shitty marriage, rather than my love life.' I retort

'Alexis.' My fathers eyes glower.

I'm making him mad but he deserves it. He's barged his way into my life and is constructively ruining it and I won't let him.

I suppose, maybe he is more mad that I'm embarrassing him in public... but again, I don't care.

'What are you mad that I'm telling you to fuck off.' I reply

Next to me, Sebastian smothers a laugh. Seriously, I don't see what's funny about my anger.

A waiter shuffles up to us, breaking mine and my fathers glaring contest. He asks if we're ready to order and my mother nods. We give in our orders and the waiter shuffles away. The sound of his feet dragging on the floor just irritates me more.

My birthday is just getting worse and worse.

My fathers gives me a look and then turns to Sebastian. 'I'm sure Alexis has told you that she's moving to the countryside. Back home, where she belongs.'

Sebastian looks at me. 'She is?'

I look at him. 'I'm not.'

'She is.' My father says. 'It's already been discussed and agreed.'

I scoff.

'Alexis, you are being very selfish right now.'

'Selfish,' I almost laugh. 'You not letting me live my life is selfish. You want me to live by your rules. I don't want your money or your problems and I most certainly don't want to marry one of your rich, lonely friends just to provide you with an heir to your stupid fortune. I am not a baby machine and I don't want to live the same boring, tedious life you lived.'

I might have said that a bit too loud because the whole restaurant is now silent.

My father stands up, he's flushed red in embarrassment. 'Fine Alexis, if that's what you want.'

'All I want is for you to leave me alone.' I say

'Well, that's why your mother and I have decided to cut you off,' Next to him, my mother looks down at her hands and shifts in her seat. That's what they must've been arguing about before we came here. 'Everything that is mine, I'm taking back. Do not contact us.'

'Well it's not like you contact me now.' I sneer.

I genuinely don't care about what my father says. I need a break. I was actually enjoying my life before the two of them inserted themselves in it again.

'Let's go.' My father says to my mother.

'I- Uh-' She stutters. 'Alexis.' Her eyes are pleading with me.

My father takes her by the arm and she stands up. She sighs and gives us a sad smile before my father drags her out.

I let out a groan.

'Are you okay?' Sebastian asks next to me.

I turn to him and nod. 'Yeah,' I say softly. 'They'll be back, they've done it before, they'll be back. Plus it's either he gives his money to me or he gives it to charity and I doubt it's the latter.'

He laughs. 'I like your family.'

I'm about to reply when someone behind me clears their throat.