Restless Billionaire by Abby Green Page B

she heard herself say
with an edge to her voice, ‘I hope I’m not keeping you from any commitments
tonight?’
                 Sebastian
was to her left at the head of the table, one leg touched off hers, making her
blush and move her own away from the contact.
                 ‘No.’
He drawled, ‘No … commitments . I’m
all yours.’
                 She
looked at him abruptly—was he flirting with her? But even as her heart started
to thump perilously, she saw that he looked far from flirtatious, more coolly
stern. She let out a breath and struggled for equilibrium. ‘That’s good. I’d
hate for you to feel like you had to entertain me.’
                 Sebastian
had to curb his impulse to tell her exactly what he did want and at that moment
Daniel returned with drinks. The thought that she might possibly be concerned
about him seeing other people sent a rush of something far too disturbing to
analyse through him. And when she was so close like this, it was hard to try
and recall why he shouldn’t be wanting her.
                 Aneesa
was relieved to have something else to focus on and concentrated on her starter
and main course as if it was the most interesting thing she’d ever encountered.
Right at that moment she couldn’t see herself sticking it out living in
Sebastian’s apartment for longer than another day, never mind a couple of
months.
                 ‘So,
how did you end up in Bollywood movies?’
                 His
question took her aback and she looked at him to see that he was relaxed in his
chair, watching her. Suddenly her appetite fled and she put down her knife and
fork.
                 She
took a sip of water, mouth instantly dry. She’d answered this question a
million times, what was wrong with her? She just hated that she’d been so duped
by such a shallow world for so long….
                 ‘I
was in a shopping mall with school friends when I was seventeen. We were in our
final year and a scout from a model agency spotted me.’ She shrugged, feeling
embarrassed. ‘The next thing I knew, I was being entered for Miss India and I
won … and after that the movie offers came flooding in.’
                 Sebastian’s
eyes were narrowed on her. ‘You sound like you regret it.’
                 She
shrugged again, avoiding his eye, fingers pleating the heavy linen napkin. ‘I
was young and spoilt. I got seduced very easily into a world that’s very false.’
Her mouth twisted. ‘Unfortunately for a long time I believed everything people
were saying to me, believed in a myth …’
                 ‘Believed that your fiancé loved you.’
                 Aneesa
sucked in a breath and looked up into Sebastian’s glittering blue gaze. He
sounded so … sympathetic. She nodded. ‘Yes, that too. But it was my own fault. If I hadn’t become so blinded and self-absorbed I
would have spotted him a mile away.’
                 Sebastian
grimaced. ‘If only it were that easy. Hindsight is a great thing.’
                 Aneesa
half smiled and saw Sebastian’s gaze drop to her mouth, making it tingle. She
blushed again.
                 His
gaze lifted. ‘So … do you regret it? Do you miss it?’
                 Aneesa
half shrugged and shook her head at the same time. ‘I regret my own immaturity,
but no, I don’t miss it, and that’s been a surprise. I’ve realised that it wasn’t
really me after all.’
                 She quirked a smile. ‘Before I got so entranced by my own
reflection I actually wanted to study medicine and had all
the grade A’s to back it up.’ Her smile faded. ‘And yet my parents stood
by me and let me change course. And I repaid them by humiliating them in public
in front of everyone they know.’
                 To
her surprise Sebastian leaned forward and took