Chapter 3 - Old Flames and New Burns
Iris stood in front of her bedroom mirror, fastening the clasp of her watch for the third time.
Her hands wouldn't stop shaking.
She pressed her palms against the dresser and took a slow breath. This was ridiculous. It was only dinner, just business… except it was with Sebastian Hale, a man she hadn't seen in years.
She remembered how he used to look at her, like she hung the moon or something, but nothing happened between them.
Now, he's a widower, and she was newly divorced.
The timing felt almost cruel.
"Ms. Voss?" Ace's voice came through her bedroom door. "The car is ready whenever you are."
"I'll be down in five," she called back.
Iris turned back to the mirror, studying her reflection. She'd chosen a deep navy dress… elegant without being too formal, professional without feeling cold. Her hair was pulled into a low twist, a few loose strands framing her face. Minimal jewellery. Subtle makeup.
She looked like herself, composed and in control.
But inside, she felt like she was standing on the edge of something uncertain.
'Stop it,' she told herself firmly. 'This is business. Nothing more.'
She grabbed her clutch and headed downstairs, where Ace was waiting by the front door.
"You look lovely," he said with an approving nod.
"Thank you." Iris adjusted her coat. "Did Sebastian confirm the reservation?"
"Yes. Seven-thirty at Marchand's."
Of course. Marchand's was one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city; quiet, refined, the kind of place where deals were made over wine that cost more than most people's monthly rent.
The drive into the city felt longer than it should have. Iris watched the lights blur past her window, her mind drifting despite her best efforts to stay focused.
She remembered the last time she'd really seen Sebastian before everything changed. It had been at a charity gala years ago, back when she was still trying to convince herself that Neil was enough.
Sebastian had been standing near the bar, and when their eyes met across the room, she'd felt that pull she'd been trying to ignore for years. The same pull that made her chest tighten whenever he was near, that made her wonder what if.
But she'd already chosen Neil by then. Already convinced herself that safe and attainable was better than waiting for something that might never happen.
Three months later, Sebastian had announced his engagement to Roseline Lockwood.
Maybe he'd been doing the same thing she had… choosing safety over uncertainty. Choosing the person who was there over the person who might have been.
Look how that turned out for both of them.
The car pulled up to the restaurant's entrance, and Iris stepped out into the cool evening air. Marchand's was exactly as she remembered: understated elegance, soft lighting spilling through tall windows, a doorman who greeted her with a polite nod.
Inside, the maître d' led her through the dining room. The space was intimate, with tables spaced far enough apart for privacy. Soft piano music drifted through the air, and the scent of fresh flowers mixed with the aroma of expensive cuisine.
Sebastian was already there.
He stood as she approached, and Iris felt her breath catch slightly.
He looked... different. Older, yes, but in a way that suited him. The boyish features she remembered had sharpened into something more commanding.
His suit was a tailored, charcoal grey with a subtle pinstripe. But it was his eyes that held her; it was darker than she remembered.
"Ms. Voss," he said in a deeper voice than it used to be.
"Mr. Hale." She extended her hand.
His grip was warm and firm, lingering just a fraction longer than necessary. "Thank you for agreeing to meet."
"Of course." She allowed him to pull out her chair, very much aware of how close he stood as she sat down. "I hear Marchand's has an excellent wine list."
"They do." He settled into his own seat across from her. "Though I took the liberty of ordering a bottle I thought you might like. I hope that's not presumptuous."
"Not at all."
A waiter appeared almost immediately, presenting a bottle of white Burgundy for Sebastian's approval. He nodded, and the waiter poured two glasses before disappearing discreetly.
Sebastian raised his glass. "To renewed partnerships."
"To new beginnings," Iris countered, meeting his eyes over the rim of her glass.
Something flickered in his expression… surprise, maybe, or recognition. They drank, and Iris was grateful for something to do with her hands.
"You look well," Sebastian said after a moment. "Though I imagine the past few days have been... intense."
"That's one word for it." Iris set down her glass. "But I'm managing."
"I heard about what happened at the board meeting. Morgan and Pierce." A hint of a smile played at his lips. "You don't waste time."
"I don't see the point in tolerating theft."
"Neither do I." He leaned back slightly, studying her. "You've changed."
"Have I?"
"You're harder now. Sharper." He paused. "It suits you."
Iris wasn't sure how to respond to that. Part of her wanted to deflect, to keep things professional. But another part… the part that was tired of pretending, wanted to be honest.
"Life has a way of sharpening us," she said quietly. "Whether we want it to or not."
Sebastian's expression softened. "I'm sorry about your divorce, Iris. I know we're here for business, but... I wanted to say that. I'm sorry."
The use of her first name sent an unexpected warmth through her chest. "Thank you. And I'm sorry about Roseline. I should have reached out when I heard, but..."
"You were building a life of your own," he finished. "I understand."
They were quiet for a moment, the weight of shared grief settling between them.
The waiter returned, and they ordered: seared scallops for her, steak for him, falling into easier conversation as their meals arrived.
They talked about the partnership, yes, but also about books they'd read, places they'd travelled, the small details of their lives that had unfolded in separate directions.
"Do you remember the Ashford gala?" Sebastian asked as they worked through their entrees. "Five years ago?"
Iris paused, her fork halfway to her mouth. "I remember."
"You wore a blue dress. Midnight blue, I think. With..."
"Silver embroidery," she finished. "Along the neckline."
"You looked stunning." His voice was quiet. "I wanted to ask you to dance, but my grandmother..."
"Had other plans," Iris said. She'd known, even then, what was coming. Sebastian was being steered toward Roseline, toward the match his family wanted.
And she'd been there with Neil, the man she'd chosen because he was safe, because he wanted her, because Sebastian was already slipping away.
"I think about that night sometimes," Sebastian admitted. "About what might have happened if I'd been braver."
"We can't live in what-ifs," Iris said, though her voice wavered slightly. "We'd drive ourselves mad."
"True." He set down his utensils, leaning forward. "But we can choose what happens next. Can't we?"
Before Iris could answer, Sebastian's phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen and frowned.
"I'm sorry," he said, genuine regret in his voice. "I need to take this."
"Of course."
He swiped to answer. "Yes?" His expression shifted—concern, then something darker. "When?... I see... No, I'll be there in twenty minutes."
He ended the call and looked at Iris apologetically. "I have to leave. There's an emergency with one of our shipments. A delay could cost us millions."
"I understand." Iris kept her voice steady, professional, even as something cold settled in her stomach.
Of course you have to leave.
Sebastian signaled the waiter, already pulling out his wallet. "Please, let me cover this. I'm sorry to cut our evening short."
"It's fine," Iris said, hating how familiar this felt. Being left behind. Being less important than work, than obligations, than whatever else demanded attention.
She knew it wasn't the same as Neil. She knew that logically.
But it felt the same.
"I'll have my office send over the revised proposals by tomorrow," Sebastian said as he stood. "And Iris... I really enjoyed this. I'd like to do it again. Soon."
"We'll see," she said, offering a polite smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
He hesitated, as if sensing her retreat. "I mean it. This wasn't just business for me."
"Wasn't it?"
"No." He held her gaze. "It wasn't."
Before she could respond, he was gone, weaving through the tables toward the exit with the focused urgency of someone whose mind had already moved on to the next problem.
Iris sat alone at the table, staring at her half-finished meal.
The waiter approached. "May I bring you anything else, ma'am?"
"No, thank you." She placed her napkin on the table. "Just the check, please."
"Mr. Hale has already settled the bill."
Of course he had.
Iris gathered her things and made her way through the restaurant, hyper-aware of the couples at other tables, still deep in conversation, still together.
She pushed through the front doors and into the night air, which felt colder now than when she'd arrived.
This is why you focus on business, she reminded herself. Business doesn't leave you sitting alone at a table.
Her car was already waiting, Ace standing by the passenger door.
"How was dinner, Ms. Voss?" he asked as he opened the door for her.
"Productive," she said simply.
She was halfway into the car when a voice cut through the quiet street.
"Excuse me."
Iris turned.
A tall, willowy woman with platinum blonde hair, swept into an elegant upd,o was approaching them. She wore a cream-colored coat over what looked like an expensive evening dress, and her heels clicked sharply against the pavement.
There was something in her expression that Iris didn't like.
"Can I help you?" Iris asked, straightening.
The woman stopped a few feet away, looking Iris up and down with barely concealed disdain. "I saw you with Sebastian."
"And?"
"And I think we should be clear about something." The woman's smile was thin and cold. "Whatever you think might be happening between you two, it's not. Sebastian and I have an understanding. So I'd appreciate it if you'd focus on your business dealings and nothing else."
Iris felt her spine stiffen. "I'm sorry, you are?"
The woman's smile widened, but it never reached her eyes. "Lila. Sebastian's fiancée."