Chapter 86
Cecilia’s pov
I raised an eyebrow as I spotted her.
So this was Remy’s game.
Alpha Sebastian walked toward the gathering.
I hung back deliberately, knowing better than to follow too closely.
This was supposed to be a wine tasting, but inserting myself would seem strange.
One misstep and I might find myself unwillingly recruited as the eleventh beauty of the evening.
Then I’d have to deal with unwanted touches on my hands and legs.
Even with Alpha Sebastian’s protection, the damage would be done, and I couldn’t exactly smash a wine bottle over someone’s head in retaliation.
Besides, I had a more important mission tonight:
[Mind these people who try to slip anything into Alpha Sebastian’s drink p>
I positioned myself where I could observe the entire room’s dynamics without being too conspicuous.
The great hall was arranged with several sofas forming a massive square, with multiple coffee tables placed at staggered intervals between them.
When Alpha Sebastian approached, he ignored the seat Remy had specifically reserved for him, choosing instead a single armchair.
The message was crystal clear: Don’t crowd me.
Remy’s smile faltered noticeably.
He recovered quickly, changing his own position to sit at the diagonal across from Sebastian, making it easier to converse.
The other guests followed suit, each trying to secure spots closer to the two powerful figures, especially Alpha Sebastian.
Despite their efforts, he remained aloof, barely acknowledging them, even glancing at his phone.
I shifted my gaze and noticed Remy’s secretary playing bartender again.
One of the so-called dignitaries seized the opportunity to grab her backside, his expression disgustingly lecherous.
She didn’t protest, only responding with a coquettish smile, though I detected clear revulsion behind her practiced expression.
She was hiding it well—almost perfectly—but I knew that look.
When she turned to serve Alpha Sebastian his drink, he took it with a polite nod.”Thank you,” he said, his tone calm but distant.
Across from him, Remy swirled his wine glass with one hand. His smile was smooth, but his eyes were anything but friendly.
“Alpha Sebastian,” he said, “this wine is from my private collection. I opened it just for you. Properly decanted, of course. Please—try it p>
Alpha Sebastian lifted the glass, examined its color, brought it to his nose, and finally took a small sip. “Hmm. It’s acceptable p>
His tone was casual, his expression neutral.
The other guests were clearly ready to pour on the praise, especially the four so-called celebrities. One of them—apparently a famous artist—looked like he might offer to paint the whole scene.
But Alpha Sebastian just nodded like it was no big deal, turning a hundred-thousand-dollar bottle into something you’d find on sale at the local store.
Alpha Sebastian appeared completely oblivious to the discomfort he’d caused.
He reclined with casual elegance, holding his wine glass without any apparent intention of taking another sip.
His cool eyes drifted toward a corner of the outdoor pool area.
Noticing where Sebastian’s attention had wandered, Remy followed his gaze. A knowing smile spread across his face.
This was Remy’s carefully prepared trump card.
“Ask Mindy to come in,” Remy instructed his secretary with a slight tilt of his head.
The secretary stepped out, returning a few minutes later with a young woman in tow.
She wore a soft lavender dress that fell just below her knees—simple, elegant, and quietly striking against her fair skin.
Her thick, dark hair fell in loose waves down her back, and her face was bare of makeup, yet radiant in a way only youth could offer.
A touch of softness still lingered around her cheeks, and her wide, clear eyes flicked nervously toward Alpha Sebastian, like a deer sensing danger but too curious to run.
Around the room, the four famous men turned to look at her—interest flickering in their eyes like moths to a flame.
I looked at her, thinking.
Alpha Sebastianhad looked outside earlier—was that when he saw her?
Was he seriously interested?
That didn’t seem likely.
Even if we didn’t talk about his preferences, this whole setup was way too obvious. T
here’s no way he didn’t notice.
“That is Alpha Sebastian,” Remy said with a smile. “Mindy, say hello p>
“Hello, Alpha Sebastian. I’m Mindy,” she said softly.
Her voice was shy and a little awkward.
But with a girl like her—so sweet and innocent—that just made the men like her even more.
Alpha Sebastian didn’t say a word. He just gave her the smallest smile.
“Mindy, go ahead and pick a seat,” Remy told her.
“Okay she said, hesitating.
She looked around slowly, unsure of where to go.
When her eyes met those of the celebrity men, she froze. Her hands started to shake, and her breath came faster.
She looked like she might cry.
Then the men started calling out to her.
“Mindy, sit with me! You ignored me last night—I was heartbroken p>
“Don’t believe him! He had a great time. I’m the one who missed you. I couldn’t sleep at all p>
“They’re just playing games, Mindy. Come sit with me—I’ll keep you safe p>
A few of them even stood up, reaching toward her.
Mindy stepped back and hid behind the secretary, her wide eyes turning to Alpha Sebastianlike she was begging for help.
To her, he was clearly the only man in the room who still seemed “safe p>
I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
So this wasn’t just an impromptu pool party—they’d been rehearsing this little drama since yesterday.
From character development to plot progression. How elaborate.
I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes.
So this wasn’t just some random poolside scene.
They’d been planning this little drama since yesterday?
From character setup to story timing.
These people were serious.
But even a beginner could spot the holes in this performance.
There were tons of empty seats.
Why did she have to choose one near the guys who were practically drooling over her?
Were all the other chairs covered in nails?
And seriously—why did she think Alpha Sebastian was the good guy?
Was it just because he was the best-looking?
Okay, fine. It’s kind of an unspoken rule—if you’re a helpless, pretty girl, you run to the hottest guy in the room.
Still, the way she looked at him was like she was pledging loyalty to a king or something.
“Stop scaring Mindy,” the secretary said, stepping in front of her protectively.
She leaned in and whispered, “Quick, just pick a seat before they p>
She didn’t finish, but her eyes said everything—Go. Save yourself.
She left the sentence unfinished, her eyes silently urging the girl to save herself.
Blinking back tears, Mindy hurried to Alpha Sebastian’s side and asked nervously, “May I sit here p>
Alpha Sebastian was in a single armchair, a fact she seemed to have just realized. She gazed at him with a helpless, trapped expression, silently begging him to find a solution.
“You can Alpha Sebastian began slowly, pausing deliberately before finishing with unexpected kindness, squat p>