Chapter 16

It's been a week since we came back to the city and what a crazy week it's been. Ever since we announced our engagement Sebastian has had more calls and offers since they would assume Santiago company would now be affiliated with Sebastian . I didn't understand the whole business aspect of us getting married, but I was just keeping up my end of the bargain and going along with it. As long as my father was being cared for that's all that mattered to me.  Sebastian and I had just finished a couple meetings so I was in the middle of sorting through his papers many papers. I turned in the rolling chair and opened the filing cabinet drawer to pull out some papers for tomorrow's meeting. I set Hey them on my desk and started sorting through all of them. He needed specific ones of course. After going through a little more than half the pile, I came across the envelope with 'PRIVATE' written across it I had put in there almost a month ago with full intent of returning it back to Sebastian , but forgot.  I bit my bottom lip, debating on whether or not I should open it.  Maybe it wasn't a mistake? I tried to convince myself that this was a good idea and there'd be no consequences. I mean, what's the worst that could be in there?  That was enough reasoning for me.  I looked around the room, making sure I wasn't being watched. I opened the top of it, pulling the papers from their  envelope. I looked at the first page and read it.  Pictures, notes, and other papers against Santiago Sterling and Olivia Sterling are all in this file. Keep in mind that these were taken over the course of a year and seven months. Any further questions you know where to reach me.  My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I began flipping through the pages. The next few pages had photographs in a bundle that nearly fell to the ground. I set the rest of the papers down and looked through the photos. They were mainly of Santiago walking in and out of various places, often looking extremely sketchy. My mother was in a few of the photographs as well.  I nearly gasped when I saw the photo of me. I was in Arizona, at a restaurant my friends and I often went to. In the photo I was laughing, surrounded by Amelia and my friend, Tim.I remember that night, it was a little over a year ago. A bunch of us had gotten together since we were about a month away from graduating college.  I continued flipping though and seeing more photos of me. They were pictures of me going to work, talking to people, even entering my home. I felt overwhelmed as I continued looking and even had to stop.  Why does he have all these?  I shook my head, furious. I needed an explanation, now. I collected all the photos and papers, swinging the door open to his office. He was sat at his desk, now looking up at me with confusion on his stupid handsome face.  "What the hell are these?" I questioned sharply, tossing all the files in front of him on the desk.  He looked down at the photos, picking them up and sighing. "Chris-"  "Don't Christy me. Tell me," I demanded.   He sighed and stood from his desk to walk around, standing a few feet away from me. "These weren't for you to see."  I scoffed. "You're really not helping yourself."  He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "No, I mean, well yes these weren't for you to see, but I meant this wasn't meant to be weird or anything." He fumbled with his words making me even more skeptical. "This file was about Santiago . He has something that he loves to hold against me, Christiana . I needed a leverage,"  His words hurt and only confirmed my fears. "You really are using me. All the bullshit compliments and you.. you k-kissing me? What are you trying to pull?" I spat. I wanted to slap him at this point. I didn't know if I'd be able to stay here with him after all of this.  "No, Christy , listen to me." He walked over to me, his hands grasping at my arms.  I tried to step away from his grip, but he held on tighter almost bringing me into his chest. "Let go," I said, trying to sound strong.  He shook his head. "Please, I wasn't and I would never use you."  "Then why do you have all those photos of me? What did you want to know?"  "I needed to know Santiago’s weakness, but I knew that wasn't you." He said. "It's John, but I'd never use your brother like that. He's just a child."  "What does Santiago have over you?" I asked, searching for something to redeem him from my thoughts.  He let go of me to rake a hand through his hair. "I told you my parents were from France." He started and I nodded. "Well thirty years ago it was much easier to migrate to America. My mother and father did it, but years later something went wrong with their visa's and my father did something very illegal." He turned away from me and rubbed the side of his face.  "He was just starting the company and returning back to France really wasn't an option. He went through these men that made it appear that him and my mom were actual citizens, basically stating that they were born and raised here. Recently, and I have no idea how, but Santiago got ahold of that information. Most likely because Santiago doesn't hang around men you'd ever want to know." Seb’s voice was strained and his facial features furrowed from his frustration. "If Santiago releases the files, that it. The company will be gone and all my parents work will be for nothing. They'll be forced to go back and won't be allowed to return."  I shook my head, disgusted that Santiago would even threaten to do this. "This is horrible. Seb, I am so sorry."  "But I needed you to marry me, not to merge the companies, but to keep him from doing that to my family. I have no intention of hurting you. In fact I've grown quite fond of you." He said with a small smile. "I care about you, Christy ." His warm hands now held mine. "and if Olivia pulls the deal, I'll pay for your father's treatment anyway. No offense but your mother and her husband are terrible people."  I laughed lightly and nodded. "Yeah they are," Sebastian was thrown into a mess just as I was with the Sterling family. It was time to put an end to it all. "What are you going to do?" I asked.  "I have a plan," he started. "Once we're married I plan on fully taking over Sterling Enterprises."  I raised an eyebrow. "How do you intend on doing that?"  He smirked. "I have this," he let go of my hands and opened a drawer in his desk, pulling out a file and handing it to me. "open it." He said.  I looked up at him before looking back down at the file. They were bank accounts from too many places to count. Not only with his name, but my mother's and John’s . "What are all these?" I asked.  "He's filling these accounts illegally from selling drugs in South America."  My eyes went wide. "He's what?!"  Seb pointed to the one with John’s name. "He's using your brother's and mother's name to cover up his own ass. The people he has working for him fill his bank account and he takes the money."  "This is insane," I breathed out as I continued flipping through all the pages. There were at least fifty different accounts. "But if you hold this over him won't he just release the information about your parents?"  He shook his head. "This is a game of who draws first."  I shook my head, closing the file. "This is a dangerous game, Seb. The people he's associated with could come after you."  He smirked. "You're worried about me?"  I rolled my eyes. "Yeah sorry if I don't want you to die."  He chuckled. "I'll be okay, I'll up my security."  "This really is crazy. Does Olivia know?"  "No, and she won't know. That woman can't keep a secret to save her life."  I nodded in agreement. "Well, I'm glad you have a plan at least." I was trying to find something positive.  His hands gripped my hips and brought me closer to him. "Don't worry, Christy . This is all a mess, but it's my mess."  I looked at him with obvious worry. "Please be careful."  He raised his hand to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "I will," most people would be assured by his promise of being okay, but I wasn't. I knew my mother and how heartless she could be. Santiago isn't any different and might even be worse.  Sebastian started leaning forward and I felt his minty breath fan over my face, taking me out of my thoughts. "What are you doing?" My voice barely above a whisper. His close proximity made any rational thoughts disappear.  "This," with that he leaned down to kiss me. It had been too long since we kissed. I missed the feel of him being so close to me. I didn't want to think about anything going on right now. I didn't want to think about anything but this moment right now.  But a knock on the door brought me back to reality and I pulled away.  "Were always being interrupted." He groaned pecking my lips one more time before adjusting his tie and walking over to open the doors. He was handed some papers and the door shut. "Now, where were we?" He asked, reaching out for me  I swatted his hands and smiled. "Not here," I scolded.  He smirked. "You didn't have a problem with it a minute ago.  I rolled my eyes and turned to walk away. "Get back to work, Mr. Knight."  He gave me a wink before I shut the door to his office.