chapter 35 – The Time of Reckoning
Liam and Sebastian walked robotically together, Sebastian’s thoughts numb from what had just happened, the wine had left his suit still wet, and the clinging oder seemed to be making his embarrassment. Without saying a word, he arrived at hisar, climbed into the driver’s seat. Imechanically opened the door.
Liam bent at the window, his are fed with worry, not wanting to abandon his friend in such a vulnerable state,
“You good, ben?” he asked gently. Sebastian nodded, though his expression betrayed his attempt at composure.
Liam hesitated, then sighed.
“Man, I’m sorry about all that
“It’s not your fault” Sebastian said after a long pause, his voice heavy with defeat,
“In was mine”
Liam parted him on the shoulder, giving him a small squeeze of transurance,
“call me if you need anything alright?”
Sebastian nodded slightly, turned on the car, and drove away. The journey bome was a haze. His thoughts seemed to be consumed by darkness, which contrasted with the brilliance of the city lights that poured past him, he parked in! udhiveway, turned off the car, and went into his house
Sebastian gave a shuddering sigh as the door shut behind him. After stumbling to his bedroom and landing face–first on the bed, he left his keys on the counter. He lay there staring at nothing for a time, the place so quiet it was deafening.
Then came the tears, reluctant and slow at first, then silent sobbing, his face was buried in the pillow, and he held on to it tightly as though it could somehow absorb the overwhe feeling of regret and shame.
The weeping eventually stopped. With his head thumping, he sat up and made the decision to shower. As the hot water poured over him, it removed the night’s physical dict but did little to pity the inside turmoil, he kept thinking about the consequences of his actions as he washed his hair.
ould he still have a job? Or had Jamb already fired him after witnessing that spectacle? Would he ever regain his dignity, or was it too late? The questions churned in his mind like a storm.
Sebastian felt as though he hadn’t slept at all when he woke up the following morning. His head was hazy with fear, and his limbs were heavy, still, he hauled himself from bed, got dressed, and lett. He made a coffee stop at a cafe on his way to work.
He could feel the pressure of multiple eyes on him as soon as he entered. While some patrons were openly looking, others were stealing peeks over their cups and whispering to each other,
They must have heard about last night, he thought bitterly.
Ignoring the whispers, he snatched up his coffee and rushed back to his car. It was more of the same when he got to the office. As he passed through the building, coworkers looked at each other, some even laughed and heads turned Determined to push through the day, he clenched his fats and felt his polse quicken.
He prepared for the worst as he walked over to his desk. He half anticipated to discover his possessions in a box, which was a clear indication that jacob had made the decision to release him. He was surprised, however, to find his desk untouched.
With a trembling breath, he sat down. Perhaps, just possibly, he could have salvaged this mess.
“Bro, are you good?” Liam’s voice broke through Sebastian’s thoughts.
He looked up to see his fund standing by his desk, concern etched across his face
“Yeah” Sebastian said, forcing a weak smile.
“Thanks, man
“Have you seen the uh, the news?” Liam asked cautiously and Sebastian frowned,
“What news?”
Liam handed him the phone, and Sebastian’s heart sank as he read the headlines displayed on the screen,
“Duped Groom’s Mistress Confronts Him at Work Party!”
“Groom Cheats, and Bride–to–Be Leaves Him for His Bod!”
*Man Patronines Sex Worker Before Wedding, Refuses to Pay!”
There were innumerable pictures and videos from the night before beneath each headine, which became worse every time. Sebastian’s shocked expression, the spilled wine, and Emily’s dramatic altercation were all caught on camera and shared on gossip websites and social media.
His stomach fell, it was all over his face, his name, his embarrassment. Liam clumsily scratched the back of his neck,
#Ir’s, uh, gone viral Exen a couple of newspapers picked it up”
As Sebastian read through the pieces, which were
fall of gossip and mockery, his jaw tensed. Even worse were the comments, which were full of cruel accusack and decisive laughs. As the gravity of the situation set in, he sat back in his chair and ran a hand through his hair, his reputation, job, and life were all collapsing in front of him And as if things couldn’t get any worse, he realized one cold, undeniable truth, this was only the beginning.
