She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 987

"I'd love to," Melanie agreed immediately.

Sebastian smiled, adding smoothly, "However, there's only one guest spot available. So... it might not be convenient for your assistant to tag along."

Sebastian's eyes locked with Preston's. He tried to read the pitch-black depths of the man's gaze, attempting to decipher exactly who he was dealing with.

He failed.

Instead, Sebastian felt a chilling sensation, as if Preston were the one casually dissecting *his* soul. Unsettled, Sebastian quickly broke eye contact.

The arrangement was settled: Melanie would attend Sebastian's lecture at Ruben Isle Medical University at 10 AM the next day.

Originally, Melanie and Preston hadn't planned on spending the night on Ruben Isle. They hadn't been sure if their attempt to establish contact with Sebastian would even work. But now, the plan was progressing flawlessly.

After the banquet wrapped up, Preston led Melanie straight to the elevators.

The third through seventh floors of The Saint-Clair Auditorium operated as a luxury hotel. Since they hadn't booked a room in advance, Preston simply secured one at the front desk.

It was one of the most expensive hotels on the island, which explained why they still had vacancies at the last minute.

"Why did you only book one room?" Melanie asked, looking over her shoulder at Preston as they stood before their door.

"It was either 'they only had one room left' or 'I wanted to save money.' Which excuse do you prefer?"

Melanie burst out laughing. Even though they were booking last minute, the rates here were astronomical. The idea that there was only one room left was mathematically impossible.

And Preston wanting to save money?

That was even more laughable.

"If you don't give me a real answer, I'm leaving." Melanie turned to walk away, but before she could take a step, Preston's arm shot out, bracing against the doorframe, pinning her against the wall.

Trapped between the solid wood of the door and Preston's imposing frame, Melanie held her breath, refusing to look up. If she met those eyes—the ones that looked at her with such desperate, overwhelming devotion—she knew she'd make a mistake.

Preston's muscular arms effectively sealed off any escape route. Melanie instinctively shrank back, her head almost brushing against his solid chest.

The air between them thickened, the atmosphere rapidly turning suffocatingly intimate.

To her relief, the room was a full suite. Two separate bedrooms meant two beds.

She let out a long exhale, the tension finally leaving her shoulders.

"Feel better now?" Preston's deep, magnetic voice hummed from behind her.

Truthfully, Melanie had never worried that Preston would force himself on her. They had lived as roommates under the same roof for a long time, after all.

But it was also true that ever since their breakup, Preston had used every excuse in the book to get close to her, fully aware of her boundaries.

Melanie knew Preston loved her. She knew he struggled to control himself around her.

Which meant she had to be the one in control.

Taking a deep breath to steady her racing heart, she threw on a mask of cool indifference.

"I'm taking the inner bedroom. You sleep out here."