The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 261

Pierce placed the wine glass in front of Riley. "Who is it? Why aren't you answering?"

For some reason, Pierce's question triggered a flash of those intimate, ambiguous dreams she had about Sebastian. A sudden, inexplicable wave of guilt washed over her. "I need to use the restroom." She stood up, gripping her phone, and walked quickly toward the hallway.

Pierce watched her retreating figure, confusion knotting his brow. Whose call was it, and why did she have to hide to take it?

In the corridor outside the restrooms, Riley answered the phone. "Sebastian, is something wrong?"

"Can't I call you just to chat?" The man's deep voice came through, laced with a hint of teasing.

Riley paused, unsure of how to respond. Then, she heard her daughter's babbling in the background. "Alora? Are you at The Grand Regency?"

"Yes."

Riley remembered Sebastian saying last night that he wanted to come see Alora, but it was too late so he hadn't gone up. Had he missed seeing her last night and come over again tonight? "Is Alora being good?"

"Very good." He paused, then asked, "You went back to Riverport?"

"Yes."

"How many days are you staying?"

"Three days," Riley answered, only belatedly wondering why Sebastian was asking. It didn't really concern him, did it? Oh well, he was probably just making conversation.

"Text me when you head back. I'll pick you up at the airport."

Riley was speechless.

The previous question might have been casual, but picking her up at the airport? He couldn't be saying that casually.

Given his elite status, there were very few people he would personally pick up. She remembered during Eleanor Hayes St. John's eightieth birthday, the entire Landon family went over, including Arthur Landon Sr., and Sebastian hadn't personally received them at the airport. He had arranged for Franklin Finch to do it.

Who dared to get close to his woman and his child!

Pierce's fingers curled into tight fists, the knuckles popping. After a moment, he released his grip, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number. "Find out who went to Apartment 1501, Building 2 of The Grand Regency. Now. Immediately!"

Back at the table, Riley stared at the caller ID in her call log for a moment. Then, driven by some inexplicable impulse, she changed the contact name from just "Sebastian" to a more formal "Mr. St. John."

Using his first name so casually, combined with those dreams...

It felt far too forbidden.

But Riley would never admit that was the reason she changed the name.

Sebastian had said it himself—she and Pierce were divorced, so referring to him as her brother-in-law was inappropriate. Yes, that was the only reason she felt flustered.