The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 539

Riley naturally kept her real thoughts completely hidden. "I saw the news," she replied smoothly. "I was worried you'd be upset, so I wanted to come keep you company."

A flash of understanding warmed his eyes. "My girlfriend is incredibly thoughtful."

Hearing him call her his girlfriend made her heart ache violently. She quickly lowered her eyes, unable to hold his intense, loving gaze for too long. "Let's eat, or the food is going to get cold."

"Alright." He pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth before finally stepping over to the sink to wash his hands.

At the dinner table, Riley hovered over him—peeling his shrimp, pouring his soup, and carefully picking the bones out of his fish.

Noticing she hadn't touched a single bite of her own food and was completely focused on serving him, Sebastian stopped her. "Eat your own food. I can take care of myself."

A faint smile touched her lips. "I already ate at home with Mrs. Gable."

Watching the rare softness settle over Sebastian's features, Franklin couldn't help but mentally applaud. Riley really was the only one who could do this. Since the board meeting that morning when he was violently ousted, the boss's face had been a mask of pure, terrifying ice. The aura he radiated could have literally frozen the room.

He had spent the entire day in absolute silence, refusing to say a single unnecessary word. He had been as cold and unapproachable as a glacier. It was only the second he laid eyes on Riley that the terrifying frost surrounding him began to thaw.

Franklin quickly shoveled the rest of his food into his mouth and put his bowl down. "I'm full. I'm going to take a walk to digest." With that, he practically ran out the door, leaving the two of them alone.

A little while later, Sebastian finished his meal.

Riley stood up to clear the table.

He caught her hand. "I've got it."

"It's fine. I've been sitting at home for days doing absolutely nothing. I'm going crazy from the boredom. If you have work to do, go do it."

To make it back in time for dinner, he did have a few loose ends to tie up. "I'll be in the study. Come find me when you're done."

"Okay."

After finishing in the kitchen, Riley sliced a plate of fruit and carried it to the study. The door was cracked open. She saw Sebastian hunched over the desk, reading through a stack of documents. His brows were pulled tightly together in obvious frustration, and he kept rubbing his temples, though she couldn't tell if it was from sheer exhaustion or a headache.

He was usually incredibly composed, a man who never let his emotions show. For his frustration to be this obvious, the absolute nightmare of his current situation was definitely tearing him apart.