The Coldest Man in the Room Melted Only for Me novel Chapter 568

She stumbled backward, hastily breaking the contact. "Thank you."

Sebastian stared at his empty arms, a flicker of profound emptiness flashing in his eyes. He let his hand drop, his thumb rubbing against his fingers as if trying to preserve the phantom heat of her skin. "I'm glad you're safe."

"Aunt Madeline should be awake now. I'm heading back up."

"Okay."

Riley fled toward the building. Her pulse throbbed wildly in her ears all the way into the elevator, the intoxicating scent of cedar and spice still clinging to her senses.

When she returned to the suite, Madeline was still napping. Genevieve and Lucille Lowell were chatting quietly in the lounge. Genevieve smirked as she walked in. "Why is your face so red?"

A guilty flush deepened Riley's color as she looked at the floor. "It's just the sun outside. A bit too warm."

Genevieve chuckled. "Right. Too warm and too windy."

Riley clamped her mouth shut.

Why did everything that woman said feel like a trap?

After they had dinner, Genevieve asked if she wanted to leave together. Riley shot the offer down immediately. "No, I'm going to stay with Aunt Madeline a little longer."

Sebastian was still waiting downstairs, and she simply didn't have the courage to face him a second time.

Genevieve gave a knowing smile, but didn't push the issue. She bid Madeline goodbye and left.

Thursday rolled around.

Following her new routine, Riley turned on the TV to a financial news network while sitting on the padded mat to play with Alora.

The anchor's crisp voice suddenly cut through the room. "Breaking news tonight. The highly anticipated shareholder meeting at the Statenbury multinational conglomerate, St. John Global, has concluded.

"After intense corporate jockeying, Sebastian St. John has successfully consolidated his shares, seizing absolute control and officially returning as CEO of St. John Global.

"The internal power struggles that have plagued the firm in recent weeks are expected to end immediately following today's restructuring."

Riley froze, her hand hovering over her daughter's. She snapped her eyes to the screen just as it cut to B-roll footage of the St. John Global headquarters. A fleeting clip from the boardroom flashed, showing Sebastian seated at the absolute head of the table. There was no close-up, just a brief, wide shot.