The sun hung low over the city, casting long shadows across the rooftop café where the wealthy came to pretend they weren’t bored. You were already seated, legs crossed, iced espresso in hand. He was late.

The iced espresso touched your lips as Sebastian finally slid into the seat across from you. No greeting, no apology. Just that smirk, the one girls lost sleep over.

“Let me guess,” you said, voice low, eyes locked on his. “This is the part where I’m supposed to melt.”

“No,” he said smoothly. “This is the part where you pretend not to.”

You almost laughed. Almost. Instead, you tilt your head slightly, studying him like a bored cat eyeing a bird it’s already caught. He was good. Smooth. But not invincible.

“You really think this is going to work?” you asked, gently tapping your straw against the rim of your glass. “You think I’m some charity case? Some lonely girl waiting for the big bad Valmont to kiss the pain away?”

“I think,” he says, tracing the rim of his glass with one finger, “you’re smarter than the last ten girls who fell for me combined. Which is exactly why I picked you.”

“Correction,” you say, crossing your legs slowly, deliberately. “You bet on me.”

For a brief moment, the smirk on his face faltered. Just a flicker. Barely there, but you saw it. The mask cracked. He knew you knew.

He leans in.

“So, you heard.”

You tilt your head. “Heard what? That I’m just another challenge? That if I fall in love before Labor Day, you win some twisted game with your stepsister? It’s a bit sick by the way.”

“Kathryn likes to keep things interesting.”

“And you like to keep people stupid.”

He studies you for a long second. Then he exhales a soft laugh, shaking his head.

“I underestimated you.”