Sebastian forgot himself for a brief moment as the faint scent of the woman's floral perfume wafted through his nose.
He was surprised by the rush of emotions surging through him. He hadn't felt this way in years, ever since the onset of his unusual allergy. The woman appeared slightly taken aback by his sudden presence, but she quickly composed herself.
Her lips curved into a sweet smile as she replied politely. "Well, sir. It seems our cars had an unfortunate collision because I was distracted earlier. Thankfully, no one appears to be injured. I'm really sorry for any inconvenience I may have caused you."
"Hmph! I see," Sebastian nodded, his gaze still fixed on her.
Meanwhile, Kourtney Allen was stupefied as she stared up at the man big, tall man. She was a full 5ft10, which was more than average for a lady's height. But standing in front of him still made her feel tiny, like a dwarf.
What's worse?
The man's appearance was more than breathtaking—A Greek god who seemed to have walked straight out of a painting.
Her cheeks turned a fresh shade of red as she met his gaze once more.
"Yeah... Um... Again, I'm sorry about the collision. I was telling your driver here that I was willing to cover the cost of the damages if you don't mind," she said smoothly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ears.
Sebastian gulped.
"What's your name?" he said with a slightly husky voice.
"Uh??"
"Your name," he replied with a hint of annoyance.
He hated repeating himself, and he was growing impatient, wanting to know more about her and where she came from.
"Kourt... Kourtney Allen," she finally blurted out.
"Hmmmm," was his only reply.
Meanwhile, Kourtney guessed he asked for her name to get the insurance information he needed for the car repairs.
"You don't have to worry, Sir. I'm not running away. I already said I'd pay for the repair cost because I don't like to owe debts. So let us handle the necessary formalities through our insurance companies."
"Sure," Sebastian said haughtily, his superiority evident in that one syllable.
His eyes never left her face as he studied her closely.
Her beautiful eyes were kind of red and misty, which showed that she had probably been crying a lot. He wondered what had made her cry, and his heart clenched with concern and anger.
Who hurt her?
She was a stunner at first glance, a complete beauty. But still, Sebastian was surprised at how transfixed he was.
Finding this woman attractive was a baffling and rare occurrence, given his usual aversion to such feelings. He hadn't felt such kind of attraction to anyone in a long time, not since the onset of his unusual allergy to the opposite sex.
It had been seven long years since Sebastian had this condition, which baffled medical professionals and left him feeling isolated and frustrated.
Every encounter with women triggered severe allergic reactions, and he ended up in the ICU most of the time. Sometimes, he wouldn't even need to go near to feel it. Just a mere glance at them made him feel disgusted and sick to his stomach. He couldn't control it either.
That forced him to distance himself from any potential romantic relationships. Over time, he had learned to bury his longing for companionship and focus solely on growing his business empire.
He had grown accustomed to a life of solitude and had made peace with it.
But now, standing before her, he didn't feel nauseous or repulsive standing before her. Instead, he wanted to go closer.
Sebastian then thought of something.
There was only one way to be sure if she indeed did not have the allergic effect on him. He couldn't contain his curiosity and was willing to risk it, seemingly because his assistant and bodyguards were here in case anything went wrong.
He managed to put up a charming smile, hoping to mask the sudden surge of emotions within him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," he said calmly, extending his hand in greeting.
"Same here."
She reciprocated with an innocent, warm smile and a gentle handshake, sending a wave of anticipation through Sebastian's veins.
As her soft and delicate hand touched him, a fleeting moment of fear and uncertainty passed through his mind. He braced himself, expecting the familiar signs of his allergic reaction to kick in—nausea, skin rashes, difficulty breathing, or worse.
The seconds passed like hours as they stood there, their hands intertwined. And to his astonishment, there was nothing odd. Not even a single symptom arose. His body remained calm and composed, unaffected by the sight and touch of this enchanting woman.
His assistant, driver, and bodyguards all exchanged puzzled glances. They were all well that he couldn't have skin contact with females or be too close.
He could feel their bewildered eyes on him and the woman who, for some inexplicable reason, had not triggered his allergy.
What left him more amazed was that he knew he certainly hadn't been cured. Just this afternoon, at a meeting, he felt the allergy building up when a female assistant of a board member approached to hand him some documents. He coldly asked her to back away and hand it over to one of his male assistants.
Could it be that this woman had some kind of immunity that shielded him from his allergy?
Sebastian couldn't believe what was happening. A glimmer of hope sparked within him, a flicker of possibility that he could have a normal life again.
As they released their handshake, Sebastian's gaze locked with hers. He thought about how this might be the only chance he could get. An opportunity he couldn't afford to let slip away from his hands.
He excused himself and walked to his assistant Jamie who quickly handed him a notepad. He did a quick glance through various articles and profiles containing information about "Kourtney Allen."
After confirming her identity as the eldest daughter of the Allen family, Sebastian was relieved. She had a solid background as well as a clean record, free of any scandalous activities that could potentially harm his reputation.
It was funny though, that she did not recognize him despite being from the upper class. But somehow, he loved having that air of mystery
With the reassurance he needed, Sebastian turned around and made his way to her once again.
"So... Miss, you said the accident happened because you were distracted just now?" He asked the woman with a devilish glint in his eyes.
His scheming mind was coming up with a plan at the moment.
"Ah... Yes, sir, I had a lot on my mind. And I'm deeply sorry once again," Kourtney replied, bowing slightly in remorse.
She almost lost her life and hurt other people as well. All because of those traitors, Brandon, and her pathetic excuse of a sister.
Sebastian's voice was icy and cold as he replied. "Well... Your sorry won't bring back my brand-new 6 million dollar Rolls-Royce. When do you intend to pay for it?"
"Ex...excuse me??"
"You heard me! That car your reckless driving just damaged is worth 6 million dollars. Would your "sorry" get me a new one?"
Kourtney's heart pounded in her chest as she heard his snooty words. She took a glance at the car, and the logo was a type that was rare and looked exquisite.
"Well? Did you really think this is the type of car a silly insurance could cover?" The man added with a hint of mockery in his tone.
"I... I." Kourtney was lost for words.
When she had boosted earlier about paying for the damages, she hadn't considered the kind of car it was. She didn't even look at it that much to realize it was a custom-made Rolls-Royce.
Only a few people in Melbourne could afford this sort of machine and get a government-issued pass to drive it around.
Was this man implying she should pay him back such a whooping amount? Where would she get such kind of money?
The man glanced at his wristwatch impatiently. "So, Miss, how do you intend to pay me back for the car? As you can see, I don't have all day."
Kourtney thought, 'So he is serious?'
When she first saw him, he looked somewhat familiar, like one of those wealthy and famous big shots. Even his superiority and entitlement made her uneasy. The way he looked down at her as if she were beneath him sent a shiver down her spine.
Still, she mustered up the courage to reply, determined not to let him intimidate her any further. "I apologize, Sir, but I don't have the means to pay such a substantial amount right now. I can offer you what I have and work out a payment plan. But please understand, it will take time."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed by her words. "Time, huh? Miss, I expect immediate compensation for the inconvenience you've caused me. I don't have time to spare," his voice was laced with arrogance.
Kourtney couldn't believe just how insensitive and heartless he was. Asking her to pay such a lofty amount of money for his car was sheer wickedness. Besides, why couldn't he just opt for repairs instead of wanting a new one? Even her own car was damaged as well!
"Once again, I'm sorry, Sir. But I don't have that kind of money to pay you immediately," Kourtney replied, trying her best to sound polite despite her inner thoughts filled with contempt.
"Ha! But you just said it yourself. That you don't like to owe debts."
"Yeah, but that was before I noticed the kind of vehicle I collided with. Besides, it was just an accident. I mean, my car even got damaged too."
"Then... I'm afraid I'd have to call the cops and sue you for your reckless driving. That can also be classified as attempted murder since it almost cost my life." Sebastian replied coldly before turning away towards the new car his bodyguards already brought over to take him home.
"Are you kidding me?? How can this be classified as an attempted murder? I'm sure you won't have a case." Kourtney bit back in anger as she followed him, tugging at his suit.
He halted in his steps and fixed his sharp gaze on her hands, now holding his right arm. There was a profound and intense look in his eyes.
"I have the best lawyers working for me, so we'll see how that plays out. I'm pretty sure you'll end up in jail. So either pay me, or we settle this in court," Sebastian was even more arrogant now, his confidence radiating from every word.
He would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, even if he had to blackmail her like this. She was the first woman who hadn't repulsed him in years. He just couldn't let her slip away as he thought this might be the only chance he could get.
Meanwhile, Kourtney's grip on Sebastian's arm tightened as frustration and anger coursed through her veins. This man was indeed ruthless, and she wanted to cry. 'What an arrogant jerk!'
Just from his noble temperament and arrogant demeanor, she could tell he was rich and powerful. If she gets sued, her chances of winning the case against him would be quite slim.
She also came from a pretty wealthy family, YES, but lately, she hasn't been getting enough pocket money from her parents as she used to. Each time she complained about this, she'd be reminded about their family business, "The Allen Corporation," experiencing a drop in revenue.
She also had a good part-time job as an event planner, but she'd have to work hard for years and years, planning hundreds of events before she could be able to pay him for the car.
She cracked her brain and thought deeply about the situation and found that she was already at a loss.
She just had a pretty intense dispute with her parents and probably the entire family over the two-timing of Brandon and Kathlyn. Going back to her parents to ask for such an amount of money after what just happened would be like another slap to her face.
Besides, she already planned to go away and not have anything to do with them... for now.
"Sir, I... Please, I'm begging you. This accident was just an unfortunate event. Please let me off just this one time. I promise to be a more responsible driver from now on," Kourtney protested sweetly and pouted her cute lips together.
She hated the fact that she was downright at his mercy right now. But she simply had no other choice.
Possibly, if she acted cute, this handsome and rich stranger would let her off.
"Hmph! Perhaps there are other ways you can make it up to me. Since you can't afford it, you're indebted to me now. But you said you don't like to owe debts. So, maybe, I can only let you off on one condition," Sebastian finally spoke up.
His voice carried a hint of mischief, and a sly smile played on his lips.
He always enjoyed having the upper hand, being in control of every situation, and relishing in the domination he held. His intense eyes still glinted with a predatory gleam.
"And what condition could it possibly be, Mr. Pricey Car Owner?" Kourtney asked with a sneer, not caring if he sensed her disdain anymore.
"It's quite simple, actually. And would completely clear off your debt. You'd also benefit... a lot. Consider it my act of benevolence."
Kourtney was getting impatient now, "Yeah, so what is it?"
After a moment of suspense, he leaned in closer and spoke in a low, calculated tone.
"Marry Me!"
"....."