The next day, the entire Woods Corporation was abuzz with excitement and curiosity. As soon as the news of their CEO's unexpected marriage was made known on the company's website, shockwaves rippled through the 80-story building.
Sebastian had been notoriously private about his personal life, and no one at the company had even an inkling that he was involved with someone, let alone getting married.
The employees couldn't help but gather in groups, whispering and speculating about the mysterious woman who had captioned the heart of their 'Stone-Hearted CEO.'
"Can you believe it? President Woods, of all people, got married!" one of them exclaimed with an animated expression.
"Did you see the shiny diamond ring on his finger? Another female staff replied, shaking her head in disbelief.
Everyone knew Sebastian so well. Even with the number of women begging for his attention, he refused to bat an eyelid at them, talk more of dating anyone for years now. So it was so shocking to them that he got married.
"I wonder who she is! But what if she's really someone from the office? You know, like those office romance fairytale stories where the billionaire CEO falls in love with an employee, and they marry secretly," one of them wondered aloud.
They all giggled, imagining scenarios of a secret romance blossoming in the office.
"Yes, I always thought he had a soft spot for our beautiful Director Rachel Lind, you know. Maybe she's the one he married," another employee suggested, causing the discussions to heat up among the groups.
The excitement grew, and the atmosphere at the company became livelier than ever before.
Meanwhile, at one corner of the Woods Corporation, in a lavishly decorated office, Rachel Lind, Sebastian's longtime managerial director and executive board member, seemed particularly puzzled. She had been by his side for years, witnessing the countless times he had turned down dates and social events because of his ailment.
She knew about his allergy because she was one of the few women who worked closely with him. But she didn't dare to go too close. However, there were times when he treated her so well that some of the other staff even thought he might have feelings for her.
The sudden news of his marriage seemed to contradict everything she knew about him, leaving her burning with confusion and jealousy. She had secretly been pinning for him all these years, and the news left a sore taste in her mouth.
"Could it be that he's finally been cured? And who did he even marry?" Rachael whispered bitterly to herself.
She knew he'd been spending millions of dollars on his treatment for the past few years. And she'd hoped that when he finally became cured, he would look her way. All this time, she thought the ailment might be the only barrier holding him back from approaching her for a romantic relationship.
How could he just get married just like that? She couldn't believe it. She wondered if he was just trying to do damage control against the news of his impotence.
"If he wanted a nominal wife to silence the rumors, he should have just come to me," Rachael stressed as she rose from her desk.
There was only one way to know if his marriage to whoever was real or not. And that is to find out if he has been cured of his allergy. As she stepped into the elevator that led straight to the CEO's office, her heart was in her throat.
**********
Back in his office on the 80th floor of the building, Sebastian couldn't help but smile. His employees, of over eight thousand people, worked tirelessly to meet his high standards, knowing that failure was not an option.
So, on a typical day, he would definitely have thrown a fit and commanded everyone to go back to work as soon as he saw them slacking for a second.
But today, the joy he felt being married had somehow softened his cold and aloof demeanor. He found himself grinning from ear to ear as he watched his workers chatter around openly in groups.
He knew the news would cause a stir, but he hadn't anticipated this much. On his social media, congratulatory messages flooded in from clients, business partners, well-wishes, and employees alike.
Meanwhile, Jamie carefully followed instructions, updating the company website with the news of the marriage but leaving everyone intrigued by withholding any details about Kourtney.
Thinking of his pretty and troublesome little wife, Sebastian had the sudden urge to give her a call for the first time. Thankfully, Jamie had provided him with her number and social media accounts.
Just when he was about to dial her number, he heard a gentle knock on the door. He looked up to find his assistant Jamie.
"Sir, you have a visitor."
"Who is it?" Sebastian said impatiently.
"It's Director Lind."
"Lind? Do I have a scheduled meeting with her?" Sebastian's gaze hardened as he inquired, starting to feel his irritation building up.
"No, Sir. But she said it was an urgent matter that needed your attention," Jamie replied, scratching his sunny blonde hair.
Sebastian sighed, trying to mask his annoyance. "Can't it wait, Jamie? I was just about to call my wife," he said, trying hard not to reveal the eagerness in his voice.
"I understand, sir, but she seemed quite insistent. It might be something important."
Sebastian frowned. He couldn't understand why Rachael wanted to see him without making an appointment, as he was the kind of CEO who was ever so busy.
He hated it when someone interrupted his carefully crafted routine.
However, knowing Director Lind's reputation for being one of his best employees who handles crucial matters perfectly, Sebastian couldn't dismiss her visit entirely. He knew she was not the type to barge into his office without a good reason.
"Alright, I'll see her."
***********
A few moments later, the stunning redheaded and curvy beauty nicknamed Woods Corporation's most gorgeous and sexy staff, Rachael Lind, walked into the CEO's office.
Dressed in a custom-made business suit that hugged her curves in all the right places, Rachael effortlessly combined professionalism with a touch of undeniable sensuality.
Beyond her stunning appearance, the 26-year-old's reputation in the company was one of unwavering dedication and exceptional competence.
Everyone, including Sebastian, agreed she was a significant asset to Woods Corporation.
As she walked into his office, her beauty and radiance were hard to ignore, yet the stoic man behind the desk did not even bother to cast a glance at her. Instead, his attention remained fixated on the pile of paperwork before him, giving her the impression that her presence didn't matter to him.
Suppressing her disappointment, Rachael straightened her posture and put on a bright smile. "Hi, Bastian."
"Director Lind, I don't recall having a scheduled meeting with you. What brings you here?" Sebastian inquired coldly, still not bothering to look at her.
"I apologize for the unannounced visit, Bastian. It's just that–. I just thought it's been a while since I stopped by to say hello. I thought it would be nice to catch up."
"Nice to catch up? This is not a social club, Miss Lind? There's no need to disrupt my busy schedule if there are no pressing matters," Sebastian sneered as he continued to flip through the paperwork on his desk.
Rachael's cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment. She should be used to it by now, but it still stung, especially coming from him – a man she was deeply in love with.
Sebastian's detached demeanor had always been present from the start, along with his insistence on maintaining a rigid, professional facade at all times.
It was as if he had built a fortress around himself, leaving everyone on the outside struggling to find a way in.
Just then, her eyes caught a glimmer of light reflecting off Sebastian's finger. It was a shiny wedding ring on his hand, a new addition that hadn't been there before. Her heart sank.
'So it's true? Did he really get married?' she thought.
Rachael's voice quivered as she spoke, "I…I see you're wearing a new ring."
Sebastian smiled instantly, his eyes lighting up like stars as they met hers. For the first time since she stepped into his office, he finally looked at her.
"Ahh, Yes, Lind. I got married recently."
Rachael forced a fake smile in return, though her heart ached. She couldn't help but notice how his mood changed immediately after she mentioned his ring; even his voice became softer.
She'd never seen him look that excited about anything before.
"Well, congratulations on your marriage, Bastian," she managed to respond amidst the turmoil in her mind.
Even after hearing it directly from him and witnessing the happy grin on his face, she struggled to believe it.
'It...it can't be,' she thought.
Rachael's misty eyes now held a mixture of hurt and frustration. The man she had been waiting for so long was suddenly married. She had always hoped that one day when his ailment subsided, he might become hers. She had even rejected a good number of suitors because of him.
Unable to contain her emotions, she took quick steps toward where Sebastian was seated.
"Can I take a closer look at your wedding ring? It's beautiful!"
She feigned ignorance as she moved closer and closer until she was only a few inches away from him. She'd never come this close to him before in all her years of working at the Woods Corporation.
Before Sebastian could even say anything, Rachael was already standing right next to him, leaning forward in a gesture that was both subtle and deliberate. Right now, she had a touch of reckless courage
Sebastian looked up in alarm as he caught a whiff of the woman's strong perfume. He was caught off guard, and surprise flickered in his sky-blue eyes, which then changed to a frightening coldness.
She was close, too close...
Within seconds of her nearness, his skin began to itch, his eyes started to water, his grip on the pen he held tightened, and his breathing became labored.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, his vision began to blur, and the office room started spinning around him.
It was a familiar feeling—one he had experienced countless times before. Sebastian realized with annoyance that he was having an allergic reaction. This was the complete opposite of the calmness and relaxation he felt when with Kourtney.
His face tightened as he stood up abruptly in panic, putting some distance between them before growling, "Don't come any closer. Get out!!!"
"B–Bastian, you… you're not cured yet, so how come you got married?" Rachael asked as the realization struck her.
Sebastian's jaw clenched, and his scowl deepened. His voice was now reduced to a raspy wheeze. "Why do you care? It's none of your business."
"I care because...," Rachael hesitated for a moment before gathering her courage, "...because I like you, Bastian. I've liked you for a long time, and I thought maybe you felt the same way about me."
Sebastian's stony expression hardened with irritation as he heard the woman's confession. "Rachael Lind? Have you lost your damn mind?"
"No, I haven't. I... I've always thought that you also liked me." Rachael retorted with a trembling voice.
"Miss Lind, it seems like you've completely misunderstood my kindness towards you. I've never liked you, and I never will." Sebastian said with scorn.
He had no business being nice to her anymore. His breathing was so hard to come by now, and he held his desk to steady himself from falling. He couldn't believe the audacity of this woman for putting him through this.
"But… but– Bastian, I–" Rachael tried to say something but couldn't find the words.
"Enough!!! I ordered you to get out!!!" He snapped, his voice tinged with anger and agony.
"I... I'm sorry if I came too close, Bastian. I… I didn't mean to. I just thought that... that you've been cured."
"It's 'President Woods' to you. GET OUT!" Sebastian roared. His patience was wearing thin as he felt like he might collapse anytime soon.
Rachael's heart sank even further at his harshness. Even now, he was stopping her from calling him by his nickname. She had been doing that for a long time now, and he didn't seem to care.
Over time, she had grown accustomed to calling him 'Bastian', considering it a small yet meaningful way of bridging the gap between them.
She considered it her own way of feeling closer to him, like an actual friend or acquaintance. But now…..
"I understand, President Woods. I'll leave now," Rachael croaked as tears blurred her vision.
She felt a lump in her throat, struggling to hold back her emotions as the door closed behind her with a resounding thud. She had worked tirelessly well to get noticed by him all these years, yet she found herself facing his anger and rejection instead.
After she left, Sebastian leaned heavily against his desk, struggling to catch his breath.
His allergic reaction seemed unusually severe today because of that woman coming too close on purpose. His eyes were wide and bloodshot. His throat constricted as if an invisible hand was tightening around it.
Realizing that he couldn't manage this on his own, he picked up his phone and dialed his assistant's number.
Within seconds, Jamie rushed into Sebastian's office and found him visibly struggling. Jamie has seen this same scenario play out many times before. Without hesitation, he took charge, his experience kicking in.
"President Woods, let's get you to the doctor right away. Get the cars ready. President Woods needs urgent medical attention," he instructed the bodyguards outside the door.
Those were the last words Sebastian heard as his vision blurred. Right now, he was losing consciousness. The world around him seemed to spin before fading into complete darkness.
He passed out!