Chapter 59: Break Me

Abigail slung her bag over her shoulder and returned to her room. If the draft I gave Luna is missing, we probably submitted them together by accident. Abigail had meticulously double-checked the rules; she knew investors would see the drafts first and make preliminary selections. In other words, Sean would know if the draft with the shoeprint was included.

Abigail gritted her teeth and called Sean. He answered almost immediately. "What is it?" His voice was deep and emotionless. "Can we meet? I need to talk to you." Abigail tried to sound gentle, needing a favor.

"Now?" Sean's voice was sharper. His tone held a hidden meaning. Abigail's cheeks flushed. She'd been stubborn with him yesterday and was already backtracking.

"If you're busy, I can call. I left a draft at your place yesterday—" she began. Joan's voice interrupted, "I've been looking everywhere for you, Sean. How did you end up here in the garden?"

"I have matters to handle. Goodbye." Sean hung up before Abigail could respond.

Alone in the washroom, Abigail clutched her phone, her knuckles white. She sighed, left the washroom, and paced her room for thirty seconds. Then, a determined look appeared on her face. Grabbing her phone, she headed out. In the deeper part of the garden… I think I know where Sean is.

The scent of plants greeted Abigail as she navigated the thick flower bushes. The winding path led her deeper into the gardens. Anxiety began to build when, around the next bend, she found Sean near a rose bush. Despite his black suit, his strong presence overshadowed the vibrant flowers.

Sean was on a call when he saw Abigail. He smiled mysteriously and said into the phone, "I have to go. We'll talk soon."

Abigail approached without hesitation. "Are you admiring the flowers?" she asked, not bothering with small talk. Sean raised an eyebrow. "Surprised you found me."

Abigail felt momentarily awkward but quickly recovered. "I need to talk to you."

Sean moved closer, leaning forward. "Agitated after hearing Joan's voice?" Abigail observed his relaxed expression. Is it because Joan is secretly meeting him here? Frustration welled up. She lowered her gaze and softened her tone. "No. It's something else. I wouldn't come just to bother you and Joan."

"Joan didn't ask to meet me. You did," Sean reminded her. She looked up, puzzled. "You were waiting for me?"

"I was looking at the flowers." Sean was clearly teasing her.

Abigail licked her lips, fidgeting. "I need your help, Sean…" She paused. Sean furrowed his brow. Before he could speak, Abigail covered his mouth and pushed him toward the rose bushes. She saw fear in his eyes as they stumbled into the bushes. Worried about thorns scratching him, she tried to push him against the wall, shielding him.

Sean resisted, switching places with her. Rustling sounds came from the bushes. Abigail was too panicked to question the switch. Sean felt the rose thorns against his back, forcing him closer to Abigail. He remained calm, his gaze fixed on her lips. She was biting her lower lip. He felt her soft body pressed against his, sensing her curves as they drew closer.

Footsteps approached. Abigail stopped breathing, visibly anxious. A man watched them with amusement. The footsteps drew closer, then receded. Abigail finally exhaled. She met Sean's gaze, realizing her hand was still over his mouth. She jerked it away as if burned, noticing their faces were inches apart. She pushed him away.

Sean was pushed back by the bushes, bumping into her. He grunted. "Don't move," he whispered.

This revised version corrects grammatical errors, improves sentence structure, and removes the asterisks around potentially sensitive words (which I've kept as they were). It also enhances the flow and readability of the passage.