Sebastian made his way back home. He'd taken the day off to deal with the business issue at Sunrise Tech, and now he was relaxing in his room, reviewing some documents on his laptop.
His phone buzzed.
Sebastian answered. "Hello?"
"Sebastian! Hi!" Isabelle's voice came through, slightly concerned. "Is everything alright? You weren't at school today."
"Everything's fine," Sebastian assured her. "I had some business to deal with. Nothing to worry about."
"Oh, okay. As long as you're alright." She sounded relieved. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't sick or anything."
"That's thoughtful of you. I appreciate it."
"Of course! Well, I'll let you go then. I'll see you tom—"
In the background, Sebastian heard another voice.
"Isabelle! Hey, wait up!"
"Oh, hold on, Sebastian," Isabelle said.
Sebastian heard muffled conversation. He pressed the phone closer to his ear, listening intently.
"Isabelle," Ethan's voice came through more clearly now, "I know things have been... complicated lately. But I was wondering if maybe you'd like to go out after school? There's that new restaurant that opened nearby—Bella Vista? I heard it's really nice. Just the two of us, we could talk properly..."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed.
There was a pause. Isabelle's hesitant voice: "I don't know, Ethan..."
"Please," Ethan pressed. "Just give me a chance to explain everything properly. Away from school, away from all the drama. Just us."
Another pause.
"I... okay," Isabelle said softly. "Okay, we can go."
"Really? Thank you, Isabelle. I promise you won't regret it."
Sebastian's jaw tightened.
"Sebastian? Are you still there?" Isabelle's voice returned to the phone.
"Still here," Sebastian replied calmly, though his mind was already racing.
"Sorry about that. Um, anyway, I'll see you tomorrow at school?"
"Yes. Have a good rest of your day, Isabelle."
"You too. Bye!"
The call ended.
Sebastian sat there for a moment, staring at his phone, his expression cold.
'I can't be complacent,' he thought, setting the phone down. 'I wanted to take the day off, but Ethan is an eyesore.'
He'd been destroying Ethan's opportunities, ruining his reputation, and positioning himself as the better choice. But protagonists were resilient. Give them an inch, and they'd find a way to claw back.
A quiet dinner date, away from witnesses and interference, where Ethan could play the sympathetic victim and win back Isabelle's trust?
Not happening.
Sebastian stood up decisively and grabbed his jacket.
He knew Isabelle—she had a kind heart, sometimes too kind. She couldn't always say no, especially to people she felt sorry for. Ethan was clearly exploiting that.
Sebastian pulled out his phone and searched for the restaurant: Bella Vista. It was an upscale Italian place that had just opened last week. Reviews said it was elegant, intimate, perfect for dates.
Perfect for Ethan's planned comeback.
'Time for some preparations,' Sebastian thought coldly.
He headed downstairs where his driver was waiting.
"I need to go to Bella Vista restaurant," Sebastian instructed. "The new Italian place on Fifth Avenue."
"Of course, sir."
As the limousine pulled away from the Fairfax estate, Sebastian was already formulating his plan.
He had money, influence, and most importantly—time. Ethan and Isabelle wouldn't arrive until after school ended, which gave Sebastian hours to ensure that their "romantic dinner" went exactly as he wanted it to. Which was to say: disastrously for Ethan Cole.
The protagonist thought he was clever, setting up a date away from prying eyes.
---
Arriving at the restaurant, Sebastian stepped out of his limousine and surveyed the establishment.
Bella Vista was exactly as advertised—elegant, intimate, with soft lighting visible through the large windows. It had a romantic ambiance with white tablecloths, candlelit tables, and what looked like live piano music in the corner.
The perfect setting for Ethan to play the misunderstood victim and win back Isabelle's sympathy.
Sebastian walked through the entrance, immediately drawing the attention of the maître d'—a polished man in his fifties wearing an impeccable black suit.
"Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to Bella Vista. Do you have a reservation?"
"No reservation," Sebastian said smoothly. "But I'd like to speak with the owner or manager. It's a business matter."
The maître d' hesitated, clearly assessing Sebastian. The expensive suit, the Patek Philippe, the confident demeanor—this wasn't some random teenager.
"One moment, please."
He disappeared into the back and returned two minutes later with a woman in her early forties—attractive, professional, with sharp eyes that immediately evaluated Sebastian.
"I'm Victoria Russo, the owner," she said, extending her hand. "How can I help you?"
Sebastian shook her hand firmly. "Sebastian Fairfax. I have a proposition that I think will interest you."
Recognition flickered in her eyes at the name Fairfax. "Please, come to my office."
She led him past the dining area to a private office decorated with Italian artwork and wine bottles. They sat across from each other at her desk.
"So, Mr. Fairfax," Victoria said, leaning back in her chair. "What brings you to my restaurant?"
"I understand you've only been open for a week," Sebastian began. "You're still building your reputation, establishing your clientele. Word of mouth is everything in this business."
"That's correct." Victoria's eyes narrowed slightly, curious where this was going.
"I'd like to make an investment in your restaurant's success," Sebastian said. "Specifically, I'm prepared to make a $50,000 deposit today for future dining credits. Consider it a vote of confidence in your establishment."
Victoria's eyebrows rose. "$50,000? That's... extremely generous."
"I believe in supporting quality businesses," Sebastian replied. "However, I do have one small request in exchange."
"Which is?"
"This evening, a young couple will be dining here. The young man's name is Ethan Cole. I'd like you to ensure their experience is... memorable. But not in a good way."
Victoria's expression became guarded. "What exactly are you asking me to do?"
"Nothing illegal or dangerous," Sebastian assured her. "I'm talking about subtle service failures. The kind that happen naturally in any restaurant but will be particularly frustrating for someone trying to impress a date."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Here's what I'm proposing..."