Disgusting.
He had held Viola close with these very arms, and now he was using them to hold
Celeste back.
Fury flashed through Celeste as she jerked her hand away. She spoke in the same accusatory tone Philip had once used against her.
“How long are you planning to keep this up?”
“I came to apologize,” Philip pleaded, stepping closer. “We haven’t missed our chance. If you’re willing, we can set a new date for the wedding–whenever you want. I promise, I’ll make time for us.”
“I don’t need that.”
Celeste turned to leave.
Philip’s patience finally snapped. He’d risked everything, even his pride, to find her, yet she still refused him!
“Celeste, why can’t you be as understanding as Viola-”
Smack!
Celeste spun back and slapped him, hard. Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. “Let me remind you: the moment you went to see Viola at the courthouse, we were
finished!”
Security guards rushed over.
Celeste stepped back, saw the shock etched on Philip’s face, and let out a bitter laugh.
What was so hard to believe?
She was only doing what he wanted all along–walking away.
She turned to the guards. “This man’s been stalking me. Would you please deal with it?”
Without another glance, Celeste strode off, crushing the takeout bag in her hand until it crumpled.
“Wait, Celly-”
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Sorry, sirl” One of the guards stepped between them. If you don’t leave we’ll have to call the police.”
They pinned Philip’s arms behind his back as he struggled, refusing to let go, trying once more to reach Celeste.
Just before the elevator doors slid shut, their eyes met.
Celeste’s gaze was cold, filled with nothing but disappointment.
A sharp ache shot through Philip’s chest.
It took a team of guards to finally drag him out of Moonwater Grove.
Celeste made her way home, setting the warm takeout on the table, but she couldn’t bring herself to eat a bite.
She barely slept that night.
At dawn, she arrived early at the Duncan Group’s PR department. Her colleagues avoided her eyes, pretending she wasn’t even there; not a single work assignment included her name.
Celeste’s eyes narrowed. She wasn’t about to sit and wait for the world to pass her by.
She had just stood up to familiarize herself with the office when her phone rang–Herbert.
“Get to my office. Now!”
Celeste rubbed her throbbing temples. “So touchy…”
She hurried up to the top floor.
The moment she walked in, Herbert slammed several folders onto his desk, temper flaring.
“What on earth happened? Why is the Hopkins family blocking our projects? Celeste, did you do something to upset Mr. Alfred behind our backs?”
“I told you to look after Mr. Alfred. Is this your idea of taking care of things?”
He jabbed a finger at the folders, nearly tearing them.
Celeste’s expression didn’t change as she glanced over the files. They were all the usual projects Duncan Group had bid on.
But the one she’d personally handled–Rivercrest Bay Development–wasn’t among
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them.
Alfred wasn’t targeting her.
“Alfred only agreed to my Rivercrest Bay Development. The rest of these projects have nothing to do with me.”
She looked Herbert straight in the eye. “Maybe you should ask yourself if you offended Alfred, or maybe you upset Mrs. Hopkins. I’m just an intern in PR–I don’t have the authority to fix this for you. Find someone else.”
She saw Herbert’s scowl deepen as she turned toward the door, not bothering to hide her indifference.
“Wait!” Herbert called out, desperation creeping into his voice.
Celeste was Mrs. Hopkins now–there was no way she couldn’t intervene if she wanted to.
This all came down to whether Celeste cared enough to help.
Duncan Group couldn’t afford to lose any more.
“Cece, come on, we’re family. You’re part of Duncan Group too. You can’t just stand by and watch the Hopkins family destroy us.”
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