Chapter 54
“So sure of yourself?”
“You know what I’m capable of.”
Celeste met his gaze without flinching.
Philip caught the determined fire in her eyes and couldn’t help but let a faint smile tug at his lips.
Beverly watched them, twisting the hem of her blouse anxiously–Wasn’t Philip supposed to be here to make things difficult for Celeste? Why did it look like they were flirting instead? No way. She couldn’t let Celeste secure this project and keep basking in her own glory.
She cleared her throat.
“My sister’s abilities are obvious to everyone. She’s barely been with the Duncan Group a few months and already clawed her way up to vice president. Really, who could compete with her?”
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Philip fell silent for a moment.
Viola, who’d been watching Philip nervously, relaxed the moment she heard Beverly speak–so, Celeste still had plenty of enemies here.
Celeste’s expression chilled. “If you’re not here to talk business, keep your mouth
shut.”
Herbert, standing nearby, frowned at her tone.
He coughed lightly. “No, this won’t do. He’s your ex, there are personal feelings involved. Even if you work together, you shouldn’t be the one handling the negotiations.”
“My deals are mine to win,” Celeste replied coolly, her lips curling into a sardonic
smile.
So that’s what this was about.
“Is it a family tradition for the Duncans to swoop in and steal other people’s deals?” Philip’s voice was icy,
He watched Celeste hesitate, torn, and felt a painful tightness in his chest. So, even after leaving him and coming back to Asterwynn, she wasn’t any happier.
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Herbert was left speechless.
Sensing the tension, Viola gently leaned her head on Philip’s shoulder.
“Philip,” she whispered, “the air in here feels awful. I can barely breathe…”
Philip snapped out of his thoughts and hurriedly put his arm around her. Seeing her struggling to catch her breath, he immediately stood up, scooping her into his
arms.
“Call an ambulance! I’ll get her outside for some fresh air!”
“But, what about the deal with Celeste-”
“This can wait!”
The doctor had warned him: if Viola had another asthma attack and didn’t get prompt treatment, there could be lasting damage.
Not sparing Celeste a single word, Philip carried Viola out of the conference room.
Celeste clearly caught the smug look Viola shot her over his shoulder.
Typical. Some people just couldn’t help themselves.
She looked away, utterly unfazed. She’d seen it all before.
Still, what a shame about the contract. That was a lot of money to be leaving on the
table.
With things disrupted like this, it seemed the negotiation was as good as dead.
She stood, ready to leave.
Herbert spoke up suddenly.
“Where do you think you’re going? The client’s been rushed to the hospital and you, as vice president, aren’t even going to follow? Or is it that you’re jealous of your ex moving on, so you’d rather let the company lose the deal?”
Celeste shot him a sidelong look. “You kept going on about my ex just now. For a moment, I thought you didn’t want this deal at all.”
“Whatever we say, you’re still vice president. Do your job. If you keep letting your personal life get in the way, maybe you should hand the position back to Beverly. At least your sister doesn’t have this kind of baggage.”
Herbert put extra weight on his last words.
Ha.
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He was just trying to make her look bad. If she refused, he’d have the perfect excuse to accuse her of mixing business with personal affairs–unfit for her role–and hand her job right back to Beverly.
But there was no way she’d go down without a fight.
Celeste picked up the file again, determination flashing in her eyes.
Chapter 55
Chapter 55
