Chapter Thirty Nine
Celeste’s POV
“Were all three times a mistake,” Ryan smiled cockily. “Or just the first?”
1 glared at him. “Just wipe last night from your mind–nothing happened.”
“How could I forget the tantalizing way you screamed my name and begged me not to stop?” There was a dark edge to his teasing. “I don’t have amnesia, Celeste.”
How could he be so unabashed?
“That was momentary insanity and it won’t happen again.” I said firmly.
“We both know that’s not true, Celeste.” He smirked. “You can’t resist me.”
I scoffed. “Don’t be so full of yourself, Ryan.”
“Then why’d you kiss me?” Something playful and dangerous glinted in his eyes.
Mortification filled me as I wondered the same damn thing
What had come over me?
“The power went out. I was scared.” I shrugged. “It was a manifestation of panic.”
Ryan stood, our improvised blanket falling away–he wasn’t wearing a lick of clothing. The darkness last night didn’t do this walking Greek god any justice.
He was playing dirty.
I turned around before I burst into flames. My heart jumped when his hands slid around my waist, his chin resting in the crook of my neck.
“Are you panicking now?” Ryan’s hot breath fanned my ear, and I shuddered. “Look at how reactive you are to my touch. You want me, Celeste.”
God, he was right.
But I couldn’t lose my last shred of dignity. I pushed his hands away and tossed him his clothes. He caught them, surprised.
“Stop projecting and put on some clothes for god’s sake.” I snapped. “We have work to do.”
I busied myself with bagging Celine Mars‘ order while he reluctantly obeyed. Once his clothes were on, I’d be able to think more clearly..
His laughter startled me. I glanced at Ryan, shirt hanging open, and remembered with horror that I’d popped his buttons in my haste last night.
“Was tearing my shirt off a mistake, too?” He teased me. “Tell me, Celeste, how good was I to drive you this crazy?”
He was mind blowingly incredible, but I’d die before I told him that.
“You were mediocre, at best.” I shrugged indifferently.
“Mediocre? I had your eyes rolling back into your skull.”
1/3
+25 BONUS
Chapter Thirty Nine
My phone rang, and I answered, grateful for an excuse to ignore Ryan.
“Hello, Celeste.” Bonnie’s teacher said. “I’m calling to see if you spoke to Bonnie’s father? She wasn’t fetched from school again yesterday.”
My grip on the phone tightened.
“I had something urgent to attend to yesterday, but I’ll go see Damien today.” I said through a clenched jaw. “ Thanks for letting me know, Lily.”
I ended the call, livid.
“You’re going to see your ex husband?” Ryan asked, frowning.
I nodded, desperate for some air.
“I’ll deliver Celine’s order on my way.” I told him, grabbing my handbag. “Get this place cleaned up before Grace arrives.”
I paused at the door, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.
“And there’s a sewing kit in the bathroom cabinet. For your shirt.”
With that, I fled the studio and drove to Celine Mars‘ residence. Her butler escorted me to the library where I nervously watched her unbox her order.
Her eyes glittered as she examined her one of a kind jewelry set.
“Rosemary, you’ve outdone yourself.” She said, breathless. “I just have to have more pieces–maybe even consider keeping you on retainer.”
I beamed at her. “It would be an honor to keep designing for you.”
I left Celine’s residence on cloud nine, but my mood soured when I parked in front of Imperial Aurum’s offices. It was time to deal with Damien.
Back straight, chin up, I stormed into the building.
The receptionist smiled at me. “Welcome to-”
“Inform Damien that Celeste is here to see him.” I said and strode past her.
She stood up at her desk, smile faltering.
“Ma’am, you can’t see Mr. Kent without an appointment.
“Watch me.” I called over my shoulder.
Nothing could stop me from giving him a piece of my mind.
The offices felt sparser than before; many of the cubicles were empty. A smile spread across my face as I realized how much Damien’s company was suffering.
Something caught my eye, and I backtracked.
Glancing around, I snuck into a design room. Pinned to the walls were jewelry designs by many popular artists- none of whom worked for Damien.
“That shameless bastard.” I hissed.
The design drafts on the tables were all modifications of other designers‘ work, including mine. I snapped
2/3
+25 BONUS
Chapter Thirty Nine
pictures of the design room as righteous anger burned in me.
Damien couldn’t keep getting away with plagiarism.
I heard a frantic voice call out. “She went this way.”
The receptionist and two security guards burst into the design room. My heart hammered as I clutched my phone behind my back.
“Ma’am, you’re not allowed in here.” She said with a false smile. “Please allow us to escort you to Mr. Kent’s office. He said he’ll see you now.”
I was surprised he hadn’t told them to throw me out.
“I know the way.” I said.
The security guards stepped forward. “We insist.”
Sighing, I followed them to Damien’s office.
Miss Wilson opened the door and announced my arrival before bowing and stepping back. I rolled my eyes at the show.
When I walked in, he was sitting behind his obnoxiously large desk, oozing smugness.
“I see you’ve finally come to your senses, Celeste.” Damien’s eyes glinted as he leaned into his backrest. “Ready to beg for me back?”
Today’s Bonus Offer
X
GET IT NOW
