Chapter 53 Regular Celeste
\-Celeste-
“What the hell was I thinking? So what, I have a business degree, how the hell am I supposed to pull off being the vice president of a group?!” I murmured, pacing the length of my bedroom because boardroom Celeste was different from regular Celeste.
It was past midnight, and I couldn’t sleep. I was certain I was finally losing my mind.
What happened to defiance? What happened to the rebel granddaughter Celeste? My mind screamed at me.
“Talk about resolve,” I scoffed. “I should’ve been more resolved on the decision to decline.”
Now, somehow, I was vice president. THE fucking Vice President of Ashford Group.
My stomach churned at the mere thought of it.
So I tried to think of something else. I thought of my father. I was worried about him.
The moment the press conference ended, I called him first. He didn’t respond. I called several times, until my calls were forwarded to voicemail.
Was he….avoiding me?
I wanted to hear it from him myself, maybe then it’d feel more real—or not. Maybe he’d clear it all up.
I couldn’t go online, my socials were filled with vile threats despite my statements today.
I couldn’t sleep.
I couldn’t stand being in here alone when Lucien was just across the hall. I needed to talk to someone about something.
I couldn’t call Denise because she was late. Also, she had gone through a lot today, and it was all because of me.
Still, I needed to clear my head.
I decided to go to Lucien's bedroom. Funny how we live like siblings in the same house.
His door was slightly ajar. When I approached, the bedroom light spilled into the hallway.
My heart skipped when I heard his voice, he was on a call. It sounded serious. Too serious.
“… Also, I need you to find information on a David Hayes…. Yes, the event planner,” he added. “Mr. Hayes deliberately tried to flout my order. He put Celeste at risk,” he said.
That doesn’t sound right?
Before I could think, my feet pushed me inside.
Lucien sharply turned, his expression shifting to something I couldn’t quite place. “I’ll call you back.” He murmured, then quickly hung up.
“How long have you been standing there?” he demanded.
“Just now. I didn’t mean to intrude. I only heard the last bit of the call.” Out of nowhere, I found the courage to speak.
“Mr. Hayes is a good man—”
He interrupted me with a loud scoff. “You can’t possibly be that trusting of everyone, Celeste. First, he was an event planner. Now he’s playing hero? From the way I see it, he’s infiltrating himself,” he said in a matter-of-fact way.
“Don’t you think these accusations are too heavy? Why can’t it just be that he acted unreasonably today—?”
“Because it doesn’t feel like that. You were attacked by a mob. Things could’ve ended badly if I hadn’t stepped in today,” he said firmly.
It almost felt as if he was upset with me.
“Look, like I said before, you’re my responsibility, Celeste.” He gently shook his head. “I don’t take those words lightly.”
My heart faltered the moment those words escaped his lips. Realization dawned on me.
He meant it back then, and even now.
He cared.
Lucien Blackwell cares deeply for me.
Suddenly, I didn’t want to argue with him any longer.
“Fine,” I admitted. “I get your point.”
A small smirk tugged his lips. “Good. Until I find out he’s just an event planner, you have to be careful with him.”
I nodded, hoping we would move past the topic. It just felt wrong accusing David when he had been nothing but kind to me and Dennis.
“Now,” he said, stepping close to me. “Is there a particular reason you were glued to my door?” he coolly asked.
I blinked, flustered.
Yet there were a million reasons why I was here.
I can’t do this— I don’t want to be VP. This entire situation is crazy. My father keeps ignoring my calls, what do I do? I think I need a hug, or perhaps just someone to talk to, maybe?
The words were loud in my head but they never left my mouth.
A lump formed in my throat instead.
“It’s my father.” I admitted. “I just… I just wish it wasn’t true….I just wish the entirety of this situation was fabricated, but there’s proof everywhere.”
I let out a shaky breath, steadying myself.
“This isn’t him. He’s never raised his voice at me and Lilith. I only have memories of him as a good father… To see that he let those things happen to those things happen to those innocent people… I just…” My voice trailed off, tears rimming my eyes like a flash flood.
“Celeste,” he quietly called, stepping even closer. He gently raised my face, thumbing off the tears running down my cheeks.
“Here’s the thing we don’t usually know… Everyone meets different versions of the people they know.” He gave me a knowing smile.
“For instance, the only memories I have of my mother are sweet and righteous. But she somehow got involved with my father…a man I thought too cruel to be involved with another human being.”
My eyes widened. Tears fell even further now.
What was he saying? That my father wasn’t as innocent?
“Just because the versions are different, doesn’t mean they loved us any less…just differently.”
At that moment, I broke into a loud sob. “Different love for me, my mother, Vanessa, his staff?”
He pulled me into a tight hug, letting me cry in his chest. “I don’t think I can do it.” I blurted. “I don’t think I can be VP. It’s like tossing his mistakes in my hands and telling me to fix them. What if I fail? What if I make things worse? And my business—I was just starting out? Why can’t they just let me be—?”
“Celeste,” he held up my face. “Stop. You’re spiraling. Everything will be alright. I already told you, you’re not alone. You have to be strong…. This is the perfect opportunity to get to know your family, to meet the different versions of them.”
I sniffled, nodding. His words were working.
“Meanwhile, what was your mother’s name?”
I stared, surprised at the randomness of the question. I answered anyway. “Camille.”
“Do you know her birth name?”
“Lemonnier? Why do you ask?
His eyes widened, flustered, I had asked.
“Uh, I had to fill out some forms today. It was a required field.”
“Oh.” I nodded vaguely.
“You should get some rest. Tomorrow’s a busy day.”
“Right… Good night, Celeste,” he said, approaching his bed.
My feet shuffled on their own— doing a lot lately.
Why was I still here?
Without a word, he turned and walked towards me. My heart skipped, pounding loudly as a grin spread across his face.
He planted a small kiss on my forehead.
“Maybe you should sleep here tonight.”