Chapter 22 To Kiss a Pig
\-Lilith-
Celeste had finally left, and yet, everyone still seemed on edge.
From the tabloids, it was clear that her and Grandma's last meeting hadn't gotten a soft landing, and now the entire household had to bear the weight of her wrath.
Well, that was the least of my concern at the moment. I had agreed to meet up with Colin today. Ever since his failed engagement with Celeste, we have had to keep our business under wraps.
As I passed through the hallway just by my mother's bedroom, I heard her voice, low and frantic, and I couldn't help but eavesdrop. I stood by the barely opened door, watching her pace back and forth, her hands running through her hair with a frustrated expression. She was on a call with someone.
"... No, I told you this should never have reached the press. If they know, then the entire plan falls apart... Yes, secure. I don't care how-she has to be moved tonight," she said urgently. "You should have been more careful. This is on you... No, I don't want excuses. Just get her to the new location safely. I won't lose her because of your negligence!" She snapped.
I had never seen Mother this anxious, and it only made me more curious. Who was her? And why was Mother so on edge?
She continued pacing, hands on her hips this time. "She means too much to me. Do you understand?" She told the person on the other side. For some odd reason, the statement sent shivers running down my spine. "I've spent years of my life on this. Don't let anything happen to her."
What she hiding something? And if yes, how big was it? I wondered.
Before she could continue, my phone rang, its shrill tone blaring across the hallway and into the room. My heart sank, and mother snapped her head in my direction. I swallowed hard, straightened, and walked in.
Fuck Colin for calling me at such a crucial moment.
"Hello, Mother." I greeted, feigning a smile.
She forced back a smile, her eyes laced with guilt. "Lilith, how long have you been there?" she questioned.
I stared back at her in suspicion, my mind racing with questions. Finally I spoke.
"Who were you talking about? Who has to be moved? You kept saying her...it sounded strange." I asked, my eyes observing every reaction.
Her eyes darted, her fingers trembled, and she bit her lips-she only did this when she was nervous. And Vanessa Ashford was never nervous except it was that bad.
She chuckled awkwardly, trying to compose herself. "Oh that? One of my pieces. You know the sculpture I sent to Prague? There's been an issue with customs and the gallery is nervous. They want to move her into a secure storage until everything clears."
My eyes narrowed. Her story seemed credible enough, but something still felt off.
"You call a sculpture her?" I asked.
By now, she had fully collected herself. She smiled at me as she came closer until her hands were on my shoulders.
"Yes. Darling, apart from your father and you. The only other thing I love is my art. They aren't just objects to me." She grinned,
"I've poured myself into them. They're alive, in their own way."
I blinked twice. Blankly. Her art was something I had never understood.
"So...all that panic, that was just about a statue?"
At that moment, my phone began to ring again, and I ignored it. Fuck you, Colin. For real this time.
"Yes, it's not silly to me, sweetheart. She's too important to lose," she explained. Still it felt weird personifying an object like that.
"Don't you have to answer that call?" She continued, gesturing to the phone buzzing in my hand like a neglected toddler demanding attention.
I stared back at the bright screen, cursing underneath my breath. "Yeah right, I'm heading out right now, I'll catch you later."
With that, I turned and hurried off. Reminding myself that her art was none of my business.
When I got to Colin's apartment, the lights were turned off, and it reeked of alcohol and drugs.
Empty beer bottles littered the living room, their sharp glasses glinting under the low light. Faint streaks of white powder traced the edge of the glass center table. He was slumped on the couch, half-awake, his shirt hanging open in careless disarray. The mess clashed with the glittering skyline framed behind him.
A scene like this could easily put Reginald under fire. His grandson, caught doing drugs? That was leverage, though not quite strong enough.
"Are you just going to stand there, or are you coming over here?" he murmured, tapping the empty cushion beside him.
I forced a smile as I moved to sit beside him. He straightened with a low groan, the stench of alcohol and vomit hanging heavy on
him. Turning toward me, he leaned back against the couch.
"Took you long enough," he muttered, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
"Oh, I was with Mother. You know how she can be. And Grandmother-she's been on edge since Celeste finally left."
He sniffed, exhaling a small sigh as he slouched deeper into the cushions. "So it's true. She really chose that poor bastard. Tell me,
Lilith... is he better looking than me?"
I stared at him hesitantly. Lucien had clearly gotten the good genes in the family-Colin hadn't. But I couldn't dare say that out loud.
So I smiled, leaning forward until my hands brushed his cheeks. "Of course not, honey bear. You're the fairest of them all," I teased.
But his expression darkened, like my words had set off a time bomb. "Then why did you hesitate?" he demanded, yanking me closer until our faces were dangerously close, his arms tightening around my waist.
I chuckled nervously, lips parting without sound. "I-I..."
"You know what, it doesn't matter. I'll get him back." His breath reeked, and I nearly gagged.
I managed to free myself from his grip, leaning back on my side of the couch. "You know, Celeste is the reason we're all in this mess." At that moment, an idea suddenly crept into my mind, and I blurted it out almost immediately. "If only there was some way we could get rid of her.... Like my mother's art."
He stared blankly at me like he was trying to comprehend what I had just said. For a lawyer at a top law firm, he sure wasn't the brightest in the room. That was exactly the advantage I needed.
"Get rid of her... As in kill her?" he asked, his eyes glinting with something sinister.
My heart skipped a beat as realization dawned on me. "When I said- I didn't mean murder," I stammered, but it was already too late. I'd set something in motion.
"It's perfect. We can get rid of her, finally be free," Colin said, excitement sour on his tongue. "I can make it so-" He dragged himself closer, voice low, "no one will ever trace it back to us." Closer. "And we'll be free to live however we want."
He smiled in my face. For the first time since I'd known him, I found him disgusting.
He didn't notice. "We could use my grandfather's connections."
Connections. My ears pricked. Reginald Blackwell-the upright image of justice-had people who handled the dirty work.
A smile curled on my lips as my brain started fitting pieces together to a nearly perfect plan.
"Honey bear," I drawled, "you didn't call me here to talk about Celeste, did you?" As I spoke, I let my hand slide over his chest till my fingers, letting it trail down to the small budge beneath his pants.
I let my fingers sit there, gently caressing his budge till it was hard and erect. He breathed in; the alcohol stank. Then he grabbed me once and kissed me, rough and urgent. I climbed on him until his greed drowned the room, and all the while my mind was already drafting the plan that would turn his words into my weapon.
Whatever he had in store for Celeste. It would lead to exactly what I needed to bring that Reginald Blackwell down, and for that I'd do anything.
Even if I'd have to kiss a pig.