Chapter 59 PR Fail I
\-Celeste-
“… Before we begin, I have a question.” I said, clasping my fingers as I braced myself to speak. “It’s about Lucien’s mother.”
Grandmother didn’t respond at first, instead she took a sip of her tea, eyes fixed ahead.
When she finally spoke, her words made me uncomfortable.
“You mean the housekeeper?”
“Grandmother, she’s my husband’s mother—”
“Well, I only remember her as an old housekeeper,” she said in a matter-of-fact way.
My jaw clenched as my fingers folded into fists.
I shouldn’t have asked. I shouldn’t have said anything, but I needed to know how she was involved with my family. I needed to know every detail.
“Well,” she shrugged, “ask your question. We don’t have all day.”
I hated the way she acted like the woman wasn’t worth talking about.
A couple of days was all she needed to return to her old, mean self.
“I want to know why she stopped working for us…did something happen while she was there?” I asked.
She blinked at me.
“Did he say something happened?”
This damn woman!
“Because if he did, then I’d like to know too. Evelyn was a well-paid staff member, one whose incessancy I tolerated. She had an affair with my lawyer, under my roof. She had a son. Still, I let her keep her job. Then, one day, she disappears without a word… without a reason… without any ounce of gratitude,” she said coldly.
Something in me shifted.
I just stared at her. The anger in her voice didn’t stem from hate; it came from a deep sense of betrayal.
“Now…if there’s nothing else. I’d like to move on. We’re here to discuss plans, not the missing housekeeper,” she stressed.
“Right.” I murmured, quickly changing the subject when I noticed her expression tighten. It was obviously still a touchy matter. “For now, our main aim is to calm the public and reach out to the families of the victims.”
“I’ve already gathered the list of everyone affected,” I continued, leaning closer so she could hear me clearly. “We’re putting together an aid plan for each family…compensation, support, whatever they need. It’ll be handled individually.”
I paused before adding: “I also organized a small charity baking event to raise money for them. Every single cent will go to the families. My team is at the event center right now finishing the final arrangements for the event later today.”
“It’s not a big public thing. Just a closed-door event. But we invited Fae Winters… I’m hoping her presence will help draw the right attention.”
“That’s perfect,” she said with a low hum of approval. “It’s perfect for media coverage.”
I shook my head immediately. “No, Grandmother. There won’t be any press.”
Her brows knitted. “Celeste, what’s the point of a PR movement without the press? People need to see what you’re doing.”
“This isn’t a PR stunt,” I said more firmly than I meant to. “It’s for families. Some of which agreed to turn up today. I don’t want cameras in their faces reminding them of what happened.”
She studied me for a moment, her expression turning thoughtful instead of annoyed. It even felt worse.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” she quietly said. “It’s only been three days, and there are already whispers of opposition. You don’t need to give anyone a reason to doubt you.”
The words suddenly settled on my shoulders like a weight.
I let out a slow breath, my gaze dropping to my hands clenching my knees.
“I’ll do my best, Grandmother. “ I murmured, rising to my feet. “I'll see you later today.” With that I turned on my heels and walked off.
First I was handed a responsibility big enough to crush me…and now I have to prove I deserve it.
—
The venue buzzed with activity, the atmosphere far livelier than I expected for such a small, closed-door event.
The air smelled heavenly like warm sugar, butter and fresh pastries. The event hadn’t officially started yet, but donations were already rolling in, the numbers climbing steadily on the screen near the stage.
Denise and I had been working nonstop to make this happen. David handled most of the arrangements behind the scenes, making sure everything ran smoothly.
Ever since the incident, though, he’d been avoiding me. On purpose.
I noticed it, of course….but I didn’t question it. There were bigger things to worry about right now.
So far, everything was going better than expected.
Thanks to Fae’s presence, the donations kept coming in, one after another.
When the event started, I was called to make a speech.
I kept it brief, thanking everyone for coming and reminding them why we were here.
I was just about to wrap up when the doors at the back of the hall swung open, the sound echoing louder than it should have.
Heads turned one after another as a group of people walked in—cameras, microphones, and bright lights cutting through the warm, private mood of the event.
My heart dropped.
At the center of them was… Grandmother.
She walked in like she owned the place, her expression calm and composed despite the stunned silence filling the hall.
Before I could even react, she moved straight toward the stage.
“Grand—” I started, stepping back from the microphone.
She didn’t stop.
One of the media men climbed up first, adjusting his camera; the rest followed. Taking strategic positions like this had always been a part of the plan.
Murmurs followed.
I reached for her side, “What are you doing?” I said through gritted teeth.
Her hand briefly pressed against my arm, firm enough to make a point. “Doing what you are supposed to do.”
With that, she took the microphone from my hand.
“My apologies for the interruption,” she said smoothly, “This cause is far too important to remain behind closed doors.”
My stomach tightened, my heart raced.
So this was her plan.
“... But firstly, I'd like to thank my granddaughter for this wonderful initiative…” she tossed a smile in my direction.
Air left my lungs while I steadied myself, reminding myself to breathe.
She turned slightly toward the cameras as her expression turned solemn.
“People were hurt by our actions. These families deserve not only our support…but the entire public. This is why we must own up to our mistakes.”
A PR stunt. That’s exactly what she had turned it into.
In that moment, Fae tossed her napkin, shot me a stare I’d never seen before, pushed back her chair, and stormed off.
I watched her leave, helpless. My pulse throbbed in my ears as my eyes scanned the sea of distraught, betrayed, disappointed faces.
I had failed my first task.
I had lost my integrity.
And just like that, this entire thing was no longer mine.