Chapter 54 What If You Have Done Him a Favor?
Celeste forced herself to keep her composure as she stepped into the elevator. The doors slid shut behind her, and the sweet smile she had been wearing vanished into thin air.
Alexander had brushed off her invitation tonight… and instead, he brought that damned Caroline into the company, openly giving her the position of his assistant?
"Damn it… damn every one of them…" she muttered under her breath, her voice tight with suppressed fury.
If anyone had been in the elevator with her, they would have seen it—her expression had hardened into something sharp and cold, nothing like the soft, Edith-like sweetness she usually performed.
It took her a long moment before she drew in a deep breath, forcing herself to calm.
She kept telling herself to stay cool. Alexander was only momentarily distracted by that worthless woman's pathetic act. Or maybe… maybe this was just his new way of punishing her.
Caroline was a sinner. She would always be a sinner. Alexander would never truly spare her.
Yes. That had to be it.
He had promised—just moments ago—that he would marry her. He would not go back on his word. It was only a matter of time.
But the heat burning in her chest refused to fade. She clenched her teeth, barely holding back from exploding in front of the company's staff.
When she left, Celeste headed straight for the Neville Mansion.
The house was quiet, only the servants moving about their work.
Seeing no audience, she stopped pretending. She strode quickly up to her room.
A middle-aged maid, hearing her return, entered with a tray of tea and pastries.
"Miss, you're back. Would you like some refreshment?"
"Get out! Don't bother me!"
Celeste was already seething, and the sight of that placating smile only made her irritation spike. She swiped her arm hard, sending the silver tray crashing to the floor.
Fine porcelain shattered, scalding tea and delicate pastries splattering across the polished marble in a messy ruin.
The maid went pale, crouching quickly to clean up. "Miss, please… calm yourself. Who upset you this badly? You could tell me, just to get it off your chest."
Celeste stared down at her cautious movements, her rage easing only slightly.
"Who else? Alexander! Who else could make me this furious?! He brought that filthy woman Caroline into the company and made her his assistant! I went to see him today, hinted at what I wanted… and he told me he didn't have time, that he had files to deal with. Files? Please. He's just letting himself be distracted by that lunatic! He's never turned me down like that before!"
The maid's hands froze for a moment, brows drawing together.
Then she smoothed her expression and offered, "Miss, Mr. Hamilton's feelings for you are obvious to everyone. He's said he'll divorce Caroline and marry you. His wife's place will be yours eventually. Why let a sinner get under your skin?"
"Eventually? How long is ‘eventually'?!"
Celeste's voice was sharp enough to cut.
"He said he'd deal with her once she cleared her name. Look at her now! He's protecting her in the company and giving her a position! How is that dealing with her? He's getting soft! That face—like Edith's—has him under a spell! That lunatic, that mute, she's nothing… but as long as she's alive and in Alexander's sight, she's a thorn in my side! I don't want to wait one more day!"
The maid sighed inwardly at her impatience but kept her tone respectful, lowering her voice. "Miss, if Caroline is in Mr. Hamilton's company… perhaps you could find a way to get in yourself?"
"Get in? Easier said than done."
Celeste's laugh was cold.
"Alexander's company isn't a place you just walk into. Especially the headquarters—rules everywhere, and without his say-so, no one gets in. And what would I go in as? The Neville Family's foster daughter? Or Alexander's mistress?"
The words tasted bitter. He had never acknowledged her publicly. She wasn't even officially his girlfriend… not even his mistress.
Seeing her unmoved, the maid exhaled softly and leaned closer. "Miss, rules are fixed, but people are flexible. If you could help Mr. Hamilton with something big, or prove you're irreplaceable… then, when you ask to join the company, what reason would he have to refuse? He might even see you in a new light."
Celeste's eyes narrowed, her breathing slowing as her mind shifted.
She stood still for a beat, then strode to the antique telephone in the corner of the sitting room, dialing quickly.
The line clicked open, a man's voice respectful. "Miss, what do you need?"
"Cut the chatter. Find out what important clients or projects Alexander is dealing with right now. Anything he's heavily invested in."
"Yes, Miss." The man hung up.
He was one of her paid informants—fast and reliable.
It didn't take long before the call came back. "Miss, according to our sources, Mr. Hamilton is currently pushing hard to secure a major maritime cooperation deal with Euravell's the Ford Group. This project is critical for the Hamilton family's expansion into the Euravell market. Competition is fierce. Tonight's charity auction gala will have representatives from the Ford Group in attendance. Mr. Hamilton will likely use the event to make key connections."
Tonight?
Celeste's grip on the receiver tightened, her chest constricting.
He had an event this important… and hadn't told her? Hadn't planned to take her? Then who was he taking?
Caroline?
She slammed the receiver down hard.
Then she stormed through the room, smashing anything her hands could reach.
"Caroline! You ghost that refuses to fade! Why don't you just disappear! And Alexander! How dare you do this to me! You take that lunatic and not me! How am I not better than that sinner who killed her own sister?! Ah—!"
The maid, startled by her outburst, rushed forward to restrain her.
"Miss! Please stop! Calm down!"