Chapter 100 Chapter 100
Chapter 100
Saturday arrived soft and slow for Celine.
She’d spent the morning helping Ariana shift a few pieces around the living room moving the armchair closer to the window, stacking books on the lower shelf, small changes that made the space feel lighter.
When her phone buzzed on the side table, the sound caught her off guard. She wasn’t used to calls this early on weekends.
She picked it up.
Ethan Castellan.
Her stomach did a quick flip. She stared at the name for half a second, then swiped to answer.
“Hey,” he said. His voice came through careful, like he’d rehearsed the single word.
She smiled before she could stop herself.
“Good morning, Mr. ” She caught herself and let out a small laugh. “Good morning, Ethan.”
A short pause.
She pictured him smiling on the other end.
“Morning,” he replied. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“No,” she said fast. “I’ve been up a while.”
“Good.” Another beat. “I wasn’t sure if calling was okay.”
“I’m glad you did.”
He cleared his throat. “About yesterday… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ” He stopped, like the right words wouldn’t come. “I don’t even know what that was.”
“It’s okay, Mr Castellan,” she said gently, choosing her words with care.
“I understand.”
“Ethan,” he corrected softly.
She smiled again. “It’s okay, Ethan.”
They drifted into easy talk after that. Nothing big. How her morning had gone. How Ariana was doing with the new couch pillows. How his Saturday had opened up unexpectedly.
Small pieces of conversation that felt bigger because they were just the two of them, no office walls, no titles.
She could hear the difference in him. No sharp edges. No clipped sentences. Just quiet nerves under the calm.
“I was thinking,” he said eventually. “If you don’t have plans later… maybe coffee? Around four?”
Her heart gave a quick thud.
“Coffee?” she echoed.
“Yeah. Nothing fancy. Just… coffee. There’s a place I like. Quiet. Good light.Around four, maybe. If that’s okay.”
She sat down on the edge of the couch.
“I’d like that,” she said, keeping her voice steady even though excitement was rising fast inside her.
“Really?” He sounded surprised. Relieved.
“Yes.”
A soft exhale on his end. “Okay. I’ll send a car for you.”
There was relief in his breath.
“You don’t have to ”
“I want to,” he said. “Please.”
She hesitated, then gave in. “Okay.”
They stayed on the line a little longer than necessary. He told her about the café’s cinnamon rolls. She told him she liked hers black with one sugar. Every exchange felt shy, careful, like they were both learning how to talk without armor.
When they hung up, she held the phone against her chest for a second.
Ariana glanced over from the kitchen doorway.
“Someone’s smiling,” she said.
Celine turned, cheeks warm. “He asked me for coffee.”
Ariana’s eyebrows went up. “Ethan?”
“Yeah.”
“And you said yes?”
Celine nodded. “I did.”
Ariana smiled slow. “How are you feeling?”
“Nervous,” Celine admitted. “Really nervous. And… happy.”
“That’s normal,” Ariana said. “It’s coffee. Not forever.”
Celine laughed a little. “I know. But what if I mess it up? What if I say something stupid?”
“You won’t,” Ariana said. “Just be you. That’s enough.”
Celine stood up and paced once across the room. “I need to get ready. I have nothing to wear.”
Ariana laughed. “You have plenty. Come on.”
They went to the bedroom. Celine opened the wardrobe and stared at the hangers like they were strangers.
Ariana reached in and pulled out a simple brown sundress. “This one. Try it.”
Celine took it, slipped into the bathroom to change. When she stepped out, Ariana nodded.
“Perfect,” she said. “Not trying too hard. Just right.”
Celine turned to the mirror. The dress fell soft around her knees, the color warm against her skin. She smoothed it down, suddenly seeing herself differently.
“I look… okay,” she said quietly.
“You look beautiful,” Ariana corrected. “Now go take a bath. You’ve got time.”
Celine nodded.
She filled the tub halfway, warm but not too hot. Added a little of the plain soap she kept on the shelf no scent, just clean. She undressed slowly, folded her clothes on the chair, and stepped in.
The water covered her shoulders. She leaned back, closed her eyes. Steam rose in soft curls. Her mind wandered.
She thought about Ethan’s voice on the phone how it had softened when he said her name. How he’d asked if calling was okay, like he was afraid of crossing a line. How he’d sounded almost shy when he suggested coffee.
Her stomach fluttered again. Not fear exactly. Just anticipation. The good kind.
She ran the washcloth over her arms, her legs. Simple motions. Calming. She wondered what he’d wear. If he’d be nervous too. If he’d smile when he saw her.
She stayed in the water until it started to cool, then stood up, wrapped herself in a towel, and stepped out.
Dried off. Moisturized. Brushed her hair until it fell neat and smooth. Put on the brown dress again. Added small earrings nothing flashy. A touch of lip balm. Nothing more.
She looked in the mirror one last time.
She didn’t look like the girl who answered phones and filed reports.
She looked like someone going to meet someone who mattered.
Her phone buzzed at 3:55.
Driver outside.
She grabbed her bag, checked for keys, phone, wallet. Took one last breath.
Ariana met her at the door.
“You’ve got this,” she said.
Celine smiled. “Thanks.”
She stepped outside.
The black SUV waited at the curb. Tinted windows. Engine running quiet.
The driver a man in a dark jacket o
pened the back door for her.
“Miss Celine?”
“Yes.”
He nodded politely. “Whenever you’re ready. ”
She slid into the seat. The leather was cool against her legs. The door closed with a soft click.
She looked out the window as the car pulled away.
Her hands rested in her lap.
Four o’clock was coming.
And so was he.