Chapter 15 Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Celine entered the office early that morning, clutching her small brown bag close to her chest.
The elevator ride had been its usual quiet torture the same glass walls, the same hum that made her heartbeat echo louder than it should.
She hated elevators, but this one, the one that led to the top floor, scared her even more. Every morning she prayed it wouldn’t stop midway.
As soon as the door slid open, she stepped out quickly and adjusted her white blouse.
Ethan Castellan was already there.
“Good morning, sir,” she greeted softly, placing her bag beside her small table.
A quiet hum came from him — not really a response, but enough to show he’d heard her.
She took it as a yes and quickly sat down, turning on her computer.
Celine tried to smile but quickly looked away.
She went about arranging the papers on the side desk, pretending not to notice the quiet tension that filled the room.
After a few minutes, Ethan stopped typing. “Celine,” he said, his tone low but clear.
She straightened up immediately. “Yes, sir?”
“I need you to prepare the board meeting files,”
he said, eyes still fixed on the laptop. “The updated reports are in the second drawer. Arrange them according to department — finance first, then operations, then the marketing brief at the end.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied quickly and moved to the drawer.
It seemed easy enough, but the files were in a mess. There were at least ten thick folders, each labeled in tiny print.
Her fingers moved quickly, but the more she tried to hurry, the more anxious she felt. She could feel his presence behind her
Her fingers moved through the piles of documents on the side shelf, sorting them one after another.
She was careful, but the pressure of his cold presence behind her made her nervous. She mixed two files unknowingly — one from the finance department and one from the legal team.
By the time she finished and placed the files on his table, she breathed out in relief.
“Here, sir,” she said.
Ethan reached for them, flipping through the pages without a word.
“Celine,” his voice cut through the room sharply.
She froze, the pen slipping slightly from her hand.
“Next time, check properly,” he said. His tone wasn’t loud, but it had that firmness that could sting more than yelling.
“I’m sorry, sir. It won’t happen again,” she said, keeping her eyes low.
Ethan didn’t respond.
For a moment, she thought he might say something else — but he didn’t. He simply leaned back in his chair, adjusting his sleeve as if the moment hadn’t happened at all.
She returned to her small desk quietly. The entire day went by in silence. Only the faint sound of typing, paper shuffling, and the air conditioner filled the room.
When the clock hit closing hour, she packed her things neatly. “Goodnight, sir,” she said softly.
Ethan didn’t look up. He gave a small hand signal, and that was all.
Celine left the office with a small sigh. She didn’t know why his cold tone stayed in her head.
Maybe because he said her name for the first time. Maybe because, even in his silence, he had a way of making her nervous.
She shook the thought off and walked away.
Ten minutes later, the office door pushed open.
“Wassup, man,” a familiar voice said.
Ethan raised his eyes. Sam Keystone.
The tall, brown-haired man stepped in casually, his jacket hanging off his shoulder like he owned the place. He grinned and dropped himself onto the couch without asking.
“Mr. No Emotions himself,” Sam teased, picking up the paperweight on Ethan’s desk and tossing it between his hands.
Ethan gave a small smirk. “Wassup.”
“Nothing, bro. You look like you haven’t slept in a week.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Busy ignoring your ex’s meltdown?” Sam asked, half-laughing.
Ethan leaned back, not amused. “If that’s what she’s doing now, I’m not surprised.”
Sam chuckled. “You’re cold, man. Amelia sent me, like, a hundred iMessages last night. Videos of her crying, drinking wine, talking about how you ruined her life ."
“She ruined her own,” Ethan said quietly, eyes still fixed on his laptop.
Sam studied him for a second. Ethan looked calm on the outside, but Sam knew him well enough to see when he was biting back memories. “You actually blocked her, huh?”
“Had to,” Ethan said flatly. “I don’t want to see her, hear from her, or deal with her again. Not at the office. Not at the villa.”
Sam gave a low whistle. “Damn. That’s serious.”
“She crossed lines,” Ethan said, finally closing the laptop. “And she won’t stop pretending she owns my life. So, I made sure she won’t be allowed in my life again."
Sam nodded slowly. “Guess you mean it this time.”
“I do.”
They both sat in silence for a moment. Sam reached for the glass bottle on Ethan’s shelf and poured himself a drink. “You know,” he said, “sometimes I wonder how you even handle all this.
The company. The expectations. The women drama. You barely smile anymore.”
Ethan didn’t answer. He stared at the window, watching the dim reflection of city lights against the glass.
“I’m fine,” he said finally. “Just tired.”
“Hmm.” Sam sipped and leaned back. “Anyway, thought I should tell you before I disappear. I’m leaving the country next week.”
Ethan turned slightly. “For how long?”
“About a year. France.”
Ethan nodded. “Keystone expansion?”
“Yeah,” Sam replied.
“My old man wants me to handle the new branch over there. I’ll probably go crazy without my people here, though.”
“You’ll survive.”
Sam laughed. “You say that like you
wouldn’t miss me.”
Ethan raised an eyebrow, half-smiling for the first time that evening. “You talk too much to be missed.”
Sam laughed louder. “There he is — the Ethan Castellan I know.”
The two men talked a while longer — about business, old times, random jokes from their college days. But underneath it all, Ethan’s silence still carried something heavy.
When Sam finally stood up to leave, he patted Ethan’s shoulder.
“Hey man, seriously, try to breathe a little. Not everything’s meant to carry weight.”
Ethan didn’t reply. He just looked toward the files Celine had arranged earlier. Her handwriting caught his eye again — neat, calm, and
strangely familiar.
But he brushed the thought off. It didn’t matter. Nothing from the past did.
“Take care, Sam,” he said.
Sam gave a nod and walked out
Ethan leaned back again, his gaze fixed on the papers one last time before turning off the light.
Another long day done. Another night ahead.