CHAPTER SIXTEEN: The Push

Celeste paced the threshold above the stairs, nails digging into her palm, phone pressed against her ear.

“I need more time! He doesn't trust me yet”

“And he never will. The time is now!”

The crisp voice on the other end held a note of finality. No questions. She had to do it now.

But she needed more time.

“Just give me a few more days. I'll get it done, I promise “

“You want to bet your son's life on that? Get it done.”

The line went dead.

Her breath caught. Her hand trembled slightly.

Adrenaline surged through her like wildfire as she tiptoed urgently past Adele's room. The door was closed.

She halted at Julian's door. His bedroom light cast a faint glow through the doorknob. Julian never slept with the lights on.

She had to move fast.

The door to his office was locked. She pulled out a key from her pajama pocket and twisted it in the lock. It opened with a click.

Her heart thudded furiously in her chest. She could barely breathe.

Celeste pulled out a small torchlight. She couldn't risk turning on the lights.

She tried to steady her breathing as she approached his huge mahogany table. It had to be there.

She rummaged through the scattered files, growing more frantic with each second ticking by on the grandfather clock in the corner.

He must have kept it somewhere safe. Somewhere hidden.

She underestimated him.

Dread filled her lungs. The atmosphere was taut with tension. She had to give them something – anything.

Her fingers brushed against something slick. She grabbed it. It was a flash drive.

She stared longingly at Julian's computer. She had to know what was on the drive.

Her fingers hovered over the power button when a shadow filled the hallway. Quiet. Watching.

Celeste flinched, dropping the drive. She heard it crack.

Her eyes stayed fixed on the silhouette at the door. Long hair. Silky short robe.

Adele.

Her heart stopped, started and stopped again.

She stayed still, her mind racing. What should she say? Adele will tell Julian. He'll kick her out. She'll lose everything.

Adele turned noiselessly and sauntered down the hallway. Celeste followed, hot on her heels.

Her mind raced desperately. She followed Adele like a silent ghost. Every nerve on her body tingled.

Adele passed by Julian's room and stopped at the threshold, staring down the staircase. She was murmuring something.

Celeste watched her teeter at the top of the stairs –and it hit her instantly.

She rushed forward, arms outstretched.

Adele whipped around just as Celeste lunged forward and with all her might, shoved her in the chest.

Adele fell backwards, her eyes widening in shock and fear. Her eyes met Celeste’s for a split second before she tumbled down the staircase.

Adele landed with a sick thud, her body twisted at an unnatural angle.

Something seeped out from her head, forming a small but decisive pool.

Celeste stood rooted to the spot, staring in horror at the silent form on the marble floor.

A door opened downstairs and light flooded the foyer.

Celeste's nerves fired to life and she raced down the hallway into her room, closing the door gently behind her as a scream pierced the eerie silence.

*****

JULIAN'S POV

I bolted up from my bed. My wine glass fell to the floor with a crash, sending splinters of glass everywhere.

I paid no mind and stepped over it. I could swear I heard something, but I couldn't place it.

Then it came again. The jarring screams pierced my ears and I flung my door open and stepped into the hallway cautiously.

The lights were on in the foyer. Adele's door was wide open.

Adele!

My heart trembled in my chest.

No. God please no!

My feet felt heavy under me as I approached the staircase.

The butler's pajama shirt sleeve was covered in blood. The cleaners scurried about like headless chickens. Adele lay at the foot of the stairs, unmoving.

My brain pieced it together. The blood. The screams. The thud I heard earlier.

God no.

I sprinted down the stairs, barefooted with pieces of glass stuck between my toes.

She was white. Pasty white. I tried to pick her up as my vision blurred. My chest roared in pain.

The butler hovered around me.

“GET THE CAR!” My voice sounded like a faraway cry.

My wife lay still in my arms. What happened? Who did this?

Celeste appeared at the threshold and gasped loudly.

“Oh my God! What happened?”

She ran down the stairs, wrapping her arms around herself.

“Where were you?? What did you do to her?” I was blind with rage. Celeste looked hurt, but her eyes shifted for just a second before refocusing on me.

“You think I did this, Julian? Seriously?”

The loud blare of a horn outside tore through my rage, bringing me back. Adele lay limp in my arms, her blood seeping into my shirt, staining me with guilt.

I failed her again. Now I'm about to lose her. The mere thought broke something inside me.

I have to save her. I don't have time for this. For Celeste.

As I held Adele's limp hand in the backseat, her eyes flickered open and locked onto mine. Her skin felt cold and clammy.

Relief washed over me in waves when she blinked.

“Ads! Baby…stay with me… Stay with me…please “ I can't lose her.

All this time I had been going about this the wrong way, pushing her away when I should be holding onto her forever. I should have never left her alone after the first incident.

I said I would help her, but I only hurt her more. This is all my fault. I have to make it right. I can't lose the only good thing in my life.

Her eyes fluttered open and shut. Her fingers gripped mine, and I felt it in my chest.

“Julian…” she croaked, reaching up a bloody hand to stroke my face.

“Yes baby, I'm right here. Just keep your eyes on me. Stay with me.” I can't let her close her eyes.

The driver stepped on the accelerator and the car jerked forward at a neck-breaking speed.

I never took my eyes off her, not even when her grip loosened and her hand went cold in mine.

Desperation filled my chest.

I tapped my fingers on her face delicately.

No response. Her grip on my finger loosened.

No! Please no!

“Please, Adele! We're almost there. Don't leave me. I love you. Please don't leave me “