Chapter 6: His Name

"Franco?" I exclaimed, recalling my husband's name.

Connor nodded and smiled in affirmation. I swallowed hard and turned to Martha, who unexpectedly began praising the man as if he were the most admirable person in the world.

"Yes, madam. He is incredibly handsome and masculine. He looks like a Hollywood actor," Martha gushed about the stranger.

"What on earth are you saying, Martha? Seriously? How dare you share that with me?" I scowled at her.

Martha quickly covered her lips, clearly ashamed of her words. She looked down and apologized, "I'm sorry, madam. I couldn't help but admire him."

"I don't care about him. Just do your job!" I raised my voice, expressing my frustration.

"And I don't want that to happen again. Do you understand?!" I asked her firmly, raising my eyebrow.

Martha nodded, and as I turned back to Connor, I was taken aback by his teary eyes. I immediately embraced him, gently stroking his back.

"What's wrong, baby?" I asked, filled with concern.

"Mom, please don't be mad at Nanny," he pleaded.

Seeing my son cry, I realized how much he loved his nanny, and I felt guilty for being a busy mother. Martha spent more time with him than I did, so I couldn't blame him for reacting that way.

"I'm sorry, baby. I'm just worried about you. I don't want anything bad to happen because I love you so much. Do you understand mommy, baby?" I explained gently.

Connor hugged me tighter, and I couldn't help but feel emotional in that moment. I looked at Martha and apologized for raising my voice.

"I'm sorry if I raised my voice, Martha. You know how much I love my son, so you can't blame me for reacting like that. I hope it won't happen again," I said calmly.

"I promise, madam. It won't happen again. I'm really sorry," Martha apologized. Suddenly, my phone rang, and I saw Irene calling me, so I answered the call immediately.

Hello, Irene," I greeted.

"Celine, Where are you? They're waiting for you. You should be there now!" Irene exclaimed in a panic.

"Relax. I'm on my way," I chuckled.

"Hurry up. I'm so excited for you to speak in public," Irene said eagerly. 

"Wait for me there," I instructed before ending the call.

I bid farewell to Martha and Connor, reminding Martha to take care of Connor. After kissing and hugging my son, I started to walk away.

Suddenly, Connor asked, "What time will you be home, mom?"

"I'm not sure, sweetheart. If you're tired, go to sleep and don't wait up for me, okay? I love you!" I reassured him before continuing on my way.

FTM Building, Washington

Around 3pm, I arrived in front of the building and stepped out of my car. Confidently, I walked towards the entrance and was greeted by all the employees inside.

"Good morning, Ms. Winston. Welcome to FTM," they greeted, their smiles brightening the room.

"Good morning!" I greeted back, returning their smiles.

As I looked around, I spotted my best friend, Irene, approaching me from a distance. She smiled warmly.

"I'm glad you're here now! They're waiting for us inside," she said.

"Do you think I should do it?" I asked, feeling a bit unsure.

"Of course! It's important for your company's exposure, Celine. CLN beauty deserves to be recognized, and I'm confident it will boost sales this month," Irene assured me.

I couldn't help but feel grateful for having such a supportive best friend. Through thick and thin, she never leaves my side. She believes in me, and I consider myself lucky to have her.

"I'm so lucky to have you, Irene. Thank you for everything. I couldn't do it without you," I said, a smile on my face as I fought back tears.

"Celine, you're my best friend, and no one can come between us. I'll always be here, and I'm incredibly proud of you. This success is yours," she said, her smile unwavering.

"No, it's our success," I replied, my smile matching hers.

A few moments later, I stood at the center of a whirlwind. As the founder and CEO of CLN Beauty, I was invited to a prestigious televised interview, showcasing the rapid growth of my company.

The conference room buzzed with activity as cameras clicked and reporters eagerly awaited my entrance. Taking a deep breath, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Stepping into the spotlight, the room hushed, all eyes fixed on me.

The interview kicked off with questions about CLN Beauty's success and innovative products. I confidently shared our journey and future plans. Reporters nodded in approval, jotting down notes.

As the interview wrapped up, the mood shifted. A surprising question left me stunned.

“Ms. Winston,” the reporter asked, “You've excelled in your business. But what about your personal life? Are you in a relationship?”

The room gasped in unison. I hadn't expected this personal inquiry in a business setting. Discomfort washed over me as I realized my private life was now in the spotlight.

"I'm sorry, but I prefer to maintain a clear distinction between my personal and professional life," I responded, my voice trembling slightly.

"I firmly believe that my relationship status has no bearing on the success of CLN Beauty."

The reporter persisted, her tone growing more insistent.

"But Ms. Winston, everyone is curious about the person behind the brand. They want to know if you're single, in a relationship, or somewhere in between."

Frustration surged within me. Why should my personal life be of any interest to the public? I had dedicated endless hours to building my company, and I certainly didn't need a romantic partner to succeed. Never again.

"I understand that people are curious, but I'm not comfortable discussing my personal life in this context," I firmly stated. "My purpose here is to discuss CLN Beauty and our mission to empower women through beauty."

The reporter let out a sigh, seemingly accepting my response. "Very well, Ms. Winston. Thank you for your time."

As the cameras dimmed and the reporters dispersed, a sense of unease washed over me. The interview had gone well, but the lingering question about my love life left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Exiting the conference room, I approached Irene with disappointment evident in my voice.

"I didn't even expect them to bring up my personal life. It's truly disheartening."

Irene let out a sigh and asked, "Hmm.. If you don't mine but I'm curious too, Celine. Do you have any plans to find love again? Do you plan on giving Connor a father?"

Her question caught me off guard.

Suddenly, our conversation was interrupted, and my heart raced as a man inside the room shouted, "Franco! Franco!"