4

Celeste

I broke into sobs the second my bedroom door clicked shut.

Silent tears began to stream down my face heaving gasps that tore from my chest and made my whole body shake.

I slid down the back of the door until I was sitting on the floor hugging my knees.

What had I done? What had I gotten myself into?

How is my ex boyfriend here?

How?

Was this karma or coincidence?

I couldn’t stay here. I couldn't live in the same house as the two men who had ruined me in completely different ways.

It was a bad idea the worst idea, coming here was a mistake.

I pushed myself up wiping my face with the back of my hands.

My vision was blurry as I stumbled to the closet. My suitcase was still on the floor half-unpacked. I yanked it open and started pulling my things out of the drawers not folding them just throwing them inside. My few sweaters, my jeans, my worn-out sneakers.

It didn't take long.

I have to leave this place before everything get worst than it already is.

I just had to go.

I’d figure out where later. Anywhere was better than here.

A sharp knock on the door made me freeze.

My heart leaped into my throat as I stared at the door handle my hands clutching a sweater to my chest.

Should I open it? What if it was Ethan? Or God forbid Jared? I couldn’t face them.

The knock came again firmer this time.

I took a shaky breath swiped at my wet cheeks again and tried to make my voice sound normal. “Who is it?”

No answer came.

I let out a breath unlocking the door, my breath caught every screamed to close the door but it was too late.

My heart didn’t just drop.

It plummeted.

He filled the doorway.

He’d changed out of his sweater into a simple white t-shirt and dark pants. He looked devastatingly handsome.

His dark eyes those deep, knowing orbs locked onto mine immediately he stared at me for a long moment his gaze sweeping over my face, no doubt seeing the redness in my eyes and the tear tracks.

His eyes moved past me and into the room landing on my open suitcase on the bed the clothes thrown messily inside.

His jaw tightened.

A muscle ticked in his cheek.

Without a word he pushed the door open wider and stepped inside making me stumble back and letting him in.

My whole body was on high alert the room feeling ten times smaller.

“Where,” he said his voice a low deadly calm “do you think you are going?”

I swallowed trying to find my voice. “I… I can’t stay here Mr. Harlan…. I’d like to leave”

“Jared,” he corrected sharply finally turning those dark eyes back on me the intensity of his gaze was almost physical. “Why can’t you stay?”

“I’m not comfortable,” I whispered wrapping my arms around myself. “I’m not suppose to be here… I don’t want to be a burden… coming here is a big mistake—“

He cut me off taking slow steps towards me and I took another step back my legs hitting the edge of the bed. “It was a mistake,” he agreed his voice still low. “But not for the reason you think.”

I blinked confused. “What do you mean?”

He looked away running a hand through his hair. He seemed to be struggling with something. “That night Celeste.”

My name on his lips spoken like that felt like a brand.

“What about it?” My voice was barely a whisper.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen,” he said his tone final like he was giving a business order. “We were both lost... It needs to stay in the past.”

Each word was like a tiny cut. “Y—yes… of course,” I said my throat tight.

“If that is what is making you uncomfortable,” he continued his eyes now boring into mine with a cold intensity, “then forget it. Erase it from your mind. You have nothing to fear from me on that account.” He paused and the next words were delivered with a brutal clarity. “I don’t want you that way. Not anymore.”

I felt the words like a punch to the stomach.

Of course he didn’t want me he had Genevieve. Perfect polished Genevieve that fits his status

“You’re not a burden Celeste… I am your father’s best friend,” he stated his voice hardening. “You are my responsibility now he trusted me with you and because of that, you are not going anywhere. Is that understood?”

A responsibility… of course

I shake my head.“I don’t want to be your responsibility,” I fired back my voice gaining strength. “I don’t want your pity or your help! I can take care of myself… I’m old and capable enough”

A low dangerous sound rumbled in his chest his eyes filled with annoyance “You still have that dirty little mouth on you don’t you?” he said his voice dropping to a whisper that was more threatening than a shout. “Still so defiant.”

“I am not staying here Mr Harlan… I’ve made up mind,” I insisted.

He took the final step closing the distance between us he was so close I could smell the clean masculine scent of him.

“You will stay,” he said each word felt like command. “You don’t have a choice Celeste. This is the safest place for you. You have nowhere else to go so you will stay in this house and you will be civil.”

I gulped a lump and before I could respond the door handle turned

We both sprang apart as if electrocuted.

I took two quick steps to the left, and Jared took a step back towards the center of the room his face smoothing into a neutral mask in an instant.

The door opened and Lisa walked in holding a tray with a covered plate and a glass of water.

She stopped her eyes widening as she saw her father.

“Dad,” she said, surprise in her voice. “You’re here.”

Jared’s posture relaxed into something more casual as he gave her a small tight smile. “I was just welcoming Celeste properly…Making sure she had everything she needed.” He turned his head slightly and his eyes met mine one last time. The warning in them was crystal clear. “I’ll leave you two to it.”

He gave a curt nod to Lisa and then walked to the door as he passed me his shoulder almost brushing mine.

Asshole.

I stood there my whole body buzzing with adrenaline and despair.

“Wow I didn’t expect to see him up here,” Lisa said breaking the tense silence as she walked over and set the tray on my dresser. “I brought you some dinner. You barely touched anything downstairs. You must be starving.”

“Thanks Lisa,” I managed to say, my voice hollow.

She looked at me then at my open suitcase. Her smile faded. “Celeste… are you packing? Are you leaving?”

I looked from her worried face to the suitcase, to the closed door where Jared had just stood issuing his decree.

I was trapped.

He was right.

I had nowhere to go no money to get there.

My shoulders slumped in defeat.

“No,” I whispered the word tasting like ash. I walked over to the bed and slowly started taking my clothes back out of the suitcase. “No I’m not leaving. I was just… unpacking properly.”