Chapter 5

Reading her father’s flood of messages made Celeste realize how sorry he was, but she turned off her phone. She was upset and not ready to talk to him. Her dad had never hurt her before, until now, when she said something unpleasant about her stepmother. She had to admit it felt like her father loved his new wife more than her mom.

Focusing back on work, she started rearranging the planner when she suddenly heard footsteps in the hallway.

Leaving her seat, Celeste rushed outside and saw her stepsister entering the office. She furrowed her brow, walking toward her until she stood defiantly in front of her.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” she snapped.

Thelma raised an eyebrow, giving Celeste a once-over. “Obviously, I’m going inside.”

Celeste cut her off. “Do you have an appointment? If not, I can’t let you in.”

Thelma rolled her eyes. “Celeste, Cedric knows who I am.” She tried to walk past, but Celeste blocked her way.

“Show me your appointment, because I’m not getting in trouble because of you.”

Thelma chuckled softly and shook her head. “So it’s true? The spoiled Koch heiress is working here as an assistant. The world is healing.”

Celeste clenched her fists, forcing herself to stay calm. She couldn’t afford to get fired by Cedric. She needed this job. “What’s wrong with being an assistant?” she shot back. “It’s a decent job, Thelma.”

“Coming from you?” Thelma’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

Celeste was about to respond but stopped when she heard Cedric’s voice. “Let her in.”

Celeste turned and saw her boss standing behind her. She stared at him, as if confirming what she heard, but he didn’t repeat himself. He only signaled for her to step aside. She took a breath, moved aside, and watched her stepsister approach him.

Curiosity piqued, she fought the urge to ask what was going on. What was their relationship, anyway?

Celeste couldn’t stay still. She wanted to know what they were talking about.

“You should have told me you were coming,” she heard Cedric say, his voice unintentionally loud.

“I wanted to surprise you,” Thelma replied quickly. “I brought you dinner.”

Celeste walked back to her seat, pretending to work while watching the scene from the corner of her eye.

Her eyes widened as she realized something. “Don’t tell me she’s his fiancée,” she whispered. She tried not to look toward his office, but the voices grew louder.

“Where’s my engagement ring?” Thelma asked, clearly upset, as she sat on Cedric’s desk.

“It’s at my house,” Cedric replied, glancing briefly at Celeste, who quickly pretended to be busy.

“You should bring it to me,” Thelma insisted, stamping her foot like a child.

“You shouldn’t have taken it off in the first place, Thelma.”

“I’m sorry, okay? I was just upset that night. I wasn’t thinking about your feelings.”

“That’s who I am now. If you can’t handle it, there’s no point in asking for your ring back.”

“No, give it back to me.” Thelma’s tone softened, but stayed firm. “We’ve been together for years. This is just another obstacle we’ll overcome.”

Celeste watched her stepsister lean in toward Cedric, kiss him gently on the lips, then rest her hand on his shoulder.

“I need to go. I just brought your dinner. I’ll call you later, okay?” Thelma said with a smile as she turned to leave, meeting Celeste’s eyes on her way out.

Celeste closed her eyes in frustration. If Cedric married Thelma, that would make her stepsister her boss too.

“No freaking way!” she groaned, slamming her hand on her desk.

“Who are you talking to?” came a teasing voice. Terrence stood nearby, grinning.

“Terrence,” she sighed, running her fingers through her slightly messy hair.

“I just wanted to check if you’re coming with us tonight. We’re leaving at nine.”

“Yes, of course.”

Trying to push thoughts of Thelma as her future boss out of her mind, Celeste left her office and headed toward Cedric’s. She needed to talk to him.

“Sir, can I come in?” she asked, biting her lip as she waited for his response. When he nodded, she stepped in quickly.

“What do you need? You’re free to leave. Go home and enjoy your weekend.”

“Thelma is my stepsister,” she blurted, her voice trembling.

Cedric raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“And?” Celeste laughed weakly, stepping closer. “So you knew she’s my stepsister?”

“She’s my fiancée, Ms. Koch. I should know about her family.”

“Her mother is my stepmother. Your fiancée is my stepsister. They’re not my family, and my father and I aren’t related to them.”

Cedric blinked, momentarily looking less like the powerful man she saw every day.

“If you knew she was my stepsister, then why hire me? I bet your perfect fiancée told you all sorts of stories about me.”

Cedric smirked, eyes glinting with amusement. “Not much. She said you’re a brat and wicked, and I’d say she’s right.” His teasing tone made Celeste’s fists tighten as she struggled to stay composed.

Gathering her courage, she sat down in front of him. “Thelma doesn’t look good with you,” she said childishly. “She’s too pale, like a vampire. Your wedding photos would be a disaster. You can’t marry her.”

“That’s not a valid reason not to marry your sister.”

“Stepsister,” Celeste corrected sharply.

“Still not a valid reason, Celeste.”

“I don’t want her to be my boss.”

The room fell silent. They stared at each other, tension thick in the air. Up close, she couldn’t help but notice how strikingly handsome her boss was, his features perfectly sculpted.

Just as she was getting lost in his eyes, Cedric burst out laughing. His deep, warm laugh filled the room and made him seem even more magnetic.

“Thanks for the advice I didn’t ask for. But if I were you, I’d leave before I fire you for eavesdropping.”

“I didn’t eavesdrop. Your voices were too loud,” she protested, cheeks flushing.

“If you don’t want your sister as your boss, you can always go back to your father. Simple as that.”

**

Letting the bass vibrate through her body, Celeste swayed her hips, letting the alcohol loosen her mood.

She was still annoyed with Cedric. Of all the women he could have been engaged to, why did it have to be her stepsister?

“Let’s do some shots!” Michele, Terrence’s team leader, shouted over the music.

“Weekends are my favorite, no bosses!” Olla, the finance assistant, added excitedly.

Celeste laughed with them, knowing everyone was frustrated working under Cedric Bettencourt.

“Are you finally going to tell us your story?” Terrence asked. “Why are you working with BGC instead of your dad’s company?”

She shrugged, taking a long drink. “My dad’s getting married again, and I’m not thrilled about it.”

“Wow, so this is your version of rebellion?” Olla teased.

“Kind of,” she admitted, laughing with them.

As she lifted her beer again, her eyes wandered to the second floor and froze.

“Thelma?” she whispered.

Her stepsister was resting her head on another man’s shoulder. It wasn’t Cedric.

Celeste chuckled darkly. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Like mother, like daughter.”

The man nuzzled Thelma’s neck. Celeste couldn’t hear her laugh, but her body language said it all.

A wicked idea flashed in her mind. She took out her phone, zoomed in, and snapped a photo.

“I’ll need this in case of an emergency,” she murmured.

She danced with her colleagues for hours, finally stumbling home around two in the morning, sweaty and tired.

The next morning, even though it was her day off, she saw a text from Cedric, sent in the middle of the night. It said, 'Come to the office.'

Groaning with a hangover, she dragged herself there anyway.

“You’re late,” Cedric said the moment she stepped in.

“My alarm didn’t go off,” she lied.

“That’s a poor excuse. Second strike this week.”

“But it’s not even a regular workday,” she argued.

“And now you’re talking back?”

He stood close behind her in the elevator, his broad shoulders dominating her reflection. She glanced up and couldn’t help but admire him.

“Stop checking me out,” he said calmly.

Her eyes widened. “I... I wasn’t.”

“You’re doing it again.”

“I’m not.” How could he tell she was looking?

He chuckled. “How long have you been working here?”

“It’ll be a week tomorrow.”

“And have you ever noticed that mirror?” He nodded at the mirrored panel above the doors.

Her jaw dropped. Caught red-handed, she shrank back in embarrassment.

When they reached his office, his phone rang. Celeste couldn’t see the caller’s name, but she knew it was Thelma. Cedric took the call, speaking for several minutes.

When he returned, Celeste asked casually, “Where’s Thelma?”

He frowned. “Why do you ask?”

“How long have you known her?”

He gave her a look. “What’s with the sudden interest in my love life?”

“I just think you’re overworking yourself,” she said. “You might be neglecting her. Her attention could be going elsewhere.”

Cedric’s stare hardened, making her regret opening her mouth.

“Just a piece of advice, sir,” she added quickly.

“We’re not friends, Ms. Koch,” he replied coldly, and she decided to drop it.

Poor Cedric. He had no idea what Thelma was doing behind his back.

“Cancel my meetings for today. We have other matters to attend to,” he ordered, grabbing a folder and heading out.

“What matters?” she asked, following.

“We’re organizing a charity gala.”

She checked her iPad. “But there’s nothing about a gala on your schedule.”

“There is now.”

Cedric’s driver picked them up. Celeste sat beside him in the back, surrounded by his scent. He was focused on his laptop, while she found herself stealing glances.

“I think you should take a picture. It’ll last longer,” he said without looking up.

Celeste rolled her eyes. “You’re not my type, sir.”

His frown deepened, and she realized her mistake.

“I’m sorry. That was out of line. Please don’t give me another strike.”

He glared for a few seconds, then went back to work. “Why didn’t you join your father’s company? Was it really because of your stepmother?”

“At first, yes,” she said softly. “But later, I just wanted to prove I could work without my dad’s influence.”

He shut his laptop and looked at her. “What exactly happened the other night when you were crying?”

“It was a father-daughter thing,” she muttered.

“So what’s your plan for your life?”

She blinked. “My plan?”

“You can’t work for me forever and avoid your father. You don’t even want Thelma to be your boss, so what’s your plan?”

She was surprised by how normal the conversation had become.

“Working with my dad wouldn’t be easy either,” she sighed. “You know how big businessmen are. They have their heads up their asses, not you of course.”

“Only you,” Cedric chuckled. “Only you manage to piss me off every time you open your mouth. And honestly, I think Thelma’s wrong. You’re not as bratty or wicked as she says.”