Chapter 2

Celeste's POV

The parents looked solemn, but they didn't demand that I pay for their child's life. The child's mother mentioned that he had always been ill and the death wasn't tied to the accident.

I breathed a sigh of relief, quickly giving them a little compensation for their fault but I still don't know who the culprit was.

I thought that was the peak of it.

With no charge like manslaughter on the company's name, at least I would still be able to manoeuvre the others.

But, I wasn't prepared for the hidden clause. The Horton family I had just signed with, the one deal that would have made the company one of the best, it was a trap.

They demanded forty million dollars in compensation if any issues came up with their project.

Far more than the total project itself.

Two weeks later, and I am still yet to figure anything out. Millie is nowhere to be found and I only have two days left.

I ran my hand through my hair.

Sniffing heavily, as I stared at the flowing river below. A thought flashed through my mind but before I could do a thing, a call came through.

I picked it without looking at the profile. “I'll figure something—” I said, thinking it was Tyler but the voice made me pause.

“Hello?” His deep, calm voice came through the other end. I recognized it immediately.

Viktor.

“Hello?” He called, his voice raised slightly. A tiny smile rose on my face.

It's been a while since I heard from him.

“Viktor,” I spoke in a low tone, my voice hoarse from the shouting. I was even scared he wouldn't have heard me.

“What's wrong with you?” He asked, and my eyes glistened with tears.

I wanted to pour out my troubles to him. Maybe he could help. If not with money, at least with better advice but I swallowed my words.

I coughed. “Nothing.”

“Oh. I heard you needed some funding for your company. I've spoken to some people and I got your company's name on the list. All you have to do is go to confirm the details.” He said.

I paused. “What?”

“You just have to go to the company tomorrow to get the money.” He spoke, confirming my words.

I felt my eyes get watery again.

“Thank you. Which company is it?”

“I'll send you the details.” He cut the call, and a smile rose on my face.

Perhaps there was still hope.

EVERCREST INVESTMENT COM.

“Which company are you here for?” A middle-aged lady asked, staring right into my eyes. I felt a shiver down my spine but forced a smile.

“For, Hawthorne?” I said, and the lady raised her head immediately.

She exchanged with her colleagues at the table and gave me a nod. “You can come closer.”

I moved closer, my leg shaky from the improper diet over the past days. I cleaned the beads of sweat on my forehead, assuring myself that it would be fine.

“This is the file you need to submit to the finance department. Tell them it's from Mr. Evercrest. They'll handle it swiftly.” She said and I nodded.

A wide smile broke out on my face as I grabbed the paper. I stared at the words written on it, my eyes glistening with joy.

This was my hope right here.

“Really?” A deep and mature voice rang in the entire room. I had ignored it, moving forward but I paused on my steps when I realized he was referring to me.

“Is the Evercrest group so desperate that they have to fund a dying company?” He asked, stepping closer.

I turned, squinting my eyes at the man who stood before me.

The employees scrambled forward, their heads dropped so low that it almost touched the floor.

“We are following orders.”

“I didn't consider it well enough.”

“We're so sorry, please don't fire us.”

Even the stern lady from before had her head lowered.

I blinked.

Who was this man that had them all scared? I asked myself, turning back to look at him. I couldn't catch his face before I jerked backwards from his strong pull.

He had snatched the papers from my hands. My hands trailed after the papers. They were my only hope.

I launched forward, not minding any courtesy, and tried to grab them from his hand.

He raised his hand high above his head. “Miss. Celeste. These papers aren't something you deserve to hold.”

My hands curled tightly. “How can I deserve it?” I said through gritted teeth and a grin rose onto his face.

“Let's talk in my office.” He said, walking away. I followed closely behind, my hand still glued to the papers in his hand.

His face remained blank as he took a seat. His eyes remained glued to me as he slammed the paper on the table.

"You know you don't deserve this." He said and I gulped. "Or should I say your company doesn't."

He asked, tilting his head slightly, a small smirk on his face.

"I know," I said, biting my lower lip, lowering my gaze to the paper on the table. "What should I do to get that?"

His smirk grew larger. "What makes you think I'll give it to you?"

He said and I heaved. "You wouldn't have brought me here if you didn't want to give it to me," I spoke but I only heard a chuckle.

"Really? Then what if I tell you that I'm here to hear your last words before you get locked up?" He spoke, a menacing smile still on his face.

I prickled my fingers as I shot him a sharp gaze. He soon raised his hands, getting up to his feet.

"You don't have to be so annoyed. That's not my plan for today." He spoke, sitting at the edge of his table, a few metres away from me.

"I have a better proposal for you."

I arched a brow upwards. "What?"

"Marriage.”