Celeste Miller

Kade’s POV

If there’s anything I disliked in my life, it was maltreatment and embarrassment.

After watching her deal with both, I couldn't understand what was supposed to be so wrong about wanting a divorce.

I led her out of there, away from those predatory eyes that perched on her, and I provided a perfect shield until we arrived at a corner.

I watched her wipe her tears off her face then she straightened swiftly.

“She really slapped me. Fine, I was almost considering going easy on her. I guess those thoughts are dead.”

I blinked.

“What?”

“I’m going to go get a drink.”

And then she just strutted off, leaving me in double shock.

I thought…I thought she needed time to get over that.

Just when I was about to follow, I was suddenly pulled into a nearby bathroom.

My eyes fell on my bride to be, Nancy Miller.

They continued to drift over her figure for lack of anything better to do as she cornered me.

Sure Nancy's beautiful, but I knew the Celeste I met that night was more intriguing.

Then she walked into my company this morning, completely different, and she just had to prove me right.

“What are you doing, holding my sister on her waist like that? She's married!”

Nancy choked out like if she held it in for a second more, it would consume her whole.

“Unfortunately.”

Saying that left a bitter taste in my mouth for some reason.

Confusion broke across her face.

“What's…what's going on? I thought you were going to marry me?”

I wore a blank expression.

“Not anymore.”

“What do you mean by not anymore? And what are you doing with her?”

I folded my arms, bored out of my mind.

“Well, I don't appreciate cheap affairs. She's getting a divorce so you can be with who you want, you won't have to hide it…”

Her eyes widened, a hand flying to her mouth quickly to stiffen a gasp.

“No you're wrong! let me tell you things about her that you don't know!”

Nancy proceeded to start spewing things that I had no business with and couldn't care less about.

Just what has Celeste been going through at their hands to eventually snap after being at the brunt of everybody’s pity for so long? What was the last straw that made her so enigmatic overnight?

My arms remained folded.

At some point, I cut her short.

“And you think you're any better? That's what you're trying to say?”

“Excuse me?”

Real anger flared in her eyes, her mask completely falling off her face.

“Kade! Do you even have any idea what you’re doing? She’s going to bring you so much bad luck if you stand by her side. At the end of the day, you’re going to fall for me too, because not only do I know I’m better than her, I think it too. Everybody does!”

I had never been so irritated in my life. Only the fact that I had wasted over seven minutes on her made me feel like a fucking idiot.

I turned to walk away when she stopped me, her tone flipping like she had snatched up her mask and worn it back.

“You’re going? Wait—It was a joke! All of it!”

She reached for the hem of my suit jacket just as the door creaked open, and black curls came into view, red blood lips, and a spotless face to match it with.

“I was looking for you. I got you a drink.”

My heart stilled as I saw the glass of sparkling wine. I couldn't decide what to stare at. I had to blink myself back into reality, and I reached for the wine and took it, and groaned when it kissed my throat.

Celeste took one glance at her sister and looked away like she couldn’t be bothered.

I never looked back as I officially reached Celeste, but I knew Nancy was shaken, rooted to the spot. I would be too if I were her.

When I got to her, I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheeks. The idea was to make Nancy realize that there was simply no more wedding.

“Thank you for the wine.”

Then I reached for her hand and felt it trembling. When I lifted my head to meet her eyes, she was glaring at me like she wished they could shoot daggers.

Something cold ran down my spine. She let me take her hand anyway, and we walked out of the bathroom.

The second we came out to the long corridor, Celeste shoved me off her then proceeded to do the most out-of-touch thing I had ever witnessed her do.

She wiped my kiss off her cheeks with a passion that rattled me, as though my mouth was cancerous.

“I didn't appreciate that. You don't have to help me. It's not in our agreement.”

I was at an immediate loss for words.

When I recovered, a small smile found its way to my lips, my eyes remaining trained on her, helping myself especially to the sway of her hips as she walked swiftly ahead of me.

This woman changed overnight, or had she been pretending all this while?

She was actually wearing a bodycon dress, and every curve hugged her frame like a second skin.

Last I'd seen her, she was being made mockery of for her fashion choices at my official welcoming party into the Miller family.

When we went back into the hall, I made more connections, worked the room, and even introduced her to my acquaintances as I kept her by my side, but I soon noticed she was uncomfortable, not missing the fact that just across the room were Nancy and their mother giving her hard stares.

I soon leaned close to her ear.

“Wanna get out of here?”

She nodded fast, shaken.

I didn't waste a second more. I guided her out, left her comfortably in the passenger seat before I rounded the car and drove out.

We had only driven for the first couple of minutes when her voice cut into the thick silence.

“Please park,” she let out a choked whisper, and I was almost sure I didn't hear her correctly.

“Park?”

“Yes. Please.”

I pulled over and watched her ease into the stillness of the night. She looked at peace for the first time all evening.

“I'm sorry, this is—” She let out a nervous laugh.

“It's so unnecessary—”

“Hungry?” I cut in.

She looked down at herself, her hands finding her stomach like she just realized she hadn't taken time to properly eat anything all day.

The car rolled into a nearby restaurant and a waiter took our orders once we'd settled in.

Since the woman seated across from me had managed to fascinate me for reasons I was yet to explain, I let myself have the guilty pleasure of studying her more.

“When will you stop staring at me?” My eyes met her rather troubled ones.

“I need answers.” My mouth twisted.

“About?”

“Tell me what's going on.”

“Nothing. Like I said, it's not in our agreement—”

“You're going to answer me, Miss Miller.”

Her brow arched.

“A hungry woman is an angry woman, Mr Thorn. Let's consider having this conversation sometime later.”

Our eyes clashed, hers in pure defiance, as though riling me up gave her nothing but joy. It was incredible, witnessing a woman address me like I was a bother to her.

Women scrambled at my feet. Not this one. In fact, it felt like the opposite, like I was the one seeking her approval.

If I didn't know better, I'd have every reason to believe she hated me.

Maybe it's why I can't stop trying to figure her out.

Our meal came, and we dug into it. She ate gracefully with a poise so unmatched, her countenance cold at the same time.

It was…refreshing.

Somehow, I wanted to see just what would happen next with this new partner of mine.

In the meantime, I hoped Henry never had a reason to appear in front of me again.

Planning a hostile takeover on my company was pure psychopathy, and I wasn't about to let him off the hook. He'll pay when I'm ready.

I was still thinking of a perfect way to set traps for him when a movement pulled me out of it.

Celeste…rising, gathering her things.

“If I need anything, I’ll call.” She was already heading for the door.

“But—”

“I already texted my driver. Thanks for paying.” And she was gone.

I stared at where she sat for a moment, let it sink in that she just walked out on dinner with me— and I burst into a disbelieving laugh.

What in the mighty hell…is Celeste Miller about to do to my routine?