Chapter 7

"It's nothing! Ms. Weller was only joking!" Sophie blurted out.

Her face drained of color. She couldn't tear her eyes off Celia's phone.

Celia raised an eyebrow. "What's the rush, Ms. Hart? Weren't you just playing the victim? Didn't you want Elle to apologize? Alright, then."

Sophie's heart leaped into her throat. Whether she was humiliated or not didn't matter anymore.

"No. I started this with Ms. Ledger. That's on me. I should be the one apologizing. I'm sorry, Ms. Ledger. Mr. Lowe, this is my fault. It has nothing to do with her."

Celia let out a quiet laugh and looked over at Winston.

"So what now, Mr. Lowe? Are you still going to cover for her? You'd rather trust an outsider than your own team? That's disappointing. If this gets out, Lowe Group's going to look bad."

She threw his excuse right back at him.

Winston froze for a beat, his face pulled tight. With so many employees watching, he couldn't say much more.

He stepped closer, took her hand, and forced a smile. "Sorry. I got ahead of myself and didn't think it through. Thanks for calling it out."

Celia's expression remained distant. She pressed her lips together and tried to pull free.

Winston sensed her indifference, and his chest seized. He held on to her.

Then he barked over his shoulder at Sophie, "Ms. Hart, you've stirred up trouble at Lowe Group more than once. Last time, Ms. Weller went easy on you. This time, you'd better explain yourself.

"What happened today is bound to hit the internet, so you'll need to post a public apology soon."

That wouldn't play well for a celebrity.

Sophie felt wronged and pissed off, but she read the room. "G-got it…"

Winston brushed his thumb across Celia's hand, his voice softening. "Take it easy, sweetheart. I jumped the gun. From now on, I'll follow your lead. Okay?"

He suddenly turned gentle, almost meek.

Whenever they'd fought in the past, if he swallowed his pride and cheered Celia up, she couldn't bring herself to ignore him. But this time, she didn't smooth things over with a smile.

She slipped her hand free and gave him a small smile. "I believe you."

Her words rang hollow.

Winston's chest tightened, and he immediately rushed out after her. "Cece."

Behind them, Sophie watched him go soft, trying to placate Celia. A knot cinched tight in her chest. She stomped her foot, seething.

"Just you wait, Celia," she thought. She would make sure Winston dumped Celia and came crawling back to her.

As for those photos… She wasn't sure Celia had actually caught her on camera, but she had to be sure. She wasn't about to let Celia hold those photos over her head.

A thought flashed through Sophie's mind. She pulled out her phone and fired off a text.

…

Winston followed Celia into her office and asked Elle to give them a minute. Now it was just the two of them.

Celia acted like he wasn't even there. She poured herself a coffee and dove into work.

Winston's heart sank. He fixed her a fruit plate and stayed close. He fed her a few bites, then worked the tension from her shoulders, fussing over everything.

Celia noticed every bit of it. The old Celia would've made up with him by now. But not anymore. Her heart was torn up, and it wasn't about to bounce back.

She flicked his hand away, her voice cool. "Enough. I'm not mad anymore. Get back to work."

Winston's heart dropped. He slipped his arms around her from behind and rested his chin on her, gentle and affectionate. His voice went soft, almost pleading. "Don't shut me out, sweetheart."

Celia closed her eyes. She wasn't in the mood to play along. She turned and brushed a quick kiss against his cheek.

"I'm fine, really. Get back to work."

Winston lit up like a puppy who'd just scored a treat. He stroked her cheek. "I said I'd stick with you today. You focus. I'll handle everything else."

He sounded dead set on it, so Celia let it go.

Working shoulder to shoulder with him took her back to their startup days. They'd had nothing, and Winston had refused to take a dime from his family.

On the roughest days, they'd split a cheap cup of instant mac and cheese between them. He'd watched her portion it out, his eyes going red. He'd said, "I won't ever let you suffer again."

Celia blinked away the sting in her eyes, lowered her gaze, and got back to work.

Time blurred until a ringtone sliced through the office. Checking his phone screen, Winston frowned and rejected the call.

Celia shot him a wary look.

"Jerome and the guys want to meet up. It's fine. I promised I'd stay with you," Winston said.

The phone went off again, as if it wouldn't stop until he answered.

"Answer it," Celia said.

Winston obediently listened and answered the call.

"Jerome's birthday party is tonight, Winston. Why aren't you here yet? We've got new stuff!"

"Yeah, man. Hurry up. Everybody's waiting!"

Winston frowned. "I told you. I'm married. Quit calling me about that kind of party. It's late, and I'm with Cece. I'm hanging up."

"Come on! It's Jerome's birthday. Don't do him dirty."

"Hey, why don't you bring Celia along?"

Winston stood his ground. "I'm hanging up. No birthday party comes before Celia."

Celia set the file aside and said quietly, "Go ahead. I'll get home on my own."

Winston held his phone away and stroked her hand. "If you're not going, I'm not going. I told you I'd stay with you."

"Celia, come with Winston. Staying home will be such a drag."

"Yeah, totally."

They were dead set on having Winston and Celia at the party.

Celia fell quiet for a beat and finally agreed.

…

Jerome Roosevelt and his crew had reserved an entire floor at Nightfall Club.

When Winston led Celia in, the private room was a mess. The music was blasting, and a couple of women lingered around. It was wall-to-wall with booze and bodies.

Celia frowned.

Winston drew her in, hit the lights, and swept a cold glare across the room. "Out."

Jerome and the others could tell he was pissed the second they saw him. Celia hated scenes like this.

"Everyone out. Now."

A few women in skimpy dresses slipped out awkwardly.

Only then did Winston lead Celia to a seat. Knowing how particular she was about cleanliness, he wiped the couch with a wet wipe before she sat.

He snuffed out a guy's cigarette and flicked it away. "Don't smoke. Celia hates it."

"Damn. Winston sure is Belcaster's number-one wife guy. The way he spoils her is blinding to watch."

"Right. He just took a seven-figure jewelry set off my hands two days ago."

They bantered back and forth.

"Why wouldn't I take care of my wife?" Winston shot back.

After setting a fruit platter down for Celia, he stayed by her side and tuned everyone out.

Even so, nothing stirred in her except a small, rueful ache.

Who would've thought the man who spoiled her rotten would cheat on her? What a joke.

Around 9:00 pm, she made an excuse to leave and told them to keep going. Winston went after her.

Someone from Jerome's crew called after them, "Have the driver take Celia home. You should hang out with us for a bit. It's not even midnight."

Winston hesitated.

Celia held his arm. "I'm fine. I'll grab a cab. I'll be safe. You should stay a little."

The crowd whooped and urged him to stay.

Winston relented. "I'll walk you out."

Celia gave a quiet hum.

Winston flagged down a cab at the curb. He paid and gave the driver a few careful instructions, looking every inch the attentive husband.

The driver couldn't help remarking, "Your husband treats you really well, ma'am. Not many men do these days."

Celia pursed her lips. A lump rose in her throat, and the words wouldn't come.

She checked her pocket. Her sunglasses were gone. She must've left them at the club. She apologized to the driver and hopped out of the cab.

They were a gift from Winston. He'd had them custom-made because her eyes were sensitive. She'd worn them for years and couldn't stand the thought of losing them.

Celia had barely hit the sidewalk when she spotted Winston at the door, scanning the street.

She picked up her pace. Before she could call his name, a woman darted over and threw herself into his arms.

"I missed you so much, Win."