6
1502 Words
Celeste
A whole month.
That’s how long I’d been in New York, how long I’d been living in the mansion that wasn’t my home and how long I’d been working at The Daily Grind a small, cozy cafe a thirty-minute bus ride from Jared’s mansion .
My boss Maria was an angel. A tough no-nonsense angel with kind eyes.
Something I never expected, I mean judging by my last job in Seattle… Isabella was a living nightmare.
Working for Natasha has been nothing but a blessing… She’d taken one look at my worn-out resume and my desperate face and said, “You look like you can handle a rush. Can you start tomorrow?” I almost cried right there at the counter.
At the mansion things were… quiet. I stuck to my routine and returned late, making sure to skip breakfast and dinner.
It was like I was barely there.
I haven’t seen Ethan since the night at the dinning area, and Jared… he really backed off.
After that morning in the kitchen he kept his distance. Sometimes I’d feel his gaze on me during the rare times we were in the same room but he never approached.
Never spoke.
It was like we were strangers.
My thoughts came to a halt as Eric snaps me out my train of thoughts with his face pulled into a dramatic, pleading frown. “Celeste. My love… I need a huge massive life-saving favor.”
I stopped wiping and looked at him. “No.”
“You didn’t even hear it!”
“It’s you Eric. The last ‘favor’ was you ‘forgetting’ your wallet and me paying for your lunch. The one before that was you swapping shifts so you could go to a concert. My answer is no.”
He clasped his hands together. “Please It’s an emergency I have to make a delivery but my sister just called, she currently in the ER. I have to go. Right now.”
My annoyance melted into concern. “Oh god is she okay?”
“She’s fine just a broken wrist but I’m her emergency contact. I have to go sign stuff, and this delivery… Maria will kill me if it doesn’t get there. It’s for a huge client. It’s their big afternoon meeting.”
I sighed, leaning on the mop. “Where is it? I’ll ask Maria if I can run it after my shift.”
Eric breath out, “ That’s the thing It has to be now In the next half hour and… it’s kinda far. Uptown.”
“Eric. Where?”
He winced. “Harlan Corporate Tower. The penthouse executive suite.”
The words hit me like a physical blow.
What!?
Hell no!
“No! Absolutely not. No way… I’m so sorry Eric but I can’t”
“Why not?”
I bit on my lower lip unable to answer
“Celeste please! It’s just dropping a box of pastries and signature coffees at the front desk that’s all… I promise unless you have someone you don’t want to see there”
My heart drop as I shake my head vigorously, “Uhm… no! Of course not”
“Right then please… You just have to go straight to the main reception on the top floor,” Eric rushed to explain shoving a large cardboard carrier with the cafe logo and a box of artisanal pastries into my hands. “You tell them it’s for the 2 p.m. strategy meeting.”
I stared at the boxes in my hands like they were bombs with my heart was already pounding. “This is a terrible idea.”
“You’re a lifesaver!” he said already untying his apron. “Thank you, thank you!” And he was gone rushing out the back door.
I stood there holding the order.
I had no choice now.
The bus ride to the towering glass spire of Harlan Corp felt like a living nightmare.
My palms were sweaty as I walked into the soaring cold marble lobby my sneakers squeaking it felt like everyone was staring at me
I took the express elevator to the top floor my stomach in knots.
I walked out to the sleek, modern desk where the receptionist was suppose to be, but no one was there.
Good.
Perfect.
I’d just leave it here and flee.
I kept the pastry box onto the smooth surface with a thud and turned to leave, walking directly into a solid chest.
“Ow—watch where you’re—” a familiar irritated voice began.
I looked up and my world tilted.
Ethan.
Could this day get any worst!
He was wearing a suit that probably cost more than my yearly salary with his hair perfectly styled.
“Celeste?” he hissed his voice low. “What the hell are you doing here?”
I took a stumbling step back my mouth dry. “Delivery,” I choked out pointing weakly at the boxes. “I work at the cafe. I was just leaving.”
I tried to sidestep him but he moved blocking my path to the elevator. His eyes were dark angry. “You’re not supposed to be here,” he said, his voice tight.
“I’m leaving!” I insisted trying to keep my voice down. “Let me pass Ethan I don’t want to cause a scene.”
“No.” The word was flat as he glanced around the empty reception then his hand shot out and grabbed my upper arm. His grip was firm. “We need to talk.”
“Let go of me… We have nothing to talk about!”
He ignores me and pulls me towards the side hallway lined with closed office doors.
I struggled but he was too strong.
He shoved open a door marked ‘E. Thorne, VP of Development’ and pushed me inside closing the door behind us with a soft click.
It was a corner office with a breathtaking view of the city.
“What is wrong with you?” I exploded yanking my arm free and rubbing the spot where he’d held me. “You can’t just manhandle me!”
“You can’t just show up at my workplace!” he fired back, his composure cracking. “Are you following me? Is this some pathetic stunt to get me back?”
I let out a disbelieving laugh. “Follow you? I’d rather walk on broken glass than want you back. My coworker had a family emergency and I was doing a favor”
“I don’t care!” he snapped running a hand through his hair messing up the perfect style. “You being here is a problem… You living in my house is a problem!”
“Your house?” I shot back. “It’s Jared’s house and I’m there because my father asked me to be something you wouldn’t understand but you don’t have to worry cause I’m working to get my own place”
His face flushed with anger. “You need to leave Celeste… I don’t f*****g care why you’re here but you need to leave, you don’t belong here and you know that”
“Why?” I demanded stepping closer all my fear morphing into anger . “Why do you care so much? You made it perfectly clear I was nothing to you! You have all that you need, then why does it bother you that I’m here? Can’t you just ignore me!”
“I can’t ignore you!” he shouted and for a second he looked almost as tormented as I felt. Then his expression hardened again. “You’re a reminder of a mistake my mistake that I made, you don’t fit. You’re going to cause trouble.”
“What trouble? By existing? By working a normal job and trying to stay out of everyone’s way?”
“By being here!” he yelled.
“I’m not going anywhere Ethan,” I said, my voice low and steady. “You don’t get to ruin my life and then tell me where I can and can’t live. You don’t own this city and you definitely don’t own me. Not anymore.”
His eyes widened slightly at my outburst looking like he wanted to say something else something vicious, but the door to his office suddenly opened.
We both jumped back putting space between us.
A young woman with a headset peeked in. “Mr. Thorne? Your 2:15 is here and um… the delivery for the strategy meeting arrived. They’re asking for it.”
Ethan straightened his suit jacket his mask of cool composure slamming back into place. He didn’t look at me. “Have an intern take it to the conference room,” he said to her his voice clipped.
Then he turned his cold eyes back to me. “The service elevator is at the end of the hall. Use it. Don’t come back here.”
“f**k you!”
- Writer
