My gaze lingers on the restoration plans for the Bellevue acquisition, and for the first time since I took over this company from my grandmother, I don’t feel the thrill of the win.
I sigh as I read over the budget allocation, my mind continuously drifting back to Celeste. I thought the years she was gone would’ve doused the torch I held for her throughout my teens. Hell, I low-key prayed I wouldn’t feel a thing when I saw her again, that what I felt for her was nothing more than a schoolboy crush. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Having her back in my life made every repressed feeling surge to the surface, making me even more greedy than I was when we were younger.
For years, the competition between us was borderline toxic, my behavior increasingly problematic as we both refused to give in, intent on besting the other. At what point did the way her eyes flash when she outdoes me begin to make my heart skip a beat? When did I begin to notice her the second she enters a room, and when was the first time all of my thoughts were sent into disarray simply because I’d heard her laugh? My feelings for her evolved slowly, growing right along with us. It took me years to realize my fixation on her wasn’t mere rivalry — it crossed the line long before I laid her down in my mother’s observatory.
How do I earn a chance with her after everything I’ve put her through? Do I even deserve one? A woman like her is far too good for the likes of me, but fuck, the idea of her with anyone else fucking kills me. The way she looked at me when I ran into her at Chalet Chiara told me that nothing I could do would erase the impression I’ve made throughout the years, but then again… she did walk away from that acquisition, and she did that for me. In the past, she never would’ve considered doing me a favor, no matter my pleas or rationale. That’s gotta count for something, right?
“Mr. Windsor?” my secretary calls.
I look up to find him smiling at me sheepishly, like he’s been trying to catch my attention for a while now. “Apologies, Mike,” I murmur, trying not to cringe at the purple suit he’s wearing today. I’m not sure if he’s doing it on purpose, but sometime last year, he decided to revamp his wardrobe and replaced all of his perfectly good suits with hideous pieces that I’m certain aim to offend. I suspect he finds pleasure in watching me bite my tongue.
Mike shakes his head as he walks in, a set of documents in his hands. “It’s odd,” he remarks, “how often you’re lost in thought these days, when I’ve never seen you like that even once in the four years we’ve worked together. It’s equally odd that it coincided with the appointment of Celeste Harrison as her grandfather’s successor. Worried about our biggest competition getting ahead of us now that such a brilliant mind joined them?”
I narrow my eyes at him in warning, but he merely chuckles. Mike is probably the only person in all of Windsor Hotels that doesn’t remotely fear me. He was appointed by my grandmother, but I’ve come to consider him a friend, and a valuable addition to my team. “I’m not concerned in the slightest. With her at the helm, they will surpass us. It’s only a matter of time.”
For the first time since I met him, Mike loses his composure, and I bite back a smile as his eyes grow round and his lips part in outrage. Four seconds, that’s how long it takes him to pull on his ugly pink polka dot tie and rein in his shock. He clears his throat, pasting on an eerily calm expression as he hands me the files he brought in. “Well, I certainly hope that won’t come to pass,” he tells me, sounding miffed, like I personally slighted him. “This is the team I selected for the Bellevue project.”
I glance over the names and pause. “There’s a girl called Lily amongst our new hires. Add her to the team.”
“Lily?” Mike repeats, his brows raised. “Ah, Liliana? The new interior designer? She’s quite brilliant, and I did consider her for the team, but I was worried you wouldn’t allow it since she has no prior work experience. I’m surprised you even know her name.”
“There’s only one way to gain experience,” I shrug. “And this project isn’t so large that it’ll be overwhelming for a newbie.” Lily has actually been a great employee so far, and she’s funny too. Each time I speak to her, she reminds me a little of Celeste. It’s unfortunate to think we all could’ve been friends had I not let the rivalry between the Harrisons and the Windsors get in the way. “The rest is approved,” I say once I finish going over the papers.
Mike nods and straightens the documents on my desk, throwing me a curious look before walking out. The door falls closed behind him, and I hesitate for a moment before grabbing my phone.
ZANE
Just out of curiosity, would you say that good behavior deserves to be rewarded?
I stare at my phone, my heart pounding as I wait for her to reply. “This is ridiculous,” I mutter to myself, but that doesn’t stop me from straightening in my seat when my phone finally buzzes seven minutes later. I don’t think I looked away from the screen even once while I waited.
CELESTIAL
Who is this?
My heart sinks. I’ve had the same number since we were kids, and she’s one of only a handful of people outside of my family who have it. Or, so I thought.
Did she delete my number, or did she simply lose it as she switched phones? I know for a fact she had it, because I used to text her in class just so I could watch her snicker to herself when my name popped up on her screen, thinking herself so clever for saving me in her contacts as In-Zane.
ZANE
Since you don’t know who I am, that begs the reverse of the question too… should bad behavior be punished?
I can only hope you believe it should be, since I suspect I’d greatly enjoy punishing you.
I watch as the text bubbles appear and disappear, a slow smirk tugging at the edges of my lips. God, I still love making her flustered. I wish I could see her right now, watching that curiosity flicker in her eyes.
CELESTIAL
It really is a matter of perspective, isn’t it? In this scenario, I’d argue that I should reward myself for deleting your number, Zane.
I bite my lip, all the while wishing it were her lips I was touching. She drives me mental.
ZANE
I’d be impressed that you figured out who I am so quickly, but then again, your intellect was always unmatched. You haven’t answered my question though, my sweet Celestial. Will you reward me if I’m good to you?
I watch as the text bubbles appear and disappear, my nerves frayed as one minute after another passes, only for it to stop altogether. Is she ignoring me? Fuck.
ZANE
I put your friend on the team that’ll be in charge of Bellevue. She’ll be in great hands, and she’ll learn a lot. No harm will come to her while she works for me, I promise.
My heart pretty much stops for a moment when the text bubbles reappear, indicating that she’s typing.
CELESTIAL
Name your price.
I lean back in my desk chair, oddly giddy, despite the fact she’s misunderstanding my messages entirely. I didn’t text her because I want her to repay me for the favor, especially not after what she did for me by walking away from Chateau Chiara — but I’m not foolish enough to waste an opportunity like this one. With her, I’ll take every chance I’ve got.
