Chapter 13 Empty Threats
“That’s not— you misunderstood—” Celia stammered, panic creeping into her voice as she tried to recover. “I was just—”
“I know exactly what you want,” Magnus cut in sharply. “You want the project for free. You want to sweet-talk me into a deal that benefits you.”
He let out a short, scornful laugh. His eyes burned into her. “I’m a businessman. I see through every dirty little trick you use.”
His eyes hardened. “Don’t play this goddamn game with me.”
Celia’s hands pressed against the window. Anger flared briefly in her eyes—but she swallowed it, forcing herself to soften instead.
“What are you talking about?” she said quickly. “How could I trick you? We’ve been friends for so long. Are you really going to make me look this bad?”
Magnus stared at her without a trace of warmth.
“There is nothing between us anymore,” he said flatly. “No friendship. I don’t even fucking know you now.”
His voice dropped another degree. “And I don’t have the habit of letting unknown women sit in my car.”
That finally snapped something in her.
She straightened, irritation flashing openly across her face. “You’re talking to me like this?” she snapped. “Didn’t you want natural black diamonds?”
She lifted her chin, eyes sharp and challenging. “Your next project depends on it, doesn’t it? Only my company sells it. Are you sure you want to talk to me this way?”
Magnus looked at her like she was nothing.
“Don’t worry about my business,” he said coldly. “I can buy ten companies like yours every single day.”
Celia’s jaw tightened, fury blazing in her eyes.
Magnus’s hands tightened around the steering wheel.
“And do you really think that business is yours?” he continued ruthlessly. “Or is it your father’s? Do you honestly think I need to waste my time negotiating with you?”
His gaze flicked to Timothy.
“Call her father,” Magnus said sharply. “Tell him his daughter doesn’t want to sign the deal. The cooperation is now cancelled.”
At once, Celia’s face went white, as if all the blood had drained from it—like her soul had been ripped straight out of her body.
She panicked instantly, fumbling over her words. “Magnus— I didn’t mean it like that. I just wanted to meet you… to sit with you in your car—”
He didn’t wait for her to finish.
The engine roared, and the car surged forward.
Magnus drove off without a backward glance, leaving her standing there, fury choking her breath.
Celia’s fists clenched tightly at her sides as she stared after the disappearing car, her chest heaving.
“Ms. Thompson,” Timothy said stiffly, straightening. “You look perfectly fine now. You can get home on your own. I’ll be leaving first.”
He didn’t wait for a response. Turning sharply on his heel, he hurried away, leaving her standing alone under the streetlights.
Left alone, Celia stomped her foot against the pavement, her face twisted with rage.
‘Why is he pushing me away like this now?’ she thought bitterly. ‘We were friends for so many years in college.’
She folded her arms tightly across her chest, chin lifting in stubborn defiance. “I’ll never be as cold-hearted as you, Magnus,” she muttered.
Back then—just because she had suggested giving some of the projects he won to poorer-performing classmates—he had gotten angry. Furious, even. He had fought with anyone who supported her, refusing to back down.
She let out a harsh breath of disgust. “You won ten projects,” she said under her breath. “Would it really have hurt you to give a few to others?”
Her hands dropped slowly to her sides, eyes flashing with recollection.
“I finally freed myself from you,” she whispered. “Went overseas. Built my own life.” Her lips curled faintly. “Now that I’m back, I can finally be myself. I’ll show everyone how capable I am… and help more people.”
Just then, her phone buzzed.
She glanced down. A video call—from her office laptop.
Frowning, she answered.
The screen lit up, revealing two of her colleagues at her dad’s company, Yulia and Tina. Both wore tense, frustrated expressions, bodies rigid with agitation.
Yulia was petite, with sharp features and short, neatly styled hair that framed her face, giving her an efficient, no-nonsense look. Tina was slightly taller, her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, her eyes wide and earnest, as if every worry showed clearly across her face.
“Celia,” Yulia snapped immediately, voice sharp, “didn’t we tell you not to tell anyone about our new project? We didn’t want more people getting involved!”
Tina nodded vigorously beside her, worry etched deep into her face. “Yulia’s right. Even though you made the presentation file, the idea was hers—and I’m the one executing it. We don’t even have copyright registration and confidentiality protections in place yet!”
Yulia leaned closer to the camera, agitation spilling over. “We don’t know how we’re supposed to keep the project safe now,” she said heatedly. “ You told others about it and even invited them to join. How are we supposed to keep it safe now?”
Celia’s brows knitted slightly—but there was no panic in her eyes. No guilt.
Instead, she looked at them calmly, almost pityingly, as if they were the unreasonable ones.
“But they are struggling, Yulia,” she said gently. “So many of our colleagues couldn’t create any good projects this year. And this project will be huge—so many designs for the wedding season. It’s fine to divide it among some more people and let them benefit from it.”
Tina and Yulia’s anger exploded.
Yulia nearly shouted, “Is this something small? If you give it to five people, ten people—spread it to everyone—what will be left for us?”
Tina reached out, placing a hand on Yulia’s arm. “Calm down,” she said quickly. “It’s okay. Don’t lose your temper.”
Yulia slammed her palm onto the table with a sharp crack, then stepped back, dragging a hand through her hair to shove it away from her face. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she fought to steady herself.
Tina forced herself to keep talking. “We’re all friends. Let’s just… think about how we can deal with the others.”
Just then, footsteps approached from behind.
A man hurried toward the table. The moment he spotted Celia on the laptop screen, his face lit up. He rushed forward and bent slightly toward the camera, smiling eagerly.
“Celia? Is that you?” he asked excitedly. “I was just coming to look for you.”
His smile dimmed just a little as he continued, almost pleading.
“Can I join your project too? I heard it’s already been approved by the higher-ups. I’m in a really tight spot.”
“Of course,” Celia replied immediately, bright and enthusiastic. “No problem at all. I understand how it feels.”
She tapped rapidly on her phone. “I’m adding you right now. I’ll send you the files.”
Yulia and Tina stared at her in shock, their faces draining of color.
“Celia—” Tina blurted out, leaning closer to the screen. “We don’t have space. I told you—we can’t.”
“The project already has too many people involved,” Yulia said, urgency slipping into her voice as she exhaled sharply. “It’ll be difficult—”
But Celia cut her off without even looking at her, continuing to speak cheerfully to the man.
“Check your email,” she said. “You should’ve received the project link already. All the information is there.”
The man’s face lit up again. “Thank you! You’re such an angel,” he said gratefully. “You saved me—seriously.”
Celia waved it off with a smile. “We’re colleagues. It’s nothing. I’m happy to help.”
The man glanced down at his phone, then looked back at the screen, practically glowing.
“I got it! I’ll go through everything today and add my name to the project.
” He laughed. “Thank you, Celia. You’re the most helpful person I’ve ever met.
I don’t think girls like you even exist anymore. You’re such an angel!”
Celia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling. “It’s alright. I’m glad I could help.”
The man waved goodbye to her enthusiastically. He walked away practically bouncing, happiness written all over him.
Yulia and Tina stared at the screen, mouths slightly open, disbelief etched across their faces.
Celia barely noticed.
She lifted her gaze and waved at a group of people approaching from behind Yulia and Tina.
Confused, the two of them turned around.
And froze.
Several more colleagues were already rushing toward the table. They all crowded around the laptop.
“Celia, I need help too. Can you add me to your project?”
“Me too! I haven’t had a single good assignment this month.”
“I really need this—please!”
Seven more people crowded around the table, voices overlapping, faces desperate.
Celia’s eyes lit up. “Sure! No problem at all,” she said excitedly. “Give me your email addresses. I’ll add you.”
They immediately began rattling off emails one after another.
Tina and Yulia watched in silent horror as Celia added them—one name, then another, then another.
Their chests tightened. Their hands trembled.
They couldn’t even argue now. Making a scene would only turn all of them against Yulia and Tina, making them look petty and hostile.
One by one, Celia added the names.
When everyone was done, they thanked her profusely and walked away, relieved and smiling.
Celia finally lowered her phone, exhaling deeply. She glanced at Yulia and Tina and frowned.
“I’m so tired,” she complained. “None of you even offered to help.”
That was the final straw.
Yulia snapped. “You gave our project away to half the office!” she shouted. “If we’d helped you, you would’ve handed it out to every damn person in this building!”
Celia frowned, confused, and looked down at her phone.
Her Google Drive screen was filled with notifications—file shared, access granted, email sent.
Dozens of names.
Her fingers stilled.
A flicker of tension crossed her face.
“…Why are there so many?” she muttered.
Tina scoffed, rolling her eyes as she flicked her hair back impatiently.