Ch. 34 One More Chance
Ella sits on my couch, wine in hand, while I stuff myself with chocolate.
I feel terrible for making her miss valuable time with Keith—but she insisted.
"How did you know?"
"Know what?" She asks innocently. As if. The Ingrams probably couldn't keep a secret to save their lives.
"That I was upset?"
"Will you accept 'woman's intuition' for an answer?"
I just glare at her until she breaks.
"You started dodging my calls on Friday. Then Keith disappeared in the middle of the night. I put two and two together."
"So Keith didn't tell you?" I press. I can't help but wonder how Marcus is doing—but how am I supposed to even fish for it?
"He might've if I asked. So I didn't. Whatever happened, I'm here for you." She grabs a chocolate from the box she brought me—that I'm currently demolishing—and pops it into her mouth.
We watch 'The Notebook', both ignoring the used tissues piling up in front of us.
I have to admit, it's nice not being alone.
—-------------
The first thing I notice on my desk is candy. Mango candy—the kind that fills a space with its sweet aroma.
I look around, but no one except me is at their desk yet. I hope no one saw Marcus placing them here.
Because I'm sure it was him.
I've barely sat down, when my phone buzzes with a message. I check the sender and sigh.
It's the sixth one from Christopher since we met at Marcus's place, and I'm debating whether to respond when I get another one.
I guess it's time to stop avoiding him.
I arrive at the lobby, and as promised, he's waiting by the huge glass windows, looking out.
I chew my lower lip, but eventually decide to join him.
"You know, when someone ignores you, it means they don't want to talk to you, let alone see you."
He looks up at the sound of my voice, and the joy on his face is unmistakable.
"You came!" He stares at my face in consternation, likely taking in my dark circles I failed to conceal well enough. "Jeez, are you still unwell?"
I shake my head. "Fine now. What are you doing here?"
"I've been trying to reach you for days... I figured I'll take the shot to corner you at work. I doubt you'd agree to see me if I didn't ambush you."
I shrug. Maybe he's right.
He hands me a coffee, and gestures outside. "Want to go for a walk?"
I look around at the staff filing in—the lobby is busy.
"Fine, let's go."
We step out and walk in silence. I make sure to stare at the ground—I'm not sure what to say.
"I—"
"How's—"
We both start speaking simultaneously, and he gestures for me to go first.
"How's Jonathan? And Victoria?" I haven't heard a word from either since I was shipped to London.
His shoulders tense and jaw tightens. "Actually...I don't know. We're...estranged."
That was not something I was expecting.
"Our relationships soured irreparably in the last decade..."
"I see.." We walk in silence some more, and I remember what Marcus told me about Christopher coming to UK.
"Are you CJ Lowell?"
He stops in his tracks, eyes wide. "How did you—?"
"So you are..."
He nods. "Actually, I came to UK after I saw a gossip article about you biting Coleman... I reached out to your agency––they said you'd quit... I even called your number from college, but you never answered. I emailed your old account, but never heard back..."
He takes a deep breath before continuing, "I'm really sorry. I should have tried harder. I should have believed you from the start..."
I remember an unknown number calling me persistently for days... I thought it might be someone from the auditions I declined, or some random reporter calling to harass me...
I never imagined it might be Christopher.
I feel like throwing up. All that time I spent alone, suffering...
I'm not sure what to say. That he cared enough to try to track me down—I'm afraid to name this feeling.
Can I let Christopher back into my life? Should I try?
"I'm not sure if I can forgive you. I'm not even sure how I feel... You were the first person I ever trusted..."
"Please, just once... trust me just once more... I'll never let you down again, Celeste."
I look into his eyes—really look. And all I find is remorse, sincerity and determination.
"Okay. I can't forgive you—not just yet. But I will give you a chance to try and change my mind. I have to get back to work now."
He nods, tears in his eyes. He takes my hand and squeezes.
I tip my head once before turning around and heading back.
I have too many emotions that I don't wish to deal with right now.
—-------------------
When I get back to my desk, I find Kyle waiting.
He's sitting in my chair, completely leaned back, eyes closed, humming the theme song to 'Friends.'
"Kyle. What can I help you with?"
"Celeste!" He jumps up from my chair before gesturing for me to sit.
"I dropped by 'cause I had a message for you but you weren't here. I saw your things—" He points at my bag and jacket, "—so I figured I'd wait."
I sit down and swivel around to face him.
"So, what's the message?"
"Marcus wants you to start prepping. He said you have creator credits in ADAI and you've been named Key Collaborator as well. He's planning to give joint interviews with you—at least initially.
"He said, you'll also have to be present at the press conference, and you'll be expected to give a small speech.
"He thinks, once you are both comfortable, you both can switch to interviewing independently.
"What d'you think?"
Marcus is actually coming through—he's naming me Key Collaborator and co-creator.
"I—" I clear my throat and sit up straighter before responding, "Yes. I think this works."
Kyle grins, delighted. He raises his hand in a salute, "Great! I'll let the boss know! He said to expect an email with further instructions."
He waves and glides away, leaving me with hope in my heart and stars in my eyes.
It's going to happen—
My redemption. And dare I dream it? My return.
—-------------------
The first round of beta tests are a success. There are still some bugs to iron out, but we should be ready to launch in a month.
I can't believe we did it—and it wouldn't have happened so well, or so easily without Celeste's input.
It's the Tuesday after Celeste shut the door on any potential relationship with me.
This burst of good news should help me lift my lips in a facsimile of a smile––at least, that's my hope.
The ADAI project is catching momentum, but the investigation into Madison is hitting dead-ends.
There has to be someone who might know.
Nolan knocks on my door at that moment, and I watch him walk in, mind firing.
"These are the three PR firms shortlisted for the launch as per discussions with Celeste. We think you should make the final choice." He hands me the dossiers on all three as I stare at him blankly before nodding and turning to leave.
"Say Nolan, did Madison always have such perfect grades?"
Nolan pauses and turns around slowly. "That's random."
I gesture towards the couch and follow him there.
He sits down and thinks about it for a minute, eyes lost in the past.
"You know, she didn't. She got decent grades in junior high, almost always top ten, but never top three. Then she took up cheerleading, and her grades dropped—hard.
"She somehow managed to fix her grades in the junior year final evals and then never looked back."
"Huh." Isn't it fishy, that someone who only ever had decent grades their whole life suddenly started topping after getting busier?
"Why, though? So suddenly?" Nolan asks.
"Nothing... I've just been reminiscing about those days."
He frowns, like he doesn't quite believe me. "Okay...If you say so."
I just make a vague gesture towards him while my thoughts run faster than I can keep up.
"I'll just...get back to work then?" Nolan asks while still frowning and I shoo him away.
"Yes, yes, absolutely... keep me posted."
He walks out, not before throwing me a puzzled look before leaving.
The moment the door shuts, I dial Christopher's number.
He answers in a single ring.
"Chris! Guess what Nolan just told me!"
When I'm done, Chris hangs up without a word, but I know why—
We just got a new lead.