Ch. 38 The NDA Lie
I eventually get off his lap, cheeks flaming, if the heat I feel is anything to go by.
I don't remember a time in my life I might have felt this shy. I move to get up and create some distance between us, but Marcus pulls me to him.
I sit wedged between Marcus and the armrest, and eventually just give in, hiding my face in his shoulder.
Even with all the things going wrong, I feel steadier than I have in days.
"Celeste..." He caresses my head gently, and I turn to face him.
"Can you tell me what happened between you and Coleman? I know it's not your fault, but I need to know what to be wary of if we are to fight him on equal footing."
His voice is soft.
I haven't told a living soul except that detective what Coleman did, but looking at Marcus, I want to.
I want to fight back—with him by my side.
I want Coleman to experience the terror I did.
I bite my lip as I fight the fear that runs through me like a bull, threatening to break my composure.
"Whatever it is, I'm here for you." His eyes shine with the depth of his feelings, and I make my choice.
I get up and tug on his arm. "We'll have to go to my place."
He nods solemnly and follows me out as I lead him to the elevators.
—--------------------
We drive back to Celeste's home in heavy silence. Berta navigates the late night traffic smoothly.
The roads are quiet this late in the night, and the drive is deceptively peaceful.
The closer we get to her place, the more worried I feel. I can see it in the set of her shoulders, the tension in her jaw, the fingers twisted tightly in her lap.
My grip on the steering wheel tightens until my knuckles blanch.
We finally arrive at her building, and I park around a corner.
I exit Berta and walk around to Celeste's side, opening the passenger door and squatting to eye-level.
"Are you alright? Would you like me to carry you?"
She jerks in her seat before shaking her head.
Despite everything, her voice is steady when she responds, "No, I'm good."
I offer her my hand, and she takes it as she steps out of Berta.
We continue upstairs, until we're standing in front of the unassuming door of her apartment.
She bites her lip before unlocking the bolt and inviting me into her world.
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it's extremely barebones. All the furniture is functional—nothing matches anything else—and it looks like it was put together on a very tight budget.
My chest aches.
The couch looks lumpy and extremely uncomfortable to sit in. The open kitchen is fairly empty.
The house is neat, but it's because there's nothing except a TV on the wall in front of the couch to cause any clutter.
Nothing screams Celeste.
She gestures towards the sofa. "Do you want some water?"
I shake my head and drop onto the couch.
"I'll be right back." She goes through a door and returns a minute later with a file.
And then she starts talking.
—-------------------
I never imagined how cathartic it would feel to tell someone about the whole incident and have them believe every single word.
A weight lifts from my shoulders and I breathe easier.
Marcus doesn't just believe me, he's furious on my behalf. If I wasn't hugging him right now—letting his warmth soak through me, feeling safer than ever—he might have stormed off to beat him up already.
Marcus isn't a violent person, but his eyes are lit with a cold fire that make me shiver.
He eventually settles into the couch, refusing to let me go and speaks. His voice is calm, but eerie.
"I don't think that NDA is valid."
My whole body freezes, and he notices. "I'm not an expert in English Law, but I'm fairly certain it's unlawful."
"I—How—?" I can barely string the words together. It can't be!
Have I been suffering in silence unnecessarily all these years? Did I... Did Coleman con me?
"There's a very easy way to find out."
I stare at Marcus. "How?"
"Your brother."
I swallow. It's become an instinct now, to keep silent—to not share the details of this incident.
But... the NDA could be a lie. And it's Chris—my brother. He came to find me when he heard something fishy.
He never really abandoned me.
I contemplate everything that's happened and what Marcus just said. I owe it to myself to find out the truth—and I know Chris won't lead me astray.
"Can I borrow your phone?" I ask Marcus.
"Of course." He hands me his phone without hesitation, already unlocked.
I pull up Christopher's contact and dial him. Marcus never even questions why I want his phone.
"My phone broke today and died. That's why I..."
Marcus looks relieved. "Is that why you didn't answer? I called you a few times. I thought you were ignoring me."
I shake my head. He called me.
I feel...seen.
Christopher finally answers. "Marcus?"
"Umm... It's Celeste." Silence follows my announcement before he responds.
"Celeste? Is everything okay? Are you okay? Is Marcus?"
"We're fine. Everything's fine—well kind of. Can you come over to my place?"
"Right now? Yeah. Text me your address."
I can already hear him moving around the room. I catch his hiss of pain as he stubs his toe before he hangs up.
"He's coming. I need to send him the address."
It feels weird, getting into Marcus's texts. Marcus stares at me for a few seconds in confusion before he seems to get it.
"Why don't you text him?"
My cheeks color as I open his messaging app, type out my address and send it to Chris.
He responds with a 'Be there in 15."
"He'll be here soon." Marcus nods, and an awkward silence descends.
"Are you hungry?" Marcus asks me.
I open my mouth to refuse but realize that I am. "Yeah."
"Me too. I'm ordering pizza."
It finally hits me—Marcus must be starving. He's been in meetings and travelling all day.
"Would you like me to cook you something?"
He shakes his head. "You look as exhausted as I feel. Tomorrow, when you feel better, I'd like to try your cooking."
My cheeks heat. "Aren't you being too presumptuous?"
He shrugs. "I don't know. You tell me. Am I?"
I scoff. "I'm going to go, change into something more comfortable—if you don't mind."
"Can I join you?" He raises an eyebrow while asking with such a straight face it takes me a second to process what he's saying.
I gasp. "You're incorrigible. I'm going to go now."
I rush out of the room, but I can't help the smile that lingers long after, the horrible memories a little less painful now.
—-------------------
The bell rings twice while I freshen up and change.
When I finally step out, a large pizza is sitting on the coffee table, and Christopher is eyeing Marcus suspiciously.
"What are you two doing this late in the night?"
Marcus smirks and opens his mouth to respond, but I cut him short. "That's none of your business."
Chris's face falls a little, but he takes it in his stride.
"The reason I called you was this NDA. Marcus thinks it's invalid. What do you think?"
I explain everything that happened that led to the NDA while Chris reads it, and I'm deeply gratified by his fury.
He looks ready to rip Coleman and the detective apart. "I'm going to kill them both."
I start to respond but Marcus cuts in, face dark.
"No, let's make them wish they were dead." A shiver runs down my spine as something unspoken seems to pass between the two men.
Chris turns to me. "To answer your question—Marcus is right. UK Law voids any NDAs that prevent you from reporting a crime, harassment or assault. In fact this would also count as whistle-blowing.
"I'm going to contact a prosecutor friend in London. Celeste, give me the details of that detective. He is going to wish he never messed with my sister."
He turns to Marcus. "Let's make them both pay. I've got the detective."
Marcus's smile causes the hair on my arms to stand on end.
"Then I've got Coleman."