Ch. 40 Sound-bytes From A Master
The tartly sweet flavor of the mango lollipops coats my tongue in delight. I arrange the candies in their corner with deep satisfaction.
Not having them for a whole week was really hard.
I count the pieces left—Twenty-four. And I have it on good authority that I won't be running out of them no matter how many I eat in a day.
And then there are the meals. Amazing meals that have everyone on my team salivating.
Meals—apparently—from my long-lost aunt. I chuckle at this ridiculous ruse. When the meals resumed and my colleagues questioned me again, Marcus had Kyle give them a sob story about a lost aunt that'd been looking for me for decades.
I still can't believe they all bought it—and started behaving themselves.
I grin.
Then, there's Marcus. He continues to open up more each day. He picks me up with breakfast each morning, and insists on dropping me home each evening. If he has work, he comes back to HQ after dropping me off.
These last four days have been the best I've had so far.
Our discussion from this morning is still fresh in my mind.
"Marcus, this is unsustainable." My voice is firm.
I've not missed his dark circles. And I know from Kyle that he's still not eating properly.
He shrugs. "I can't help myself. I miss you when we're not together. The only thing getting me through the night is knowing I'll see you in the morning, and through the day is knowing I'll be dropping you home."
That shuts me up, quick. If I'm honest, I love this side of Marcus.
"Fine. But let me know if some day something comes up. Okay?"
He looks like he wants to debate, but my raised eyebrow quells him.
"Okay."
I unwrap another candy and put it in my mouth.
Marcus was never like this with Madison. I am smugly satisfied.
I'm just as petty, aren't I? I grin. I'm enjoying it.
I can't help myself. This Marcus truly feels different—more real, more honest. I still sometimes wonder if he's doing all this out of obligation, but each day, the doubt dissolves a little more.
And even if he is—I find that I don't mind it so much because he clearly sees me as more than just an obligation.
The only thing keeping me on edge is the silence from Harry Coleman's camp. Even Marcus worries about it.
I'm just opening another care package from my 'aunt', when Trisha from my team comes running.
She's sweating, clearly having run all the way. "You need to see this."
She grabs me and leads me towards the small lounge on our floor that is usually running news from the tech world.
A huge crowd is standing around muttering.
On the screen is Harry Coleman. I gesture at Trisha to turn up the volume.
"...and I should've known Celeste Shaw would continue holding a grudge.
"By disallowing Ingram Tech from working with us, she is clearly unbothered by putting the safety of all the actors and stuntmen working with us in jeopardy.
"Wasn't that the reason to develop this device in the first place? Then why make others pay the price of her grudge.
"She couldn't get me, so she has now seduced the Chairman of Ingram Tech and is making him dance to her tunes.
"I never expected Marcus Holden of Ingram Tech to be this unprofessional..."
The interview continues, but I can't hear anything more.
Color drains from my face and I stumble backwards.
Harry Coleman is at it again.
My heart hammers painfully against my chest. All noise sounds distorted.
I need to find Marcus.
I rush towards the elevators.
It feels like everything I've rebuilt in the past few years is tumbling down.
I walk past Kyle's empty desk and enter Marcus's office. The blinds are drawn, and he's frowning at the TV—where Coleman's interview is running.
"Marcus." He turns around at my voice and rushes towards me.
I can feel the tears threatening to burst out as I stare at the TV.
He cups my face to make me look into his eyes.
He looks—annoyed, but fine.
"Everything is okay."
"How can you say that? He's—" My voice hitches, and he pulls me into his arms.
"Celeste, honey, I'm here. We're fine. This is temporary. I promise you, I won't let him mar your dignity again."
I wind my arms around his waist.
It helps that he's not panicking.
"We're going to get him. We're just going to have to hold our statements."
—----------------------
I sit in his office all afternoon. I insist on the TV running in the background, even if it's on mute.
Marcus gives me his laptop to work on, and gives me the password so easily.
"Why are you giving me the password to your laptop? Aren't you worried..."
"That laptop is the most valuable thing I own, and I'm absolutely okay giving it to you because it's you. Sure it has confidential data, but I don't have a problem with you seeing it.
"Don't tell Kyle that I let you use it, though—I'll never hear the end of it."
All this he says while typing away on his PC, so offhand, I don't think he's even paying attention to what's coming out of his mouth.
He really does trust me.
I glance up, to find Keith standing outside a building swarmed by reporters.
I call Marcus and he's instantly interested.
He unmutes the TV and joins me on the sofa.
A reporter shouts out to Keith. "Are you aware that Marcus Holden refused to work with HC studios?"
Keith answers. "Of course. He has my full support."
"Harry Coleman says it's because of Celeste Shaw." Another reporter shouts.
"I don't hear a question." Keith moves on to another one.
"Are Marcus Holden and Celeste Shaw dating?"
Keith's lips lift in a smile. An actual smile. "I don't know. But I sure hope so."
He walks out of the swarm, his staff creating space to let him walk.
I stare gobsmacked at Marcus, who is chuckling beside me. "Is this funny?"
Marcus shakes his head. "Keith Ingram knows how to play the media. Look at what he just did—"
With just that one statement, most reporters forgot about Harry Coleman and the failed partnership—
Their entire focus now on who Marcus Holden was dating.
—--------------------
For the last four days, I've been looking into Madison and Coleman.
I have most, if not all of Madison's transcripts and financial statements courtesy Christopher.
We've been digging into Harry Coleman too—but that asshole has covered his tracks well.
Christopher is waiting on records of Detective Boon, and I can only hope his contacts will come through.
Just this morning, Legend reached out saying he has a lead on Marissa.
It's all coming down to the wire.
I sneak glances at Celeste while she works on my laptop, in my office.
I could really get used to this.
"Have you made up with Keith and everyone else?"
Celeste's question catches me off guard. "Uh—"
"I know things have been tense with them since that day."
We're both uncomfortable bringing that day up.
"Well... things are better... but not how they used to be."
"You should go and make up with them."
I hear what she's saying. Maybe she is right.
"Won't you come too?" I ask her hopefully.
"We're not there yet. You need to do this, though. Keith just stuck his neck out for us. And I know you miss them."
Celeste is right.
"Okay." She smiles at me, genuinely happy.
"Will you go out on a date with me?" It's like I have no control over my tongue when Celeste is around.
"I—uh—" She blushes, but looks hesitant.
I wait a beat, hoping she'll accept, but even I can recognize it's not happening today. And it's okay.
"It's alright. Forget I asked."
She looks relieved. I guess I haven't earned her forgiveness yet.
I get back to work.
I have a few holes to dig.
—---------------------
My TV has only run the news channel the last two days. Ever since Coleman's accusations and Keith's interviews, the reporters seem to have forgotten all about the ADAI project.
I lean back on my sofa, the lumps digging into my backside.
I sip on my soda, and munch on leftover pizza, thoughts swirling.
I feel bad for refusing the date. It was so unexpected, I didn't have the chance to prepare an answer.
And honestly, I'm not sure I'm ready.
I caught Marcus's sadness, before he hid it with a smile.
I was sure he would start pulling away again, but he didn't. And tomorrow, he's going to keep his promise of making up to his family.
I watch as Ella comes on, swarmed by reporters outside JB Tech and I unmute the TV, pulse hammering.
"Ella! Your husband is a very close associate of Marcus Holden! How is your relationship with Marcus?"
"He's a dear friend—no, family." Ella replies calmly—at least as calmly as she can—considering the storm in her eyes.
"We've been looking into Celeste Shaw. She has a known history of violence! How do you feel about her dating Marcus!"
"Oh! Is that right?" Ella looks at other reporters.
"If she is, then I'm delighted for them. I'll be honest, I've been trying to set them up for years! Good for them!" She answers sweetly, and then her eyes turn to daggers.
"But if they aren't, and I find that you are disseminating false information, I will sue each and every one of you, and that ass Coleman for defamation. Am I clear?"
Her voice is sharp, and her bodyguards push through the crowd to let her pass.
The reporters are now hounding my friends.
Each and every one of them have called and let me know not to worry about it—that it's a great opportunity to muddle Coleman's narrative until the truth can come out—but I still feel awful.
We need to hurry up.