9 Celeste
“The Devil didn’t whisper in my ear, he took notes.”
The fucking bitch has disappeared, I hoped she was dead but there is no proof.
Plus, that annoying cunt of a friend is still way to chipper and bitchy.
I would expect her to be sad or something.
Our parents are acting like it is the end of the world that she is gone.
Father hired this annoying woman who has been hanging around and involving herself way too much.
She is supposed to save face at the company.
Our security has been upped around the house and mom has been crying nonstop because of Scarlett.
She acts like she is her real daughter or some shit, like hello what the fuck I am right here.
I stare at myself in the mirror as I am done getting ready for tonight’s dinner.
My hair is straight and longer than normal with the added extensions.
My eyes are done in a smokey color with gold accents and my dress is a long emerald green.
It is strapless and has a sweetheart neckline and a high slight up the one side.
I have emerald and diamond jewelry on to match and I feel absolutely breathtaking.
I was really hoping the bitch would have turned up by now and would have had to sit through dinner with Brad and his family after that stunt at school.
I can’t figure out how the hell she got that guy to fall all over her.
It is seriously annoying and ruining my plans.
The fucking bitch has disappeared. Honestly?
I hoped she was dead. But there’s no proof.
Unfortunately, that annoying cunt of a best friend of hers is still way too cheerful and bitchy for someone whose best friend supposedly vanished off the face of the earth.
You would think Harper would be crying or depressed or at least acting worried.
Instead, she’s still stomping around school like she owns the damn place.
It’s irritating as hell. What’s even worse is our parents acting like Scarlett disappearing is the end of the world.
Father practically shut half the company down searching for her while Mom has done nothing but cry for days.
Days. Over Scarlett. Like she’s her real daughter or something.
Meanwhile I’m standing right fucking here.
Father even hired some new woman for the company after the school incident.
Apparently, she’s some corporate security and risk management specialist brought in to “stabilize public image” and help calm investors.
Whatever.
All I know is she’s constantly around now and involving herself in way too much.
The woman creeps me out. She watches people too closely.
Talks too calmly and somehow always looks like she knows more than she should.
Security around the house has increased too.
Cameras. Guards. Drivers. My father suddenly acting paranoid as hell.
Which only confirms one thing: Something is going on. I just don’t know what yet.
I stare at myself in the mirror while adjusting the diamond earrings hanging from my ears.
At least I look fucking incredible tonight.
My hair falls in long sleek waves down my back thanks to the extensions I had put in earlier, and my makeup is done in a dark smoky look with gold accents that make my eyes stand out perfectly.
My dress is emerald green silk with a sweetheart neckline and a slit running high up one side of my leg.
Elegant.
Expensive.
Perfect.
Emerald and diamond jewelry sparkles against my skin beneath the soft vanity lights.
Absolutely breathtaking. Which is exactly why it pisses me off that Scarlett somehow still manages to pull attention from me without even being here.
I was really hoping she would’ve turned up by now, so she’d be forced to sit through tonight’s dinner with Brad and his family after the little stunt she pulled at school.
Instead? Everyone’s too busy talking about poor missing Scarlett.
I still can’t figure out how the hell she got that guy so obsessed with her.
The dark-haired psycho from school. The one who ripped my locker art apart over her, the one who smashed up Brady’s face and left Dean with a concussion.
It makes no sense. Scarlett’s quiet, weak and pathetic. Guys aren’t supposed to fall apart over girls like her. Yet every time he looked at her it was like he wanted to burn the fucking world down for her. It ruined everything. A sharp knock sounds against my bedroom door before it slowly opens.
“Miss Celeste,” a calm voice says from the hallway.
Speak of the devil. I turn and see Zariah Cole standing there dressed in an all-black fitted pantsuit that somehow looks more intimidating than elegant. Her dark curls are pulled back tonight, exposing sharp cheekbones and even with the scar it doesn’t make her look any less perfect.
God, she’s annoyingly gorgeous.
“Your father asked me to let you know the guests have arrived downstairs.”
“I know how dinners work,” I snap.
Her expression never changes.
“I’m sure you do.”
Something about her calmness instantly irritates me.
“Why exactly are you even here?” I ask while crossing my arms. “Because from where I’m standing, you seem way too interested in this family for someone who’s supposedly just here for public relations.”
Her dark eyes meet mine steadily.
“I’m here to protect Vale Enterprises.”
“Please,” I scoff. “You’re glorified damage control.”
Still no reaction.
That somehow makes it worse.
“You know,” I continue while stepping closer, “ever since you got here my father’s been acting paranoid. Security has doubled. Everyone’s whispering. So, either the company is falling apart… or you’re not telling us everything.”
A faint smile finally touches her lips.
Cold.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
“You’d be surprised,” she says softly, “how often the people closest to the fire are the last ones to realize they’re burning.”
My jaw tightens.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” she says calmly while stepping aside from the doorway, “your guests are waiting downstairs, Celeste.”
The way she says my name sounds less like respect… and more like a warning. For the first time since she arrived, a small uneasy feeling crawls down my spine and I fucking hate it.
“Get out of my way and stay out of it if you know what is good for you” I say as I walk past her and push into her shoulder.
She grabs my wrist and leans in close to whisper “Little girls with power complexes don’t scare me. I’ve worked in war zones” She releases my wrist and turns to walk down the stairs.
Who the hell does she think she is! This is my house, MINE!
I will make sure soon that everyone knows that I am the only Vale Heir.