52

52
Celine was surrounded by the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses as she stepped out of the crowded celebration party. She had just been toasted by the executives of the company for her outstanding design work, and she felt a rush of pride and satisfaction.
As she took a deep breath of fresh air, her phone rang. It was Rachel, her best friend and confidant.
“Celine, congratulations!” Rachel said, her voice filled with excitement. “I heard about the party and I’m so proud of you!”
Celine smiled, feeling a warm glow of happiness. “Thanks, Rachel. It’s been an amazing night.”
“I’m sure,” Rachel said. “So, what’s the matter? You sound a little down.”
Celine hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “It’s just… I don’t know. Everything is going so well for me, and I should be thrilled, but I feel like something is missing.”
“What do you mean?” Rachel asked, concern in her voice.
“I don’t know,” Celine said with a shrug. “I just feel like there’s something more out there, something I haven’t found yet.”
“Well, you’re young and talented,” Rachel said. “You have your whole life ahead of you. Don’t be in such a rush.”
“I know,” Celine said, “but it’s just a feeling I can’t shake.”
Celine hung up the phone with Rachel, still feeling the nagging sense of unease. She didn’t want to burden her friend with her problems, especially since Rachel was so happy in her marriage to Leo.
Stepping out onto the balcony, Celine leaned against the bannister and gazed out at the city lights. She was lost in thought when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her.
Turning, she saw William, charming and handsome as always. He smiled at her, his eyes sparkling.
“Hey there,” he said, moving closer. “I couldn’t help but notice you seemed a little lost.”
Celine blushed, feeling a mix of nervousness and attraction. “I was just thinking,” she said, looking away.
William stepped closer still, his gaze intense. “About what?”
Celine felt herself being drawn into his eyes, feeling a strange energy between them. Before she knew it, their lips were meeting in a passionate kiss.
She knew it was wrong, that she was crossing a line, but she couldn’t help herself. The kiss was electric, filled with a heat and hunger that she had never felt before.
They finally pulled away, panting and dizzy. He leaned in for another kiss but Celine pushed William away, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn’t believe what had just happened.
“What the hell are you thinking?” she spat, anger and hurt mixing in her voice. “I can’t do this, William. I won’t be some fling for you.”
William looked taken aback, his expression hurt. “Celine, I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I don’t care what you meant,” Celine said, tears streaming down her face. “Just go, William. Just go to hell.”
She stumbled back into the party, feeling like a shell of herself. She was humiliated, hurt, and confused. All she wanted to do was crawl into a hole and never come out.
That night, she cried herself to sleep, her thoughts consumed by William. She knew that he didn’t see her as anything more than a convenient distraction, and it hurt her deeply.
****
Rachel and Leo continued to spend more time together, even though things were still awkward between them after the incident in her room. They spent most of their time in companionable silence, with Leo occasionally taking side glances at her.
But one early morning, Rachel decided to play a prank on Leo. She snuck up behind him and tickled him, causing him to jump and turn around with a look of surprise on his face.
“Gotcha!” Rachel said, laughing.
Leo’s expression quickly turned to one of amusement and he tackled Rachel, causing them to fall onto the couch in a fit of laughter. They ended up having a pillow fight, both of them laughing harder than they had in a long time.
As they lay on the couch, catching their breath, Rachel could feel the tension between them growing. She could feel Leo’s eyes on her, and she could see the anticipation in his gaze.
Just as they were about to lean in for a kiss, the doorbell rang out, breaking the moment. They both groaned in frustration, leaving Rachel to catch her breath and try to calm her racing heart.
Leo groaned and got up to answer it, still clutching the pillow in his hand. When he opened the door, he saw his mother standing there, her face a mask of displeasure.
“Leo, I need to speak with you,” she said sternly.
Leo sighed and stepped aside to let her in, aware of Rachel standing in the background, watching the exchange with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
For hours, Leo and his mother spoke in hushed tones, their conversation punctuated by the occasional raised voice. Rachel tried to busy herself with her sketches, but her attention kept wandering, drawn back to the two of them. She could feel a knot forming in her stomach, knowing that this conversation was about her and their forced marriage.
Finally, Leo’s mother got up to leave, casting a disdainful glance in Rachel’s direction before sweeping out the door. Rachel sighed and approached Leo, who was now slumped in a chair, looking drained.
“Leo, are you okay?” she asked softly.
Leo looked up at her, his eyes dark and troubled. “I need a distraction,” he said. “Something to take my mind off of all this.”
Rachel smiled, knowing exactly what he needed. She approached him with a mischievous gleam in her eye, a hint of naughtiness in her smile. But just as she was about to suggest something particularly scandalous, Leo spoke up.
“Show me your sketches,” he said. “I want to see what you’ve been working on.”
Rachel was momentarily taken aback, but quickly recovered. She pulled out a sketchbook and began to flip through the pages, showing Leo her latest creations. Leo was impressed, praising her technique and creativity. The two of them spent the rest of the day talking about her art, the conversation slowly becoming more relaxed and comfortable. By the end of the day, they were both smiling, the awkwardness between them forgotten.