Jade leaned against the elevator buttons and let out a dramatic yelp of pain
The other women in the elevator rushed to her side, alarmed.
“Jade, are you okay?”
“Did you hurt your foot?”
Jade put on a pitiful face. “I’m fine, I just pressed the wrong button with my hand
While speaking, she shot a taunting glance at Celestine. “Sis, you’re not mad at me are you?”
Celestine flexed her fingers, her foxlike eyes glittering with a dangerous amusement. “Why would I be mad at you?”
The glare she gave Jade could have sliced glass.
A few women who usually sided with Jade couldn’t help but chime in.
“Wait, you’re Jade’s sister? Your little sister’s hurt and you don’t even care?”
“No wonder Jade’s always by herself. I bet you’re horrible to her at home!”
Celestine had no patience for their nonsense.
She took a step forward.
But Jade deliberately blocked her path.
“What’s wrong, sis? Are you upset now? I swear I didn’t mean it. Oh, and look–the deadline’s in just three minutes. Maybe you’re just not meant to work here.”
She was fully aware that the company’s bid submission ended at 9:30. She was dying to watch Celestine miss it.
“Where’d this little viper come from? Smells like she’s been marinating in bitterness her whole life,” Celestine said with open disdain.
Jade’s expression twisted in anger.
Before she could retort, Celestine suddenly twisted her ankle and pitched forward, straight toward Jade.
Jade jerked out of the way–but not fast enough. Celestine’s hand whipped across her face with a sharp, resounding slap.
1/3
09.18
Chapter 258
The sound echoed in the elevator.
Celestine drew her hand back, lips curled in a half–smile. “Sorry, sis–twisted my ankle.”
A vivid red handprint blazed across Jade’s cheek.
The other women stood frozen in shock.
“Excuse me,” Celestine said coolly as the elevator doors slid open on the tenth floor. She strode out, heading for the elevator across the hall.
Jade was livid. She stormed after her:
She saw Celestine pressing the button for the other elevator and burst out laughing, voice dripping with mockery. “Oh, what a shame. Looks like fate itself doesn’t want you working here–the elevator’s under maintenance today.”
Celestine let out a cold, dismissive laugh. “Thanks for the warning.”
She glanced around, then locked eyes on the stairwell.
Without another word, she headed straight for it, not sparing the others a backward glance.
Jade’s smug smile faltered.
Why had she said anything? She should’ve just let Celestine stand there and waste
her time.
Not that it mattered. Even if Celestine took the stairs, there were still twenty floors to climb–and Jade was sure she’d seen her wearing heels. No way she’d make it in
three minutes.
Jade’s mood lightened.
The other women exchanged uneasy looks.
“Jade, why’d you lie like that?” one of them asked.
“Yeah, that elevator’s the CEO’s private lift. It can be used in emergenc
Someone murmured under their breath.
Jade’s face darkened. “She’s my cousin. Because of the mess between me and my mom, she and my brother can’t stand me. I just thought working with her would make things miserable for everyone.”
The others knew Jade had a troubled brother and usually felt sorry for her.
Chapter 250
Hearing Celestine was on his side, their sympathy shifted.
“In that case, you did the right thing,” one of them said.
They certainly didn’t want someone like Celestine at The Prescott Group.
“Look! The CEO’s elevator is moving!” another woman gasped.
Everyone knew Gideon was out of the country–nobody else had access to that elevator.
But now, the display showed it rising, stopping at the twelfth floor.
Judging by Celestine’s timing, it had to be her.
Jade’s brow furrowed in disbelief. “Impossible! Even if she figured out the elevator wasn’t broken, there’s no way she has a keycard for the executive floors!”
