Celestine lowered her gaze, smoothing out the wrinkles on her dress with calm composure. “I’m not sure what’s made you harbor such strong opinions about me, Miss Coco,” she said evenly. “But I trust you didn’t mean any harm.”
With those words, she turned to leave.
Coco’s mind was a tangle of confusion and frustration. Without thinking, she blurted, “Where are you going? The interview hasn’t even started!”
“Let’s end things here for today,” Celestine replied, pausing and glancing back at her. “You might want to take another look at the primary collection Seabay sent me. She motioned to her dress. “For example, this piece I’m wearing is one of their samples.”
“Thank you for your appreciation and support.”
The final words landed like a punch.
Coco’s face twisted in disbelief.
She suddenly remembered what she’d said to Celestine at the door.
‘The company really went out of their way to find you such a beautiful dress, Miss Selwyn.’
Now she wanted nothing more than to go back and throttle herself.
But honestly, wasn’t this woman a little too petty?
All she’d done was ask a couple of harmless questions, yet Celestine had simply walked out of Seabay’s interview as if it were nothing.
No one had ever done that before!
Well–except for Jade, that hopeless case. This was all her fault!
In the main lobby.
Jade had no idea what had just transpired in the interview room.
But she’d already given her old college acquaintance–a senior now working as a Seabay interviewer–a heads–up, dropping heavy hints that Celestine landed the Seabay collaboration through less–than–honorable means.
That Coco was notorious for her moral high ground and couldn’t stand women like Celestine.
1/3
18:51
Chapter 82
Jade could practically predict how her friend would tear Celestine apart in the
interview.
Coco’s razor–sharp tongue was legendary in their circle.
She just hoped her meek older sister wouldn’t end up in tears.
So, after the Seabay tour wrapped up, Jade didn’t hurry to leave. She waited eagerly in the lobby, practically counting down the minutes until she could watch
Celestine’s humiliation firsthand.
Just then, the elevator’s red indicator lit up on the ground floor.
Jade stared intently as the doors slid open, and when she spotted that familiar figure inside, she could barely suppress her glee.
Celestine had actually been kicked out!
“Well, isn’t this a coincidence, sis? What brings you to Seabay at this hour?” Jade asked, unable to hide the schadenfreude in her eyes as she searched Celestine’s face for any sign of distress.
But after a long moment of silent observation, she found nothing.
Jade silently cursed her for being such a good actress.
If Celestine had been wondering earlier what she’d done to provoke that powder–keg of an interviewer, it all became clear the moment she saw Jade.
Her smile turned frosty. “If you can be here, why can’t I?”
“Still trying to save face after being thrown out?” Jade sneered, her expression twisted. “Don’t think your bedroom tricks will get you everywhere. The only reason you made it through Seabay’s doors is pure dumb luck!”
Celestine’s lips curled into an enigmatic smile. “Sounds like you’re pretty interested in that kind of luck yourself. How many ‘bedroom tricks‘ did you use to get yourself standing here today?”
Jade nearly exploded with rage. “Enough with the act, Celestine! You must be miserable right now, aren’t you? Seabay’s interviews are gold–one word and you’re blacklisted. People like you will always be spit on wherever you go!”
“Oh, you’re right. I’m just devastated.” Celestine clutched a hand to her chest, feigning heartbreak, though inwardly she could barely stifle her laughter.
The Murdocks‘ daughter–so stupid it was almost painful to watch.
18:51
If she didn’t have to keep up appearances, she might have burst out laughing night then and there.
But seeing as she had plenty of free time today, she decided she might as well play along for a bit.
“Since you know, why don’t you hurry up and leave already!”
That was when Eddie, Seabay’s manager, hurried in.
“Miss Selwyn, wait!”
Eddie called out in a panic.
He’d missed the start of Celestine’s interview that morning because he’d been called to HQ for a report. When word of it got back to the higher–ups, they’d ordered him straight back to the office.
He’d rushed to the interview room, only to find Coco there alone.
