Neither of them had expected Celestine to have one last trick up her sleeve.
“You bitch, you-” Bob seethed, grinding his teeth.
Celestine just smiled, waving her phone with the recording screen still on. “Go ahead. Keep talking.”
“Calm down, Bob! Chill out! We can’t win if we go down with the ship,” Jake hissed, grabbing his arm.
Bob stiffened, glaring at Celestine. “You just wait. You’ll get what’s coming to you.”
They stormed out of the precinct, cursing under their breath.
Denton looked uneasy. “Miss Selwyn, those two are nothing but street thugs. If you push them too far, they might come after you.”
Celestine only smiled and reassured him. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
“Damn it! That damn woman–I swear I’ll make her pay!” Bob spat on the ground, his eyes hard with rage.
Jake scanned the street nervously. “Keep it down, Bob! What if she actually gets what she wants, huh?”
“So what, we just let this go? Mr. Zeke got us out, sure, but now we have to pay all those legal fees out of our own pockets! For what? So we could rot in a cell for a night? I can’t just let this slide!”
“Believe me, I can’t either! But she’s got dirt on us now. We can’t just go charging in like before.” Jake tried to reason with him.
Bob rolled his eyes impatiently. “Spit it out, would you? Stop beating around the bush like some whiny old woman.”
Jake’s face lit up with a wicked grin. “Here’s the plan: we follow her back to her neighborhood, figure out where she lives. Once we know her routine, we’ll find a chance to drug her–have our way with her, take some photos as evidence. Then we’ll have leverage. And if you’re still pissed after that, you can carve up that pretty little face of hers. See how she begs for mercy then.”
i
Bob stroked his chin, an ugly smile spreading across his face. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. Bet she’ll be screaming for help with no one to save her.”
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14.30
Laughing cruelly, the two turned down a narrow alley.
But as soon as they rounded the corner, darkness engulfed them.
“What the-?!”
“Who’s there?!”
Two heavy blows landed squarely on their heads before they could react.
Barely given a chance to breathe, a hailstorm of clubs rained down on them, merciless and unrelenting–especially to the gut, every swing landing with brutal precision.
Bags were pulled over their heads. Their threats and curses quickly turned to helpless sobs and pleas.
Vernon, sunglasses perched on his nose and a cigarette dangling from his lips, spun his club with a flourish.
“Hit them harder! Think you can threaten my lady and walk away? Not on my
watch.”
Still fuming, he stepped in to deliver two extra kicks for good measure.
The alley echoed with their screams.
Meanwhile, Celestine accompanied Denton through the last of the paperwork at the police station.
Denton turned to her gratefully. “Miss Selwyn, I know you used to work in design. You understand how important the Magnolia Awards are for Mirabelle. So, we’d like to invite you to be the design consultant for her dress at the ceremony. Would you be interested?”
For the awards night, celebrities would wear two outfits: one for the red carpet, another for the ceremony itself.
Most, never made it to the stage, so the red carpet was their main chance to shine.
But for someone like Mirabelle, a real contender, every moment would be under the spotlight.
Entrusting her with the main ceremony gown was a true sign of respect.
Celestine was taken aback. “Mr. Denton, I didn’t help Miss Remington because I was looking for favors…”
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14:30
Chapter 54
“Of course, we all know that’s not who you are,” Denton interrupted warmly. “But this is Mirabelle’s wish. She’s always been loyal and doesn’t like owing anyone. So, I
hope you’ll accept.”
Loyalty–that’s why Mirabelle had stayed by Zeke’s side for so long.
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