"Celeste, are you really this pathetic? I'm engaged, and you're still causing a scene?"
"You want to be with me that badly?"
He pulled Effie close.
"Make Effie happy first. Then maybe I'll consider it."
"Patrick?" Effie turned to look at him.
Patrick gave a low laugh.
"She won't leave me alone, so we might as well use that."
"But if she wants me to accept her, she'd better keep my wife satisfied first."
A flash of delight crossed Effie's eyes.
Patrick looked at me.
"Can you understand that? Or do I need to spell it out?"
I touched the cheek where Patrick had slapped me.
Said nothing.
Just stepped forward.
Slap.
And gave it right back.
My mother grabbed my arm.
"What are you doing!"
Effie let out a gasp.
"Celeste! If you want to hit someone, hit me! Don't touch him!"
"Hit you?"
I laughed. "You're not worth the effort."
"You—"
"Patrick."
I looked him dead in the eye. "As the CEO of Ascend Group, I'm terminating your appointment. Don't bother showing up."
"Ascend?"
He blinked.
Then a cold smirk spread across his face. "A desperate little nobody who throws herself at men has a position at a Fortune 500 company?"
Effie's expression melted into pity.