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FOUR

CELESTIA

A full-twenty-four hour that I mindlessly invested one a person – the person – rendered me nothing but absurd. I was at my wit’s end, looking for answers into my head as to why was I obsessing over a stranger who was nothing but intimidating to my senses.

Badly needing to clear to head and crazy mind, I decided to take up my mother’s offer, despite hating the terms and conditions attached with it.

“I will tell Angie to join you at the mall. It would take her barely ten minutes to reach,” my mother said when I told her that I would be visiting the mall for a short shopping trip. It sounded cliché, but right now, I would definitely go along with cliché if it meant by psychological relief.

“I thought you are sending Oscar with me?” I asked, putting on my shoes.

“Well, he is definitely accompanying you. But I thought you would be more comfortable shopping with a woman. And I have known Angie for quite some time. She is a smart girl and a great company.” Translation: my mother wanted a bodyguard, in whatever form, shape and gender, to accompany me everywhere.

“The thing is, mother, I don’t know this Angie at all, nor do I wish to have a company of a strange woman when I am shopping for lingerie or anything of my choice. Do you really have to impose impossible conditions, even when I have agreed to everything you ever said?”

“Celestia--”

“Please don’t ‘Celestia’ me. It’s a small shopping trip, twenty-minute drive away,” I begged. “For once, I would really like to have a normal day.”

Kyla, my only living parent, didn’t look pleased but there were rare occasions like these when she gave up. Sighing, she fired up her phone and texted someone before looking at me. “Alright, just for this once, I would let it slide. Oscar will accompany you, but try not to give him the slip. I would know, Celestia,” she warned.

“I won’t, mother.” Smiling, I grabbed the jacket and the bag and made my way out of the house.

Oscar was already waiting for me downstairs, and so was a shiny grey Mercedes. By the look on his face, it was evident that my mother had previously called ahead, given the instructions as to the destination, so he simply held the door open for me.

I have known Oscar for more than fifteen years by now, and in all these years, I have heard the man speaking a few sentences as and when absolutely needed. Over the years, we have fallen into a monotonous routine of silent greetings and comfortable arrangements that transcended beyond words. His presence around me was tangible yet unhindered. The man understood space at least more than my mother did.

It didn’t take us much longer to reach the mall, an upscale urban hub that housed numerous luxury brands across the world. But more than anything, it felt blissful to be under the clear sky for once. Like a fool, I actually stood there for a long moment – yes, in the middle of the entrance of the sophisticated mall – and soaked in all the pleasures that people of my age probably took for granted.

Yes, a golden cage is a cage after all.

“Miss, would you like to go in now?” Oscar’s polite voice pulled me out of my silly reverie.

Sighing, I shook my head and began to proceed, knowing well he was on my heels. “Celestia, Oscar,” I insisted. “I am not a royal princess, and you are not my butler. Can you please let go of the formalities?”

“Certainly, Miss Celestia.” I didn’t have to know that the man was smiling a little, but he simply wouldn’t give up on the title calling. Well, a girl’s got to try: I thought and smirked to myself.

Looking around, I found the place as luxuriant as Google described. When you are twenty, and the only acquaintance you have is your forty-something bodyguard, you’d make the internet your best friend.

The first store across from me was Chanel, and I decided to visit before turning to Oscar. “Can I please just go on? It doesn’t look good to be chaperoned in Vegas.”

“Miss—”

“I know what my mother said, but she is not here. Do you mind, please?”

He nodded, and I made my way in, walking towards the section where the cutest satchels were displayed. Or maybe the store simply planted mirrors at all angles and with the shimmering overhead lights, everything in there looked magnificently attractive.

Reaching out, I plucked the gold-accented black flap bag off the shelf. The next thing I knew, it wasn’t the bag that took my breath away, but the image reflected on the mirror. The shock reverberated so fast, the bag hit with floor with a sharp ‘clank’.

The same man, Raffaele Roselli, stood directly behind my back and only a couple of feet away.

Run, Celestia, run – a little voice in my head urged.

And even though I had no reasons to, I actually did run.


RAFFAELE

“I still don’t understand why you can’t stay with us, mum,” I told her, getting into the car. After my father’s death, it has become a ritual for her to visit Vegas every three or four months and return back to Paris, her hometown.

It was also the place where, according to her, my father swept my mother off the feet and asked her to marry him. Young, naive, and smitten in love, my mother agreed in five seconds flat. Thirty years, two children and several ups and downs later, she still thought that it was the best decision she ever took.

“I still don’t understand why you can’t visit me in Paris, son,” my mother, Delphine Auclair-Roselli, smirked. Her comebacks were always epic. She was good at this, evading answers to her liking, and with all those years she had spent with my father, it made her completely immune.

I shifted in my seat to turn to her. “I would have if I weren’t so entangled in the business here. Plus, you do realize that babysitting your son is quite a task?”

“My son?” She pretended to gasp and then laughed. “Whatever happened saving your brother when you were beating up the bullies in the school? And I, the mother of two prodigal sons, had to talk the principal out of suspension?”

Frowning, I looked away. Father was damn right; there’s d no wining with mum. “I can beat his ass but not any other random kid.”

“True.” My mother patted my leg like I was still his ten-year-old firstborn. “All the more reasons I can breathe a little easy in Paris,” she voice turned serious. “You boys always have each other’s back.”

“Sir, ma’am, we are here,” the driver informed while the guards held the door open for us.

“Who shops in Vegas when you live in Paris?” I muttered.

“Well, I didn’t have my son in Paris,” she countered, stepping before me. It was one of her old tricks to have me by her side and to ensure my company and undivided attention.

“There!” She pointed towards Chanel’s outlet. “Let me see if they have stocked those limited editions bags I saw on their site.”

Even unwillingly, I followed her into the shop. While she busied herself in bags and perfume samples from hounding sales executives, I found a lone corner and took solace in scrolling through the mails. They were mostly unimportant, but at this moment, they seemed like a lifesaver.

CLANK. The sharp sound of metal chain clashing against the floor stole my attention as I saw a girl bending over to pick up the bag.

Clumsy was my first thought.

Is that…her? That was my second.

Shit. I reached towards her in giant strides, but the girl was already gone. Vanished. She shouldered her way out of the section, rushing past a couple of skinny sale executives, and I lost her amidst the deflecting mirror on every corner of the outlet. Still, I made it to the exit, hoping to catch a glance and frantically looked around.

“Rafe, Rafe!” My mother’s distant cry snapped me out, still scanning the place for her. “What happened?”

“Nothing,” I replied absently. “I think I saw a girl.”

“Yes, Rafe, girls are not extinct creatures. There are still seen everywhere.”

Frowning, I gave up the search. “Let’s go back.”

“Actually, I am famished.” She slid her arm into the crook of my elbow, ushering me another way. “Let’s find a quiet place with good Mexican food, and you can tell me all about the mystery girl you chased out of the store.”

“There’s no mystery—”

“Enigmatic,” she remarked, cutting me off. Apparently, it was only her who could do that. “A girl, who is enigmatic enough to make you run after her.”

I sighed. “You have absolutely no idea how terribly wrong you are, mother.”

“Only time would tell,” she grinned.

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