Chapter 2: Announcement

The silence that followed my question was deafening. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, but I refused to look away. I refused to let her dismiss me without facing the truth.

Celine finally turned around, her face unreadable. Her eyes didn’t hold warmth; there was no spark of recognition or regret. She looked at me, her expression hardening, and for a moment, I thought I might just crumble right there in front of her.

“No,” she said simply. The word was sharp, like a slap to my face. “I don’t think you’d ever be like him, Clinton. And even if you were, it wouldn’t matter.” She folded her arms across her chest, standing her ground as if I were nothing more than an inconvenience to her day.

My stomach dropped, and I tried to swallow the bitterness that was rising in my throat. Was that it? Was I just not good enough? The reality of it all hit me like a freight train, knocking the breath out of my lungs.

Mrs. Matthews, standing by the door, finally spoke up. “Clinton,” she said with an almost pitying tone, “I think it’s time you leave. There’s nothing more to say here.”

I nodded stiffly, my chest aching, and I turned to leave, not looking back. But as I reached the door, Mrs. Matthews added one more thing, her voice calm but cold. “I’m not sure why you keep hoping for more. Celine deserves someone who can provide her with what she wants. And Cloud Smith… well, he’s perfect for her in every way.”

It was like a slap across my face, and this time, I didn’t hide the pain. Her words echoed in my mind, relentless and cruel. The woman I had once thought of as a mother figure had just crushed the last of my hope.

Later that night, I found myself sitting at the bar, nursing a whiskey. The glass was cool in my hand, but the burn of the alcohol didn’t feel strong enough to numb the pain. The weight of everything—the rejection, the crushing reality—pressed down on me.

Eli slid into the seat next to me, his eyes glinting with amusement as he took in my sour mood.

“So, how’d it go, man?” he asked, leaning back with a smirk. “I take it she didn’t fall head over heels for you, huh?”

I let out a harsh laugh, swirling the ice in my glass. “You could say that. I’m just another guy who doesn’t measure up.”

Eli raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. “Well, it’s not like Cloud Smith is a hard act to follow, right? The guy’s got it all—the looks, the money, the power.” He leaned in, lowering his voice. “Hell, I’d be intimidated too, if I were you.”

I shot him a glare, but he was right. Cloud Smith was everything I wasn’t. Tall, handsome, wealthy. A god in a world of mere mortals. The thought of competing with someone like that felt like a joke.

But I wasn’t going to let it go like this. Not after everything I’d put into it.

“I don’t care about Cloud Smith,” I muttered. “I’ll find a way to make her see me. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Eli chuckled, though there was a hint of disbelief in his voice. “You’re kidding, right? She’s already got everything she needs. You think she’ll just throw it all away for you? You’re living in a dream, Clinton.”

His words stung, but I wasn’t ready to give up.

“I don’t care. I’ll get Celine, Eli. I’ll make her see that I’m worth more than just another pretty face or a flashy bank account.”

Eli shrugged, sipping his beer. “Alright, man. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. It’s not going to be easy. But hey, maybe you should think about making her jealous. You know—find someone else, someone who can catch her eye. A little competition might do the trick.”

The idea simmered in my mind for a moment, then clicked into place. It was desperate. It was childish. But it was something.

I shot Eli a glance. “You think that’ll work?”

He shrugged again. “Maybe. It’s a hell of a lot better than sitting around, hoping she’ll change her mind. Do something bold. Make her realize what she’s missing.”

I let out a deep sigh, staring into my drink. “I’ll do it. I’ll make her jealous. I won’t stop until she sees me for who I really am.”

Eli smirked, lifting his glass. “Alright, man. Good luck. You’re gonna need it.”

And as I sat there, the weight of my desperation mingling with the alcohol in my veins, I realized that I wasn’t going to back down. If Celine couldn’t see me now, then maybe a little jealousy was the key to making her notice.

I had nothing left to lose.

The sunlight streamed through my bedroom window the next morning, casting a pale glow on the floor. I had barely slept.

My mind was still racing with plans—desperate, impulsive plans to make Celine take notice. But this time, I wasn't going to sit around and wait. I was going to show her that I wasn’t some backup option. I was going to make her jealous, force her to see me, to realize what she was missing.

I reached for my phone, the screen lighting up as I unlocked it. My fingers hesitated, and for a moment, I almost backed out of it. But then I thought of her—Celine—her dismissive words still echoing in my mind. I wasn’t going to just take it lying down.

I scrolled through my contacts until I found Leona's name. She’d been a friend for years, always there for me, her feelings for me as clear as day. I had never thought of her in that way, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

With a deep breath, I typed out the message. “Leona, I know you’ve always had feelings for me. I think it’s time we make it official.”

I hit send before I could overthink it. I knew this wasn’t fair to her, but I had to do it. It was the only way to get Celine’s attention. To make her feel something, anything.

Leona replied quickly, her enthusiasm clear in the text. “Of course, Clinton! I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long. I’ll make sure we look good together. You won’t regret it!”

I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt, but I pushed it down. There was no time for guilt. I needed to play the game.

By the time Leona arrived at my apartment, she was dressed to impress, wearing a form-fitting red dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. Her makeup was flawless, her hair cascading in waves. I couldn’t deny that she looked stunning, but a small part of me felt guilty as I admired her appearance.

"Perfect," I said, trying to mask my unease. "Just make sure you act like we’re in love. We need

Leona gave me a grin, her eyes full of excitement. "Don’t worry, Clinton. I promise to be Loyal to you,”

We walked out together, the air heavy with the tension of what was to come. Once we were in the car, I couldn’t help but feel a little excited myself. This was it. I was finally going to make Celine feel something, even if it wasn’t the way I had hoped.

When we arrived at the café, I could already feel the eyes of passersby on us. I pulled Leona close, acting like we were a happy couple. We laughed and joked as if we were totally at ease with the situation, but underneath the surface, I was waiting. I was waiting for her to notice.

I posted a picture on my social media account, featuring Leona and me smiling together. The caption was simple but loaded with meaning: "Love can surprise you when you least expect it. #Loveofmylife

I hit ‘post’ and sat back, watching the notifications roll in. A few likes, a few comments, and then… Celine.

She had reacted to the photo with an emoji. A simple, cold-hearted thumbs-up emoji.

My heart sank.

That was it. No comment. No acknowledgment. Just a gesture, as if she couldn’t care less.

I felt the bitterness rise in my throat, but I refused to let it show. Instead, I scrolled through the comments and likes, pretending to be unaffected by her indifferent response. But then something caught my eye.

I froze.

There, on the news feed, was a headline about Cloud Smith. My stomach lurched.

“Cloud Smith Announces Need for Bodyguard After Threatening Incident. CEO Urgently Seeks Personal Protection.”