Chapter 6 - Celeste's True Colors
By Wednesday afternoon, the news of the Vance family’s financial freeze had hit the social circles.
I was sitting in my favorite quiet café when Celeste walked in.
She looked frantic, her designer sunglasses pushed up into her messy hair.
“Vivian!” she marched over to my table, slamming her expensive handbag down.
I took a slow sip of my black tea. “Hello, Celeste.”
“Adrian’s credit cards are declining,” she hissed, leaning in close so the other patrons wouldn’t hear.
“I imagine they are,” I replied smoothly. “Accounts tend to do that when they’re locked by the federal government.”
“You have to undo this,” she demanded, her eyes wide with panic.
“He promised to buy me the penthouse on 5th Avenue next week!”
I let out a soft, genuine laugh.
“Celeste, do you honestly think he has the money for a penthouse?”
She blinked, confused. “Of course he does. He’s a Vance.”
“He’s bankrupt,” I clarified, setting my teacup down.
“And I also know that he’s been using your name on the lease for his illegal storage units.”
Celeste’s face went completely pale.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied poorly.
“The stolen artwork, the undeclared luxury cars,” I listed them off on my fingers.
“When the IRS audits him, whose name do you think they’ll find on the dotted line?”
She stumbled backward, bumping into an empty chair.
“He said he would protect me,” she whispered.
May you like
“Adrian only protects himself,” I said, picking up my purse.
“If I were you, I’d find a very good lawyer. And a cheaper apartment.”
