Chapter 3 3

DAMIEN POV

"Celeste is alive."

Like thunder, these words struck me.

I looked at the screen of my phone, placed it back in my ear, and asked. "What did you just say, Marcel? What do you mean Celeste is alive?"

He hesitated, then continued. "I found a clip, Boss. It was recorded a week ago, on a Saturday. She was at a business conference held in this city and I was able to get a copy of the link. I should share it with you so that you can see for yourself."

"What the fuck are you saying?"

Was I dreaming?

It was real, my reality at this moment.

But how could Celeste be alive and even back to the city? No one had heard from her since four years ago, how come was she alive?

Fear flowed through my veins like blood should.

I held back myself from screaming. My stamina on the chair was almost lost and I tried to sit up.

"Boss, are you there?"

I heard him clearly, but I found it hard to speak.

"Boss?"

"Marcel-" I called back. "Are you sure about this thing you've called to tell me?"

"I will share the link."

The call ended after a while.

Over and over again, my eyes reached my phone screen, with many other thoughts of disbelief that ran around in my head.

What was happening?

How did Celeste even make it back to the city? Before she left the house that day, I could swear she was poor, broke, penniless, and with no hope.

Everyone in the Blackwood family believed she would be back with my child in days, maybe even weeks-and when she didn't show up, we imagined it would take months to see her again.

Now what?

She was alive!

Alive!

What happened to dying?

We thought she died.

She had nowhere to go, no place to run to, no family who wanted her back in their lives. Not after what she did-what I made her do.

I jumped to my feet and paced the space of my office. Maybe it was time to reach out to Silvia. Maybe. Just maybe I needed help with confirming it was Celeste I would see in the clip.

Marcel could be passing wrong information.

Now, my phone beeped.

I caught up with the desk and looked at its screen.

It was a message from Marcel-there was a link. A short link that could carry weight if at all what he was saying was true.

I knew I needed someone by my side.

It couldn't be the manager.

Mr. Johnson was only employed late last year while Silvia herself had been here for five years, a very long time before Celeste brought up the idea of signing divorce papers.

"I need you in my office right now."

"Okay, sir." My secretary said and the call ended.

There was nothing I could do. Nothing at all until Silvia got here. Whatever reaction I was supposed to give, I didn't know, but it was good to have someone around just in case I passed out.

No, I could not pass out because of Celeste-

"Mr. Damien-"

"Come in, Silvia. Fast about it."

The door slid open.

The young woman stepped in, smiling sheepishly like I wasn't offended a while ago.

"I need you to check out a video with me. When we're done watching, you'll tell who you see in it. Do you understand all that I have said?" Silvia walked closer and nodded while I concentrated on connecting my mobile phone to the laptop.

In moments, the video played.

It was a conference with many people.

So many people, but one particular woman spoke to them in this clip. This woman had a bright smile on her face, her hair was well-packed and she looked into the camera while she spoke.

I looked at Silvia. "Do you know her?"

Silvia looked at me.

There was shock on her countenance while her head nodded. "Of course, I know her, Mr. Damien. This is Mrs. Blackwood, your wife. I thought-" her voice trailed off. "I thought she was dead."

I thought she died too.

I didn't know what to say, what to do, or how to react when I was on my feet. "What is the meaning of this, Silvia?" I looked at the desk where the phone was placed and listened to more words that came out from the mouth of Celeste.

"I don't know, Mr. Blackwood."

A confused Silvia was on her feet as well.

"This is a business conference that was held. And there was no way she couldn't go on invite. I'm shocked she's alive and shocked she's a business person. We need to see the real clip. Everything."

She was right.

We needed to see everything-maybe not everything that went down in that conference, but only the parts where Celeste was involved, speaking to hundreds of men and women, answering their questions, and even asking.

My wife was almost unrecognizable.

I almost couldn't recognize her. This was how good she looked even though I hated to admit it.

"This is not good."

"I don't think it's bad-" my timid secretary who didn't understand whatever went on between myself and my now ex-wife spoke.

For some reason, I could not blame her either, I had told another story to the public when I was asked-a whole different story.

How would I start explaining?

Did they even deserve it?

A deep sigh escaped my mouth and I walked back to my desk. "I'm sure we need to see the real clip. This is just a short clip compared to everything she must have said." I picked up my phone and dialed Marcel who started all of these.

"Boss-"

"This is not the time, Marcel-"

My tone was cold, I cut him short.

"I'll need you to tell me how to get a link to a longer version of the clip. The one you sent to me is just too short and cannot give me what I want. I'll need to know what went down in that conference-every single thing she said."

"Watch till the end. It's right there, Boss."

I looked at my secretary who watched the video on the laptop. Without any more words, I ended the call and reached my chair where a seat was taken. Celeste was speaking to the crowd again.

Her voice sounded the same but it was very much better, bold and sophisticated.

"This is so beautiful."

Nothing annoyed me like the words that came from Silvia's mouth. The sudden happy look on her face annoyed me more than anything, but I could not blame her. No, I could not blame her because she didn't know anything about what had happened, or what happened four years ago.

"I'd like to be alone, Silvia."

She looked up to meet my gaze. The usual smile was gone from her face, but she nodded. "Of course, Mr. Blackwood. Let me know when you need me." Silvia was out of my office in moments, I took a seat and fixed my gaze on the computer screen even though my thoughts confused me.

Celeste was speaking.

"I am back because this is my country and hometown. I belong to this place, even though there are many other things I'm here for."

"What could they be?" Someone asked.

There was a cocky smile on her face.

She looked into the camera like she could see me. "I'm here for a lot of things, but one of the things I've come back to do is take what belongs to me."