Chapter 9 Mother or Monster-in-law

The silence stretched between us like a wire pulled too tight, ready to snap. Josephine Astor studied me from across the table, her fingers resting lightly on the porcelain teacup like she was contemplating whether to sip her tea or destroy my entire existence.

Probably both.

She exhaled softly, slow and deliberate. "Considering that you are soon to marry into the Astor family, I would appreciate it if you kept things... 'low key,' if I should put it that way." Her voice was the definition of posh-silky smooth, controlled, dripping with an aristocratic authority that could cut glass. "Our Astor name should be represented by respectful and well-presentable members."

Then, like a magician revealing her final trick, she slid a newspaper across the table.

The New York Times.

Front page.

HIGH-PROFILE ENGAGEMENT FACES PUBLIC SCRUTINY AFTER NIGHT OUT!

My heart plummeted to my stomach. I grabbed the paper and scanned the photo, my face draining of color. The image was blurry-thank God-but it was still clear enough to recognize the expensive slit dress, the unmistakable mess of dark waves falling over my shoulder, the telltale tilt of my jaw. It was me.

If someone saw me on the street, they wouldn't immediately recognize me from the picture. But Josephine? Oh, she knew exactly who she was looking at.

"But Celeste, let me be honest with you," she continued, leaning back in her chair, watching me like a scientist observing an insect pinned under glass. "I don't care what you do. I don't care how much you party, how much you drink, or who you choose to entertain yourself with. I don't even care if you hate my son. In fact, I'd prefer it if you did."

Wait-what?

"But what I do care about," she said, smoothing a manicured hand over the tablecloth, "is power. And I believe you and I could be allies."

Allies? With Josephine Astor?

That was like making a deal with the devil in Prada.

I swallowed, my throat dry as dust. "I'm not following."

"You see, I've been pulling the strings of this family for decades. And I refuse to have my legacy dictated by my son's childish dreams and I also worry about the influence of Tobias Astor, his uncle. He is still far too young to take over the business and he has much to learn. This marriage is happening, but I don't need you to love him." She paused, taking a slow sip of her tea. "I need you to control him. Or, at the very least, distract him."

There it was.

Josephine wasn't looking for a daughter-in-law. She was looking for a pawn.

She set the teacup down with a soft clink and sighed, like all of this was terribly exhausting for her. "My idiot of a husband left both Leonidas and his brother Dimitri, control of the company the moment they turned eighteen. Fortunately for me, his brother took the route of a musician and has no interest in running the business. But Leonidas..." She shook her head, exasperated. "He still thinks he has a say in things and that irritating uncle of his encourages him."

I could feel my pulse thrumming at the base of my throat. "And what exactly do you expect me to do?"

"Oh, Celeste," she mused, eyes gleaming, "I think you already know the answer to that."

And then, just as I was reeling from that bombshell, she delivered the final, fatal blow.

"Oh, and if you think you can refuse this arrangement... I'd reconsider. Because if you do, you won't just be walking away from this marriage. You'll be walking away from your father's company, too."

Everything inside me turned ice cold.

"What?" I croaked.

Her lips curled into something that could barely be considered a smile. "It appears there are some rather unsavory rumors swirling about besides the fraud investigations, investors pulling out one by one... quite the scandal. Such a shame, really. I imagine your father must be quite stressed at the moment."

I gripped the arms of my chair. "You wouldn't-"

"Wouldn't I?" Her expression didn't waver. "Celeste, darling, you're a smart girl. You know exactly what kind of influence I have. I could break your father's company, your fashion brand. Or, if you choose wisely, I could make it untouchable. Just imagine... every runway, every cover, every elite name clamoring to be associated with you. The power, the prestige." She tilted her head. "And your father's company and its problems, all of that can disappear if you agree."

I felt myself being backed into a corner. Fight her? That would be suicide. Having her as an enemy would be... unimaginable. But aligning with her? I could be one of the most powerful women in the country alongside her.

And then there was Leo.

A sick sort of satisfaction curled in my stomach at the thought of having him under my control. If I played this right, I could make his life hell while securing my own future.

But what would it take to keep him distracted?

I cleared my throat, forcing my voice to stay even. "Is the child still important?"

Josephine's face remained serene, but her eyes sharpened. "Oh, that still applies, darling. I need a grandchild. An heir to secure this family's legacy. But really, that's such a small thing, isn't it? You only need to lay with him once-that's all it takes."

The casual way she said it, like a business transaction, sent an uncomfortable shiver down my spine.

She must have noticed my reaction because she let out a sharp, unexpected laugh. "Although, what I have in mind, you may have to do a lot more than just lay with him."

My fingers clenched against my lap. "I'm almost scared to ask."

She took another delicate sip of tea, her grin widening. "Oh, Celeste. Don't be. This will be life changing."