chapter six

CELESTIA’S MOTHER’S POINT OF VIEW

We met Celestia in the living room. A little introduction was made and they left together. After their car was out of sight,

“That young man is very rich.” Her grandpa noted.

“And handsome.” I added smiling

“But it is the wealthy we need.” He added.

“You are right but I want Celestia to be happy. The young man seemed like he love her truly and I hope that is the case. She has gone through enough in life to be miserable forever by choosing the wrong partner.” I argued. He went to his usual spot in the living room and got seated. I stood where I was expecting what he had to say.

“You are right. I wish I did not make those decisions I made back then, maybe we would not be so bankrupt now and trying so hard to get our beautiful treasure married.” He said sadly.

“No, do not say that. Celestia’s father would have done the exact thing if you were to be in that shoe. We did all we could but God knows better than us.” I said almost in tears.

My husband, Celestia’s father was a good man but we were not fortunate enough to have him around for too long. We lost him many years ago. He was handsome and calm as dove. He was always smiling and he loved our daughter so much. There was nothing he would not do to prove his love for her. We were one big family together with his father. Until one night, he returned home really injured, with serious injuries all over. We took him to the hospital and spent a lot of money trying to revive him back to his normal state. 

We lost him on the night of the full moon. Turned out he had been ingested with silver and that is dangerous to a werewolf’s health. He could not transform completely on the night of the full moon with the silver in his system so he died. 

“Please look after Celestia, do not let anyone or anything bring harm to her way.” That was the last thing he said to me before he gave up the ghost. Even in deathbed, his dying wish was for his daughter to be safe. 

It was a tragic loss for us as we had borrowed money from a lot of places. In fact, we put down the company as a collateral for some loans. Things got more difficult after his death. We could not repay most of the loans we took for his illness. We lost the company and also the house we were living in at the time. His father could not help but feel guilty about not being able to save his only son and also losing our valuables in the process.

Grandpa and I had to give everything up to start afresh. We started doing menial jobs to take care of us and Celestia most importantly. We could not settle the debt still. Celestia was an empathetic child. She grew up too quickly after her father’s death and became highly responsible.

She started working since she got into the college to help us and now, she was interning at a company. Even though, the debt still had us on chokehold, I was rest assured she would set us free from it soonest.

“I just want you and Celestia to be happy and comfortable. I failed my son but I will never fail my granddaughter.” Grandpa vowed.

If only this new man she brought home was truly who he said he was- a Robinson then our worries would be over and we could return to our previous life. I hoped they got along because Celestia was a strong willed girl, she would not do anything unless she was willing or had her reasons. 

CELESTIA’S POINT OF VIEW

It had just hit me that I would not be able to go on the lunch date I had planned with Thomas anymore as the witch- Miss Bella had promised to make me work all day all because she caught Grace and I chatting. 

“I wonder what is this woman’s problem. Why would she not give workers and interns under her breathing space? In fact, I heard she suspended one female worker last week with no payments!” Grace lamented from her desk. One thing about Grace, she would never let anything disturb her from gisting when she could. 

“I am so pissed right now, I did not eat dinner last night, now I have to skip lunch. At this rate, I might pass out due to much workload and starving.” I responded while trying to make sense of the corrections my supervisor made in the files. She was being so extra.

“Aww lunch time is still many hours from now, do you mind me helping you get something to eat now?” Grace offered.

“Oh I am good right now, but the thing is I had planned a lunch date with Thomas earlier.” I explained sounding really sad.

“Oow! That is true! You mentioned that earlier. What are you going to do now?” She questioned, her chair now turned towards my desk.

“Man, I do not know. I think I should just call him and cancel now before he makes any reservations.” I said as I pushed the heap of files before me aside and picked up my phone. I went to my call log and scrolled till I got his contact, “Thomas Robinson”. Yes, I could be formal at times.

I dialed it, it rang for few seconds before he eventually picked.

“Hello beautiful, how are you?” his voice came on the other end sounding so calm and it got me blushing.

“Hello, I am good.” I responded sounding not so excited.

“Oow… why do you sound so down on the phone? Are you already missing me so much that you could not wait until lunch?” He teased. Such a funny guy, we had only met in less than twenty four hours and he was already talking about missing- well, probably. The bond between us was so strong.

“Errmm… about that, I called about the lunch. I-“ I got interrupted by him.

“Oh do not tell me you want to cancel on me? Why?” He asked sounding a little bit disappointed.

“No, it is not like that. I got on the wrong side of my supervisor so I would be working through lunch hours to meet up with the task I was given. I am sorry. We could eat lunch together some other time?” I explained.

“What sort of company makes their workers work when they are meant to be resting? All work without rest would only affect workers’ productivity. Do they not know that?” He fumed on the phone.

“You are right but I need to get the job done so I do not get on my supervisor’s bad side again. So some other time? I really have to go now before she shows up now and sees me on the phone instead of working.” I pleaded with him.

“Alright then, bye.” 

“Bye.” I said and hung up the phone.

“Phew!” I sighed blowing air through my mouth.

“So are you sure you do not want to eat anything? I did not even see you getting your coffee this morning?” Grace said to me after I was done on the phone.

“No, thank you.” I replied and continued with my work with Grace helping me out and chipping in all sorts of gists in between to keep us free of boredom and burn out.

 Few minutes later, a knock sounded on my door, I was taken aback because I expected it to be the supervisor and I was not done with the files yet so that could be another serious problem for me. The knock came again and that got me confused because she hardly used to knock and if she would, it would not be more than once. 

Grace and I looked at each other, 

“Come in” I said loud to whoever was at the door.

The door creaked open and Mary peeped into the office with her whole body still at the door.

“COME-IN” I said to her when she would not step in. She then walked in and closed the door, in her hands was my favorite coffee packed in a delivery package.

“Good morning, you did not come for your coffee today and I saw you enter the building so I thought to bring it over since you really hate starting your day without one.” Mary said as she placed the coffee on my table.

“Oh thank you, yeah I could not come over but I really appreciate you bringing it over.” I said to her as I brought out the cup and took a sip. It calmed my nerves and everything else made sense for a brief while.

Mary was still standing there smiling and shy. I gave her some notes for the coffee.

“Thank you.” She said as she courtesied a bit and collected the money from me.

“That reminds me, how are you preparing for school?” I asked her as I remembered she got gained admission into the most coveted Harvard university.

“I am on it. Thankfully, I have been saving some money so I would get things started with it and see how things go. If that is not enough, my boss had promised to loan me some money in addition.” She said gleefully.

“Wow that is so nice of your boss.” I commented amazed at the fact that at least, not every boss is as uptight and unnecessarily strict like mine.