Why are women so amazing these days? I muttered to myself, realizing that it was too late to send a message, so I just said,"Celeste, that was the boss calling me just now."

"Why is the boss calling you so late?" Her question clearly hadn't lost its edge.

"Well, it's mainly something related to work," I stammered.

"You're still lying to me. You don't know anything, and the boss will ask you," she said with a hint of sarcasm.

"How do you know I don't know?" I responded, somewhat defensively.

"Everyone says you're a privileged connection because the boss brought you up," she said, which caught me off guard. I hadn't realized that others saw me this way. In that moment, it felt like a heavy stone had settled in my chest, and I felt deeply disappointed. To mask my inner turmoil, I forced a smile and replied,"Actually, I was just getting scolded earlier."

Celeste Harrington on the other end of the line clearly didn't believe me and pressed on,"That sounds like it's true. What else?"

I sighed helplessly and said,"She blamed me for messing things up."

"You set him up with someone?" Celeste's voice was laced with both confusion and dissatisfaction.

"No," I hurried to explain,"I don't have the time for that."

"Then what's this mess you've made?" Her voice had an edge of impatience.

"Lucas called me to ask something, and I replied. I guess he told the boss, and he got furious. I also think that they make a good match, at least on the surface." I shrugged, trying to make my tone sound casual.

"Serves him right. I don't even like Lucas, how could Sophie like him?" Celeste Harrington did not hide her contempt.

"What kind of men do you women like? I think that pretty boy's okay aside from being effeminate and sly," I tried changing the subject to learn her thoughts.

"I just like you," she suddenly said, her voice sweet and playful.

"I like hearing that," I felt warmth in my heart, and my lips involuntarily curled up.

"I want you to like me too," she continued, her voice teasing and coquettish.

"I do like you," I replied sincerely, warmth flooding my chest.

"Who do you like?" she asked teasingly, her tone full of mischief.

"I like you, Celeste," I answered seriously, as if declaring my feelings to the world.

"Ryan, I like you too," her voice was soft and sweet, like a warm current flowing into my heart.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Celeste, I like you too," I reaffirmed, wanting to engrave these feelings deep in my heart.

"Oh, we are so cheesy." She said with a smile, her voice full of happiness."By the way, tell me the truth, do you and Sophie have any secrets?"

"No!" I quickly denied it, but I felt a bit nervous inside.

"No? Why would she be looking out for you then?" she continued, her tone carrying a hint of suspicion.

"Perhaps it's because she and I attended the same university," I said, striving to keep my tone as calm as possible.

"Is it really that simple?" Her voice betrayed a clear skepticism.

"Yes, that's exactly it," I responded with firm conviction, though a sense of unease lingered within me.

"Ryan, I can't shake the feeling that you're deceiving me," she said, her voice tinged with anxiety, akin to a frightened bird ready to take flight at any moment.

"I would never lie to you," I reassured her quickly, trying to make my words sound sincere, though my heart was in turmoil, emotions flooding me like a chaotic storm of flavors.

"Alright, I'll trust you for now. But if I find out you've been lying to me, we're through. Heh heh heh," she added with a teasing laugh, though I knew the underlying threat was genuine.

"Have you been behaving yourself at home today?" she asked with a hint of mischief, as though she were trying to extract something from me.

"Absolutely. But there's something I need to report," I replied, feeling it necessary to mention Minnie, especially since she would be meeting her soon.

"Go on, is it some woman showing up at your door?" She was sharp, immediately catching the essence of the matter, like a vigilant cat.

"Well, sort of. She's an old classmate from high school, and she's been trying to get me to date her. I never agreed, but today she came to my office, so I told her I have a girlfriend. She didn't believe me, so I thought when you arrived, you could meet her and put her mind at ease," I explained as casually as possible, though a nervous tension gripped me, dreading any misunderstanding.

"Just as I thought, Ryan, you clearly haven't taken my words to heart. You're driving me mad!" Her voice was filled with clear anger and a touch of hurt. I could almost picture her shaking her little fists in the air, as if she were ready to hit me.

"I swear, it's not my fault. She came to me. And besides, my dad works at her father's company; I couldn't just refuse her outright," I explained hurriedly, my heart racing like a trapped rabbit, terrified she might truly be angry enough to stop talking to me.

"Fine, I get it. But when I come over, I'll make sure to deal with you, you big flirt," her tone softened slightly, yet there was still a trace of playful threat, "I'll show her who's the real girlfriend here. Hmph, anyone trying to steal my man will have to go through me."

I quickly agreed, "Yes, yes, of course, you're the only one for me. No other woman could ever have me."

She laughed, her voice sweet and bright as a lark in spring, "Heh heh, Ryan, you'd better think that way. No room for being a flirt."

"Of course, of course, I'll always listen to you," I said, my relief palpable.

"Well, just thinking about you being there makes me uneasy," she admitted, a touch of concern in her voice.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you have nothing to fear," I promised eagerly.

"Your very appearance makes me uneasy," she remarked, half in jest, half in earnest.

"Really? You don't trust me that much?" I feigned a pout, hoping to ease her tension.

"Well, I'm not afraid. The more people who like you, the more it proves I made the right choice," she said with a hint of pride and confidence. "By the way, does she come from a wealthy family?"

"Yes, she does. Probably richer now than my family was before the bankruptcy. I imagine she's doing even better these days," I answered truthfully, my emotions conflicted.

There was a brief silence before she spoke again, "Ryan, just don't borrow money from her, okay? If you're ever in need, I'll help you."

I couldn't help but chuckle, "I feel like I'd be living off you."

"Well, I'd be happy to. I'd rather take care of you than have you tangled up with some other woman," her voice was firm yet tender, warming my heart.

"I promise, I promise, that will never happen," I assured her, determined not to disappoint her.