Whisper in the Ashes of Us

Chapter 8: Dinner

Azrael POV

I was busy with the shoot when I saw her—Thalia, walking towards me like she owned the place. f**k. Bakit andito siya? How did she even find this location?

She approached me with a smug smile. I gave her a cold stare, trying to hide my frustration.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice low and controlled.

Thalia just shrugged and smiled. "Your secretary told me."

I couldn't keep the irritation from my tone. "And what’s this about you and that girl?" I motioned towards Celestine, who was sitting on the set. "Why were you two so... sweet in front of the camera?"

I knew I shouldn’t be getting agitated over something as trivial as a photoshoot, but seeing her with Celestine made my jaw tighten.

Thalia’s eyes narrowed, clearly not liking the direction of our conversation. "I don’t like seeing you with other girls. Especially when you're acting so nice. She’s just a model, Azrael. Don’t get too attached."

"Thalia, please, stop with the tantrums." I exhaled sharply, trying to keep my composure. "This is a business photoshoot, not a personal affair. We’re just promoting the brand. Nothing more. So, go home now." I lowered my voice, making sure she understood how serious I was.

She crossed her arms, but instead of leaving, she gave me a mischievous grin. "Okay, okay. I won’t cause a scene. But let me stay. I just want to watch how flirty that girl was."

This woman is driving me crazy. I was trying to keep my distance from Thalia, but she never made it easy. I nodded reluctantly.

"Fine. But don’t cause any more trouble."

We went back to the set for the last shot. The photographer called out the directions.

"We have two poses left," he said, his eyes darting between me and Celestine. "For the first one, Celestine, you’ll act like you’re putting lip gloss on Mr. Azrael. For the second one, both of you will hold the product, but Ms. Celestine, you’ll need to lie on Mr. Azrael's lap and act like a couple."

I could feel the tension rising between me and Celestine. She was always so distant and unaffected by everything. But today... today something was different.

Celestine POV

I could feel the eyes of that b***h girl burning into me. Ayan kasi inisulto mo ako papalalain ko yang selos mo just watch and learn HAHAHA. For some reason, she kept looking at me like she was ready to kill me. I tried to focus on the shoot, but her glares were making it impossible.

Para akong papatayin ni b***h Girl HAHAHA magselos ka lang diyan.

The photographer suddenly called us to start the next set of poses. "Celestine, Azrael, let’s do the last two shots," he instructed. "For the first one, Celestine, you’ll apply lip gloss to Azrael. And for the second, you’ll hold the product together. Celestine, you’ll need to lie on Azrael’s lap as you do it."

What the hell? I thought. Mag-act like a couple? Seriously?

I shot a glance at Azrael, who didn’t seem bothered at all. Tch. I bet he’s used to this kind of thing. But I knew exactly what I was going to do. Since it was the last shot, I was going to have a little fun and tease Thalia. After all, I couldn’t forget how she insulted me earlier. Let’s see if she can handle it.

I walked over to Azrael, trying my best to remain professional despite my thoughts. As I applied the lip gloss to his lips, I made sure to lean in just a little closer than necessary, making it look natural, but with a hint of flirtation. I could feel Thalia’s gaze burning into me, and it made me smile inwardly.

"Is that all you’ve got, Celestine?" Azrael muttered, his voice low. He was clearly aware of what I was doing.

I leaned back and glanced at b***h Girl, who was practically fuming. Gotcha.

"Okay, we’re done," the photographer said, clapping his hands. "Great work, Celestine, Azrael. You two really nailed and slay it today. I’ll send you the final edits soon."

That b***h Girl was still standing there, her eyes glued to me. Well, well. It seems like someone can’t stand the competition.HAHAHAHA ang sarap niyang asarin

The shoot was over, but the tension between the three of us lingered in the air. After everything, I just wanted to escape. But then, I remembered something.

"By the way, my parents invited us for dinner tonight," I told Azrael casually, hoping he’d take the hint and leave me alone with my thoughts. "It’s a small celebration for the success of the photoshoot."

Azrael looked at me for a moment, considering. "Sure, I’ll join."

I could tell he wasn’t particularly thrilled, but he probably didn’t want to make a scene in front of my parents. Besides, it might be a good opportunity to see him in a different light. Maybe it would help me understand why he was so complicated and why he kept showing up in my life.

Azrael POV

After the photoshoot, things seemed to have fallen into place. The entire day was filled with preparations and shooting. Celestine looked nothing short of magnificent in every shot, a perfect combination of elegance and allure. I had to admit, she was more than just a pretty face. There was something about her that tugged at me, something deeper than what I’d initially anticipated. And as much as I hated to admit it, I was becoming too curious for my own good.

Once the shoot wrapped up, I left the studio with thoughts swirling in my head. After all the hectic work, I was finally heading to Celestine’s house for a small dinner with her family to celebrate the success of the shoot. It was supposed to be just another gathering, but for some reason, it felt like much more.

I parked my car outside her house and stared at the beautiful façade. It was a bit surreal, to be here, standing at the threshold of her life. Is this really happening? I took a deep breath and walked toward the door.

"Good evening, Mr. Ziferano," one of the staff greeted me as she opened the door.

"Evening," I replied, offering a polite smile before stepping inside. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming—nothing like what I expected from a wealthy family.

"Celestine's in the dining room," she said, leading me towards the back of the house.

As I walked through the hall, I caught a glimpse of her—standing by the table, chatting with her parents. The moment I stepped into the room, she caught sight of me, her expression a mixture of surprise and amusement.

"Azrael, you're here!" she greeted me with that smile of hers, the one that always managed to catch me off guard.

Her parents, who had been talking animatedly, immediately stopped and stood up to greet me.

"Mr. Ziferano, welcome!" her father said, offering his hand.

I shook his hand firmly. "Thank you for inviting me."

"Please, sit down. Dinner’s almost ready," Celestine’s mother added warmly.

I took a seat across from Celestine, my gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. She looked stunning, dressed casually, but her presence still radiated confidence and elegance. How does she do it?

After a brief chat with her parents, we moved on to lighter conversation. I was curious, not just about her, but about the dynamics of her family. From the outside, they seemed like any other wealthy family, but there was something about them that intrigued me. They were easy to talk to, warm, and seemed to have this genuine connection with one another.

"Anong mga plano mo after this dinner, Celestine?" her father asked, his tone casual but inquisitive.

"Hmm, after this? I think I’ll take a trip somewhere," Celestine replied with a smirk, her gaze flickering towards me for a second. "What about you, Azrael? Any plans after dinner?"

I paused for a moment, the weight of her question sinking in. Why does she always catch me off guard with her questions?

"Maybe I’ll head home and catch up on some work. My schedule’s always packed," I said, trying to keep it simple. But there was no denying the pull I felt in the air between us.

Her mother seemed to sense the subtle tension, and she changed the subject. "Oh, you’ve been in the country for a while now, Azrael. What do you think of the food here? I know it’s quite different from Paris, but it’s good, isn’t it?"

I smiled, appreciating the change of topic. "It’s been great, actually. I’ve always been fond of Filipino food."

"Good! Celestine’s always been the one to bring people together," her mother said proudly. "She’s very good at making sure everyone feels at home."

Celestine smiled at her mom. "I try, mom."

There was an unspoken warmth in the way Celestine interacted with her parents, and it made me realize just how important family was to her. For a moment, I felt a strange sense of admiration for her.

"Okay, I think dinner’s ready," her father announced as the staff began bringing in the dishes. The table was filled with a variety of traditional Filipino dishes—adobo, sinigang, lechon, and my personal favorite, kare-kare.

As we started eating, the conversation became more relaxed. We talked about everything from business to travel, and even some fun anecdotes about family trips. Celestine’s parents were easygoing and funny, and it was refreshing to see how comfortable they were in each other's company.

But despite the laughter and casual conversation, my attention kept drifting back to Celestine. Every time she spoke, her voice seemed to draw me in. And every time our eyes met, the tension between us grew stronger.

"Azrael," Celestine suddenly said, breaking the comfortable silence. "If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?"

I looked up at her, surprised by the question. "That’s a good question." I thought for a moment before responding. "Maybe... Iceland. Somewhere quiet and peaceful. Why do you ask?"

She shrugged, her eyes playful. "Just curious. I think I’d go to Italy. It’s one of those places I’ve always wanted to visit. It’s got everything—history, food, art."

"Sounds like you," I teased. "You’re a little bit of everything, aren’t you?"

She smirked. "Maybe."

Her gaze lingered on me for a moment too long, and I felt my pulse quicken. There was something in the air between us, something unspoken.

"So, how’s the next step for the business going?" Celestine’s father interjected, sensing the slight shift in the atmosphere.

I snapped out of my thoughts and smiled at him. "It’s moving along. The new product launch should be in the next few weeks. We’re just finalizing the details."

Celestine’s mother nodded. "I’m sure it’ll be a success. With your connections and Celestine’s expertise, you make a good team."

I chuckled lightly. "Let’s hope so. Celestine has a lot of ideas, but I think she needs a little push sometimes."

Celestine raised an eyebrow at me. "Excuse me?"

I leaned in a bit closer, my voice dropping slightly. "Oh, I’m just saying you’re the type to get lost in the details. You need someone like me to remind you of the bigger picture."

She laughed softly, but there was a hint of challenge in her eyes. "Oh, really? Well, I don’t need anyone to tell me how to run things, Mr. Ziferano."

I leaned back in my chair, watching her with amusement. "I wasn’t suggesting you did, but a little help never hurt anyone."

Her gaze held mine for a moment, and the air between us seemed to crackle with energy. I couldn’t help but notice the way her lips curved into a small, teasing smile. She was playful, but there was also something deeper, something I couldn’t quite place.

We finished the meal, and the conversation naturally shifted to lighter topics. But despite the jovial atmosphere, there was still a lingering tension between Celestine and me. Something was building, something neither of us could ignore.

As the night went on, I couldn’t help but feel that this dinner was more than just a celebration.