Saving My Heroine

Chapter 10

Anna watched the confrontation proudly, if this had been how Celine handled it in her previous timeline then she really handled it well. Diminishing rumors but the fact that she had to acknowledge their relationship before she was ready was cruel. Anna stood up, she unfortunately had work to do, she smiled at Celine and Celine smiled back.

As she headed to her office, she thought back to how Celine handled it. She seemed confident in her relationship and unruffled by Coral’s provocation, so what happened then? Of course, so many more things happened – Anna paused, she remembered that Celine started facing bullying at work but she wasn’t certain when exactly that started or what triggered it. Was it this event or another? She rubbed her head anxiously.

“Anna! What’s wrong?” Her hand was snatched from where she was furiously scrubbing her head. She looked up and saw the concerned look on Tim’s face and came back to her senses.

“Oh, I’m sorry. My head was kind of itchy.” She said sheepishly.

Tim shot her a look full of disbelief but still let the matter drop. Instead, he took her hand and pulled her towards the exit.

“Um.” She chuckled worriedly, “Where are we going?”

“Out.” He replied, “You’ve been working too much and now it seems to be affecting you.” She looked at him with surprise, she had been working a lot but more than that she had been worrying about the future. She smiled to herself, warmth radiating through her at Tim’s kindness.

“As the boss, are you supposed to just leave the office like this?” She teased.

“This can happen because I'm the boss Anna.” He shot back.

“Oh? So, you’re abusing your power?” She asked widening her in mock surprise, she shakes her head as if disappointed and let out a sigh, “I expected better of you Tim.”

Tim shook his head at her antics, “Well now you know better.” He smirked. Anna nodded her head seriously as if she was really filing that characteristic for later.

Anna went to Celine’s house after work. Celine had gone ahead of her at her insistence, as she still had some things to do and Celine looked drained. She was done in roughly an hour and left the office.

When she got to Celine’s, she was eating. She gave Celine a smile and immediately moved to the bathroom. She came out shortly, wearing one of Celine’s pajamas and sat with her at the kitchen table – Celine had already served her.

Anna thanked her and dove into her food, after some time she finally spared Celine who was still eating some attention. Celine still looked drained and Anna felt that it was because of Coral. Earlier Celine had been confident but now it seemed like some of the words had come back to haunt her. This happened much faster than I anticipated, Anna thought.

“You okay?” She asked but Celine didn’t reply immediately. “Celine?” She called out, “Celine!” She repeated and stretched out her hand to shake her but Celine looked at her before she could reach.

“Hm?” She asked, trying but failing to give a smile.

Anna frowned, this was more serious than she thought. “Are you okay?” She asked once more then shook her head before Celine could reply. “Never mind that, you are obviously not okay. So, what’s wrong?” She rephrased.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Celine started but Anna immediately shot her a look that silenced her dismissal.

“Don’t give me that, something is obviously wrong.”

Celine stared down at her hands and let out a soft but tired smile. “It’s just that seeing Coral really made me understand the difference in status between Michael and I.”

Anna’s eyebrows shot up. “Hold on,” her words stumbled in disbelief, “You didn’t feel the difference in status when you guys went out together or when he was buying you gifts or when you saw him in the CEO office at work, but you felt it when is childhood ex fiancée?”

Celine flinched, understanding where Anna’s concerns were coming from, she twisted her hands anxiously but felt Anna grabbing it, trying to comfort her. She let out a deep breath, “Well I did but something about her just……. I don’t know --- affected me?” She drew circles on the table with her free hand.

Anna looked at her, she couldn’t understand where Celine was coming from and felt a bit guilty about that. She pushed that feeling and asked, “What exactly about her unsettled you? Was it her appearance or her words?”

“I don’t know but she didn’t really lie, did she? At the end of the day Michael would have to marry someone from his--”

“Let me stop you right there.” Anna interrupted angrily. “Do you really believe Michael is that type of person?” She challenged, she couldn’t believe the words Celine was saying and felt that Coral really was just a push and something else had happened. She looked at Celine but the other woman seemed to be avoiding her eyes. “Celine, what really happened?” She questioned.

Celine burst into tears and Anna immediately pulled her into her arms, rubbing her back in consolation. She was quite surprised that it had taken Celine this long to cry when she had been upset for so long.

“I don’t know Anna but her words just hit all the wrong places and after she left it kept replaying in my head and sounding more realistic. I mean he hasn’t even introduced me to his parents.” She cried.

As Anna was patting her back, she replied. “Celine, you guys have been dating for less than four months and don’t forget you haven’t introduced him to your parents as well. In fact, you just introduced him to me, so where are you rushing too.”

Celine sniffled, she knew everything anna had just said was right but she hadn’t been thinking logically and her head had been messed up by both her insecurities and Coral's words. “I know that but Anna, I don’t really believe that I’m good enough for him.”

Anna glared at her sharply and handed her a towel to clean her face, she giggled a little at that and took the towel. When she finished cleaning her face, Anna took the towel and tossed it on the table then she took her hands in hers.

“Celine Anderser.” She started seriously, “You’re a brilliant, beautiful and successful lady. You’re a catch and many men would love to get together with you. I wouldn’t deny that Michael is an amazing guy but you are amazing as well and Michael is lucky to have you.

Celine smiled and Anna smiled back, “Do you believe me?”

“A little.” Celine offered and Anna's smile brightened.

“That’s good enough for now, I’ll keep saying it until it finally sticks.” She promised and Celine giggled softly. “Okay.”

Anna dragged her, “Alright, off to bed we still have work tomorrow."

Celine groaned but stood up and they both moved to her room.