Celeste’s POV
The moment I stepped out of the elevator, I knew things had gotten worse.
Conversations didn’t stop completely, but just enough that the shift in the air felt deliberate. Two women near the reception desk lowered their voices immediately when they saw me.
“That’s her.
“The one from yesterday?”
“Yes. Lucian Backwood’s new favorite.”
They laughed..
“Funny how fast some people climb in this company.”
I kept walking as if I hadn’t heard anything. If I reacted to every whisper, I would never make it through the day. Still, pretending not to hear didn’t mean I didn’t feel it.
I got to my desk and opened my laptop, forcing my attention onto the emails waiting for me. Work. That was the only thing in my mind.
A file landed on my desk with a loud sound.
I looked up to see J
