Beneath Shattered Stars

Chapter 5: Unforeseen Plans

Celeste sat alone in the dining room, the remnants of breakfast scattered in front of her. The unsettling feeling from Jared’s sudden departure hadn’t left her. Her fingers tapped lightly against her cup, the soft clink of ceramic against the table grounding her thoughts.

Jared reentered the room, his expression composed yet warm. "Sorry about that," he said, sliding his phone into his pocket. "Business. I’ve got a meeting in the city in a bit."

Celeste nodded, pushing back the feelings that had been swirling in her since he’d left. "It’s fine. I didn’t mean to keep you."

He watched her for a moment, studying her. "I don’t want to leave you alone here, though," he said, his voice soft. "Why don’t you come with me?"

She looked up, surprised. "To your meeting?"

"Well, not to the meeting itself," Jared chuckled. "But I was thinking... you could spend the time doing something more enjoyable. It’ll only be a couple of hours, and I’d hate for you to be stuck here by yourself."

Celeste hesitated, torn between the impulse to say no and the underlying desire to get out of the mansion. She wasn’t sure she wanted to spend the day waiting for John to return to his usual distant self. "Alright," she finally said, offering a small smile. "I could use the distraction."

Jared’s expression shifted into something unreadable for a second, but he quickly nodded, gesturing toward the door. “Perfect. We’ll leave soon.”

The city loomed ahead as they drove in comfortable silence. The car moved smoothly through the morning traffic, Jared's hand resting on the gearshift, his gaze focused on the road. Celeste watched the skyline pass by, her thoughts bouncing between the events of the last few days and the quiet calm of Jared beside her.

Without thinking, she shifted slightly in her seat, glancing over at him. There was something different about the way he carried himself today—more relaxed, more open, even amidst the busyness of his world. Her hand slipped closer to his, an unconscious gesture.

Jared noticed. His eyes flicked down to their hands for a brief moment before, without hesitation, he took hers in his. The warmth of his touch was immediate, and though neither of them spoke, the quiet intimacy of the moment settled over them like a blanket.

They pulled up to a sleek building, the tall windows gleaming in the morning sun. But as the car came to a stop, Celeste realized it wasn’t an office building—it was a high-end boutique.

Confusion crossed her face as she turned to Jared, who smirked slightly, his fingers still loosely curled around hers. "What is this?"

Jared smiled, his eyes softening. "A surprise. I know everything you had is gone, so I thought… well, it’s time for some new things."

Celeste blinked in surprise. “Jared, you didn’t have to—”

“I know I didn’t,” he said, cutting her off gently. “But let me. Please.” His voice was sincere, and the gesture felt more like a quiet offering than a grand display.

She exhaled, a small laugh escaping her as she shook her head. “You’re impossible.”

“I’ve been told,” he quipped, a smile pulling at his lips. “Come on.”

They stepped inside, the cool air and faint scent of luxury perfume hitting them as they entered. Celeste felt a bit overwhelmed as Jared motioned for her to browse, though the feeling of his hand leaving hers was still fresh in her mind.

A salesperson greeted them warmly, leading Celeste toward the rows of sleek dresses, elegant coats, and intricately designed outfits that lined the walls. For a moment, she hesitated—this wasn’t her world, at least not in the way it was for Jared. But seeing his encouraging smile from across the room gave her the push she needed.

She wandered the racks, pulling a few pieces she liked but mostly just taking it all in. It wasn’t long before she was in the fitting room, slipping into one of the dresses—black, elegant, and simple, the kind of thing that felt like her, despite everything else being new.

“Try that one,” the salesperson suggested. “It suits you.”

Celeste stepped in front of the mirror, smoothing the fabric over her hips. The reflection staring back at her felt like someone she barely recognized—a part of her that had been lost for a while.

Jared knocked softly on the doorframe. “How’s it going in there?” he called lightly, his voice carrying through the slight crack in the door.

Without thinking too much, Celeste opened the door, stepping out to show him the dress. Jared’s eyes scanned her form, but there was no leering, no judgment—just the soft, appreciative gaze she had come to know so well.

“That dress...” Jared’s voice trailed off slightly, and he cleared his throat. “It looks perfect on you.”

Celeste felt a blush creep into her cheeks. “Thank you,” she murmured, smoothing the dress nervously. “I wasn’t sure…”

Jared stepped forward, just close enough for his presence to wrap around her. “No need to doubt,” he said, his voice low. “You look beautiful.”

For a moment, they stood there in the quiet, the weight of his words hanging between them. Celeste’s breath hitched, but she quickly turned back toward the mirror, pretending to adjust the fabric.

“I’ll take it, then,” she said with a small smile.

Jared smiled back, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Something unsaid still lingered, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he nodded. “Good choice.”

The drive back was quieter, the air between them filled with the subtle tension that had grown throughout the day. Celeste glanced at Jared from time to time, her mind replaying the way he’d taken her hand earlier, the way he’d looked at her in the boutique.

As they approached the outskirts of the city, Jared finally spoke, breaking the silence. “I’ve got that meeting now,” he said, glancing at his watch. “It shouldn’t take too long. I can drop you off, or you can come with me.”

Celeste considered it for a moment. The thought of being alone didn’t sit well with her, but she also didn’t want to intrude on his business.

“If you don’t mind,” she said after a beat, “I’ll go with you. I don’t feel like being alone just yet.”

Jared nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Of course. I wouldn’t leave you behind.”

As the car turned toward their next destination, Celeste found herself gripping Jared’s hand again, just as before. He gave hers a soft squeeze, and for the first time in what felt like days, she felt steady.