RAUX, Celeste

Chapter 1

It was no secret to me that I had a job that wasn't exactly meant for a woman. It had been a long time since I started working in this place, and I couldn't bring myself to leave because the pay was too good. I might look like a pauper, but I could easily build a house and buy a car with what I earned.

"Celeste, sigurado ka ba?" Lyra asked again, my friend and a colleague in this line of work.

"Oo, naman kailan pa ako hindi sigurado. Besides, you're here, right?" I replied.

I had just been given a mission, and I wasn't sure if I should be happy about it. I was to go back to my hometown, a place I had long since forgotten. But maybe this was my chance to revisit that city, to face those unforgettable memories. I couldn't fathom why my superior was sending me back. I pushed the thought aside, focusing on tidying up so I could finally rest, knowing the journey tomorrow would surely be exhausting.

I heard Lyra sigh. She never liked it when things changed; it took her a long time to adjust and become talkative again. Lyra was the type of person you couldn't talk to unless you were close—she was very selective.

"Huwag kang mag-alala, sigurado ako ipapasunod ka sakin," I said, as I packed my things.

She pouted at me, then stood up and flopped onto my empty bed.

"But I'll miss you, Celee!" she said with a pout..

"I'm not chili!" pagtatama Ko.

"Bingi, ang sabi ko Celee as in c-e-l-e-e," she insisted.

I sighed and sat beside her, looking at the picture she held. It was from a time when we were so happy, with no problems, just good vibes and laughing like there was no tomorrow.

"Please put it in my bag. I'm going to take a shower now," I said, standing up to head to the bathroom.

"Okay, but hurry up!" I heard her yell before I closed the door.

A bitter smile touched my lips, and I stepped into the shower.

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A RESTLESS sigh escaped me, a counterpoint to the vibrant energy of my friend Phoenix, who stood preening, his reflection a confident smirk in the mirror.

"You're not coming with us?" he asked, his voice a blend of surprise and mild exasperation.

I simply nodded; my gaze anchored to the stack of resumes before me. My restaurant, a burgeoning empire of late nights and strong spirits, demanded a level of dedication that left little room for leisurely pursuits. The day's submissions were, to put it mildly, a disappointment—a procession of unqualified hopefuls and flagrant liars. My fingers drummed an impatient rhythm against the mahogany desk, a familiar thrum of dissatisfaction.

Then, a single sheet of paper broke the monotony. A name, etched in elegant font, seemed to stand apart from the others Celeste Raux. My eyes lingered on the details: twenty-three years of age. A flicker of intrigue stirred within me, a rare and potent sensation.

Phoenix, ever perceptive, noticed my shift in focus.

"Do you know her?" he asked, his tone laced with a knowing curiosity. "You seem captivated."

"No," I replied, the word clipped and decisive. My finger traced the line of her name.

"But I want her to be hired. I want you to interview her."

His brow furrowed in skepticism. "A bouncer? By the looks of her, she's ill-suited for the role. She'd be swallowed whole."

I picked up the résumé and held it closer, a photograph affixed to the corner. Her face was a study in contradictions—a visage of breathtaking beauty and seemingly guileless innocence. Yet, beneath the serene surface, I sensed a deep, unsettling stillness.

A stillness that hinted at a wellspring of concealed power. There was a story in her eyes, a narrative of unspoken secrets and sharp-edged experiences. She was an enigma cloaked in a veil of delicate perfection.

"Innocent," I murmured, a faint smile playing on my lips.

"And yet... profoundly dangerous."

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Authors Note.

I'm done with chapter one hopefully I can UD the chapter 2 tomorrow. Thankyou for reading my reader. Mahal ko kayo..