THE PLAYBOY DISTRACTION

CHAPTER 3:CHASE

Celeste pov

I found him in the Crescent Room, exactly where I thought he’d be. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, pooling onto the polished floors. Leather chairs lined the edges of the room, a chandelier glittered above, and the air carried the faint scent of expensive cologne and polished wood.

It was beautiful. Elegant. But not impressive. I’d grown up surrounded by things that looked like they belonged in glossy magazines.

What caught my attention wasn’t the chandelier. It was him.

Zach King stood by the long mahogany table, shoulders relaxed, hands in his pockets, like the room had been designed with him in mind.

“Zach,” I said flatly.

He looked up, smirk already tugging at his lips. “Celeste. Thought you’d stop by.”

“I didn’t stop by. I came to tell you something.”

“Let me guess.” He tilted his head, voice lazy. “Stay away from Beth?”

I narrowed my eyes. “At least you’re still good at remembering the obvious.”

His smirk deepened, as if my annoyance was fuel for him. “You make it sound like I’m the villain here. I left. I came back. That’s all.”

“You broke her heart before you left,” I said, sharper than I intended. “Don’t pretend it didn’t happen.”

For a second—just a second—his expression shifted. But then it was gone, replaced with that infuriating calm.

“You’re really something,” he murmured. “Protective. Fierce. I almost feel sorry for Beth.”

“Good,” I said, stepping closer, my voice low. “Because she deserves someone who won’t use her as a game.”

The room was too quiet after that. My pulse was louder than it should’ve been.

Then the door creaked.

“Celeste?” Beth’s voice was soft, hesitant.

I turned immediately. She stood in the doorway, clutching her books to her chest. Her eyes flickered between me and Zach—confused, searching.

“Beth,” I said quickly, forcing my voice into something steady. “I was just… making sure Zach knew his place.”

Beth blinked, her gaze sliding to Zach, who leaned back casually, smirk firmly in place.

“Don’t fight on my account,” she said gently, her tone almost apologetic.

“No fighting,” Zach drawled, lazy as ever. “Just a friendly conversation.”

Beth’s eyes narrowed slightly, then softened as she turned back to me. “Celeste… you don’t have to do this.”

I frowned. “Do what?”

“Protect me.” She hesitated, then added with quiet certainty, “I have Chase.”

The name hung in the air, heavy, final.

For a second, I didn’t know what to say. Chase. I knew about him—her boyfriend, the one she’d quietly started dating while I was busy building walls around her heart. But hearing her say his name like that… like it was a shield…

“You think that changes anything?” I asked carefully.

Beth’s brows knitted together. “Yes. I’m not interested in Zach, Celeste. I’m happy with Chase. That’s enough for me.”

I studied her face, waiting for even the smallest flicker of uncertainty. But all I saw was steady conviction. Beth, sweet and quiet Beth, looking braver than I’d expected.

I wanted to believe her. God, I wanted to.

But when I glanced back at Zach, leaning against the table with that infuriating smirk, my chest tightened. He didn’t need Beth to fall for him again. He only needed her to doubt, to hesitate, to waver.

And that was enough reason for me not to let my guard down.