Page 59 of Hard to Resist

“I don’t understand what happened. I found her inside arguing with this man and then...” I shrug, not needing to really elaborate any further.

“There are certain things that only the old guard really knows, and that knowledge is passed on very sparingly.” Her voice is a low whisper. “If people started talking and Celine knew, she’d have all our heads.”

Based on what I saw tonight, I don’t doubt that. I just need to know what bad blood runs between Cullen and Celine. I need to know, no matter what.

“I won’t breathe a word of it, Jenna. I promise.”

“I know you won’t. That’s why you’re my go-to. But this really needs to stay in the cone of silence.”

I mime zipping my lips shut, and she gives me a pleasant smile before leaning in even closer and giving me a serious stare.

“Celine has an ex-husband.”

“What?”

How is that even possible? I’d never even known she was married in the first place. Celine’s young, somewhere in her early to mid-thirties, according to my math. How could she already be divorced?

“I know.” Jenna raises her brows. “I was shocked, too. According to Davina, they were high school sweethearts or something. Things turned nasty and they had a blowup a year or two after she started Delute Designs, leading to their divorce.”

“What happened?”

“I’m not sure, and I never pried.” Jenna holds out her hand and inspects her own wedding ring. “I only found out when I announced I was getting married. It hit a nerve, and Davina had to pull me aside, just like I’m doing with you.” She lets out a deep sigh. “If I have one piece of advice for you, Verity, it’s that if you want to make it far in this company, keep your love life out of it. Celine will do anything in her power to crush it otherwise.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you remember when I went on my honeymoon?”

“Yeah.”

“I was up for a promotion at the time, but when I applied for leave and returned, it was gone. Grisha got it.”

“What? Why?”

“They gave me a list of reasons, but I know it’s because of my marriage.”

I stare at Jenna, seeing the weariness deep in her eyes. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask why she stays, why she wouldn’t just leave the company and find something better if there is no opportunity to ever grow. She is still young; she could change companies easily. But she is still technically my manager, and that feels like crossing a line that has already turned quite blurry tonight.

“How does all of this relate to that man? Does he know her ex?” I switch gears, pulling us back onto the path we started on.

“Cullen?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, Verity, no. Cullen doesn’t know her ex, Cullen is her ex.”

“What?”

“Cullen Ross is Celine’s ex-husband.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CULLEN

“This is so bad. Cullen. Cullen? Hello?” Bridget snaps her fingers in my face, the shiny rings on her fingers blinding me.

I tear my eyes away from where Verity just disappeared with Celine.

“Sorry, B. I have to…” I step around her, heading in that same direction.

---