Never Forgive Never Forget (Celeste and Philip) novel Chapter 140

The elevator doors slid open with a quiet *ding*.

Ignoring Beverly's hysterical screams, Celeste yanked her up and, just as the doors parted fully, shoved her inside with a forceful push.

Irma and several other employees gasped in shock.

Celeste remained at the threshold, dusted her hands off, and regarded Beverly with icy detachment.

"If you keep making a scene, I'll let everyone see those handprints on your face—and then we can all discuss exactly why you got slapped. Want to go there?"

"You—!" Beverly was so furious that fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

What was she supposed to say? That she'd been slapped for her indiscretions?

Irma, ever helpful, piped up from the side, "And why, exactly, was Miss Beverly slapped?"

"Bastard!" Beverly rounded on Irma, jabbing a finger at her nose. She stormed out of the elevator again and shoved Celeste hard on the shoulder. "You and your assistant think this is funny, huh? I'll remember every single face in that elevator. If anyone dares breathe a word about today, I'll ruin her—do you hear me? Get lost! All of you, get out of my sight!"

Irma didn't flinch, but the rest of the staff, trembling, hurriedly pressed the button for the lobby.

The elevator doors slid shut again.

Celeste brushed off her shoulder where Beverly had touched her, her lip curling in a cold smile.

"So concerned about your reputation? Then why stoop so low last night, crawling into bed with that old man?"

"I did NOT!" Beverly shrieked, voice cracking with outrage. "Celeste, stop spreading your filthy lies! There was nothing between me and that man, and if you check the security footage, you'll see I left! I don't care—I'm taking you straight to Dad, and you'll tell him the truth!"

She lunged at Celeste, gripping her arm in a wild panic.

Celeste's eyes narrowed. The security tapes had been pulled by Alfred's people—probably just to check where Beverly had gone, not what she'd done after entering that room. Celeste had no idea what happened after that, and she certainly wasn't about to vouch for Beverly.

She wrenched her arm free. "Sort out your own mess. Don't drag me into it."

She couldn't exactly admit she'd spent the night with Jasper, could she? The Duncans were old-fashioned. Sure, her father wanted her to win Jasper's favor, but not like this—he'd always warned her never to get ahead of herself, never to give away too much for nothing. If he found out... he'd probably slap her again.

Beverly stayed silent.

Herbert's anger only deepened. "If you can't speak, then don't bother ever explaining yourself! How did I end up with such a shameless daughter? Why can't you be more like your sister—capable, respectable, marrying well without any scandal?"

That was too much for Beverly; she broke down completely, sobbing uncontrollably.

Herbert, finally running out of steam, remembered the real reason he'd come to Celeste. He tossed a folder onto her desk.

"Celeste, there's a bid coming up in a few days for the Rivercrest Bay development—the Gallagher Group's project. If you pull this off, you'll be promoted to General Manager."

Celeste glanced over the file, then looked up at Beverly, her gaze thoughtful.

"This Gallagher Group," she asked, "is it the same one Jasper is marrying into?"