Chapter 1
“ Finally, I can put my ass down, what a relief.” Celine was just done with cleaning it on Sunday, and the house was spotless.
“ At least this time I’ll start a new week without any mess,” she said, looking around with a satisfied smile on her face. “ Who are you talking to, weirdo?” Janice commented, walking in looking glamorous.
“ Wow, you look nice, ” Celine said, scanning her friend from head to toe. She was dressed in a short dark blue dress that hugged her figure in all the right places. The fabric shimmered subtly under the light, giving her an elegant yet confident allure. The hemline rested just above her knees, allowing her long legs to stand out all the more in her sleek pair of matching heels. The outfit struck a perfect balance between classy and stylish—sophisticated enough for an evening event.
“ But wait, why are you here, and where is your grumpy, clingy sister?” She asked as she stretched her neck, looking at the door.
“ Does she know you’re here, you know how possessive she is and besides she doesn’t like you coming here ”
Janice just rolled her eyes and sat next to Celine “ Well she is not the boss of me and girl I came to pick you up ” Getting excited. “ There’s this dress i want so bad and I must have it ”
Celine just raised her eyebrow. “ Didn’t you just buy new clothes the other day? ” She said, folding her arms. “ No, those were sundresses for goodness sake, the one I want is different, and honey, you are coming with me.”
She got up, going to Celine’s room while saying, “ Go shower, I am picking an outfit for you, and girl, please hurry up! ”
Later, the stylish ladies made their way to the mall. Janice got out of the driver’s seat, followed by Celine. They stood at the entrance and looked up.
Janice couldn’t help it. She was excited, she closed her eyes and inhaled the air in front of her, “ Bluecrest mall, one of the finest malls in the city, I can almost smell the glamour inside .” She grabbed Celine’s arm and dragged her inside.
“Janice, we have been here for an hour, I’m tired and hungry, look at what you got,” Celine exclaimed, pointing at a huge pile of clothes on the trolley Janice had ,some of which were even dangling and about to fall, compared to the hood and a chiffon shirt she had on her hand.
“ Well, aren’t I an excellent shopper?”
Janice said while leaning on the shopping cart. Celine just rolled her eyes. “ And yet we have not found the dress you want, yes, you are terrific,” she said sarcastically.
“ Girl, wait there, it is the one and only reason for my existence, ” Janice said with wide eyes, pointing at the silk-colored body corn dress.
Celine turned around searching for the dress. Janice ran towards the dress, but before her fingers could touch it, another girl seized it and said, “Babe, here it is. She then stared at Janice, obviously displeased.
She was dressed in a short jeans skirt barely covering her ass, matching with a translucent open crystal top displaying her boobs all over.
“ Am, excuse me, this is my dress, so move bitch.” Janice didn’t like this. “ Oho, really, if it’s your dress, why don’t I see a name on it,” She said, scanning the dress with a smirk on her face.
“ I didn’t know that sluts could wear such a demure dress, don’t you guys just like wearing net and rugs? ” She added, now scanning the girl head to toe.
The fight began, “ Hey I said leave this dress, you psycho.” “ No, you leave it whore.”
The boutique erupted in chaos the moment both women grabbed hold of the same silk dress from the rack. One yanked it sharply, nearly pulling the hanger free, while the other clung on with a stubborn glare, her manicured nails digging into the fabric. Shoppers froze mid-step, their chatter silenced as gasps rippled across the store. A rack of handbags toppled when one woman stumbled backward, sending purses scattering across the polished floor.
The air was thick with tension—raised voices echoing against the tiled walls, security hurrying toward the scene, and curious onlookers crowding in with their phones already raised to record. The dress, once neatly pressed and elegant, was now caught in the center of a tug-of-war, its seams threatening to tear as pride, envy, and sheer determination fueled the struggle.
Celine also rushed to the scene, shouting, “ Guys, you’ll tear the dress, stop this!”
Just then, a man appeared. He stood tall, with a broad chest. He had dark hair, which was slicked to the back perfectly. He was wearing a black suit, which looked perfect on him. His jaw was sharp, and his perfectly trimmed beard made him more manly.
“ What’s going on here? “ he asked. His voice was sharp and clearly able to stop the chaos.
The girl rushed to him and grabbed his arm. “Babe, this witch is harassing me,” she said, pointing at Janice. Just look at what she has done to me, babe, just throw her out.
The man wiped the girl’s tears and stepped towards Janice, who was apparently being held by Celine to stop her from beating the shit out of the girl.
“You dare put your filthy hands on my woman, you bitch, don’t you know who I am. ”He said.
Janice shoved Celine aside and walked close to the man her eyes looking straight at the man’s until there faces was Just a centimeter apart, “Well I did tough her, and maybe a I have claws that could have torn her apart, and I don’t give a shit of whoever you are, I just know you are Fucking that thing and man I feel sorry you .”
She said it, and that too with a straight face.
People around there began whispering, “Oh my God, did she just dare to talk back to Dean Greyson, damn she is cooked.
The man was not pleased; in fact, he was taken aback. He didn’t expect the girl to talk badly, that too with slicing words.
“I want all the dresses of the same design packed for my woman, as for you; this is not the end. ”With that, he walked out of the building with rage.
Later, the girls had to go back home; this time, Celine was the one driving; she didn’t say anything, she knew better not to.
Janice signed again for the fifth time. “ You okay, girl?” Celine said, staring at her friend.
“ I hate this, look at me. It was just one dress, but no, that girl and bug head boyfriend had to buy them all, I was humiliated.
She rubbed her forehead in frustration. The makeup done earlier was now scattered all over her face. “ Girl here, take this.”
Celine passed her some wipes. “Clean your face.” “Celine, trust me, I’ll never forget this.” They were both quiet again.
Then Celine’s brother Josh happened to be on the street. Celine saw him roll down the window and called out his name. The young man rushed to the posh harrier to greet his sister.
“ Dude, what are you doing here?” Celine asked, staring at her brother. I came to pick up some stuff.
“ Hey, boo, not saying hello today?” He said, referring to Janice. “It’s really not a good time to flirt with her? She is in a bad mood. Anyway, I’ll visit you guys later when I am free.” “ Okay, see you, sis, and yeah, don’t forget to bring us goodies .” “Yeah, I got you.” She got back to the road and drove to drop Janice off at her place.
“Girl, we have arrived. Come sit.” Celine helped Janice rest. “Here are some painkillers to relieve the headache. Just take a bath and get some rest, I’ll order food for you .”Janice just nodded. She was tired, not to mention the throbbing headache.
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Celine returned to her apartment after Janice fell asleep. Her door was already open, and there she was, her best friend Sophie. Her mood changed immediately.
“ Hey baby, when did you arrive? Tell me everything, how are mom and dad? Did they ask about me? How was the trip?
Anything exciting?” “Wow! What’s with the questions? You are more excited about my life than I am. Anyway mom told me to give you these.
”Sophie took a box filled with chocolate buns with white cream and strawberry on top, “Ooh! These look so good. This is why I love your mom.” “Well, she loves you too, and she said I should bring you next time.
Anyway, did you go on a date because you look amazing, she said, scanning her friend. Her face turned serious. “Cee I told you going on random dates with random people won’t be good for you. I don’t want to get hurt again, besides I thought you said you have something big to work on right now, don’t repeat the same mistakes again.” Sophie said, looking sternly at Celine’s eyes.
“ Girl, relax, I just went shopping with Janice, and trust me, you don’t wanna know what happened. She got into a fight, and I feel bad for her.
Sophie then rose from the couch and fixed Celine’s hair. “She got into a fight? Damn, anyway, she is always a handful.
I’ll go take a shower. I am not worried if it’s Janice and her circus show. I just don’t want my friend to suffer.” She turned and stared at Celine with sincerity, then disappeared through the doorway.
Celine walked to the window, she stared outside, darkness was setting in, but it’s never dark in New York, there is always life everywhere you go, this city knew no day or night. But even in such a bright city, there was darkness in Celine’s life; there has always been night in her life. She signed.
Her thoughts shifted back to what Sophie said a while ago about dating around. For Celine, dating was not just an experience; it was a curse that she would not subject herself to ever.
It’s been a year, she stopped feeling sorry for herself and accepted the fact that she was never meant to experience love.
She is now okay, happy, and more importantly, stable, she said in her head. As long as I don’t date I will be fine. These words have always been there to remind her not to go back to that dark hole again.
