[4]

Giselle looked suspiciously at Celine, who had been silent. She seemed to be enjoying their trip to a luxury hotel in the city center. Was there any connection with their conversation two days ago? Giselle's head suddenly displayed a memory of small talk about the party she was about to attend.

"I didn't expect to get an invitation like this," Giselle said happily as she came to tell Celine about the event they had to attend. Celine, meanwhile, gave her a quick glance and chuckled. "You don't look happy. What's wrong?"

Celine immediately pushed away the disappointment on her face. In exchange for a big smile and a tight hug to her best friend. "How can I be unhappy? I'm pouting because I'm confused, we rarely attend events like this. You know, we're different from businessmen and their flock. They mostly mix with high-ranking officials and yes... you know what? There's a lot of infidelity going on there."

Giselle slightly tried to break away but unfortunately, Celine knew best to make Giselle accept her treatment. "You are. don't you feel, you're getting heavier?"

"Yes, is it?" Celine looked at Giselle in disbelief. She also watched her body in a close scan. Examining every curve of her body wrapped in a loose T-shirt and hotpants. They had nothing to do after such a hectic work schedule. Unfortunately, Sula and Ruby could not join them yet. Celine's other two friends still had to finish the rest of their work in another city.

"I guess nothing has changed about my body."

Giselle giggled amusedly. "I thought you weren't that gullible."

"Damn it!" Celine chuckled in annoyance. She chose to sit on the sofa where in front of her, a table full of snacks was scattered. Without Ruby, the packaged snacks would accompany her. Ruby usually made a variety of delicious snacks that had healthy sugar or fat content. Between the two of them, neither was an expert in the kitchen. Rather than have Giselle's kitchen messed up because of them, they decided to buy instant snacks.

After all... Brina wasn't there. They were free to eat whatever they liked.

"But I really didn't expect us to come there." Giselle returned to the subject that had been paused earlier. She still couldn't understand how Justin could ask them to attend an event that had nothing to do with them.

Indeed, Giselle and other SEO models were often asked by Justin to attend certain banquets or parties. But most of the invitations, and the benefits of their attendance, were promotional and counterproductive to new partnerships. Or like when Giselle attended a rare jewelry auction that Justin requested. That still made sense to her. But now?

"I think there's something Justin wants to confirm." Celine shrugged. She picked up one of the cans of soda and started savoring the contents. Also a packet of Sula's favorite potato chips. Knowing Sula who loved to eat potatoes; no matter what kind of preparation, Celine was getting used to it. And the taste wasn't bad either.

"Maybe." Giselle chose to recline comfortably on the sofa, turned on the TV and changed many channels to find a movie she liked. Slightly ignoring Celine who left her, opened the balcony door and let the rather strong breeze blow around the lounge. Giselle's spacious apartment once again became the gathering place for the four pillars of SEO. And most of them felt comfortable living there.

Even though each of them also has their own residence. maybe because of their backgrounds that not many people know, making them strengthen each other when together. Without realizing it, the bond between them is much stronger than other types of friendship. Even so, the four of them were enough to make Justin dizzy.

Meanwhile, Celine who let the wind ruffle her hair continued to enjoy the soda in her hand. The blue expanse of the sky this afternoon was so bright, cloudy, and delivered a wind that was quite hot but still tolerable to the skin. Warming the body after a few months of winter made most Centralia residents reluctant to leave the house.

His cell phone vibrated softly in his pants pocket, making him reach lazily but once he saw the message on the screen, he hurried to open it.

Mr. Jody Evans:

I'm enclosing a guest invitation to the opening party of the new Holdam branch. I wonder why you wanted it? But since you promised me a special night, I'm fine with coming with the old lady that night. I hope to talk to you there, even if it's for a short time, it would be much appreciated. Your Man.

Celine rolled her eyes in annoyance. What did he say? Your Man? You Ass! That damn old fart! But without him, Celine wouldn't have gotten the file that she was now really interested in. There were so many influential officials who confirmed her arrival. Including...

A faint smirk appeared at the corner of Celine's lips. her eyes did not let go of one name that she would never forget, what they had done to her life in the past years of pain.

"It's time for me to move," she said as she pocketed her cell phone. After replying to a message that he actually disgusted typing every word on it. But what the hell, at least the old man gave her important information.

"Celine, Irena has brought some dresses for us," Giselle said with a squeal of delight. Not only Giselle's voice was now heard but also Justin's most loyal assistant; Irena.

"Okay." Celine immediately approached Giselle while teasing Irena. For her, SEO was a new family. One that she thought she could give a little trust that was once broken by circumstances. hopefully, the old story that she did not want to live anymore, would not be repeated. Although what he is going to do now, it is certain that if he takes the wrong step, it is not impossible for him to fall again.

Even worse than a collapse.

***

"This party makes me feel small," Giselle said while whispering to Celine who looked relaxed. At the party, which was held in the fifth floor hall of the Alden Hotel, there was not a single journalist. This private invitation was full of business elements and interests above interests.

To enter this area alone, in addition to several checks, there are also other confirmations regarding the purpose and purpose of this party.

Celine glanced at the figure of her best friend who looked upset but was covered by a faint smile. Making Giselle as stunning as ever. And Celine could confirm, their arrival also attracted attention even though it was overlapped with other whispers.

"Take it easy. We're just doing what Justin asked." Celine patted Giselle's shoulder lightly. "Come on, let's go see the Ambassador of Dhubai. Justin really wants us to talk to him."

Giselle chose to follow Celine's lead. Occasionally replying to greetings that were directed at her and sometimes stopping just to make small talk with people she recognized.

Unlike Celine, who remembered her past. The time when she was introduced as the only daughter of Jeffry Langham. Unfortunately, the period that she thought was fun ended after what happened to her parents. Even he who was pushed aside without caring, how his heart hurt.

"You go ahead, Celine," Giselle said in a half-whisper. She could not leave the Centralia official who invited her to speak. It would be rude of Giselle to walk away while they were talking about a project Giselle was going to work on. Justin had told her about it, so she more or less knew what to do.

"Okay." Celine didn't mind, so she walked away with graceful steps. Her eyes had already caught the figure she was about to walk up to and talk to. But before that happened ... the person she was aiming for was right at a distance that she could stare at intently.

The corner of her lips lifted. Her eyes stared at the man who seemed to be talking seriously with another guest, without pause. It was as if his wait ended today. And as if he knew that someone was watching, the man turned his head to follow his feeling; directing his gaze at Celine.

There was a split second for the man to freeze in disbelief at what he saw.

"Celine?"

"Long time no see, Jacob." Celine smiled as sweet as honey. Her hand covered in a thin lace glove stretched out without hesitation. "I thought you didn't recognize me."