Estelle stared across the table at Celeste, her mind spinning from the weight of her last words. “You intrigue me, Estelle. You’ve been on my mind… more than you should be.”
The low hum of the restaurant faded into the background as Estelle sat frozen, trying to absorb what had just been said. Celeste’s calm, poised exterior remained unshaken, but there was something behind her eyes—something deeper, more personal, that Estelle hadn’t expected to see. It caught her off guard, sending a ripple of uncertainty through her.
“So…” Estelle began, her voice soft, hesitant. “What is this, then? Why now?”
Celeste took another slow sip of wine, her eyes never leaving Estelle’s. When she set the glass down, she leaned forward slightly, her expression softening just a touch. “Perhaps it’s time for you to understand more about me,” she said quietly. “We’ve spent weeks skirting around what’s between us, but if this is going to go any further, you need to know more about who I really am.”
Estelle blinked, caught off guard by the shift in tone. Celeste always maintained control—she never let anyone in deeper than necessary. The idea that she might be opening up, even a little, was surprising.
“I thought I knew a lot about you,” Estelle said, her voice tinged with curiosity. “You’ve always been… in control.”
Celeste raised an eyebrow, giving a small, knowing smile. “Yes. In control. That’s the part you see. The part everyone sees. But there’s more to me than just the successful lawyer from a wealthy family.”
Estelle leaned forward slightly, her curiosity piqued. “What do you mean?”
Celeste glanced down at her glass for a moment, as though weighing her words. When she looked up again, there was a softness in her eyes that Estelle hadn’t seen before. “Yes, I come from a family of wealth, power, and legacy. The Thorne name carries weight in this world. But that doesn’t mean it hasn’t come with its own set of challenges. Being born into privilege can be a burden in itself.”
Estelle tilted her head, surprised by the admission. “A burden?”
Celeste nodded, her expression thoughtful. “When you grow up in a family like mine, there are expectations. You’re expected to excel, to carry on the family name, to make your mark. And that pressure… it can be suffocating. I’ve spent my whole life trying to live up to the standards my family set for me, and while it may look like I’m in control, the truth is, I’ve had to sacrifice a lot to get to where I am.”
Estelle listened closely, feeling a strange sense of understanding. It was easy to assume that Celeste had everything handed to her, that her path had been paved with privilege and opportunity. But hearing her speak about the weight of expectations made Estelle see her in a different light.
“So, you’ve had to prove yourself too,” Estelle said quietly.
Celeste smiled faintly, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Exactly. Prove myself to my family, to the world. Being a Thorne means something in this industry, but it also means people are watching you closely, waiting for you to fail.”
Estelle could feel the vulnerability in Celeste’s words. Despite the confidence she projected, there was clearly more beneath the surface. “Do you feel like you’ve lived up to their expectations?”
Celeste paused, considering the question. “In some ways, yes. I’ve built my own firm, I’ve made a name for myself outside of my family’s influence, and I’ve achieved what I set out to do. But it’s never enough, is it? There’s always more to prove.”
Estelle nodded, feeling the weight of the conversation settle between them. “I get that,” she said softly. “I’ve always felt like I had something to prove too. Maybe not on the same scale, but… I know what it’s like to feel that pressure.”
Celeste’s eyes softened, her expression growing more curious. “What about you, Estelle? You’ve worked so hard to be where you are now. What drives you?”
Estelle hesitated for a moment, feeling self-conscious under Celeste’s gaze. “I guess… I’ve always felt like people underestimated me. I didn’t grow up with the same advantages. I’ve had to fight for every opportunity, and sometimes, I still feel like I don’t belong in this world. Like I’m constantly trying to prove that I’m worthy of being here.”
Celeste nodded, understanding flashing in her eyes. “But you do belong here, Estelle. You’ve proven yourself, whether you realize it or not.”
Estelle smiled faintly, though uncertainty still lingered in her mind. “I’m trying.”
For a moment, the two of them sat in comfortable silence, the weight of their shared vulnerability hanging between them. It felt strange, to be opening up like this, but at the same time, it felt like the natural next step in whatever had been building between them.
Celeste reached for her wine glass again, taking a slow sip before setting it down with a soft clink. “You’re more than what people expect, Estelle. You’ve already proven that to me.”
Estelle’s cheeks flushed slightly at the compliment, her heart racing. “I wasn’t sure what you thought of me, honestly.”
Celeste chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Oh, I’ve been very aware of you from the beginning.”
Estelle felt her pulse quicken, the teasing edge in Celeste’s voice returning. She had gotten a glimpse of the real Celeste tonight—vulnerable, honest—but now that familiar tension was creeping back in, tightening around them.
“And what do you think now?” Estelle asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Celeste’s smile widened, her gaze darkening with that familiar intensity. “I think you’re far more than I expected,” she said softly. “And I think I’d like to get to know you even better.”
Estelle’s breath caught, her heart pounding in her chest. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, charged with a tension that had been building for so long. It felt like they were standing on the edge of something—something that could change everything.
But for now, they lingered in the moment, caught between vulnerability and desire, between getting to know each other better and the undeniable pull that had drawn them together in the first place.
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