To Love A Maiden: An Enemies To Friends To Lovers Romance ✓

Chapter 8 - Discomforting

Manny came back around to the living room with another glass for Cristiano who'd agreed to have a glass of wine. He was laughing now as he placed the glass on the table in the center of the room.

"No seriously, what's interesting about the fact that a maid was terrified last night when you bumped into her?"

Cristiano eyed his friend. "It's not even that. You know what, don't worry about it." He sighed before pouring himself some wine.

"I'm just saying. You know how these maids can be sometimes. There's a reason I declined all event invitations from your family, you know."

Cristiano raised his head up to look at his friend. "You sound like my brother."

Manny let out another round of laughter. 

"Seriously, two years ago the last time I attended, one of the maids was undressing me with her eyes. Cringey, I tell you." Manny said, and then raised his glass up in the air as a gesture.

Cristiano shook his head, "I'm not sure what kind of maids my mother employed, but I know what you mean." He took another sip of his drink. And as soon as he was about to say something else, his phone rang.

He pulled it out from his side pocket; and a frown creased his face when he saw the caller ID. Why was she calling him?

Manny noticed his hesitation and asked, "You ain't gon' pick that?"

Cristiano cleared his throat and shifted on the couch. He didn't remember the last time he saw Celeste. He didn't even remember the last time he'd spoken to her. He then swallowed an annoying lump as he swiped the phone to answer.

"Hello."

"Cristiano, it's me, Celeste."

Cristiano briefly closed his eyes and exhaled quietly. He wasn't planning on speaking with her anytime soon.

"I know it's you, Celeste."

As soon as he said that, Manny's eyes grew wide as he mouthed, "Celeste?" 

Cristiano quickly nodded as he combed his fingers through his hair.

He frowned as her voice sounded again.

"If you knew that, why didn't you reach out to me all these years, Cris?"

Here she went with the nickname again. 

"I've been busy. You know the nature of what I do." He sighed. And Manny just shook his head, the amusement written all over his face as he got up and went to his refrigerator.

Cristiano stood up then as he waited for Celeste to continue. He didn't have time for this. 

"I do, but you used to call me a lot - well, before a couple of years ago. I miss you, Cris. And it hurts, you know."

Cristiano gritted his teeth. "I'm sorry," was all he could say. Then he heard the smile in Celeste's voice as she said, "Well, you can make it up to me at the home conference your parents are hosting." 

Oh, right. The conference.

He'd forgotten his mother had pleaded with him to attend, and he'd accepted. He paced back and forth as he thought of what to say. The last time he remembered attending a conference his parents often hosted at the mansion was when he was still a teenager. And even then, he had hated it. And now, he loathed the thought of attending even more. If he didn't want to put his mother at ease, he would have just declined it the moment she brought it up.

"You'll be there, right?" He heard Celeste's voice again.

"Yes. I'll be there." He finally replied.

"Okay, I'll wait till then. I can't wait to see you, Cris."