The Chauffeur [Complete]

Chapter 21

Rade's POV
Something was wrong. I could feel it. She told me she was just going to talk to him, but it's been more than ten minutes.

I'm contemplating whether or not I should go in. I'm not quite sure I want to see them together if they did make up. The thought of Celeste bent over his desk, enjoying him, I couldn't handle seeing her like that.

My knee bounced, one hand gripping the steering wheel tightly and the other holding onto my phone. She hasn't texted me. She loves texting. I conclude that her lack of texting means she's okay.

So I give her another minute.

But then I overhear a few two business women talking as they exit the building. I'm still parked in front of the building, so I hear everything they're saying.

"His secretary? Really?" The redhead on the left says, shaking her head.

"No wonder she exploded the way she did," the Asian woman on the right of her comments.

I got out of the car because, once again, something was wrong. The two women gasped when they saw me suddenly in front of them. Of course, their shocked expression turns into one of lust. I ignore it.

"What's this I hear about a secretary?"

They both look at one another, a smile on their faces. They're so fucking eager to gossip. The redheaded girl is the one to speak up. "COO Hendersen just got caught with his secretary. His wife went batshit crazy."

Fuck. Celeste.

"Yeah, and I don't blame her. He deserved everything he got."

The two women continue the conversation even after I leave. Jogging into the building, I hurry over to the front desk where a black woman with glasses has her eyes glued to her computer screen.

"Excuse me." She looks up. "What floor is Sam Hendersen on?"

"He's on the twenty-fifth floor. But you're going to have to schedule-"

I'm gone before I can hear the rest. All I keep thinking about is Celeste. If she went "batshit" crazy as that woman had said, I need to get there before she does some real damage and the police are called.

The elevator ride up to the twenty-fifth floor feels like an eternity. The classical music playing in the background doesn't help. It only makes me that much more anxious. I have no idea what I'm going to be walking into.

The doors open. I step out and walk up to the first person I see. A woman is sitting behind a desk similar to the one I saw on the first floor. She smiles when she sees me. "Hi! Who are you here for?"

"Celeste Hendersen." I scale the area, searching for any sign of Celeste. I don't see her. 

"Oh?" She looks me up and down, her smile stretching. "I'm afraid she's visiting her husband at the moment. Is it important? I can-"

I have lost patience. I take a right, ignoring the woman calling after me. This place is too fucking big. This hallway seems endless and none of the offices I pass by belong to Sam. I'm starting to wonder if she is even on this floor anymore when I hear a loud crash.

"I hate you!" The familiar voice angrily shouts.

Celeste.

There's a crowd surrounding someone's office. I have no doubt that it's Sam's. The people blocking the entrance are trying to get her to calm down, but nothing their saying seems to be  working.

I hear another loud crash, followed by a frightened voice.

Sam.

"Please, baby. Let's just talk about this."

I push through the crowd, finding Sam's office completely destroyed and Celeste holding the weapon behind the destruction. There is broken shit everywhere. My eyes dart between Sam and some pregnant woman.

Oh, shit.

Celeste readies to swing again, tears streaming down her face. She looks broken. Tired. Hurt. I don't say anything, because I know there is nothing she needs more right now than someone to hold her.

So I grab a hold of her before she bashes Sam's face in, and hug her to my chest. She attempts to wiggle free, demanding I let her go.

"Shhh, it's okay," I whisper in her ear. "I got you."

She's sobbing really hard, her skin hot to the touch as she trembles in my embrace. "Rade, please let me go. I'm going to kill him."

"No. I can't let you do that."

Even if I want her to.

"Please," she begs.

I pull the bat from her hands, tossing it onto the couch, and she finally relaxes in my arms. 

"He got her pregnant," she murmurs. "He..."

"I know you're hurting. I know. I'm not asking you to calm down. Just let me take you out of here."

I wanted to beat the shit out of Sam. And if I wasn't holding on to Celeste, I would have. Besides, if we stay any longer then it won't be long before the police are called and she's taken into custody.

She nods, no longer putting up a fight as she lets me escort her out of the building. When we are in the car and driving away, I don't stop until we are at my house. She doesn't need to be anywhere near that house. It will just be a reminder of what he's done.

Parking in the driveway, I get out of the car to open her door. She seems to have calmed down a bit. Though I can tell she's still upset.

"Come on, let's get you inside."

She doesn't protest my help. I'm so used to her arguing with me about how it's the twenty-first century and she doesn't need a man to do everything for her. She's a totally different person right now. While the fire in her eyes is still there, it burns differently. Angrier. Less playful.

"Where are we?" She asks softly, once were inside.

"My house."

She wipes at her face, looking around the place. She chuckles, the sound music to my ears. "It's so bachelor pad of you," she comments, gazing at the black, white, and blue decor. "I like it," she says after a moment. "Very you."

She goes on her own little tour, exploring the interior's open floor design. "No pictures?" She questions when she passes by the fireplace in the living room area.

I shake my head.

"How mysterious of you," she replies, sitting down on the couch.

"I think you need to call your friend," I tell her, changing the subject. "See if she can take Everly. We can get her tomorrow once you're no longer in a murdering mood."

She nods. "I can stay here?"

"As long as you want. Unless, you want me to take you to your friend's house. I can do that too."

She gives her head a shake. "I'd rather stay with you. I don't really want to talk about what happened right now."

"Okay." After that, I decide to give her the space she needs. "Shower's across from my room. I'll get you some clothes to change into."

She nodded slowly. I turn to head up the stairs when I hear her voice in my ears. 

"Rade?"

I paused at the bottom of the stairs, glancing at her. "Hm?"

"Thank you."