𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧

𝟎𝟎𝟗 - 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠

C E L I N E G R A N T
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"Maya... who is that?" There was a man dressed in all black standing in the window of the bookstore. I was under the impression that he was a tourist just taking pictures at first. But he's been there for what seemed like a hour and was beginning to creep me out. In his hand was a black canon, similar to the one that I have at home. It was like every-time I went to move the creepy man was prepared to click his camera and get a picture. This was really beginning to make me uncomfortable in every way that I could possibly be.

My middle finger shoots up, I grow more irritated when the flashes go off once again. Today was Sunday, which usually meant I spent the entire day sleeping, cleaning, and reviewing my assignments before submissions time. But today it was different, Maya had asked me to come into the bookstore today which I didn't understand because she's never done it before. Sunday was our easiest day of the week being that most people spent quality time with their families. Maya claimed to really need help closing the store..

"Looks like paparazzi, sweetheart." Maya explained, unbothered.

Someone's times when major authors paid Maya's bookstore a visit a few paparazzi would be around. But looking around, there was only an older man sitting singular at the table and a lousy group of teenage girls. It was obvious that the man was taking pictures of me and I was not a major author, yet. "Well why are they taking pictures of me?"

Looking over at Maya she seemed quite uninterested our conversation. It really frustrates me because this has been a recurring thing. It seemed like ever since Mckenzie Mckray gave me the task to get information on Matthew, and I was succeeding, Maya was becoming more distant. She often brushed off the conversation I tried to make and called me in way more often. Maya didn't seem like the same genuine lady that I might years ago and I hope I didn't do anything to cause that.

"I think you being photographed with a billionaire twice has something to do with it." Before Maya could even finish her sentence I'm pausing my movements. "Don't you think that your beginning to float a little bit to close to the surface, my dear?"

She added on lowly. "People like Matthew always have secrets -- Like all three of them. Celine do you actually want to find yourself getting involved with that?"

When McKenzie first approached me with a opportunity Maya seemed happy. Now it seemed like left and right she was giving me hints that it wasn't a smart idea. When Elena told her about me getting hired at their office Maya looked like it was the most disappointing thing that she's ever heard. "I'm getting the feeling that you know something more about Matthew than I do, Maya."

I knew that Matthew had multiple secrets, possibly worse than I would've even imagine. But I only knew that because I've basically been sitting on my hands and knees waiting for him to need something. So I wondered how did Maya come to that conclusion or was she just logically assuming about him?

I watched Maya as she walked off and began helping the teenage girls who didn't need any. Making the decision to just brush off her weird behavior towards me, I opened up the showcase and picked out a strawberry-filled cupcake that looked delicious. Pulling out my new phone - the expensive device that i'm currently loaning from Matthew - I searched up his name in google which I unknowingly haven't done in a few days.

A lump developed in my throat when the first thing that pops up is a picture of me. From the looks of it, I was exiting the firm in a hurry, my lips pursed and books held tightly to my chest. The commentary underneath the photo embarrassed me more than the photo itself. Matthew Benedict's rumored girlfriend leaving his office; The gossip article titled it. It was embarrassing because my stomach begin doing summersaults at me simply being referred to as Matthew Benedict's girlfriend.