The Woman in the Gold Dress
Chapter 05 - The Woman in the Gold Dress
Celeste Royce had been Ethan’s lover for eleven months.
They called their relationship strategic when discussing it in messages and inevitable when alone.
Celeste promised Ethan the global presidency.
Ethan promised that after the gala he would leave Amelia.
He told Celeste his wife had no ambition, no important family, and no ability to interfere with the company.
Celeste never corrected him.
She knew the truth before the affair began.
Helena had ordered a background review of every executive spouse. When Celeste discovered Amelia Sterling was the trust beneficiary, she proposed using Ethan’s marriage as access.
At first, Helena refused.
Then Northstar Dominion increased its offer.
Celeste began cultivating Ethan more openly.
She praised his intelligence and repeated that Helena saw him as the son she never had. She framed Amelia’s questions about corporate ethics as jealousy.
Ethan slowly replaced his wife’s quiet warnings with Celeste’s flattering explanations.
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By the gala, he believed Amelia resented his success.
He did not understand that the success he displayed was financed by the woman he dismissed.
