Chapter 1 racks in the Candlelight
CAt the dinner table, I broke up with Mason Ryder.
“Is it because I didn’t wear the outfit you picked out for me?” he asked with a helpless smile.
“Yes,” I replied, my voice steady.
“You know how my job works.”
He sighed. “How long is this going to take?”
We met when I was eighteen. From classmates to a couple, from the lows to the highs, he was certain that I would never let go.
But he didn’t know.
Breaking up was just the final step.
I had already quit my job, and I had picked my destination.
I was going to the farthest place from him, to fulfill the promise I made to myself when I was younger.
Includ
Including the promises he had made to me.
This time, I was really going to leave him.
“Just because I wore the outfit she gave me? All this over a damn outfit” Mason’s voice was low, and the dim candlelight from the restaurant flickered against his face as he sighed softly.
“Jesus, Cece. Really?” he asked, his tone tinged with a little sarcasm.
I nodded, my expression firm. “Mason, we’re done.”
He rubbed his forehead like I was giving him a migraine. After a moment, he finally looked up at me.
“What number breakup is this now?”
His voice dropped to that wounded–puppy tone he used in rom–com press tours. “I haven’t cheated. Haven’t ignored you. Haven’t done
a single thing wrong.”
I accidentally bit my tongue, wincing in pain.
He paused.
Reaching for his napkin, he looked away, slumping back into his chair. After a deep breath, he turned back to me, his expression
serious.
“I remember you brought this up just two weeks ago,” he said, his voice low.
“I’ve been working a lot. Cecilia, all the endless shooting made me exhausted, so stop playing games,” he added.
I took a moment to compose myself before replying, “I’m not playing games.”
He scoffed. “Fine. But don’t regret it.”
“Thanks for the meal. I’m leaving. “I stood up, the chair scraping lightly against the floor.
Just as I turned, I saw Suzanne peeking around the door.
She didn’t even bother to knock. When she saw me, she just gave a quick nod, acting as if it were nothing more than a professional obligation.
Until her eyes landed on Mason.
Chapter 1 Cracks in the Candlelight
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Her whole demeanor shifted–lips trembling, fingers twisting the hem of her blazer. “Mason, Wendy just sent another script and I–I really need your opinion…. I’m not sure about it. Do you want to take a look at it?”
Mason barely glanced at her, his eyes immediately shifting to me.
If this had been before, I would have snapped back at her. What kind of script needs to take priority over an already scheduled dinner with his girlfriend?
But I was so tired.
I started to turn to leave, but Suzanne grabbed my arm.
“Ah, Cecilia, I’m sorry for interrupting,” her doe eyes widened with manufactured guilt. “I’m still new at this, and I’m still getting used to everything. Mason’s been so patient teaching me… I didn’t mean to be in the way. I’ll get out now. Please don’t be mad at Mason. He’s probably exhausted with all the shooting today…”
I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“New?” My laugh was razor–sharp. “New enough to interupt the dinner scheduled three days ago? Was I forcing him to eat with me, or was I forcing the director to schedule more scenes today?”
“Oh, so you have just started as his assistant? Just started, huh? So you couldn’t make it to the hospital when you were sick at 1 AM, instead of dialing 911 you just kept calling him? You didn’t know his personal schedule has nothing to do with you? And you still magically appear at every one of our dates? Are you short on friends, or is this job not enough to keep you busy? Or are you just taking advantage of the networking of our school? After all, you only got this job through connections.”
Suzanne opened her mouth, as though she were about to defend herself, but the words never came. Her eyes were glistening with
unshed tears–those perfect, on–cue droplets..
The dim light couldn’t hide her flushed face, and as she turned to look at Mason, she lowered her head.
Mason was between us in an instant, shielding her. “Cecilia, enough.”
He walked over to Suzanne, patted her back, and then shot me a frown.
“It’s just one dinner. She’ll get it next time.”
Next time…
I didn’t want another candlelit dinner with the three of us.
Suzanne’s tears might be silent, but her stifled sobs were all too clear.
It’s a pity she didn’t go into acting. Her skills were Oscar–worthy.
I suddenly found the whole situation amusing.
The cliché act, and yet Mason–who was a professional actor–was oblivious to it.
Maybe they deserved each other.
I shook my head and pushed open the door.
Chapter 1 Cracks in the Candlelight
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