The Broken Vows: Zane and Celeste’s Story (The Windsors)

“I think I’m cursed,” I tell Lily the moment I step into her kitchen.

She looks up from her laptop and slips out of the bar stool by the counter to offer me a hug, not at all surprised that I let myself in uninvited. “Is that so?” she asks, clearly trying her hardest to suppress an amused smile.

I nod and take a bottle of her favorite rosé out of my bag. She raises her brow when I hand it to her, but instead of questioning me, she pours me an extra full glass — just the way I like it.

“Yep,” I continue. “I’m definitely cursed. How else would you explain the fact that Zane Windsor, billionaire heir to Windsor Hotels, set his sights on the small Victorian inn I spent weeks preparing a proposal for? I didn’t tell a soul. Not even my grandfather knew until yesterday. My luck can’t be this rotten — it’s a curse, I’m sure of it.”

Lily bursts out laughing, and I narrow my eyes at her as I pull myself up on her kitchen counter, my legs dangling off the edge. “I’m serious,” I snap. “I already thought it was ominous that the first work event I had to attend since coming back was the Windsor annual gala. And now this?”

“Celeste, you are not cursed. If anything, you’re one of the luckiest people I’ve ever met. If Zane is interested in that project, it’s probably because you managed to find a truly great investment opportunity, and he feels the same way. It’s kind of freaky how in-sync your minds always are — if you two ever stopped fighting and actually worked together, I bet you could make some miracles happen. Solve world hunger, or something.”

Pure outrage rushes through my body at the mere thought of working with Zane, and it must show on my face, because Lily holds up her hands in surrender. “It was just a thought, a terrible thought that I’ll be discarding immediately.”

“You’d better. This project was meant to be a new start for me — a way to show Grandpa that he didn’t make the wrong choice when he hired me. It was supposed to be an easy win, and it turned into yet another way for Zane to humiliate me. There’s no way I can win this proposal if he’s even remotely interested in the inn.” I bury a hand in my hair and sigh, frustrated. “I knew working for Grandpa would be tough, but I underestimated just how hard it’d be to be pitted against Zane again. How am I supposed to beat Windsor Hotels? We might be second to them, but the gap between us feels insurmountable.”

Lily sighs and tops up my wine glass. “You don’t have to bridge that gap instantly, Celeste. Slow and steady wins the race, right? I know your stubbornness won’t let you admit it, but you choosing a project he’s also interested in means you have the same vision, and that’s all that’s really set Harrison Developments and Windsor Hotels apart.”

I begin to protest, but she shuts me up with one of her signature expressions — her brow raised and a chastising look in her eyes. “The other factors aren’t as big as you think they are. Their existing partnerships won’t last forever, and when those contracts expire, you can offer better deals. Sure, it’s hard to beat the Windsor name, but don’t underestimate just how prestigious of a brand your family has built. It might take some time, but there’s no reason why you can’t surpass Windsor Hotels. Not just anyone could do it, sure, but you can.”

She tucks one of my curls behind my ear and smiles. “This isn’t about grades, Celeste. When it comes to relationship management and networking, you’ve always outdone Zane. He banks on his family name and his deep pockets, but you never have. Use that to your advantage. You might hate the guy, but no one knows him as well as you do. No one but you could predict his moves, so use every terrible memory he created and turn them into your ammunition.”

I blink, my thoughts whirling. “This is why I need you,” I tell her, my voice soft. “With you by my side, I might actually be able to do this. We could take on Windsor Hotels together, and Zane won’t stand a chance.”

She smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “About that,” she murmurs, her voice unsteady. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

My breath hitches as dread slowly takes root in the pit of my stomach. “What happened?” I ask, silently hoping that my suspicions are wrong.

“This morning, I received a rejection email from Harrison Developments.”

My heart sinks, and disappointment washes over me. Did Grandpa have a hand in this? I mentioned her application to him just yesterday.

“It’s okay,” Lily says, forcing a smile. “I knew there was a chance this might happen, so I’ve been applying to other firms too. This is not the end of the world. I’ll find something else. It’ll be okay.”

I grip the edge of her kitchen counter, my disappointment turning into anger. How could Grandpa do this? He knows she’s my best friend, and for years, he’s heard me talk about our plans to revolutionize the industry together.

“I’ll talk to—”

“—No,” Lily cuts me off. “Your relationship with your grandfather is rocky enough at the moment, and bringing this up will only make it worse. I know your parents spoke to him about it too, and it was all to no avail. It’s okay, Celeste, truly. Just like you, I have a bachelor’s and a master’s from one of the best universities in the world. I’ll find the right job eventually.”

“How are you so okay with this?” I ask, my voice breaking. “We were supposed to rise to the top together — our plans have been set in stone since we were kids.”

Lily grabs my hand and holds it between hers. “We will. We’re only just at the start of our careers, babe. We’ll work together eventually, I just know it. Besides, this way I won’t have to doubt every promotion I get, or be ostracized by my peers who might fear upsetting the boss’s best friend. I’ll learn somewhere else, and I’ll bring all of that knowledge back to Harrison Developments in a few years. It may not be the road we envisioned, but we’ll get there eventually, alright?”

I grit my teeth and suppress my desire to argue with her, knowing it’ll lead nowhere. It’s clear she’s made peace with the rejection, and there’s no changing her mind when she’s decided on something.

“Where have you applied? Have you gotten any offers yet?” I ask, trying my hardest not to sound upset.

Lily’s expression falls. “Pretty much most of the big firms. But no offers yet.”

I frown and stare her down. “You’re keeping something from me.”

She sighs, guilt flickering through her eyes. “Fine,” she says, losing her composure. “I’ve been rejected everywhere I’ve applied because they all want work experience for an entry-level role, which is just ridiculous. We didn’t do any internships while we were in London, and well… I guess we should have.”

Helplessness renders me speechless as realization sinks in. We’d both expected to work for Harrison Developments and didn’t think we needed internships, so we focused all our time on getting higher grades instead.

My mind begins to race as I think through Lily’s options. “Did you… did you apply to Windsor Hotels?”

The disgusted look she throws me answers my question before her words do. “I would never work there,” she snaps. “That bag of dicks bullied you for years. There’s no way I’ll become one of the worker bees that puts more money into his already stupidly deep pockets.”

I try my hardest to suppress my smile and fail, a peal of laughter escaping my lips. “Bag of dicks? I thought you just told me to use everything I know about Zane to my advantage, that our minds are so in-sync we’d solve world hunger if we ever worked together?”

She stares at me sheepishly and runs a hand through her long, blonde hair. “Yeah, well…whatever.”

I shake my head in amusement and force a serious expression. “I’m serious, Lil. I hate to admit it, but they’re the biggest and the best. Their training program is notoriously thorough, and they don’t require any prior work experience. Besides, we’ve always wondered what exactly it is that gives Windsor Hotels the edge that Harrison Developments seems to be missing — this way we can find out. Everything you learn, you’ll bring back with you when you join me in a couple of years.”

She doesn’t look convinced, but thankfully, she doesn’t look as disgusted as before. “Just apply,” I murmur. “It’s such a big company, you probably won’t even see him. Honestly, when else would we get an opportunity to learn about Windsor Hotels from the inside out?”

Lily narrows her eyes, but her smile is as wicked as mine. “Celeste Harrison, are you insinuating that you want me to become your little spy?”

I shrug. “I’m merely suggesting that we both take your advice. This is an unfortunate situation that we can turn into an opportunity.”

She sighs. “I’ve been rejected by eight different companies in the span of a few weeks. There’s no way Windsor Hotels would hire me, even if I did apply.”

“They will.” I may have to make a deal with the devil to ensure it, but one way or another, I’ll get her that job.