Family Business

The following chapter is written in 3rd person POV, following Becca and Celeste.

“Does your cousin have a family member he isn’t attracted to?”

Becca asks Celeste jokingly in the backseat of Becca’s Rolls Royce Phantom, with the custom divider up so that her driver can’t hear what’s going on, as they make their way through the city to go to Becca’s home.

Celeste laughs a little at the question. “Don’t judge.” Celeste tells Becca.

“I am far from judging. Especially with my own proclivities. It seems normal for a man like him to have a romantic relationship with his family. I am just curious why he doesn’t have more.” Becca explains.

“Go ask him yourself. You’re obviously curious about him too. You’ve been asking about him every chance you got.” Celeste tells Becca.

“Don’t mistake my curiosity as romantic interest. I’m far too busy for such things.” Becca dismissed Celeste’s insinuation.

“I’m insinuating that because you are a busy person. You have enough on your mind, and yet you’re letting my cousin run around it rent free.” Celeste smartly replies. “Don’t get me wrong. I like that for you. You need to let loose every once in a while. Hoffman Enterprises isn’t going to crumble if you stop being a workaholic, Becca.” Celeste tells her in a friendly tone.

Becca just looks out the window pensively. “Father has been setting me up with more and more uninteresting white bread suits lately. Maybe he’ll refrain from doing so if I already had a—” Becca started saying before she catches herself and lets out a **** cough. Celeste has a knowing smile on her face.

“Don’t act all superior just because you were able to make me think of him that way for a moment.” Becca warns Celeste.

“I wasn’t acting superior at all! I’m just happy that you’re considering it.” Celeste says with a wider smile.

“I am not considering anything. Like I said, I only thought of it for a moment, and only because I want Father to stop pestering me with these dates.” Becca explains.

“Why not consider it then? He’s a great guy.” Celeste tries to persuade Becca.

“Oh? Great enough to impress the great Aviel Hoffman? A middling writer of fiction? I don’t think so.” Becca retorts.

“Oh, I didn’t know you knew he was an author already. Have you read his books?” Celeste asks.

“No. I don’t read fiction. Especially his kind of fiction.” Becca responds.

“How’d you find out he was a writer then?” Celeste asks innocently.

“I—” Becca tries to respond, but she pauses, not wanting to admit the truth.

“You googled him, didn't you?” Celeste says with a laugh.

“I don’t see why that’s humorous.” Becca says, blushing at Celeste’s laughter.

“Just admit you’re interested in him and I’ll stop.” Celeste teases.

“What I am interested in is his ability to build such an impressive harem. If your goodbyes earlier are any indication, he’s adding Vivian soon enough, as well as that Brooke girl to his collection of girlfriends. You said he was hesitant to add any more girlfriends, but it seems your assessment was incorrect as he’s already adding two more women at the exact same time.” Becca retorts.

“Can you imagine if I thought about possibly dating him? I’d love to explain that to Father and say I was sixth in line. His little Becca not being first like always. Not even making it to the podium. I can already see his consoling face babying me. ‘Nice try, Becca’. Tch.” Becca rants.

“I think you’re just misunderstanding your dad’s intentions, Becca. It seems like he just cares for you.” Celeste says, concerned after Becca vents her daddy issues.

“Yeah. He ‘cares’. Cares enough to want me to be a homemaker and just let the man I marry be the Plan B to take over his company. If I was a man he’d have groomed me to be the next in line. No, he reserved that for my younger brother. IQ as low as the Dead Sea, but a mind as high as a kite. Even Father has low hopes for him.” Becca vents some more.

“You’re the COO of Hoffman enterprises in your mid-twenties, Becca. You’re selling your Dad short in his belief in you.” Celeste consoles her.

“I’m only COO of the Hotel and Restaurant Division, and I’m COO because I earned it. Despite my self-deprecation earlier, I earned this spot more than anybody else in the company. I’ve proven myself in every meeting, in every project he’s given me, and in every networking event he’s tasked me to go to. I made myself undeniable.” Becca says confidently.

“... and yet… he’d still rather have me not be his successor.” Becca continued.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Becca.” Celeste continues to console her.

“I don’t need your pity. I will continue to prove myself, until even the Board cannot deny I’m the rightful successor to the company. As such, I have scant time for any frivolities such as romance.” Becca says determined.

The car comes to a stop as they have arrived at their destination, putting a pause on the two women’s conversation. Becca’s driver opens the door for her, and they both go down the car and make their way to the lobby of Becca’s luxury apartment building. The two women go through a private entrance that leads straight to an exclusive elevator that doesn’t have any visible buttons, only a keycard slot and number pad. Becca enters her key card and code which the elevator accepts and it ascends to the penthouse.

As the elevator doors open, Celeste can’t help but be in awe of Becca’s penthouse apartment. It had herringbone parquet floors in the foyer and a marble art piece adorned with flowers and a spiral staircase chandelier that hangs above it. Further in, Celeste can see a huge window that has the perfect view of the downtown area of the city. An elderly Filipina woman, one of Becca’s maids, greets the two ladies, “Good evening, Ms. Becca, Ms. Pritchett.”

“Good evening, Marybeth. Why’re you still up?” Becca asks her.

“I was waiting for your arrival Ms. Becca.” Marybeth replied.

“You’re a sweetheart, Marybeth. Next time, hayaan mo na si Gigi ang mag-antay sa akin.” Becca tells her in fluent Filipino.

“I insisted, Ms. Becca. She’s not allowed to prepare the private room, so I took care of it myself.” Marybeth replied.

“Thanks as always. I can take care of everything else for tonight, though. You should go to bed.” Becca tells her.

“It was my pleasure, Ms. Becca. I’ve placed Ms. Pritchett’s belongings in the guest bedroom on the east wing, and the private room has been prepared to your liking.” Marybeth replied.

“That’s wonderful, Marybeth. Maraming salamat.” Becca thanks her.

“Yes, Ms. Becca. Good night. Good night as well Ms. Pritchett.” Marybeth says before heading to her quarters.

“Wow.” Celeste reacts.

“Yes, I know Filipino. Is that such a shock?” Becca asks her.

“Oh, uh… don’t take this the wrong way, I was more shocked that you were acting… different.” Celeste hesitantly explains.

“Different how? Explain.” Becca instructs her as she leads Celeste through the halls of her huge apartment.

“I don’t know. Your demeanor was different when you talked to Marybeth. Sweeter. More… human? Okay! Wait! That sounded insulting. I just meant… less robotic. Okay, I’m going to stop digging a hole for myself now.” Celeste explains.

“I don’t take offense. You and Vivian aren’t the only people to call me cold, or calculating, or robotic. I am that way for a reason; but I don’t need to be with Marybeth. She’s more than my yaya. She’s family to me.” Becca explains.

“Oh! Wait, she’s your grandmother? I thought she was your maid! I’m sorry for the confusion!” Celeste reacts in shock.

“Yaya in Filipino means caregiver or nanny. I’m assuming you’re more familiar with the Greek Yia-Yia and thought she was a relative. When I meant she’s family to me, she's the family I chose; not the one I have.” Becca explains further.

Celeste doesn’t really know how to react or what to say, as Becca’s being more open about her family issues now than she’s ever been with her. Celeste guesses Becca’s just different when she’s at The Club and around the community, but she’s very unfamiliar with this side of Becca. Celeste chooses to stay quiet, and not ruin the moment by sharing an unnecessary opinion regarding Becca’s sentiment towards her nanny.

Becca stops in front of a door, and there’s also a door to her right.

“The one on the right is the guest bedroom. Your luggage is there. Prepare yourself as you wish. Afterwards, you may knock on this door when you’re ready. I’ll tell you to come in once I wish for you to enter. The moment you knock, we are beginning.” Becca says, back in her authoritative and intimidating demeanor.

“Can I ask one thing before we start, Becca?” Celeste asks her. “Of course.” Becca answers.

“What’s the play?” Celeste asks.

“I’d rather you figure it out once we’ve started.” Becca answers.

“Kinda risky during our first session, don’t you think?” Celeste asks.

“No. It’s a basic play. You’ll figure it out, I’m certain.” Becca answers.

“You’re going to be my first dom other than Hal, Becca. I’m not even sure what ‘basic’ is.” Celeste tells her.

“Go with your gut instinct then. Don’t fret. I won’t go hard on you.” Becca replies. Celeste nods, deciding to trust Becca’s skills as a dom.

“Well, as I said, the moment you knock, we are beginning. You may enter your room now, if you wish.” Becca repeats.

“Understood, Mistress.” Celeste answers, figuring that Becca wanted to start the roleplay with her change of demeanor.

“Do you have any more questions?” Becca asks.

“Has my Master informed you of my boundaries, Mistress?” Celeste asks.

“I have been informed by him, yes. Other than the usual limits, he also mentioned: no male third party participants, no visible marks in areas visible with clothes, and no sensory deprivation or communication deprivation. Are there any more I missed?” Becca asks.

“None, Mistress.” Celeste answers.

“What does your Master call you again?” Becca asks.

“I’m his ****, Mistress; and Master refers to me as such.” Celeste answers, but Becca doesn’t address her as such yet.

“What about attire? Has your Master gifted his **** a mark of ownership?” Becca asks.

“Yes, Mistress.” Celeste answers.

“Wear it. I assume you understand what that means.” Becca says.

“Understood, Mistress.” Celeste answers.

“Get ready. We’ll begin in a few minutes.”

Author’s Notes:

• “Next time, hayaan mo na si Gigi ang mag-antay sa akin” translates to: “Next time, let Gigi be the one to wait for me.”
• “Maraming Salamat" is “Thank You” in Filipino.