Two Can Play (Celeste and Dominic) novel Chapter 68

Chapter 68

A press conference.

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If I held a press conference as Mrs Dominic Ford, everyone would know my position. Socially, publicly, undeniably. No one could take that from me once it was out there in front of cameras and journalists and the entire country.

And Dominic would have to show up.

He was a public figure now. He had revealed himself. He had a reputation to maintain and a company that lived on its image. His wife holding a press conference about their marriage and him not appearing would raise questions he could not afford. He would come. He would have no choice.

I stopped pacing.

“Wow, Seraphine,” I said to myself quietly, a smile spreading across my face. “You are bursting with ideas today.”

I picked up my phone and started making calls.

“༼Xou

The press conference was arranged within the hour. Two in the afternoon tomorrow. A hotel ballroom with enough seats for press from every major outlet. The news would go viral by morning. I already had the perfect pictures.

I posted on my social media, carefully composed, professionally photographed, the caption announcing the event and the time and the subject matter. Then I watched the notifications begin to climb and felt some of the evening’s humiliation lift off my shoulders.

One problem handled.

I scrolled through my contacts.

Now for the other one.

Kingsley Duke answered on the second ring. He was a young PhD, sharp and ambitious, somewhere in his late twenties, with the specific hunger of a man who had the qualifications and none of the opportunities. He had been trying to get into Ford Biosciences since I opened it, sending emails, making calls, turning up at industry events where he knew I would be. He wanted a position as lead research associate. He wanted it badly enough that he had been professionally persistent for the better part of

the month.

“Dr. Duke,” I said when he picked up.

“Seraphine.” His voice lifted immediately. “Are you finally giving me a chance?”

“Not at Ford Biosciences,” I replied. “I still have no vacancy and my entire team holds doctorates. You understand.”

The lift in his voice flattened. “Then why are you calling?”

“Because I know somewhere better,” I told him. “Helix Research Laboratory. I have connections there. With your qualifications, I can get you in as senior research associate. It is a good position. The lab has just received significant funding and it is about to become very high profile.”

There was a pause. Then, with the particular excitement of a man trying not to sound too excited, “Are you serious?”

“Completely.”

“Why would you do that for me?” Suspicion underneath the excitement. Smart man.

“Why Pat?” he asked finally. “What do you want from her?”

“Not from her,” I replied. “From the woman she is closest to. Once you are in Pat’s life, information flows naturally. That is all I need.”

He was quiet for long enough that I thought he might actually refuse.

Then he said, “Fine. I will do it.”

“Good.” I kept my voice warm and brisk. “You will reach out to my contact at Helix tomorrow. By afternoon you will have an

invitation.”

After the call ended, I set my phone down and began preparing the notes for my press conference. The questions they would ask. The answers I would give. The story of how Dominic Ford and I had met and fallen in love, polished until it shone.

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