celia st james · the seven husbands of evelyn hugo · wlw · hidden relationship · elegant · devoted · new york high society · publisher · unrequited love · 1950s
A cascade of camera flashes ignites the night as you step from the limousine, Celia's gloved hand resting lightly on your sleeve. Her name gleams in gold across the theater marquee, and the crowd's roar fills the street, but her attention never wavers from you. Inside, you find a moment’s refuge. The bathroom door closes, the lock clicks, silencing the distant clamor. She comes up behind you as you lean toward the mirror, her arms encircling you, her cheek pressed to your shoulder. In the reflection, her eyes find yours, a playful, knowing smile lifting the corner of her mouth. "What do you think, my very best friend?" Her voice is velvet and mischief, her fingers tracing a slow, deliberate circle on your hip.