The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

674 ELLISʼ THOUGHTS

”SO, whatʼs the deal with you showing up in the middle of the night and dragging me into a drink?” Grant said, filling Ellisʼs glass with another shot, his curiosity evident behind the casual tone.

Ellis tipped the glass back, downing its contents in one smooth motion. ”Itʼs been one hell of a night,” she muttered, her voice edged with exhaustion.

Grant leaned back in his chair, watching as Ellis reached for the bottle and poured herself another drink. He didnʼt say anything at first, just observed. It wasnʼt often he saw her like this—so out of sorts. Normally, Ellis had an uncanny knack for keeping it together, no matter what the universe threw her way. But tonight, she had that look about her, the one that reminded him of when she and Olivia Crane had called it quits. Back then, she hadnʼt cried or ranted, just grabbed a bottle of whiskey and declared it a ”cleansing ritual.” This wasnʼt quite the same, but the way she poured herself another drink without a word made him wonder just what kind of storm sheʼd weathered this time.

”Rough night?” he remarked, taking a slow sip from his own glass, his tone casual but laced with curiosity.

Ellis drowned another glass. ”You have no idea.”

The things sheʼd learned about Astrid earlier came rushing back, bringing with them another splitting headache. Sheʼd managed to appear calm and collected when she left his apartment, but it had been an act—a performance meant to put both of them at ease. The truth was, sheʼd been anything but fine. If sheʼd let her panic show, let him see just how overwhelmed she really was, it might have added unnecessary tension to their already fragile situation.

Though theyʼd only known each other for a little over half a year, Ellis didnʼt see Astrid as just her artist. To her, he was more than a friend—he was like a younger brother. The news heʼd shared might have blindsided her, but that didnʼt change how she felt. No matter how shocking it was, she was determined to help him find a way to handle it. When the time came for it to go public, sheʼd make sure it didnʼt derail his career.

And she was certain it would—secrets like this had a way of coming to light, no matter how carefully they were hidden.

Yes, the Grimaldi family was powerful—powerful enough, perhaps, to be the reason Astridʼs parentsʼ whereabouts had remained undiscovered all this time. Theyʼd managed to protect that secret for decades, but could they keep it buried for a century or more? Maybe. But then again, who could say for certain?

Then there was the prince. According to Astrid, he was now part of the effort to safeguard this secret. Ellis found that even harder to believe. The prince wasnʼt exactly the embodiment of loyalty or trustworthiness—he was more like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. And yet, for reasons Ellis couldnʼt fathom, Astrid still trusted him.

Maybe she did know the reason behind Astridʼs trust; she was just refusing to accept it. His words from earlier lingered in her mind—how he was willing to take the gamble because it was the prince. The answer was right there, teetering on the edge of her thoughts, but she didnʼt want to acknowledge it. Doing so would only intensify her headache.

Thatʼs why, instead of going home, she went to the one friend she knew wouldnʼt turn her away for showing up late at night and demanding a drink. And so, she found herself at Grantʼs penthouse.

”This is not about Olivia, right?” At Grantʼs sudden question, Ellis blinked, pausing mid-motion with the glass halfway to her lips. She turned to him, staring as if heʼd completely lost his mind. ”Gods, no. What on earth gave you that idea?”

”Because sheʼs the only reason you ever drink,” Grant replied matter-of-factly.

”Was. She was,” Ellis corrected sharply. ”That part of my life is over. Iʼve moved on, and so has she.”

”Then what happened to make you drink like this?” Grant asked, his tone a mix of confusion and curiosity.

Ellis glanced at her friend. Since Grant was the president of Polaris, it made sense to consult him about Astridʼs unusual... situation. But not tonight. What Astrid had told her was a closely guarded secret, one she couldnʼt share lightly—not even with someone like Grant.

Although she trusted that Grant wouldnʼt share the secret with anyone and might even come up with ways to protect Astridʼs career, it still wasnʼt her secret to tell. Knowing Astrid, he would probably tell Grant himself when the time was right—likely when the secret was on the verge of being exposed or something equally dramatic. For now, the only thing she could do was prepare. And she had a lot to prepare for. Not only did she need to brace herself for the inevitable PR nightmare this family secret would unleash, but she also had to be ready for the fallout when Astrid and the princeʼs relationship became public.

Oh, she had no doubt there would be a relationship. The way Astrid trusted the prince said it all. If he was willing to take such a gamble, it was clear he felt something more than just a passing interest. Ellis could see it in the way Astrid spoke about him, the subtle shifts in his tone, the unspoken conviction in his words. Whether he realized it or not, his feelings were already deeper than he might admit.

And to think the two being in a relationship wasnʼt the worst of it all.

Ellis let out a long sigh, setting her glass down with a soft clink. ”Letʼs just say I learned some things I wasnʼt expecting,” she said carefully. ”Nothing bad—just… complicated. The kind of stuff that makes your head spin if you think about it too much.” Grant raised a brow at that but didnʼt press further. Heʼd never been the type to pry, especially since this was Ellisʼ private business. If she wanted to talk, she would—eventually. So, he simply poured Ellis another glass. ”Well then, my friend, consider my alcohol stash at your disposal—whatever it takes to keep your head from spinning.”

Ellis let out a chuckle. ”You might regret saying that.”

Itʼs 2025! And Iʼm late again in my update. Hopefully it wonʼt continue for the rest of the year. (˃̣̣̥ᯅ˂̣̣̥) Anyways, happy new year everyone! ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝

Tyramisu