“I’m sorry for interrupting your little talk but we have a meeting with Alexander Beaumont in an hour” Celestine explained as they were approaching the office. The mere mention of the name sent a flicker of annoyance through Justin. It wasn't the business rivalry that irked him, although it played a part. It was Alexander himself – a man who embodied everything Justin despised about Celestials. He was all manufactured charm and performative benevolence, like a wolf in angelic sheep's clothing.

"Let's get this over with," Justin muttered, stepping into the elevator. The air crackled with a silent animosity as they ascended. Alexander, to Justin, personified everything wrong with the Celestial hierarchy – an arrogance veiled in saccharine smiles. For him, he was a Devil, not an Angel.

The metal doors of the elevator slid open, revealing the polished hallway. Luccio, hunched over his holographic tablet, murmured, "Alexander is already here. Early, as usual."

Justin grimaced. "Of course he is."

Two imposing Angel guards flanked the double doors to Alexander's office, their faces stoic and emotionless. Luccio, sensing the shift in atmosphere, offered a nervous smile before heading toward his own desk. He wasn't part of this meeting. He was just a human, after all.

As Justin and Celestine entered the room, Luccio's gaze lingered on them. He, a human, working alongside two Celestials – a rarity in this world where humans and Celestials existed in separate spheres. Unlike most Celestials, their CEO, Justin, treated everyone with respect, regardless of their lineage. This unwavering principle was what Luccio admired most about him.

A pang of sadness flickered through Luccio. Despite Alexander's claims of advocating for humans, his inner circle remained exclusively celestial. The world, as it often was, was still divided by an invisible barrier. Yet, within PAX, Luccio felt a sense of belonging, a small sanctuary in a world rife with prejudice.

The doors to Justin's office swept open, revealing a space that mirrored the Celestial leader himself – immaculate, polished, and infused with an aura of calculated charm. Seated behind a vast, pearlescent desk was Alexander Beaumont, an aura of golden light shimmering around him.

Dressed in pristine white, Alexander was the perfect vision of a Celestial. His face was flawless, sculpted with an ageless beauty. He appeared impossibly youthful, perhaps in his early thirties, with silver hair swept back from his forehead and eyes that seemed to hold the warmth of molten gold. A simple necklace adorned his neck, the only deviation from his stark attire, bearing a subtly engraved ring. Alexander had a bit of pointy ears.

As they entered, Alexander's radiant smile could have blinded the unprepared. He rose, extending a hand to Celestine. "Ah, Celestine," he greeted her, his voice a soothing melody that somehow masked an undercurrent of authority, "a pleasure to see you again." His gaze shifted to Justin, and his smile, though no less practiced, held a subtle edge. "Justin. So good of you to join us."

Celestine, her posture rigid and her expression carefully neutral, inclined her head in a curt nod. "Alexander," she acknowledged, her tone mirroring his own.

Alexander gestured for them to take a seat. "You know, Celestine," he began once they were seated, "you have extraordinary potential. We here, in the Celestial Society, would welcome you back with open arms, you know."

Celestine's reply was immediate and unequivocal. "My place is with PAX."

Alexander chuckled, the sound deceptively light. "Your loyalty is admirable, Celestine, even if it may be... misplaced." He turned to Justin, a hint of disapproval flickering in his golden eyes. "Now, the matter at hand. That rogue Angel… it seems you failed to eliminate it."

Justin bristled, barely suppressing a wave of resentment. "The mission was more complicated than anticipated," he said, choosing his words with care.

Alexander leaned forward, steepling his fingers, a deceptively harmless gesture. "Complications," he echoed softly, "are a rather unfortunate habit of yours, wouldn't you agree, Justin?"

"I always do my best to serve the Society," Justin retorted, the words bitter on his tongue.

"Indeed," Alexander's smile returned, yet held no genuine warmth, "as bound by contract. But I must wonder, is your best… truly sufficient?" His voice, though smooth, was an unspoken command. "Rogue Angels pose a very real threat, Justin. They disrupt the delicate balance we strive for. Humans require our protection, and the Society needs capable hunters to ensure their safety."

Justin's jaw tightened. The contract bound him irreversibly to the Celestial Society. It was more than obligation, it was servitude, the very thing he despised.

"You will, of course, redeem yourself," Alexander continued, his voice a gentle command. "The rogue Angel must be found… and dealt with definitively. We cannot allow our authority, the safety of society, to be compromised."

"It will be done," Justin replied, the words forced through gritted teeth.

Alexander's gaze lingered, a chilling reminder of his power. With the slightest hint of a nod, he turned and exited the room. His angelic guards materialized, flanking him like statues. One curt clap of his hands, and the trio disappeared in a shimmer of light, leaving Justin and Celestine in the heavy silence.

Justin exhaled sharply, the weight of the encounter pressing down on him. This was his reality - bound to serve those he both detested and respected. He glanced sideways at Celestine.  He knew she felt the same, the same silent rebellion burning beneath her cool demeanor. Yet, they had chosen this path. Willing or not, they had no choice.