why did Celebrimbor allow Sauron?

[alatar]

What if Annatar simply fed the pride of Celebrimbor as he did with Ar-Pharazôn? And I'm not talking about, "Hey, Cele...you're doing a great job on those three Rings there. Why, they rival the Silmarils, or so I'd guess. Can I hold them for a moment so I can make copies to put in kids' meals?"

"You're so right, Annie...I did do a great job. Why, I'm really straining my arm here patting myself on the back."

What of the pride that you can play with evil, take a sip, grasp the sword, steal the bait, traverse the spider's web, and come through unscathed or unchanged? What if Celebrimbor knew, deep down, that Annatar was Sauron, or someone as powerful and as evil as Sauron, and yet thought, "I can handle this. I can allow it to go so far, and when I've had my fill, pull back."