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83 Deadpan

Author: Liza
last update Last Updated: 2023-04-06 23:12:48

Inside, Monica have to pause to let her eyes adjust in the weathered brick foyer. It’s clearly darker than outside, but as they go through the inner doors, a whole new world is revealed. Suddenly, her phone vibrates with a message from Julien telling her that he can't make it to her apartment as he has two important meetings to attend. She frowns and goes ahead. Everything is swanky, with dark oaks, red leather, and brass touches that give the club a sense of understated luxury. It’s the sort of club that he could imagine the Curies sitting in, sipping wine and discussing science and art with Cousteau or Renoir. It has the aura of age and the feeling of immortality. On one side of the club is a beautiful bar with a brass rail and multi-colored bottles all contained in their own little cubbyholes, some of them labeled, some of them not. Filling the other three walls is a collection of

booths and tables, intimate and lit by a candle in the center of each. The centre of the space is a wo
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  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   84 Club?

    Beatrice answers Molly’s question. “Of course, French men are the best kissers. You should see what they can do with their tongues.” She smiles a secret smile, and Monica considers getting a little sample of an actual French, French kiss while she is in Paris. Solely for comparative purposes, of course. Unbidden, an image pops into her little head . . . of Jackson Corbin tilting her jaw up before slowly and purposefully lowering his full, sexy lips to Monica's. No . . . stop that, Monica! You are a single mother for god's sake! Admittedly, Jackson is sexy as hell, and the way he looked at her was insanely hot, but there was off limits and then there is a blow u her lifestupidity. He definitely falls into the latter. “But they kiss everyone, not only you. That’s what you must remember. In my experience, French men are notorious philanderers, usually with a wife and a mistress at least,” Beatrice adds, dashing cold water on her momentaryhot fantasy. “That’s fucked up,” Monica growls.

    Last Updated : 2023-04-07
  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   85 What's the rush?

    Julien landed at the airport surrounded by his colleagues and the other parties. His navy suit is still fresh when Catalina steps out of the private jet wearing a white dress fitted to her slim body. Her hair dyed in black and blue. When the chief's eyes snap to her she smiles and they both exchange hugs and handshakes. "Well, what are you both doing for the evening?" Julien winces and looks up and says, "I came to meet my ex-wife. She has a lot going on so I thought I could stay by her tonight. And Catalina has a party to attend anyway. It was a pleasure to meet you, Tom." Tom nods and goes on board to his plane for the time. Well if Monica was not already intrigued, she was now. With all four of her new friends nodding their heads and the waitress’s approving judgment, Monica nods. “Fine, but I’ll be back in ten minutes.” Monica starts to follow the waitress, only to hear Molly call out, “If he can get you off that fast, make him do it twice." She looks back, horrified. There’s musi

    Last Updated : 2023-04-08
  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   86 All mine

    Jackson holds his hand up, gesturing to the waitress who was waiting nearby. She instantly comes over with a bottle of Dom Perignon and two champagne flutes. She pours the bubbly efficiently and hands them off. He lifts his into the air. “To professional growth, then.” Monica holds her glass tightly. “I don’t trust you.” The bluntness is refreshing, nothing like he was used to. In fact, in his experience, women are typically coy and sly with their words. Monica was honest and forthcoming, and he finds himself doing the same. “American women are so astute. Truth be told, you shouldn’t trust me. You’ve bewitched me, and I don’t know what I’m doing, but I can’t stop.” Jackson lifts his glass once again. “To distrust and honesty, then.” Monica laughs and raises her glass to clink against Jackson's. “That’s an awful toast, but the truth, at least.” She sips her champagne, and Jackson does the same. “Tell me about yourself,” Jackson demands gently. “Not what was on your application. I don’

    Last Updated : 2023-04-09
  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   87 kiss

    Jackson was about to kiss her when they were interrupted by a group of young women breaking into the VIP section and running toward him. There was a flurry ofFrench squeals, cell phone flashes, and napkins thrust his way. In the mean time, Monica pulls back from him and a woman sits down in the tiny space between them, wiggling in an attempt to push Monica further away. "Jackson, Jackson . . . can you sign this, please?” “Will you take our picture?” “J’adore vous.” The mob of women seems to be some sort of girls’ night out affair because they have matching dresses on. Jackson would love to tell them off for their rudeness, but even now, he was keenly aware that he was a representative of House Corbin, as well as a product in and of himself. Rudeness is not marketable. Still, Monica was watching the whole scene unfold like her words conjured the very thing she mentioned—fans who want nothing more than a kiss or afuck from him as a story to brag about. “One minute, please," he tells

    Last Updated : 2023-04-10
  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   88 The body shared

    As a stall door opens and an older woman steps out, gives Jackson a quick up and down, and then offers, “I’ll do you if you want.” Without Monica’s fire, this restroom seems seedy and dirty now. Or perhaps it is not the place, but simply the lack of the woman he desires. He wants to be back with Monica, her mouth giving as well as taking, her body writhing for closeness to his as she makes that melodious moaning sound again. Startled, he blinks, spins on his heel, and strides out of the restroom. He scans the dance floor once more but doesn't see either Monica or the other ladies. Hopefully, they all left together and are back at their apartments getting some rest to prepare for tomorrow like Monica said. As he thinks he will do the same. Being at the apartment Monica inhales and exhales as she bends to take out the spare key of her apartment from under the flower pot. But she doesn't sees it. She gets frantic as her soul tells her something inside her apartment is waiting for her r

    Last Updated : 2023-04-11
  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   89 A desire

    Jackson's dog definitely likes to push him around, and the sound of his alarm clock means one thing . . . time for his human to feed him. “Not now Xerx, you’ll get your food soon. But you won’t get as much if you don’t stop barking,” Jackson tells him. Xerxes yaps one more time then goes quiet, rolling onto his back and offering his belly for a rub. He was a regular belly rub slut. Jackson shakes his head at his antics, rubbing gently and cooing a kind ‘good morning’. Once he was calmed down, he lies back in bed with his arm behind his head and thinks about his dream . . . and last night. Monica’s lips and tongue, the way she tasted, and her responsiveness are seared into his little brain. None of it’s helpful for his hard-on that has returned, pulsing and leaking underneath the sheet. Following Monica to the club and pursuing her was a spontaneous decision, the kiss even more so. Professionally, it probably was not the bestmove, but personally, Jackson loved every second of it. The

    Last Updated : 2023-04-12
  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   90 outskirts with Jackson

    Originally a military armory and powder magazine owned by The Sun King, Louis XIV, the orphanage was started by Napoleon III before yet again they decided that royalty was something they were better off without. Now, it’s one of the largest non-religious children’s homes in Paris, andas Jackson pulls up, he thinks about this ritual. He typically comes on Saturday mornings, but with the weekly competitions culminating with Saturday evening fashion shows, he have made other arrangements for the next few weeks because the care given here is close to his heart and he wouldn’t dream of skipping hai visits. He parks, smiling to himself as he sees that his five charges are already outside, warming up by kicking a soccer ball around. There is tall, blond and lanky Claude, who can jump like a mountain goat yet somehow stumbles over every pebble in his path. Or sometimes even when there’s nothing but air in his way. There’s Raphael, who’s dark, deep-voiced, and stocky. Though still a teen, he

    Last Updated : 2023-04-13
  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   91 Two years

    “I have been appealing to the mayor and the city officials, trying to do what I can,” Jackson tells the boys as they stretch their calves. “Homelessness is a multi-faceted problem, and installing outdoor piss stations isn’t the solution.” “Might as well piss on the mayor, for all the good it’ll do you,” Theodore says. “Seriously, Jackson, what good is appealing to a bunch of selfish assholes who complain about the availability of caviar or whether the foie gras is authentic? They’re not going to care about us unless it benefits them.” “Someone’s got to care. I care,” Jackson points out. They lie down in the grass, doing flutter kicks for their stomachs. “I’m going to keep coming, checking on you, doing parkour. You keep working hard in your studies, developing yourselves. And when you get out there, I promise you I’ll help you find jobs, maybe even a girlfriend or two.” “Stop,” Jamaica says angrily. “Cut the shit, Jackson! Girlfriends? Come on, we are barely above street trash! You re

    Last Updated : 2023-04-14

Latest chapter

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   Epilogue

    As they both share a passionate time.“Princesse, please.” It’s a beg, Monica will admit, but it’s growled with deep hunger. She flips her hair over one shoulder, putting her weight onto one arm to take Jackson in hand. Standing him upright, she aligns herself with him. “I loveyou, husband,” she says sweetly. “I love you, wiiiiife.” Jackson means to return the sweet words, knowing it will get her off as much as it does him, but Monica sinks her bliss down onto him, taking all thought and word formation skills from his brain. Engulfing all of Jackson in her warmth and wetness, she begins to move, sliding up and down his shaft at an unhurried pace. Jackson murmurs to her in French as he pinchens and plucks her nipples, reaching between them to circle her clit with his thumb, and lay a sharp smack to the flesh of her hip. Tobias once told Monica that a man has three women—his wife, his mistress, and his whore. He was the lucky bastard who has found all three in onewoman. Monica was eve

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   173 Altar to his future

    The reception was full of laughter, dancing, and magic. It must be magic because nothing else could bring that big of a smile to his bright bride’s face. Monica was on the dance floor with her bridesmaids. They were swaying andmoving, lifting their hands in the air as they sing along with the music. “She’s beautiful,” Jamaica grunts from beside him. “Congratulations.” Jackson looks over at him, taking a slow sip of his scotch. “Watch it,” Jackson teases. They have made peace, with each other and their pasts, not letting them affect their precious futures. In fact, Jamiaca was doing much better now, working an apprenticeship in home construction with plans to become a project manager one day. He grins back. “What can you tell me about her?” Jackson follows his line of sight and chuckles and he sees Claire from the coffee shop that Monica prefers. Monica insisted that they fly Claire to France for the wedding. “Good luck. Just don’t fuck it up, or that one will eat you alive.” “That s

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   172 prayers

    His expression was like he had too much on his head already. He grew beards and had an manly scent. Not that she was still attracted to him. But his expression told her that he was not happy with the life he was living. The knowledge of breaking the news of getting married with Jackson had filled Julien with false hope and accusations that she can always come back to him if she wanted to. She can still have a half portion of his heart and stay there for his and hers little boy's sake. “How do I look?” Monica asks her Mom, glancing down at her beautiful dress. “Gorgeous,” she says, on the verge of tears again. “Are you sure you are not going to be cold, though?” Hopefully, she holds up the lacy shawl she found online for her. Once upon a time, she would have heard that as a way to say she doesn’t like her dress or as a critique of the timing of the wedding, or even a question about whether she should be getting married in the first place. Now, Monica takes it for what it is. “I’m no

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   171 Dreams and dreams

    “I already gave some to Simon. You got yourself a good one here.” Monica's mother's gives Jackson a smile of approval as she fans herself playfully. “I think I’m the fortunate one to have captured Monica's heart,” hereplies, looking deeply into her eyes. Monica thinks Mom flat-out swoons at his poetic words, French accent, andgrumbly voice. She was pretty sure she hears her whisper to Jacqueline, “I think we are going to be grandmas soon if he keeps saying things like that.” “Mom!” Monica exclaims aim, flushing brightly in an instant. “Oh, I’m only teasing,” she says. She turns to Jacqueline and Nora. “Has she told you how she struck out from our little town, with nothing but piss and vinegar in her blood and a dream in her heart? I was so worried, but this one . . . you can’t tell her a thing!” Monica's mother goes on to tell Nora and Jacqueline how she had worried about her being in the big city, had waited for her to come home with her tail between her slender legs, and how proud

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   170 Across the knowledge

    Most of the models are local to NYC, but she had lamented that her Amour mourning dress was meant for Jeanette and that she was sad she would never get the chance to walk it. So Jackson secretly surprised her by flying Jeanette in to do it. She was not wishing the show away, but she truly can’t wait to see Jeanette strut in that gown. No one can do it justice the way she can. Monica swears, she blinks and the time flies past until she was standing backstage with Jeanette in the voluminous black gown. “Remember, slow. Eyes forward.” Monica demonstrated the defiant gaze she wants on Jeanette to have, tackling the future with strength after the loss of love. “Pose, small smile of hope. Then back like a queen.” “Slow. Strong. Hope. Queen,” she repeats clearly. Her English has gotten much better. Monica's French was improving daily, too, from listening to Jackson. “Tue cette piste, fille,” Monica tells her, snapping her fingers. Jeanette looks at her in surprise. “Oui, I will kill the run

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   169 love bites to moon

    Molly pushes Monica's shoulder. “You would bust ass to get as much done as possible, and then leave to ‘work at home’ or ‘visit the park for inspiration’ and come back the next day with barely anything else done since you left.And you would have a dreamy smile on your face.” Molly makes a vacant-eyed, open-mouthed smiling expression that Jackson thinks is supposed to be what Monica looked like. Jackson did that to her, he thinks cockily. Katarina nods, agreeing. “We thought you had found a French Romeo, and then we saw Jackson wearing the same necklace you had started wearing. It didn’t take much to put one and one together.” Beatrice adds quietly, “We were a bit worried for you, as he has quite the reputation. And it didn’t seem to be helping you in the competition. We weren’t concerned about that until . . .” She trails off, and he knows that his aunt turned that particular screw to get Beatrice to do her bidding. “Okay, so no hard feelings?” Monica asks them all. Molly leans over

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   168 A life of assurance

    “I should have told you,” she whispers back. Monica pushes at him, nearly shoving him out of his chair. “Get up and hug her, or I’m going to have to do it, and I’m not getting snot on her jacket. It’s too fabulous for that.” Jackson gets up to come around the table, and for the first time in he doens't know how long, he enfolds his aunt in a hug. Jackson knows it’s been long enough that he have forgotten how thin she truly is. And he doens't think he have hugged her when he have been taller than she is, even in her power heels. How long ago must it have been since they embraced? It must have beenwhen he was truly a child, before he was a teen growing inches seemingly overnight. “I’m sorry,” she murmurs into his chest. “Me too.” They sit back down, and he looks to Monica, silently asking what she thinks about his aunt’s request for a fashion showplace. They have a conversation consisting solely of raised and lowered eyebrows, pursed lips, and smiles. Finally, Monica turns back to J

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   167 Pure truth

    She has let that go and is looking toward the future. With Jacqueline, Monica was only concern is him and his little feelings. He squeezes her hand tightly so she knows how much he appreciates her. “Yes, well . . . I guess . . . when I found out that you were gallivanting all over Paris together, I will admit that my first thought was that you’d seduced Jackson to improve your chances in the competition.” Monica points to her own ample chest. “Not a gold digger, just so that’s clear.” Jacqueline nods, accepting that fact now. “At the time, though, it made sense. It wasn’t the first time.” She looks to him for confirmation, and Jackson grunts in agreement. “There was that idea in my mind. But also, if the reverse were true, that Jackson had in fact pursued you” —she flicks her eyes to Monica this time— “I felt like it would be doing you a disservice. I didn’t want you to be distracted by him and miss out on your opportunity, because I know what something like this could mean to a youn

  • My Dismissive Fake-Love Marriage   166 Love is so cruel

    They sit in folding plastic chairs at Jackson's folding plastic table after he closes his laptop. In the awkward silence, Monica can hear the loud buzz of a drill every few seconds as the crew hangs new drywall. “What are you up to, Jacqueline?” Monica was not doing niceties or waiting for her to launch into a practised speech. She wants to throw her off, make sure she knows that they were not under her thumb and have no problem calling out her game play. She has come all the way here to talk about something, after all, so may as well not delay. She presses her lips together in response but gives in. “The reactions to the fashion shows have been quite exciting. Perhaps you have heard?” Monica doesn't look at him, but Jackson stays quiet, and something Jacqueline sees in his expression must give her pause because her nostrils flare. “Or maybe not. But the media buzz has been quite positive. For House Corbin and the designers themselves. Seeing as two of the designers are from America,

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