An interview

- How do you want me to answer?

She struggles to find the words to respond to Leila.

Is it supposed to say:

- I'm sorry, shouldn't I have separated you because of my engagement with Joseph?

It would be hypocritical.

Besides, what could she do with this marriage decided by the two mothers?

Joseph stares at her with narrowed eyes. He advances, without hurrying, which creates a tension that makes Mia retreat.

- I didn't provoke you, did I? Mia asks.

Leila approaches him and takes him by the arm.

- Joseph, don't be angry. It's my fault. I shouldn't have said that. She just married you. I shouldn't have come. Go rest. I am going to go back to my house.

- You shouldn't be leaving here.

Joseph takes her by the wrist and goes upstairs.

Leila bursts with joy in her heart. Although Joseph assured her that he would be in a relationship with her, he never had any desire for her.

Today, she is overwhelmed with joy by Joseph's reaction.

After all, it wasn't her that night. The only way for her to win the heart of this man is to have real sex.

Mia doesn't look up. She turns and goes back to her room in silence.

Leila turns around just in time to see Mia's silhouette entering the bedroom. She suddenly realizes that this figure, thin and slender, resembles that of the girl of that night.

That night, she overcame hatred and jealousy to find a virgin for Joseph. She was already pushed to her limits and didn't want to see the girl who was going to have sex with Joseph.

She only very briefly saw a skinny figure when that girl left.

No wonder Mia looks like deja vu.

Turns out, that feeling of familiarity didn't come out of nowhere.

The very thought that the woman of that night could have been Mia makes Leila panic.

She must not let Mia stay with Joseph.

Above all, she should not be given the opportunity to have intimate contact with Joseph, lest he find out.

After all, Mia is the woman who made love to him.

Once in the bedroom, Leila no longer pretends to be shy. She put her arms around Joseph's slender waist, buried her head in her arms and said softly:

- Joseph, let me make love to you again.

Then she wants to kiss him. But Joseph keeps a straight face. He has no desire towards Leila's proposal, contrary to what a normal man would have.

Apart from that night, he has no desire for her!

Just as Leila's lips are about to touch his, he turns his head away. Therefore, Leila fails to kiss him.

- It's getting late, go to bed early.

A little agitated, Joseph pulls on his collar, which is not at all tight.

He doesn't quite know why he's upset. As a man, he is supposed to desire her, but he has no sexual drive towards her. So he feels abnormal.

Leila shakes hands and looks annoyed.

- Joseph, don't you love me...

- Don't say that.

Joseph lowers his voice and puts his arm around Leila's shoulders.

- Rest here tonight.

As a woman, Leila knows very well what it means when a man can't be turned on by her.

She lies obediently on the bed. Her eyes are red with tears. But finally, no tears fall. Obviously, she looks very frustrated. But she keeps all her emotions inside.

Joseph is touched. She also kept her emotions inside of her that night. Despite everything he did, she didn't make a sound.

His heart softens. He puts a blanket over her and sits on the edge of the bed.

- Don't worry. When you are my wife, I will make love with you.

Leila nods her head. She has known Joseph long enough to get an idea of his character and habits. Even if he doesn't love her, he will take care of her out of a sense of duty.

Joseph takes off his jacket and leaves the room. He comes down and throws the jacket in his hand on the couch. Then he throws himself on the couch. Slender legs crossed on the coffee table, head leaning against the back of the sofa, he looks a little tired.

In the early morning, Mia washes up, gets dressed and leaves her room. Joseph is already at the table to read the financial newspaper. Leila seems to know his routine well and makes him a short coffee.

Chloe cooked breakfast. Mia, minimizing her presence and making no noise, sits at the end of the table. She walks away from them and lowers her head while eating porridge.

Chloe serves the omelette and frowns when she sees Mia, who is discreet as a mouse. She is the legal wife. Why is she so humble in front of a mistress?

Chloe deliberately says:

- Madam, you should sit next to Mr. Cosey.

What ?

Mia looks up.

Joseph also places the financial journal in his hand.

Their eyes meet and they freeze. Mia gets chills remembering that man's dark stare last night.

Joseph's mother had died when he was very young. It was Chloe who took care of him.

So he has a lot of respect for this elderly lady.

Chloé therefore has complete freedom to speak.

Their marriage is a win-win exchange. Mia doesn't think she has the right to meddle in Joseph's private life.

She finishes her porridge and smiles saying:

- I finished. Take your time.

After last night, Mia realizes that Joseph cares a lot for Leila. So it is better to be wise.

She walks very fast, as if a ferocious beast was chasing her.

Joseph looks at Mia's back, who hurries off and squints a little.

Leila suppresses her emotions and says in a low voice:

- She may not be comfortable with my presence here. From now on...

Joseph places a glass of milk in front of her.

- In a month, she will be gone.

Leila looks down. This month is too long for her.

Mia goes back to her room and turns on her phone. She received a response to her application for the position. She was invited for an interview. After Joseph and Leila leave, Mia also exits the villa and takes a cab to the interview.

The Groupe Sommet skyscraper is magnificent.

Mia stands in front of the building and takes a deep breath before entering.

Since she didn't get her license, it's not easy to find a decent job. So she really wants to take this opportunity and get this job.

The interview room is full of people. They are well dressed and hold the resumes in their hands, apparently well prepared for the interview. Mia, on the other hand, looks a little weird in her white t-shirt and jeans.

She doesn't seem to have an interview.

She ignores the curious looks she receives from time to time and stands silent, waiting.

An hour later, Mia is called.

She did the dishes and delivered newspapers. But these odd jobs are not considered work experience. Moreover, she does not have a higher degree. She therefore did not bring a CV.

The recruiter frowns slightly at her lack of work experience.

- How do you know the language of Country A?

After all, it is a language that few speak.

This position has been posted for a long time without any candidates.

Mia shakes hands remembering her past.

- I lived in this country. To better communicate with the locals, I learned this language.

This voice..

Leila walks past the interview room, with documents in her hand. Hearing that somewhat familiar voice, she looks in the direction of the sound and sees Mia. Her heart is tight.

It is amazing that Mia masters the language of Country A.

Leila wasn't sure that Mia was the girl from that night. But now she can be sure!

- Miss Fadel?

Her subordinate does not understand why she suddenly stopped and reminds her:

- The meeting will start soon.

Leila gives him the documents in her hand.

- Take these documents to Mr. Cosey. I'll join you later.

- Then come tomorrow, the recruiter told Mia.

Indeed, very few people speak the language of this country. Despite her lack of professional experience, it is enough that Mia masters this language.

Mia stands up and bends over a little, saying:

- THANKS.

She exits the interview room happily. As she exits, Leila enters the room behind her.

- The woman from earlier does not meet the requirements of the position. We can't hire her.

- Even if she has no professional experience, she speaks...

- Didn't you understand what I said? Leila asks coldly.

She is Joseph's secretary. Moreover, she is also his girlfriend. She could become the wife of the young master of the Cosey family one day. Who would dare to offend her?

The recruiter accepts it, although he feels sorry for Mia.

- All right.

Mia walks out of the building, filled with joy. She believes her life is full of hope. Little by little, her life is falling into place.

She stops a taxi by the side of the road to go to the Lamberts.

Shortly after, the car stops in front of the Lamberts' villa. She pays and goes downstairs.

She enters, walking at a steady, dynamic pace.

In the living room, Morgane is sitting on the sofa in a silk nightgown, which brings out her seductive side.

Seeing Mia, she raises a delicate eyebrow.

- Isn't that Mia?

Mia looks down at Morgane's wrist, who is wearing a jade bracelet and frowns. She saw it in her mother's jewelry box when she was little. Her mother said that this bracelet was part of her grandmother's inheritance. But now it's in Morgane.

Mia suppresses her anger.

- I came for George.

Morgane fiddles with her beautifully polished nails, without looking up.

- You married a cripple, I'm sure it's not a good life for you, is it?

- It's none of your business, speak softly Mia.

She asks again:

- Is George here?

Morgane looks up and stares at Mia for a moment.

- You're skinny as a nail. Your husband, a cripple, doesn't love you either, does he?

Mia sneers. Thanks to Joseph's "disability", she was able to return.

If Morgane knows that Joseph is not crippled, will she regret not having married her daughter to him?

As a man, Joseph is truly handsome, capable, and wealthy. He therefore attracts many women.

As George is not there, she does not want to argue with Morgane for nothing.

She turns to leave. When she reaches the door, a car comes up the road and stops in front of the door. It's a car that Mia knows, because it belongs to George.

The driver immediately opens the door. George gets out of the car. Seeing Mia at the door, he thinks she may have come to ask for Jeanne's dowry. He puts on a somber expression and starts talking without waiting for her to say anything.

- If you want your mother's dowry, it's possible. But you have to do one thing for me.

Mia frowns.

- You said you would give these things back to my mother if I married Joseph!

George sneers.

- Why did I want you to marry him? Because it would help the Lambert family, especially in our business!

Mia trembles with anger.

- How can you not keep your word? Are you still a man?

- You are really badly brought up! said George with a distorted face. I'm your father and this is how you talk to me?

Mia is cold. She feels a shiver down her spine and an even greater coldness in her heart.

How dare he go back on his word?

- If you want something, tell Joseph to give me the rights to build the Bay.

Then, George walks past her and enters the yard. He stops again a few steps away from Mia.

- This land is very important to me. If you convince Joseph to give it to me, I'll give you back everything your mother brought here, including the piano she gave you for your birthday.

Mia could never have imagined that George would be so cheeky!

Since he does not keep his promise, Mia no longer trusts him.

We have to find another way to recover these assets.

Mia squints. The land he desires is in Joseph's hands.

If she wants to tackle George's weaknesses, she will probably have to work on her "new husband".

But how will she do it?

Although married, they are total strangers to each other.

Upon returning to the villa, Mia found no solution. However, she receives the call which informs her that she is not accepted.

- You didn't say you wanted me to go to work there tomorrow? Mia said anxiously.

- Sorry, we cannot hire you because you do not meet our requirements.

Then he hangs up.

Mia looks at her phone and can't figure out what just happened for a long time.