Chapter 5 - Millicent

“Oh, baby… You promised me you would let me drink something before we enjoyed our last moments at the hotel…”

Jasmine's giggle was pretty audible, but Millicent just ignored it and continued staring at the long, impeccably arranged table in front of her, patiently waiting for her guests to arrive at that particular bar in the hotel.

“Millicent!” Austin gasped and, only then, did she allow herself to turn around, wearing the best smile she had rehearsed “What are you doing here?” She watched Austin pull away from Jasmine suddenly, arranging his robe like he was the epitome of chastity and Jasmine had her hair messed up like that just because of a good night's sleep.

It was sickening to realize they had never made such a point of hiding those clues, but Millicent just turned a blind eye to it, acting like the blind idiot she knew they were hoping to find.

"Good morning. I hope you guys are hungry.” was all she said, as warmly as she could manage “I woke up early and asked the chef to prepare breakfast for the three of us. It was very kind of him to book this place so we could be comfortable.” She stared at Austin's surprised expression “It's my way of apologizing for going overboard yesterday and being so unfair to you. Now I see that you were just helping my project go further. I mean… Our project now, right?” She offered him a forcedly sweet smile, which made him relax instantly.

“That’s a relief, baby. I was so worried that you misunderstood me…” Austin celebrated and, even though she wanted to push him away, Millicent allowed him to hug her and kiss her face “You know that everything I do is thinking only about the best for my beloved future wife.” he purred and Millie was attentive enough to notice the dissatisfaction on Jasmine's face when he said that.

"I know that. That's why I prepared another surprise. I called the wedding planner as soon as I woke up.” she revealed “I asked her to advance the engagement party preparations and, guess what? She loved the idea! The new date is in a week.”

“What?” Jasmine panted, a barely suppressed anger hidden in her voice.

"That's right." Millicent stood before her “Thank you for saying all those things to me yesterday, Jass. Without you, I would never have realized I was wrong and I wouldn't have come up with this wonderful idea. You are the best friend I could have.” A part of Millie still expected Jasmine to look the least bit guilty about those words, but she just smiled back, with a perfect mask of affection.

“I will always be here for you both, sweetheart. Always." Jasmine repeated, making it sound like it was a threat and not a promise “It's the least I can do, after everything you've done for me. Oh, and, about that report Mr. Davis asked me for…”

"Don't worry. I promised I would do it for you and that’s what I will do.” Millicent replied, knowing full well what she wanted “Oh, but that reminds me that, unfortunately, I won't be able to join you two for breakfast. I still need to discuss some details of the party with the ceremonialist and do some shopping for my mother. Do you mind working alone this mourning, before we catch the plane back home?” Her smile almost faltered when Jasmine flew up to grab Austin's arm, before her question was even finished.

“We’re going to be okay, sweetheart. I will take care of him for you.” Jasmine smiled delightedly, while Austin just gasped, as if her hand hadn't stopped on his back.

“That’s great. I’ll see you later.”

She waved at them, but her smile fell the moment she turned her back on those two, not having the slightest doubt what they would do while she was away. However, instead of heading to her room, she diverted her path to where Sage and the other security guards were already positioned, just waiting to ensure that no one would see her visit Isaac Carnby's room again.

She had a plan to prove how wrong he was about her determination. But if she could strike a deal with him before then, it would be even better.

However, what Millicent received this time was not Isaac. In fact, she hadn't even knocked on the door when a low, harsh sound interrupted her. It was a moan, but not the kind she had heard the day before in Jasmine's room. That was more of a growl, a mix of anger and frustration. 

A sound of pain.

Maybe because that activated the memories she had from her childhood, of the times she had found her father suffering alone somewhere to hide his pain, she didn't think about what she was doing. Instead, she just pushed the door open and, to her surprise, Isaac probably hadn't locked it with the hotel card, as it simply slid open. 

Leaving her faced with the sight of Isaac standing in front of a mirror, his chest bare and his pants pulled down almost to the edge of his crotch, as he picked at a wound at the end of his abdomen that seemed to be gushing blood all over the room.

“What are you…?” he started to ask, harshly, but Millicent had already acted on instinct, running to grab the first aid kit that was thrown on his bed, ripping off a bandage so she could press it against his wound “Fuck! What do you think you’re doing?!” Isaac growled, but as furious as he seemed, she just remained crushed between him and the mirror, determined to stop his bleeding.

“What are you doing?! Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to lose that much blood?! Why didn’t you seek help, if you were hurt…?” she questioned him, horrified “Stop trying to get away! I need to try to stop this bleeding before we ask for help…”

“I don’t need any help.” Isaac growled, moving away roughly “And I know very well how first aid works. That's exactly what I was trying to do before you invaded my room. Now, go away…!”

“Well, I'm sure you don't have a nurse mother who taught you exactly what to do.” Distressed by the sight of his hands full of blood over the open wound, Millicent took advantage of him sitting on the bed to lean over him, helping his hands push the bandage as deep as possible “Stop being so difficult and be quiet. It looks like the blood is stopping, but we still need to clean it up and you need to go to the hospital to get some stitches… Or… Restitched…” she hesitated as she began to clean his red painted skin, realizing the wound was already sutured and looked too rounded “Is that… A gunshot wound?”

“Do I look like the type to go to gunfights?” he asked, acidly.

“No, but…”

“So, no more stupid questions.” he growled, but at least he didn't try to pull away again as she continued the bandage “Why are you here, anyway?”

“I…” Millicent stammered, trying to ignore the sight of his body almost completely exposed over her hands “I came here to talk with you again…”

“Do you have anything concrete to show me this time?” he pressed “Or are you just going to whine again about how you need my help?”

“I’m not whining or begging!” she growled, refusing to look away, no matter how much her heart was racing to have him leaning over her like that again “I can get what I want without you, Carnby, you can be sure. What I'm trying to make you understand is that we would get what we want faster, if we worked together. Unlike what you seem to think… I am not your enemy.” Millicent stated, standing up after securing the last part of his bandage.

“Things work better for me when I do them alone.” he touched the bandage, looking more skittish than ever “It will take a lot more than words if you want to prove to me that it’s worth taking the risk of having Austin’s fiancée as my partner, Bianchi.”

For a moment, she stared at him, considering trying to say something more to convince him. However, when those dark eyes made it very clear this was not possible, Millicent just turned her back on him, pulling his forgotten shirt from the floor so she could clean her bloody hands.

“I know you tore up the last invitation you received, but you should think about coming to my engagement party next weekend.” was all she said, before leaving her room “I promise you won't regret it.”