“I think this sums up the changes that Ms. Poulin has asked to be made to the scripts approved so far.” Millicent said to the team, taking the slides she had prepared for that meeting off the projector “I ask you all have the utmost perfectionism when making these corrections. Remember, it wasn't easy to convince Mrs. Poulin to give us a vote of confidence. We need to prove to her that we are capable of meeting her expectations if we really want to receive her confirmation to begin pre-productions…”
“Thanks, Miss. Bianchi.” Austin cut her off, clearly irritated after being forced to spend so much time just listening to her talk “As the leader of this project, I will take over from now on. After all, I'm sure that if Mrs. Poulin has finally decided to be a little less merciless towards us, it's because the requests I made to her have taken effect. So you can be sure that I will be able to do it again if nec
It was still impressive to Millicent that she had wasted so much of her life worrying about what other people were thinking about her. Now that she had simply accepted most of her co-workers thought only the worst about her, everything seemed easier and more predictable. Still cumbersome, no doubt, but much easier.“Look at her, thinking she rules over all of us, just because Austin’s brother is here today.” one of the secretaries grunted, probably not even imagining that Millicent could hear her from where she was in the break room “So, What does it matter if this man has money? It's not like he owns the company! I've heard people on the team comment that his frames have caused even a gentleman like Austin to lose his temper lately. I hate knowing we're all in the hands of arrogant idiots like them and that woman, Pauline or something. She thinks that, just because she has a few Oscars at home, she can walk around like she owns everything and everyone.”“Well, it seems like she’s been
“Okay, Millie. The GPS says we’re almost there.” “Thanks, Josiah.” Millicent sighed, watching the city lights pass through the car window “But, you really didn't need to offer to drive me here. Another driver or even a member of Sage’s team could…”“Stop it right there, young lady. I know I'm old, but I'm still capable of putting in a few miles. I’ve done this my whole life, after all.” Thea's husband snorted, as if his pride was hurt “It's great to be retired and be able to just do nothing all day, especially now that Joshua has finally decided to give me some grandchildren. But, oddly enough, I still miss working. Especially when Thea and your parents make me go to those appointments where a butcher keeps breaking my bones…”“You know physical therapy is good for your arthritis.” Millie laughed “Also, you can drive as much as you want, as long as it doesn't harm your health. You just don't have to do this for our family, as if it were your obligation. I would really be fine coming h
“I'm not even surprised they came all this way…” Millicent muttered as she watched her ex-fiancé and his girlfriend enter the bar, surrounded by an unnecessarily high number of security guards, as if they were celebrities or something “But knowing they probably had someone watching me, so they knew I was coming here, really pisses me off.”“I think it was too much for Austin to know you would continue to be seen with me without him being able to do anything to stop it.” Isaac commented, sitting comfortably in the chair next to hers, looking as resigned to the situation as Millicent.“Typical of him.” Millie grumbled, taking the last sip of her drink and trying to pretend just that small glass hadn't already messed with her head.“Do you want to leave?” “And let him think that just his mere presence is enough to make me back out of my date?” she just grunted, pulling her second drink closer “Never.”“Good girl.” A ghost of a smile appeared on Isaac's face and, to her surprise, he cares
“Did you notice the car too?” Isaac asked, as Millicent looked in the rearview mirror at the sports car that was right behind them.“It's hard not to notice when I'm not making any effort to be discreet.” she grumbled, watching Austin's car almost get hit by another when the light they had just passed turned red “I don't know how many messages I've already had to send to Sage asking her not to intercept them. Jasmine must be very determined to become the new Mrs. Carnby if she is willing to watch her boyfriend become a stalker stalker.” Millicent sighed, relieved to realize that they were approaching Isaac's condominium “Are you sure you shouldn't notify your security team too? If Austin seems comfortable following us, I don't doubt he'll try to get in here.”"Don't worry. The security team at this place knows the
In total, Millicent tried to have sex with Austin three times. It sucked that she was thinking about this at a time like this, but in her defense, it was almost shocking the difference between those three terrible moments and what was happening at that moment. Everything with Austin was about manipulations and his own desires. She had never really felt like sleeping with him, but had been carried away by his whining and mumbling about how, if she really loved him, she would prove her love in bed. But as great as that bastard was at convincing her to do what she didn't want, not even his talk had been able to make Millicent fight the repulsion and desperation of having him approach her like a pervert, wanting to snatch her underwear. It would forever be a relief that she had never let him get this far, not even with her bra on.Now, however, all that was coveri
For a moment, Millicent can only stand there, her blood cold and her stomach churning with despair as she observes the marks on his legs. The burns were certainly old, as the color was dark and there were parts that had gone through a better healing process than others. While his feet and ankles were completely covered, irregular waves rose to near his knees, becoming brighter and clearer until they disappeared.And her heart sank as Millicent imagined the kind of pain he must have gone through to be marked like that.“Sometimes I forget how disgusting this can be to see.” Isaac commented, finally snapping her out of her shock “Doctors often say I could have reconstructive surgery, but I don't see why I should bother with something like that.” he said coldly, with his eyes on the clothes scattered on the floor “I can always get dressed again, of course…”"No!" Millicent jumped onto the bed, grabbing his wrist “Please, don't say that. I would never feel disgusted with you. It’s just…” h
“Oh, God…” Millicent wailed, her breath catching in her throat as she instinctively dug her nails into Isaac’s back, as that new sensation washed over her.“Take a deep breath.” Isaac murmured, freezing in place with just an inch inside her, as his hands slowly trailed down her belly in a gentle caress “It’s just for now. You will feel better in no time…”Millie, however, didn't give him much time to continue his comforting, as sweet as it was to know he was worried about her. Overcome by that feeling of urgency, she tightened the embrace of her legs around his waist, undulating against him until she could feel a little more of his thickness inside her.“What…?” he grunted in pleasure, but still held her hips firmly, almost as if he believed she had done it unintentionally “You… You're not in pain…?”“I… I don’t know…” she admitted, not knowing if that was the right word to describe the feeling of being filled completely like that “I… I always heard that sometimes there is no pain, but
Millicent was no longer a virgin. That was the first thing she thought when she opened her eyes after a quick nap and found herself After what had happened with Austin, she had even thought that this moment would never come. But, well, it would be difficult to remain a virgin when Isaac had fucked her in various positions and places in the bedroom throughout the evening. And night. And that early morning… And she had loved every second of it.It was a good thing it was Sunday, because she would need to sleep for a long time to regain her energy.The spot between her thighs was sore and her body was a little stiff, but not in a bad way. It was as if she had overdone it a little at the gym, but… For good reason. She should probably get up right away and start getting ready so she wouldn't be home too late, but that sweet exhaustion only made her want to snuggle even more into the warm bed and stay there, feeling Isaac's fullness on the pillow right next to her. Millicent would have to
"Massimo, if we're going to do this, then I think you should at least try to hide your mocking smile. I don't think anyone will have any doubt that our intentions are not good if they see you entering my mother's house." Dante sighed, straightening up in the seat of the limo they were all in, clearly nervous."What are you talking about? That's my normal face." Massimo shrugged, that smile only widening “Can’t a man be in a good mood anymore?”“You don’t even know what Laura’s plans are for tonight, Massimo.” Alice lightly elbowed him, "She's not necessarily going to make a fuss or embarrass Emma. If you're expecting a show, you might end up disappointed."“Well, I could certainly use some entertainment, but I don’t care.” "I would love to see Emma's expression when she finds out that we all know she has her own illegitimate child, but just being able to walk through her house tonight and look into her face knowing that is enough."“I just hope that whatever Laura is planning really c
"Why did you come back?" Millicent questioned, frustrated "You clearly left not only your name and your life, but also your entire past behind. Anyone can see that you got the happy life you wanted, alongside your husband. So... Why now? If you didn't come back for so many years, even knowing the kind of person you had left Isaac alone with... What changed?"“I always wanted to go back for Isaac.” she stated, shrinking "But... Circumstances were never favorable enough... Until he became an adult and it seemed to be too late. But, I never left him helpless. Neither he nor my brother." Imogen chewed on her lower lip "I shouldn't have been surprised that Vincent suspected I was alive. He was always good at seeing more than other people were capable of. That was one of the reasons I left Isaac. I knew his uncle would protect him, especially after he turned 18. I just didn't expect Vince to involve him in his damn revenge plans!" Imogen growled "He should have left Isaac alone! Help him go
“You can start talking.” Millicent snapped, after several minutes had passed, lengthening that terribly uncomfortable silence between them “That's what you came here for, isn't it?”"Yes, I..." Imogen's voice shook, almost breaking "It's just... I think I spent too much time trying to forget the past. Talking about it isn't as simple as opening your mouth and letting the words come out." She massaged her own throat for a moment, as if it were actually a physical pain “How much… How much do you know about what my life was like, when I was still Imogen Carnby?”“I know what your son and your brother told me.” Millie sighed "I know your relationship with your father wasn't good and your marriage with Evan was terrible. But, I still don't think that justifies it..." “Terrible is quite a kind word for my situation at that time.” Imogen interrupted, with a dark smile "It's not like I blame Vincent for not knowing how to tell my side of the story properly. He was preoccupied with his own pro
"That's why I'm going to take action, Millicent… Millicent? Millicent!" Laura’s voice gradually rose on the other end of the call, until it pierced Millicent’s thoughts “Can you hear me?”"I'm sorry, Laura, I..." Millie sighed, supporting her head with her free hand "I'm just a little distracted. Today was... A long day.""You've been saying that all week. Frankly, Isaac Carnby isn't worth that much that you're losing sleep over him." Laura grumbled and Millicent had to bite her tongue to keep from admitting that, besides him, her mother was also haunting her all the time lately. “Did you even hear what I said?”"Yes. Uncle Dante had already mentioned at our last dinner that he received an invitation to Emma's ball. Not that it's a surprise. It's been like this since I can remember: they fight, he moves away from her and then Emma tries to get closer. I think she lives in eternal denial that her son has completely moved away from her." Millie sighed “But… I admit I didn’t hear the part
"Take a sip of water and pull yourself together, Ms. Bianchi. I don't think either of us are going to get out of here anytime soon if you keep sitting there shaking, instead of talking."Millicent tried to swallow the lump in her throat as she looked up to see Isaac's uncle placing a glass of water on the table in front of her, before sitting down on the sofa, his hands folded on top of his cane dismissively. He could have let her in, but his manner wasn't exactly friendly. She had hoped that he might simply shatter her theories the moment she mentioned her sister's name, whether by sending her away or yelling at her for mentioning Imogen Carnby's name out of nowhere.Yet there he was, completely silent and staring at her as if he were waiting for a confession. And honestly, Millicent was indeed feeling like she was being interrogated, even though they were both silent.After all, how exactly was she supposed to say she had seen his dead sister, without sounding crazy?“I… I’m sorry f
Millicent had promised herself that she would no longer approach Isaac. And, theoretically, she was fulfilling her promise. She was back in the building where they had met so many times to make love, spend the day together or just talk. Not even she was in denial enough to say it didn't affect her, especially after the cold and indifferent way Isaac had treated her days ago... But, what really mattered was that she wasn't in danger of finding him there at any moment. She had made sure of that…Even if it meant joining forces with someone else she hadn't yet forgiven.“Everything is clean.” Sage said on her side, typing message after message to her team "His car is already miles away. And, if by any chance he decides to come back, I'll make sure you have enough time to get out of here safely and discreetly."“Thank you.” was all Millicent replied, without much enthusiasm.Being around Sage again reminded her of the friendship the two shared. Or rather, she thought they shared. Knowing
Millicent’s heart beat so fast that, for an instant, she thought it would escape her chest. A terrible shiver seemed to run through her body and into her veins, and for a second she felt almost as if she were about to faint. But, fortunately, no one there seemed to notice her condition.No one but the woman named Dasha Nikolaev, whose eyes kept darting back and forth in Millicent's direction nervously, almost as if she were afraid of something.“Oh, what a lovely piece.” Mrs. Davis praised, taking the small pearl between her fingers “So simple and yet so charming…”“Thank you.” Dasha cleared her throat, turning her face to the side as if to avoid Millicent's gaze at all costs "I got them from my husband a long time ago. It was terrible that I lost the pair, ages ago..." she hesitated, as if she had lost herself in thought for a moment "But, Mr. Sokolov sure did a fantastic job. It's as if I have the original pearl with me again. Vasily will certainly be impressed too. He has been insis
Millicent had been regretting many of her decisions lately, there was no denying it. And, the moment she had removed Sage from her position as head of security, a part of Millie had always known that she would bitterly regret it at some point.But she didn't imagine it would be that much.“You shouldn’t be here, Ms. Bianchi.” James Moore, the new head of security that her father had personally appointed for her, repeated for the hundredth time as they walked through the small garden of the Greco estate “It’s not safe.”“But you’re with me, aren’t you?” Millie said, trying to sound friendly, although he was starting to get on her nerves with all that inflexibility "Your team is all spread out and I'm not delusional enough to think you didn't send our location to your backup. So please relax, Mr. Moore. I just want to visit a friend..."“Whoever your friend is and why she is here, it is still a situation that needs to be reported to your father.” he said, not as a question, but as a stat
“If you’re too nervous to attend this meeting, then I can make up some excuse for you to go home.” Laura muttered under her breath, sitting in the chair next to Millicent.“This is absolutely unnecessary.” Millicent snorted and, for what seemed like the hundredth time in just the last hour, squeezed her knees under the table, trying to calm the nervous movement of her leg "I'm the manager of two of this company's main projects. Why shouldn't I be present during the monthly accounting with our investor?" Her teeth ground together before she could even hide it.“Your father spent the whole dinner yesterday talking everybody ears off about you being confined in a room with Isaac Carnby today.” she sighed, with a mix of annoyance and a bit of what seemed to be... Worry, perhaps? "Frankly, I still think it's a little ridiculous that he would have that kind of concern about a woman his age, but... I have to admit that I've never had children. I don't know what it feels like to worry 24/7 abo