I'm happy to be able to bring you two chapters this Thursday, as we had agreed ^^ Please let me know what you prefer: two short chapters like today or one long chapter per day. I'm hoping for a short vacation in February and I hope this will help me stabilize the update schedule, to bring you more chapters, without missing days. Keep your fingers crossed.
“That’s what you call capture?! Where did you put the fucking wire I gave you? In your ass?” Commissioner Wilson shouted, making Isaac roll his eyes.“If you are incompetent and cannot capture the evidence you prepared yourself, then it is not my problem.” he sighed “I could have ended up with a bullet in my head if that piece of junk of yours had let out one last hiss, but you’re not listening to me talk shit, are you?”“Listen here, you son of a bitch…”“Calm down, Greg. The boy has a point. Don't forget he is our best tool right now. None of the others managed to approach the Greco’s as successfully as he did.” Wilson’s right-hand man, Detective Holloway, interceded “Relax a little. What we captured was enough evidenc
If Millicent had known those three days of workshopping for Austin's team would be so tiring, she would have tried harder to keep Austin around and forced him to act as a leader, rather than running away and leaving all the responsibilities on her shoulders.“Gosh…” she sighed as she finally sank into an armchair in the anteroom of the company auditorium. On the other side of the wall where she was leaning, the last lecture of the day had ended and now the entire team was free to talk and enjoy the buffet she had hired for that occasion. Well, at least they all looked happy and excited, ready to go back to work full steam ahead the next day. It made Millicent feel like all that effort had been worth it.“If you ever ask me to help you with something like that again…” Cassie, who was already leaning back in an armchair on her side, mumbled “Our friendship is over. And I don't care if it counts in my time bank. I would a million times rather spend all night working for Mr. Davis than ru
“And then, just when I was really starting to believe we had lost all of the film's footage, my assistant managed to find a single backup saved on one of the editors' computers.” the young man in front of Millicent concluded his story with a relieved sigh, almost as if he was reliving that moment “That saved my ass. I could never redo the filming with that first budget Mrs. Poulin gave me.”Millicent was relieved to be able to smile at that moment, as it helped her suppress a yawn. It wasn't like poor Mr. Lloyd was extremely boring or anything. He was a dedicated apprentice to Laura and a film director who was shooting his third independent film. His humor was pleasant and he had even insisted that she just call him Albert. Under other circumstances, she would have been more interested in hearing him talk about all this. But, God, she was so, so tired... After days of preparing for the workshop, she had still spent more time there, talking to Laura's partners as they left one after the
For a second, the two remained frozen there, facing each other. Isaac looking shocked, while Millicent felt her head almost hurt from the amount of thoughts that occurred to her in the space of a second. Was this what it felt like to have an epiphany? Feeling like a multitude of loose pieces in your brain had finally connected and formed a complete picture? Something she had never thought about before, but suddenly seemed obvious?All that time lamenting the fact Austin had become a different person than he showed in those letters, and now…“Isaac.” she called out to him again, her tone becoming urgent “Answer me.”“I don't know what you're talking about.” Isaac spoke, but it sounded so artificial and untrue that Millicent didn't even mind the coldness in his voice “Whatever happened to you, Austin and those letters, is in the past. Forget it.”“I... I always wondered what could have happened to make Austin so different in person than he was in those letters, but... I didn't allow myse
Isaac had been in sticky situations before. Situations where coming out with just a broken arm or a few cuts was an advantage.But at that moment, as Millicent stared at him with outrage and hurt in her big green eyes, he felt a strange kind of nervousness that he had never experienced before. He had even driven her to his apartment, hoping that maybe some quiet time would relax her a little, but… From the look on her face, they were going to have a long night ahead. And not in a good way.“Are you finally going to start talking?” she asked, her voice low and as threatening as Millicent could be “Or am I going to have to get this out of you?”“How exactly do you plan to do this? Maybe I'll end up liking it...'' He gave her his best seductive smile, but even though her cheeks gained a little color, she remained stern.“I'm going to get really mad if you keep treating this like a joke, Carnby.” she grunted, her shoulders slowly lowering, as if his attempt to ease the tension had only s
“I thought Austin had no interest in being my pen pal.” Millicent snorted, her tone annoyed as if she was irritated even by Austin's past self "He decided to interfere just to keep you from having a single friend?"“Austin might be lazy, but he was never stupid.” Isaac sighed “He always knew he would have to obey Evan's orders and fulfill his role as your long-distance friend, even though it took you three years to return to America. When the rumor started going around High Society that Massimo and his family were going back to their mansion in New York, Austin finally decided to do his homework and read some of the letters you sent me. I tried to trick him, but… I wasn't very successful.” “Trick him?” Millicent asked and, only then, did Isaac realize he had blurted out more than he should have “What do you mean?”“I… I didn't want him to find out about how close we were. I didn’t want him to know you had become my best friend.” Isaac grumbled, but left out the main part.Even though
It had only been a little over a week since Isaac had laid his hands on Millicent, but even so, he felt like a man trapped in a desert, thirsty for any drop of water he could get. Despite all the desire and need he had contained within himself while she was mad at him, not even Isaac himself had any idea he was about to lose control like that. His arms seemed to have a mind of their own as he carried Millicent to the bedroom. Their tongues were intertwined as they kissed and his hands were filled with her ass, feeling her move her hips toward his erection, aching and still hidden in his pants. But even so, that didn't seem to be enough. The walk to the bed suddenly felt too long, too long to wait, especially when Millicent was moaning against his mouth, looking as needy as he did.“Isaac…” Millicent panted in his ear when, instead of wasting any more time walking over to that useless bed, Isaac sat her down on the dining table, letting her breathe a little while he kissed her neck, e
Evan and Florence’s parties always tended to be exaggerated and bordered on megalomania. But there was something more to this one in particular. They had invited every person who was part of or close to High Society, including those who had no relevance to their business with the Bianchi, so their ballroom was as absurdly crowded as ever. However, everything, from the decor to the nearby string quartet playing, seemed too expensive and refined, even by their standards. Not that Millicent thought it was a mere coincidence, however. It was a message.“Continue supporting my son in his goals and we offer all this fortune to you.” That was what Evan and Florence wanted to make clear to everyone there, even without words. The facade that relations between the Bianchi and Carnbys had continued even after the engagement party scandal fooled no one. Everyone knew Austin's stay at her father's company and that contract with Evan were just a time bomb waiting to explode. Regardless of how good
"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
“Vincent…!” Isaac tried to react, but the other son of a bitch had already jumped on him too, holding his arms behind his back hard enough for him to feel the bones in his wrists creak, as if they were about to break."Oh, don't be so worried. I used to discipline my new partners in much worse ways in the past. You can ask his uncle later." Ugo laughed, his almost disappearing under the strong wind around them and Vincent's grunts of pain, while Ugo's bodyguard continued to punch and kick him without mercy, not giving him even the slightest opportunity to try to get up from the ground "He's going to be fine. You probably don't know, but your uncle has been through much worse...."“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Isaac twitched, causing the grip on the man's hands holding him to falter, only for the next instant an