Michael finished up in his office and then went to find Julie. He couldn’t leave things like this. Michael wasn’t sure what happened, but she wasn’t herself in the meeting. He noticed her struggle and wanted to reassure her. Michael was certain she reacted to something from the meeting. With a coffee in one hand and her medication in the other, he had a ring box burning a hole in his pocket with a new engagement and wedding ring combination inside it. Michael wanted her to see it as an effort he was making to prove to her she meant something to him. He found her in her office glued to her laptop. Beckett saw him and gave him a nod before he exited the office without an explanation. Michael would take that as Beckett was giving them some time together. He got her attention; Julie took her earbuds out, and he could hear the computer reading aloud her writing to her. “Hey, can we talk?” She’d been editing some of her writing. Julie tracked her writin
“Michael, I’m not sure you understand this. But just because I’m easy to get along with isn’t necessarily how our child would act. Everything is random, our differences are more likely going to be different. A male will present different symptoms to a female. That’s why it took them so long to diagnose me. When I was a child, they didn’t believe girls could have ADHD or autism. Treatment for women is less understood than for men. What’s effective for men may not be effective for women. Different body makeup and size differences contribute to medications being too strong for women. Also, women’s symptoms are simply different. We learn to hide our symptoms until we no longer can. That’s what makes us appear ill.” “I have never shirked my duty or backed down from a challenge.” “Is that what I am? A duty and a challenge? Is that what our child would be?” “There you go, twisting my words against me.” “No, I’m not Michael. I’m trying to und
“I’m sorry Beckett, but what are you talking about?” Michael relaxed his embrace. Julie slipped from his arms uncomfortably and watched him speak with Beckett. “The answer to your request for a retraction is out, but I think it’s had a wider fallout than you expected.” Beckett moved to Julie’s laptop and pulled up a search on the article and responses to it. He didn’t have a problem finding it. There were several already trending. When her browser came up, it displayed breaking news, and it appeared in more than one spot. “Explain.” Michael became all business. Julie had seen this aspect of his personality before. He stared at the screen as Beckett pointed out the articles and summarized it for him. “Sir. Other outlets are picking up the retraction and using it to criticize the outlet who published the original article. Searches are up on your company and on A.K. Crusader. They’re using it as an example of shoddy journalism and what the industry i
“Julie, why are you trying to take the blame here when it’s clearly mine? It makes little sense, love.” Michael turned his phone off and put it down. He took hers and repeated the action. Then before she could do more than protest, his taking her phone. “No. I think it’s time these disappeared. We’ll deal with this now.” He pulled her into his lap and used his arms to hold her and keep her close. “You aren’t at fault in this. You’ve consistently portrayed me as a decent person to others. Though I haven’t done the same for you. You never stopped caring, no matter how horrible I or anyone else was to you. I judged you solely based on your appearance and my preconceived notions about women. I overlooked what was right in front of me, prioritizing the opinions of others. You endured not only that, but also everything else people threw at you. I’m the one that used your generosity to prevent you from dating selfishly all while I paraded my lovers in front of you. Hell, you planned my weddin
Leon received a call from the rehab centre finally almost two weeks into her stay. They were finally ready to involve him in her recovery. Leon wasn’t sure exactly how he’d be involved, but he’d wanted to know how she was doing. He questioned the extent of the drug used on her personality versus her genuine self. They set up a meeting time. Leon hadn’t expected the meeting to take over three hours. The doctor needed to talk to him before Leon could meet Aria in a supervised area. For her improvement, Leon would agree to anything. He kept reliving seeing her desperately tearing at her closet and purse, searching for the tiny bottle of pills. When he arrived at the rehab centre, the next afternoon after lunch, Leon found himself led into the spacious office of Aria’s doctor. “Mr. Opus. Thank you for coming so promptly.” The doctor stood to greet Leon with a firm handshake. “Doctor.” Leon approached the doctor with caution,
Julie sat up in bed while Michael returned from completing his nightly routine and she had to admit he never had to worry about his appearance. His body rippled with toned perfection in every way possible. She loved just watching him casually, going about his day. These were the times she could forget how poorly he’d acted earlier. Now Julie’s thoughts wandered back to the changes in Michael’s behaviour. Would they continue and could she forgive and forget the past? To her, she felt like she was with someone new, and they were bonding. When Michael heard her analysis of his past, she feared any connection they’d made disappeared with his feeling of hurt. Her fears never came to pass. Instead, he did something she’d not expected and held her. Just held her, leaving several kisses on her temple and sat there with her on his lap. Michael said nothing for the longest time. Julie was unsure about pushing him to share his thoughts. To her, Julie felt if this was any
“Then get those nipples throbbing and needy. I want you mindlessly enjoying it as I fuck your body senseless tonight.” Michael said what he wanted from her. His words only increased his desire as his eyes hungrily took in her curvaceous body. His finger slowly teased her clit as the head of his cock rested at her entrance. Julie could feel her body readying itself for his cock invading her. He moaned in her ear softly when he could no longer hold back his urge to thrust. But he still didn’t enter her. Michael realigned his cock head with her entrance while he watched her tease her breasts and he gently touched her clit with the tip of a finger, holding her nether lips wide at the same time. “So perfect.” Michael buried his nose in her shoulder and hair. She could hear his words and heavy breathing, but Michael wasn’t in a hurry tonight. “Michael, oh god. I swear I feel an ache down there for your cock in me. Spreading me open like that it makes me want to cum.
“Good morning, Stephen. To what do I owe this early morning call?” Julie’s day would go downhill if her morning routine ended up interrupted. In the last month, it’d changed so much with Michael’s interest in her changing as it had. He’d returned to work again in his office, so she finally had time for herself. It evoked a blend of positive and negative emotions. She still struggled to get her writing ready for Mike, her editor, to work his magic with it. The idea of what she would do with her novel once Mike completed it caused her to wrestle internally. Michael may assume her publisher would retract their decision, but she’d heard nothing after the meeting and the few words online. “Julie, I know you, and I wanted to check in with you. Please inform me if you need anything or have any good news to share.” “I’ll survive if that’s what you mean, Stephen.” “How is that husband of yours?” “He’s fine, as far as