“Oh my god, Lexi, this place is amazing! I cannot believe I am here right now!” I try not to scream too loud into the phone locked between my ear and shoulder as I clumsily pull my luggage through the suite door.
“You’re such a b*tch, I wish you could have brought a plus one. Why is your boss so stingy?” Lexi whines at me through the phone.
“Oh stop, you know I am only here for three days and the time I have to myself will be minimal at best. And you would be stuck schlepping something for them, not relaxing. Lady Corleone only spends money on herself and her daughter. I am here because the business deal we are completing needs me in person according to Lady C, otherwise, I would have video conferenced into the meeting from home.”
I finally get all my things into the room since the hotel staff is busy with Lady C and Mallory’s belongings, which required its own form of transportation.
“She only has you video conference so you can’t distract any of the hot guys from Mallory. That girl needs all the help she can get and you have the total package without trying. Lady C must be desperate to get this deal if she’s putting you in the same room as Mallory and what ever business mogul she’s after.”
“Whatever, It’s just an expansion project for her fashion warehouse. It’s not that big of a deal, this location is too spotty to do a call-in from back home, that’s all. I have to run and get ready for our meeting prep, I’ll let you know when I actually get some beach time. Love you.”
She giggles at me. “Love you too babe. Call me before you fly out. Do you still need a ride home from the airport?”
“Yes. Gabriel will be gone a day longer than me.”
“It must be nice to have the same schedule as your boyfriend. At least he can’t complain about the amount of random hours and travel you do for Lady C, since he basically does the same.” Copyright ©️ 2025 Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Production.
“It’s a benefit for now, but I know we will both have to give up some of that when we finally get married and start a family.”
“When is that going to be exactly? You guys have been together since college. Haven’t you hit like Common Law status yet?”
I laugh. “You are impossible!” This is not the first time she has brought up the topic of me getting married.
“But you love me!”
“I do and I love him and we will do all the normal couple stuff when our jobs settle down a bit.”
“Sure you will. He’s so comfortable the way you have things, you will never get married if you don’t say something soon.”
“Ugh! Don’t start that again. He will ask when the time is right. I really have to go, Lady C will be pissed if I don’t have this teleconference ready when she is.”
“Teleconference?! Why the hell are you doing a teleconference with someone who is in the same hotel as you?”
“Don’t get me started, but the bottom line is they are not here yet. They get in later tonight. Love you, gotta run!” I hang up before she can derail me again.
I toss my phone on the bed and start pulling things out of my suitcase to keep them wrinkle free. I am only here for three days, but I have my six best suits with me, three pants suits and three with various types of skirts, all in shades of black. Lady Corleone is very particular about clothing color and how it shows your status in the room. I am 24 and started interning at Lady C’s marketing firm my senior year in high school and was lucky enough to stay on through college working my way through the ranks of her firm. Once I graduated, I became one of 4 personal assistants to Lady C herself. I am the youngest and least experienced so I don’t get to do many things that she would consider important. This trip is a first for me and I don’t want to blow it.
About twenty minutes later I am primped and prepped and standing at Lady C’s door waiting for James, her security guard/driver/lover. I don’t want to know about that relationship, but, of course, others at the company like to share the juiciest rumors and I’m not opposed to listening to them. There’s always some basis to what is said even though most of the time it’s out of context. He has always been kind to me. He understands what they are like and tries to shield me from some of the maliciousness Mallory likes to dish out.
James opens the door. “Aurora, just in time. She thought you might have gotten distracted by the scenery.” He chuckles a bit, giving me a knowing look. He knows good and well I am thirty minutes earlier than Lady C requested. I just roll my eyes in response, plaster a meek smile on my face, and go in ready for whatever insults are coming my way today. Mallory likes to put me down as soon as I enter any space she’s in. I’m used to it and don’t really care for her opinion. Her mother is a different story.
“It’s about time, you need to be set up and ready to go, what took you so long? You can’t possibly have that many things to unpack.” The nasally voice of Mallory Corleone comes from the sitting room of the presidential suite. “If you get us on this call late, you could jeopardize this whole week. Why can’t you consider things like that, always needing others to think for you.”
James rolls his eyes at me from behind her back. He doesn’t like her any more than anyone else. He learned to tolerate and ignore her as an inevitable presence long before I ever came around. He is also protected from a lot of her wrath due to her mother’s fondness for him. The rest of us take the brunt of her bratty behavior with a grin and a deep slow breath.
“Yes, Miss Mallory.” Is all I say in response. The less I talk to her, the less she engages. Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard and she likes to hear herself speak.
James walks me to where Lady C wants to hold this virtual call. I set up my laptop on a side table, connect a cable to an external camera that has the correct lens settings preprogrammed to Lady C’s liking, and hook that up to the large wall monitor with one final cable. It’s really that simple. I am always ready and made sure to pre-check all my connections before even coming up to the suite, knowing both Lady C and Mallory will make my life difficult if they have to wait more than a few moments for anything.
I agree with Lexi and think this part of the meeting is redundant. Why fly all the way to a high-end beach resort to meet with a client in person only to have a pre-meeting via video conference, is beyond me. Lady C claims it is to get the ball rolling and get pleasantries out of the way so the actual meeting takes less time. What she really means is that we do most of the dealing now and Mallory flirts and attempts to make small talk during the live meeting, using the only assets she brings to the negotiation. I am sorry to say that Lady C knows what she is doing and most men fall for it. Lady C is a force on her own, but she isn’t above using whatever it takes to get the deals she wants, that’s why she is so successful. I don’t know if I could do all of the things she does, but I enjoy watching her work her magic. Mallory on the other hand got none of her mom’s charisma.
She has been very friendly with men since she realized she enjoys the attention. She has been bedding as many rich men as she can since she turned 18, and her mother uses that sex appeal to the advantage of the company. We have expanded from just business marketing to high-end fashion, including a magazine, modeling agency, boutiques worldwide and several merchandise warehouses.
Mallory is two years younger than me with platinum blonde hair, strategically designed to contrast with her mother’s dark chocolate hair. They are almost identical aside from the hair color, it's a force when they are out together. Supermodel height, legs, and curves in all the right places; some natural and some paid for. Bright blue eyes and full lips compliment heart-shaped faces. Mallory has to wear contacts to get the blue color her mother was gifted with. They are both beautiful, I just wish they had personalities that matched.
“You can go now.” Mallory sneers at me, standing elegantly from the couch like royalty.
“Your mother actually wants her to stay to handle the technical side of the meeting since she is on site, it will make things run more smoothly and give a better impression.” James comes to my rescue…again.
I nod and take a seat behind my laptop out of sight of the camera, knowing they don’t want me seen.
The meeting goes without any hitches. Lady Corleone is amazing with her words, she knows just how to make these men think they are making all the decisions when in reality she is giving them their decisions. It’s like watching a master painter at work, she commands the room, giving me nonverbal cues as to when screens and slides need to be switched. It appears as though we can read each other’s minds. This is why I put up with everything from her and her daughter, she fights for everything she wants and does it with grace and style and a bit of manipulation thrown in for good measure. These are the things that can’t be taught in a classroom.
“We should be arriving shortly, will we be seeing you lovely ladies this evening?'' One of the gross old men asks with lust in his eyes. I’m so glad my face is hidden behind my laptop because I’m sure the disgust on my face is not appealing at all.
“Mallory and I would love to join you, gentlemen, for a few drinks later, we plan on relaxing by the pool most of this afternoon.” Lady C replies with a coy smile. Yep, still trying not to vomit. I hate this part of the business deals, it makes me feel dirty and I don’t have to do anything.
“What about Mallory’s friend there?” He asks and my eyes go wide, I was never acknowledged during the whole exchange. The only reason he even saw me is because Mallory was leaning on the table, showing off her cleavage, and knocked the camera loose and I had to fix the situation quickly. Unfortunately, the new angle has me sitting in the corner of the camera frame. The way he called me ‘Mallory’s friend’ makes me think he has other ideas of what type of friends we are.
I triy to put very little emotion into my face as I looked at Lady C for the answer to his question. I know we both do not want me anywhere near these guys. But, I am at her mercy. If she thinks my presence will help, then she will force me.
“She unfortunately has other matters to attend to before tomorrow’s negotiations. I’m sorry Mr. Westfield.” Lady C tries to brush the matter off and change the subject, but he won’t let it go.
“That’s too bad, she’s my grandson’s type.” He chuckles a bit.
“Which grandson is that?” Lady C questions, a fire burning in her eyes telling me I am in trouble for having the audacity to be someone’s type. “Last I heard, your only grandson was engaged, and she definitely doesn’t resemble my intern.” She’s deliberately not saying my name so he can’t find me in the hotel and calls me ‘intern’ to let me know I am, in fact, in trouble.
I look at my watch and begin to quickly gather my things as though I really have somewhere else to be. The only problem is the call is going through my laptop and I can’t leave without it, nor do I want to come back to retrieve it. I never know what’s going on behind closed doors when it comes to these two women and I only come to them when called.
I turn in my chair to look at Lady C, the full view of my back to the camera. I gently place my hand on my computer, silently telling her I need it to leave.
She takes a small breath and looks at Mr. Westfield. I am sorry to cut this short, but we do have a few other things to attend to here before dinner this evening. I will leave information for you with the receptionist. We are having a small gathering here in our suite tonight, we would love for you to join. See you soon.” She does a little wave at the camera and I cut off the connection before he can object or say anything else.
I turn my eyes back to my things, collecting them in haste now, very interested in my work and avoiding the two fuming women. I do not care about looking frazzled.
“How dare you weasel in on my client.” Mallory snarls at me. I say nothing in response, just keep my head down. He’s not her anything, but I’m not dumb enough to open my mouth. “Don’t you dare think about coming up here tonight and ruining everything. This merger is one of the biggest our company has ever seen and I will not have you messing it up.” I just nod.
I take a few steps towards the door and then turn. “If there are any changes to tomorrow’s meeting, just text me at your convenience. I will be in my room the rest of the night.” I state letting her know I am not going to be any trouble and if she wishes me to not attend the in-person meeting, I’m fully aware my presence may not be appreciated by everyone in the room.
I hear, “Stupid b*tch makes everything so complicated.” from Mallory.
“If you learned to keep your slutty mouth shut…” is all I hear from Lady C as the door closes behind me. I make my way to my room. This is not going to be the luxurious getaway I thought it would be. Who am I kidding? There is no way Lady C was going to give me downtime.
Thank you so much for reading! All constructive comments and gems are appreciated. I can’t interact here. If you would like to join in the conversation you can find me on the socials, the clock app is where I frequent and the Fbook is where I post publishing updates. Miss. L. Writes. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact Miss L Writes.
2 - Nathan“I really need you to stop throwing me at every woman with a nice pair of legs, Grandfather.” I say huffing my annoyance. I kept myself off-screen for the duration of the meeting on purpose. This is my grandfather’s way of scoping out the merchandise before we arrive and getting a game plan together for how to proceed with negotiations but I had a good view of the women in the room and my grandfather did notice my attention being taken by the young woman off to the side of the room. She kept herself off camera for most of our time and I only had a partial view when she couldn’t avoid being on camera. No doubt she is part of the actual brains behind this merger. The way Lady Corleone kept looking her way to confirm information was a huge tell. It was very sly, I have to hand it to them. Lady Corleone has a way with words and it appeared as though she was giving direction to the woman, but if you paid attention to the subtleties, it was, in fact, the reverse. I have alwa
3- AuroraI wake up before dawn too excited to be near the ocean to sleep more than a few hours. After some thought and pacing in my room, I decide it is probably a safe bet that everyone drank far too much last night and I should be able to run on the beach as the sun rises this morning. My boss and her daughter are never up this early, I can only hope the Westfield guys are the same type of night owls. I need to get out of this room and move.I shoot an email off to Gabriel, letting him know how everything is going. With the time change and the schedule Lady C likes me to keep, I probably won’t have an actual conversation with him the three days I am here. I sigh as I scope the hallway before walking out towards the elevators. I don’t know where any of Westfield’s team is staying and I don’t want to be caught in my workout gear by any of them. Lady C would lose her mind. If there was access to a service elevator, that is what I would use.Once I’m safely hidden away heading down to
4 - NathanI knew the moment she hit the ground she was Lady C’s assistant. There was no mistaking that body, even though she tried to hide her body under her pantsuit. It was fitted and yet oversized. Clearly, she is not supposed to detract from Mallory during a meeting. Unfortunately, Mallory has nothing on this woman. She looks even hotter all sweaty in mismatched workout clothes. She didn’t dress to impress, she dressed to get the job done.I couldn’t help teasing her when we got back to the hotel. She said she had a boyfriend, but I did not miss the way she eyef*cked me after I helped her up from the beach. Whatever her boyfriend is doing, it’s all wrong and she’s not satisfied. Maybe while we are here I can remedy that for her and blow off some of my own steam. It would be a win-win for both of us. This whole merger is my grandfather’s thing, so I will probably never see her again after this anyway. Now I just have to figure out how to keep Mallory away from me and all will b
5 - NathanMe: What are you up to?A: Seriously? Shouldn’t you be down at dinner or a club? You don’t strike me as a sit-around-with-no-plans kind of guy.Finally, an answer.Me: No, and I could say the same thing about you. We both have better things to do with our time than clubbing. What are you up to? Clearly, your boyfriend isn’t doing his job well.A: What’s that supposed to mean?Me: If you were mine, you would be too busy to text another guy.A: What do you mean busy? Besides we don’t like talking on the phone.Me: That’s his first mistake, you shouldn’t be able to talk. You should be screaming.A: Definitely NOT having this conversation with you.Me: You’re not having this conversation with anyone…and that seems like a waste of an evening.A: We are in different time zones. He’s probably still working.Me: Why does that matter?A: He’s not going to stop in the middle of his workday to have phone s*x.I hit the video call button, hoping she’ll answer. This conversation needs t
6 - AuroraI left for the airport a couple hours later, determined to not think about Nathan or that incredible night again. I am going home to my boyfriend who has been with me through so many things. Gabriel is in this for the long haul, where Nathan is just looking to fill his time to avoid boredom.Although I will never deny that it was time well spent, I will hold onto that night for a very long time. I may not be able to follow through with the not thinking about him part, but I definitely blocked him. I have no reason to actually keep his number. That would be disastrous. Especially if Gabriel found out and saw the things Nathan said to me. That betrayal would be unforgivable. I can’t bring myself to feel guilty about the pleasure I gave myself at his instruction though. The logic that it isn’t cheating if I didn’t let him see me and I touched myself is flimsily hanging on. I will also not say anything about the additional org*sms I gave myself while letting the whole experie
7- AuroraWhen I get home Gabriel is there to greet me. Well, he’s sitting on the couch working on his laptop. He’s not in his suit, he’s dressed in what he calls business comfortable—tan dress pants and a navy pullover, like a younger, smugger Mr. Rogers.“Hey. You’re back.”I drop my bag by the door and toe off my flats. “You didn’t answer your phone.”Still typing. “Yeah, I had a call. Thought you were taking a car anyway.”“I tried calling you first.”Pause. “Well. You made it. That’s what matters.” He hasn’t looked back up at me. I don’t respond. I’m too tired to pick a fight I won’t win.We moved in together about a year ago. Not all at once—it was a slow drift, one overnight bag at a time until suddenly, half his wardrobe was in my closet and we were sharing a lease. It made sense. We both work in high-stress industries, we’re both ambitious, and if we didn’t share a roof, we’d probably never see each other. After college we both landed lucrative jobs that are really demanding
8 - Aurora“Yeah right, you were off with the Corleone’s. So it still counts as vacation. You were in the tropics. Everyone knows Lady C uses her business trips to vacation. And you got to hang out with Lady C and her walking Instagram filter.” He says, setting his laptop on the coffee table and opening his arms for me to join him back on the couch.“Ok, you’re not totally wrong, she does have a system for her business trips, but we did actually contract a business deal, this time anyway. This was my first trip with her, I am usually remote handling the numbers and information she needs for negotiations. We happened to finish the details for the deal earlier than expected. I wasn’t needed after that so Lady C sent me home. That’s all.” I shrug. I don’t mention that I think Lady C needs to look over the fine print of the contract. I don’t think she is getting the deal she believes. But, she never wants my unasked for opinion so I keep it too myself. And I am still waiting for him to a
9 - NathanIt has been 2 years and I still can’t get her off my mind. The one girl who didn’t chase me down, doesn’t respond to my messages or calls but sent me to cloud nine and I didn’t even touch her. Ugh. I rub my face after another seemingly endless board meeting. My grandfather sits more like a relic than a leader across from me. The problem is he’s a dangerous one. The kind who remembers everything and forgives nothing. He doesn’t need a vote to control the room. He only needs his voice—and the fear he’s spent a lifetime earning. Sullivan has spent the last two years reminding me of my grandmother’s, his wife’s, will and the legacy stipulation. I have been doing my best to ignore him, but it’s getting increasingly difficult.And then there is my uncle Preston. The snake in Brioni. The man who smiles like a benefactor and moves like a politician. Where Sullivan uses dominance, Preston uses suggestion. He would never take a knife to my back—he’d pay someone else to do it, and o
26 AuroraWe stepped up to the limo and Nathan handed me in helping me with my dress. Mia looks completely confused when we all pile in together.Once we are all comfortable and acquainted we use the 30 minute drive to get each other caught up on my break up with Gabriel, how Mia and I met and the plan Mia and I came up with to get her out of getting married.“So how are we going to play this out when we get there?” Brandon asks. “I don’t feel like your grandfather cares either way, really. He just wanted you to get married and have a kid in a hurry.” He looks at Nathan. “I think he liked the idea of having someone young to mentor and guide a bit, but that was probably an added benefit for him pairing you to someone as young as Mia. No offense Mia.” He adds as an afterthought.“We expected some kind of drama no matter what. I should be the only one to walk down the aisle, my veil was designed to obscure quite a bit and hopefully all of the focus will be on me until I get to you all
25 - NathanWhen the photographer tells us she has all that she needs Aurora pulls away from me quickly not making eye contact. Maybe the moment I thought we shared was just for me. She focuses on the photographers camera when she speaks next. “How do we want to do this, because I’m sure your grandfather is going to have a lot to say and so will Mia’s mother.” She grimaces, finally looking up at me. “I know it was risky to make her my bridesmaid, but right now she needs to be protected from all of this. She needs to be near me until it all blows over.”“Wait, she’s here?! Now you know someone is going to try and force her and I to marry right?” I run my fingers through my hair as my heart drops again and this time it isn’t a good feeling. My grandfather with try and force the situation to his benefit, which is Mia as my wife. He wants to control her, that much is a given with this situation.“I thought you had a mind of your own and could choose for yourself?” She bites back, she’s ea
24 - Nathan“What the hell?” The question ghosts out of my mouth. I am frozen in shock and my heart dropped into my stomach, but not in a bad way. I have been looking for her for 2 years and I find her looking like a knockout in this wedding dress and no one else in sight. “Is this a joke?”“Are you supposed to be getting married today?” She asks in a calm business-like voice. I nod, still confused. “Do you know who you were supposed to marry?” Her sassy tone irritates me. She’s not happy to see me the same way I am to see her. I lock in my feelings. Clearly, our time together was not as memorable to her as it was to me.I take a deep breath and shake my head. “My grandfather arranged this whole thing. The only thing he mentioned was that she would be eighteen, and I know you are definitely not eighteen. Care to explain?” I let my cool business negotiation voice take over. She’s a part of this and nothing makes sense. My instinct is to trust no one.“I didn’t think it was right for
23 - NathanI am getting ready with Brandon and Sam. We have done everything together, including taking over family businesses and sending Brandon down the aisle a few years ago.Sam is a little salty because he can’t go and meet my mystery bride, but he’s faking his enthusiasm well. I was told my bride made a stipulation that I could only bring one groomsman to the first look and like the adults that we are, they played rock, paper, scissors for the honor. When I found out that the one person rule applied to everyone, including her parents and my grandfather and uncle, I was happy. My bride at least has shown a sense of intelligence. I’m not sure if we have met and the first time should not be at the end of the aisle. It crossed my mind that Sullivan is keeping her identity a secret because it’s likely that I do know her and don’t like her. But this last minute request tells me otherwise. No girl attached to my grandfather would care about meeting me first, and most certainly would
22 - Aurora“What if he knows what I look like, then sees you and he calls the whole thing off and shuts down my family’s whole operation?” Mia asks. She has been asking some version of this question since her dad took the amendments back to the groom’s family and we haven’t heard a thing from anyone. I think it has helped having her panic, because I have had to remain calm to keep talking her off the crazy train. I love that her worry isn’t for herself, but her family and their employees. She is so mature for her age.“Remember, we asked to meet him beforehand so we could have a moment. Your mom thought that was the greatest idea.”“Yeah, she was hoping to get reveal pictures, right up until you told her she couldn’t be there, along with everyone else who wants to meddle.” Her eyes lit up at the memory. She called her parents on a video call and I stayed just off screen. We were hoping to find out about the contract changes, but with no answers. I came up with the meet idea on the
21 - Aurora“We need to tell my dad.”“What? Why? Isn’t the idea to not tell your parents until it’s too late for them to stop anything?” We sit on my couch with laptops and papers spread all over my living room.“Yeah, but that is more for my mom’s sake. She doesn’t really understand what is going on, or at least that is what she is pretending to do. She is really good at sticking her head in the sand, only resurfacing when the problem has been handled.” She rolls her eyes at me. “She’s not a bad person, just lazy by design. Her and my dad were matched up kind of like what they are doing to me. They are lucky though and I think they eventually fell in love, or something like it. But, my dad needs to know in case sh*t hits the fan and we need help. You also asked to see the marriage contracts. He ocan get those for us, be our go-between.”“I mean, if you’re sure. I just don’t want this to turn into a battle or for him to try and change your mind.”“He won’t say anything, because it’s a
20 - AuroraAmelia smiles and looks as nervous as she probably really is as we wander among the open racks. She’s running her hands over the different soft fabrics.“Are you sure you've never done this before? How did you know what to ask for?” Amelia asks over her shoulder.“I have been here a couple times with friends. I never drink here. First of all the champagne is nota great brand and will leave you with a raging headache. And some of the more shady attendants try to get wealthy women a little drunk so they just keep adding things to their orders. It’s actually a really good marketing tool. The problem is, these types of clients come in often and change their minds so many times that not many of the upsells stick. If attendants thought through the upsell and maybe went for less items that might cost a bit more…” I shrug, “and fit what the bride really wants, the sale is more likely to stick.”“You should do trainings for them and really become a consultant. You are amazing
19 - Nathan“Nathan! How can you be so rude? She was my guest in my home…”“I’m going to stop you right there.” I hold my hand up and pausing my retreat. “At some point in the last few years, you and Preston have forgotten that you are guests here. Eleanor left the house and the business and everything to me. My grandmother, your wife, left it all to me. She may have loved you and cared about your well-being, but she sure as sh*t didn’t trust you to maintain her legacy. You have been provided for and yet you still live here, with me, on my dime. It is time you remember that. I don’t know what you and Preston are up to, but you need to settle down.” I growl the threat and walk away.I talk to the kitchen staff and move to my wing of the house. Here I don’t have to worry about anyone but me. I let my grandfather stay in the master he shared with my grandmother and renovated the wing opposite, and furthest away from him. When my uncle and cousin ‘needed’ to move home to be closer to the
18 - AuroraWe get back to my apartment and I show Amelia around. She starts asking a thousand questions. “Wow! You pay for all this by yourself?”“Yes, but I sacrifice a lot too. I don’t have many friends that I still talk to on a regular basis. My boyfriend of three years decided to cheat on me with my boss’ daughter because he thought I spent too much time working and not enough with him. Even though he paid for nothing and really enjoyed the lifestyle that my very inconsiderate job afforded him.” I roll my eyes and she laughs.“Well at least I know that this is still possible.” She waves an arm dramatically around my apartment, which is in Gabriel mode and disgusting by my standards. He hasn’t been back to get his stuff in the hours that I have been gone. I wonder if he thinks I will do it for him, if he decides to not show up, like the servant he seems to believe I am. I’m tempted to recruit Amelia to help me bag it all and toss it out by the dumpsters. I shake my head of the