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Chapter 70: Screw Quitting
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2022-10-26 14:06:26Related chapters
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 71: A New Secret Admirer
I can barely see over the top of the flowers and I lean over, hiding myself behind them as I rip open the envelope and pull out the card.Two business card sized pieces of paper come free. The top is white and plain with a simple note that reads:"Knock him dead and if he asks these are from your new secret admirer.—Ashley"I smile thinking of the wonderful friend who would do something like this. It means more they came from Ashley than any man. I flip the card over and the one behind has hearts decorating the sides, the note written in a hasty handwriting not matching Ashley's elegant font."It was a wonderful getting to know you.—Daniel"I tuck Ashley's card into my purse and display the Daniel message in the bouquet, but then I immediately take it out and place it on my desk.Hmmm.Displaying his private message would be too obvious. It's better if my new admirer has sent a message as a private communication between the two of us. I didn't wake up this morning plannin
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 72: Email from the Head Penis
--------TO: Mackenzie MarshalFROM: Vincent ValiantI need those Wienhowser copies on my desk in ten.Vincent ValiantCEO of Valiant Industries…My fingers drum lightly on the keys, getting ready to reply, but I'd rather see his face as I drop the stack in front of him. I grab the copies from the corner of my desk, which have been sitting there all morning—I've had the copies done since Wednesday afternoon—and then without looking back cup them in my arm and storm into his office without knocking."You know I'm right here. You don't have to email your requests," I spit out as he looks up.With steps that are too long to be natural and make me look maybe a little crazy, I make it to his desk and drop the copies on the top. The created wind tunnel effect causes a few top papers fly to the side.Vincent looks up and scowls. "If you had them done, why did I need to email in the first place?"My eyes widen in anger and I visualize him getting a serious paper cut from
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 73: Three Days
"Ashley it's been three days, and he hasn't come crawling back asking for forgiveness. At this point it's safe to say he's not planning on a grand gesture." Or any gesture at all. My best friend met me at the door to our apartment eager to find out what it happened at work.My report is lackluster at best. Just like the last two days when she'd done the same.It broke my heart to tell her once again nothing happened. I open the fridge door and find a half-eaten sub from four days ago. Eww. It isn't even worth unwrapping. The smell would kick me in the teeth if I tried. I grab the rotten food and spin, tossing it in the trashcan where it lands beside an empty bottle wine.Ashley tips her head into the kitchen. "Are you sure you're reading his body language the right way?"I grab the empty wine bottle from the trashcan and hold it up to her. "If you're going to continue to finish bottles of wine, at least recycle them." Although I didn't remember leaving a bottle half-empty.As
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 74: One Jelly Sandwich Please
I CLICK SEND ON an email promising I will have an updated finance report for the new project in Chicago on the lawyer's desk by Monday afternoon and then close out of my email program for the day. It's been an entire week of slamming doors and jelly sandwiches, and Vincent hasn't said anything. Nothing. Nada. Zip.He's been nothing but ice cold—worse than when I started this horrid job.We are really and truly done.Not that we were much in the first place.Regardless, it feels as if my heart is missing from my chest. Damn Vincent turning me into one of those love-sick women.Nothing I did to piss him off has worked. He hasn't apologized or yelled. Worse, he has done nothing.I don't know what it takes for a girl to lose her job around here, but now I've begun questioning whether our entire short relationship ever happened. I dreamt it during a long weekend. It's the best explanation for how in the course of a morning we've reverted to our original roles of poor assistant a
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 75: A Double Date
Ashley links her arms with Charlie and walks a few steps ahead, leaving me and my blind date to follow along. The two of them sway along looking like they have practice. I'll have questions for my roommate when we make it home later tonight."Hi," I start the conversation off awkwardly. It's pretty much what I'm best at honestly."Hey, so you're Mackenzie. Charlie says Ashley has talked a lot about you.""Really?"He laughs. "No. Charlie forced me to come tonight if I'm being completely honest with you."I laugh. "It's basically the same with me." At least we started out with the truth.We pass under a streetlight getting closer to the club and I give him a quick glance. Derek's not bad looking. His hair's cut short on the sides and longer on top in the popular style. His button-up shirt is untucked and too large for him. It hangs everywhere.He's cute. You will find this man attractive, or else, I threaten my heart.I will it to be true, for me to find him hot. At an e
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 76: Club Surprise
Set on getting this task done and then getting home after two dances, I weave my way around the edges of the crowd and slip into the hallway. The line for the restroom is super freaking long. I tap my foot at the end and then pull out my phone and search Google for a certain name. I'm becoming a stalker, but it brings me joy every time I find no new hits. Nothing has been written on him for the entire week—no words or pictures with hot women.He'd left his calendar for tonight suspiciously blank, but I find it hard to believe Vincent Valiant will spend a Friday evening locked away in his castle. It's only a matter of time before he moves on completely.Then what will I do?The line gets shorter until I've almost reached the doors, my time alone ending when a door further down the hall opens and a man I've seen before steps out. He eyes the crowded line until his gaze hits me."Ms. Marshal.""Davis?" I ask as he stops in front of me. The man has many layers, but I never expect
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 77: Nothing Good Happens in a Club
He doesn't call out to stop me or explain himself. I want nothing more than to turn back and see if he watches me leave, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction in case he does. With my head held high, I make it to the end of the hallway and then slip back into the crowd, working my way to our table. I pass Ashley and Charlie on the dance floor and point toward our place to let them know where I'm headed.A few feet away from his roommate, Derek grinds against a woman. Her blonde hair is up in a high pony tail and her miniskirt barely covers her butt. Good for him. Derek makes eye contact and his eyes widen for a second as if I've caught him doing something bad. To ease his worry, I flash him a thumbs up and keep walking.I knew I shouldn't have come out tonight. I'd rather be home watching crap TV with Ben and Jerry.A few men bump against me and beer splashes from one of their glasses. It hits my wonderful boot right on the top, discoloring the leather. I slip on past them an
Last Updated : 2022-10-26The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 78: Everything is Right Again…For Now.
I snap forward uncomfortable with his touch. It's not his fault. My head is screwed right now. I'm a mess. I shouldn't go out of the house and most certainly shouldn't have alcohol.With a quick breath I bring myself back to the situation and turn ready to apologize for freaking out, but a large beefy body stands between me and the man I've been dancing with tonight.The man reaches out and slams his fist on the man's chest. My mouth falls open as I watch the scene, and my dancing buddy holding his hands in the air like someone's pulled a gun on him or he's about to be arrested."What are you doing here?" I ask, pulling on Vincent's security detail's arm. I force him to turn and face my direction. I've only met him once since Vincent doesn't use him all the time, but there's no mistaking his identity.The security guard, whose name I can't remember, smiles. "Mr. Valiant feels more comfortable if I stand watch."Dancers swarm around us and we stand out like two unmoving poles
Last Updated : 2022-10-26
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The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 171: Epilogue
My enormous stomach stretches against the seatbelt in Vincent's expensive car. I'm no longer just showing a small bit as my due date creeps ever closer. The trees have budded along the highway as his car continues to travel north."Vincent, where are we going?"He smiles. "Our weekend place," he gives me what I suspect is the first semi-honest answer he has the entire trip.When we left this morning, I asked if I needed to pack a bag, but he said it was only a day trip. If I am being completely honest, my first thought was he bought the home in Okemos and planned to drive the fifteen miles to get away for the weekend. But we've been driving for over an hour at this point, passing my family home along the highway to continue north."I can't give you any more than that, Mackenzie. It's a surprise." He says turning off the highway.I hold back a sigh. They never do any good, anyway. "And you know how much I hate surprises.""Yes." His hand falls to my knee and squeezes, rubbin
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 170: Doctor's Orders
"I promise you, Mr. Valiant, your wife and baby are perfectly fine. I don't even see signs of a concussion. She's one lucky woman." The doctor's smooth voice does nothing to lessen Vincent's irritation."Can't you check them both again?" he grinds out annoyed he has to ask.The steady beeping of the baby's heart monitor, a large device they've wrapped around my tiny stomach, beeps consistently. "Vincent, I am fine."He looks back at me in the hospital bed and squeezes my hand. "I know, baby. I just want them to check you again."The doctor sighs, smiling at me as if apologizing I have to put up with the man for the rest of my life, but I wouldn't have it any other way."They've looked me over three times. I'm perfectly fine," I run my fingers over his arm, but it doesn't lessen his scowl."Your wife is right, Mr. Valiant. We've run every test. She and the baby are healthy. I'm going to write up her release papers as soon as I leave the room. Go home and get rest. That's the
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 169: November Winds
"I'm sorry we can't go on a honeymoon right away,""Vincent, I promise I understand. Really." He's an important CEO of a billion-dollar company. I don't expect him to take off whenever he wants. He can throw together a quick weekend wedding, but we can't drop everything and go on a three-week honeymoon like he's promised without notice. We have plans to make.I wrap the sheets around me tighter, the northern winds of November howling outside the window. We've been newlyweds for exactly twenty-four hours, and after I sneezed four times yesterday, Vincent decided I need to take Monday morning off to lie in bed and stay warm. He's obnoxiously worried about me catching a cold while pregnant. Any other time I would find it annoying, but the baby is involved so I'm listening to his heavy-handedness. This time."I'm sure I'll forgive you for not whisking me away on a honeymoon immediately during the three weeks we're on the boat in the Bahamas over Christmas." He thought of the best way
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 168: Two Weeks Later
Another two weeks laterA gust of wind batters the outside of the car, but the frigid temperatures we're walking into aren't enough to sway Vincent. He allows Davis to open the black limos door and then reaches for my hand when he exits."Is your mom going to kill us?" I ask as I step out into the freezing temperatures of northern Michigan in the late fall and wrap the white fake fur shawl around my shoulders."Probably," Vincent says with a devilish smirk, meaning he doesn't care what his mother will say. I wish I had his self-confidence.At least we'll go down together. "Good because my mother is going to murder me in my sleep."The newest personal protection guard—I'd never get used to that name—steps up to my side. Nicki is tall and her body thin, but she's never once looked at Vincent inappropriately over the last two weeks she'd been protecting me.When Vincent introduced her and brought her into the team, I hadn't argued. Safety isn't something I can take for granted
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 167: Too Early to Tell
Two Fridays laterMy eyes have just begun to close as I settle into the post-work catnap. The doctor said it wasn't a big deal I hadn't experienced any morning sickness or other complications during the pregnancy and I should consider myself lucky. But from the way I dozed off at my desk every couple hours the last few days at work, the exhaustion part of being pregnant is hitting me hard and making up for lost time of the first trimester.I still can't believe I'm pregnant. I've seen the evidence, we have the pictures to prove it, but besides being tired I don't feel different. Even though it is too early, I definitely haven't felt anyone moving around in there. Because I lack so much evidence, it is hard to picture me with a baby. It's even harder to picture my big rigid Vincent as a father. Not that I have any doubt he'll be a great one, I've just never seen him with kids. I rarely even babysat myself. Only once or twice in high school. I spent a couple of nights watching the Wa
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 166: You Can't Hid Glam Wear
Without thinking about, it I place my hand on my desk and the metal in the ring that sits so heavily on my finger hits against it with a clink. It draws my attention back to the fresh addition to my finger and I smile as I stare at the beautiful piece of jewelry.I tried not to wear out of the house this morning. It was Monday and even though Vincent's employees handled his email well, I couldn't imagine it would get the same response as the newspaper article outing his previous wife. I prepared for a full-on tizzy. To my relief the article didn't publish as expected. Vincent answers my text with only a smiley face—so unlike him. I figure it cost him a pretty penny, but he worked his magic.Me walking through one of the company floors wearing a big ass ring on my finger would only add to the clusterfuck I was sure our day would turn into at any moment. Therefore, in the name of less drama I tried to leave the item on my nightstand, but Vincent must have swiped it. He followed me on
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 165: Book Deals and Broken Promises
Vincent moves my feet off the couch and sits in the space. I don't like him being so far away, so I reposition myself until I'm leaning next to his body and getting into his personal bubble.He leans back on the couch wrapping one of his muscular arms over my shoulders. "Today's been shit. Huh?"He'd spent most of Sunday on the phone with his legal team and public relations employees. Everyone in Valiant Industries had quite the weekend. Even though he said he didn't plan to take action against Tiffany, he wants to stop the book from being published. Vincent doesn't elaborate on how he plans to make that happen, but I have faith in him.His legal and PR teams worked for hours and now had a course of action moving forward. Tiffany might strike the first blow with the article about her book, but Vincent wouldn't take it lying down. Tomorrow morning his office would release a statement countering the article and hopefully combatting any speculation. There will still be rumors and ta
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 164: Agreements
By the next morning we still haven't come to an agreement on the house. I want to continue living in the penthouse and Vincent wants to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a weekend place fifteen miles out of the city—a home we won't officially move into until the baby is school age.Something warns me if I don't put up a big fight, Vincent will buy the house and just not tell me about it right away, so I make him promise in the car on the way home he won't do anything without getting my permission first. It's his money, and I feel bad bossing him about his own bank account, but a house is a big damn deal. You can't just buy a house. I'm only half sure making him promise will work, but it's time for me to stretch the trust part of our relationship."You're hiring the chef who made the sandwich and the chocolate cake. Right? I ask biting off another piece of my breakfast bagel."We are hiring and yes."All the meals we tested were delicious, and my core heats remembering the
The Valiant Trilogy Chapter 163: A Ruined Evening Fixed
The early Saturday morning sun wakes me the rest of the way after Vincent's alarm starts the job by rattling on his bedside nightstand. Who sets an alarm for Saturday?Vincent rolls over and wraps his arm underneath mine cradling a breast in his hand. I snuggle my back to his chest and reposition my head on the pillow, hoping I can fall back to sleep and he can do whatever he incorrectly believes is important enough to wake up early on a weekend."I'm sorry last night was ruined." He kisses the back of my neck sucking lightly."You mean when your wife broke in here and tried to steal what I strongly suspect was an engagement ring?" We'd talked about many things the night before but never got around to that topic.I'd planned to ask him, but after finding out Tiffany's demands for his sperm and then the sex, the thought completely fled my mind. We lay in bed together for another hour as Vincent held me tightly, but eventually he slipped from under the covers.Hours later I fou
