Chapter 3 Three

M. THE WHORE OF FOREST SKIN. Millicent reread the title again and again. M... for Millicent.

She swiped down and looked at the pictures. Her heart seemed to stop and start at the same time. The pictures showed her in bed with the blanket wrapped around her chest; a smile on her face, a hand on the different men's bare chest. She was looking straight at the camera, content.

Anyone who saw these pictures would know that she'd just had sex.

"What is this?" Millie gasped out.

"It's going around people at the company. Someone just sent it to our group chat." Bethany said, sadly.

These were the pictures she had taken with Theodore. But, the problem was, the men in the photographs weren't Theodore. They were completely different men -people she had never even met.

Millicent felt like she was going to throw up.

She staggered and Bethany grabbed her, helping her into the chair. Margaret Lee stood and grabbed the phone. Her eyes widened and she looked at Millie.

"I don't understand, this must be a mistake." Margaret said, looking back at the photos. She sighed in relief, "I knew these were fake, obviously photoshopped."

"What?" Bethany took the phone and zoomed in. "Oh," she noticed the way the face of the men didn't match the neck of the man she was with. Now, she was angry. "Why would any one do something like this?!"

"Millie?" Margaret Lee called, snapping her back to reality.

"Yes?" she answered, her voice shaky.

"These are pictures with that man who works in sales, isn't it?" Margaret asked, slowly. "The blond man, right?"

Millie managed a weak nod. "Yes, he's the one. Theodore Jackson."

Bethany's eyes widened. "That's your boyfriend?" she asked, "That piece of..." she trailed off when Margaret gave her a stern look.

"And, if I'm not wrong, these pictures were taken by him?"

"Yes," Tears stung her eyes and she pushed them back. "I don't even have them. He was the one who wanted to take those pictures. He said..." She trailed off, feeling drained all of a sudden.

Margaret nodded. "I see. Bethany?" Margaret called the other woman.

"Yes, ma'am." Bethany answered, stepping forward.

"I need you to take these documents to the CEO right now. His secretary will take them, have her give it to him and wait till she does," Margaret instructed, putting the documents properly together. She held it out to Margaret.

Bethany took it. "Okay, ma'am." she turned to leave and stopped, a confused look on her face. She glanced at Millicent and then Margaret, "Why?" She wanted to help her friend. She didn't understand how this document was going to help them.

"Her idea is impeccable, it's going to be a success. The CEO will know this. We want him to see this side first before he reads that article. He might choose to fire her if he finds those photos first." Margaret explained.

Bethany frowned. "Why? Millie is such a great person! Most of her product ideas are big hits in the market."

"Just another employee to him, I must assume. He would not want a bad name for the company if this keeps going around." Margaret explained. Bethany nodded and ran out.

Millie was already at the door, mindlessly walking away.

"Millie, where are you going?"

"I'm just going to get some fresh air," Millie said and then she smiled, "Don't worry about all this, people like to gossip, it's going to blow over soon enough." She waved at them before opening the door to walk away.

"Oh, Ms. Milli-" one of her other colleague started as he held unto the door.

Millie just walked away. He exchanged a look with the other man beside him and shrugged before they walked into the office.

***

Millie took a deep breath and exhaled, shakily. Tears fell from her eyes, fat drops rolling down at cheeks. She began to sob into her hands, her voice travelling in the empty roof top space. The industrial AC hummed, drowning most of her cries out.

She took her phone out and dialled Theodore. He didn't pick up, not on the second or fifth dial. She sent him a text.

I'm not mad. Just pick up, let's talk.

She tried calling again. He didn't answer. She sent him another text.

I'm sorry. Please, pick up.

Please...

Then, she tried.

Okay, call me, then.

Please don't do this to me. Please.

Theo. Pick up.

Tears blurred her vision. She put her phone on the ledge and took off her glasses. As she tried to wipe them, they fell, cracking. She burst into another round of sobs.

The sound of her phone ringing halted her cry and she took it. She couldn't see who she was calling but, she answered.

"Theo," She gasped into the phone, lips shaking. She was half-relieved and half-annoyed.

"Hey, sorry, I didn't know my phone was ringing. I had it on silent. What's wrong?" Theo replied. Millie swore that she could hear stifled laughter.

"Did–Did you see them?" She asked. He must have. If his colleagues knew she was his girlfriend, they would tell him no doubt.

"See what?" Theodore replied. There was a slight happiness to his voice.

"Our photos," she shook her head, "not our photos. Someone had taken your face out of it. Those photos you liked to take on your phone." After we've had sex. She didn't need to add that.

There only took those pictures of them. Nothing else. He didn't even have a picture of her unless she sent it.

"Crap, are you serious?"

She felt a little relieved. There's a perfectly good explanation. Someone must have hacked his phone and uploaded those photographs. "Theo, there's even an article-"

"Wait, I'll call you back, okay? Let me check." Theo said.

"Okay," she took the phone away from her ear.

"Fucking bitch," She heard Theo swear. She brought the phone back to her ear and didn't miss the laughter.

Her heart shattered into a million pieces.