A Deal And A Billionaire

THEODORE JACKSON KISSED Millicent Whitlock under the warm glow of the street light. It was quick, short, and he pulled away before she could react properly. Millicent held unto his hand as he stepped back from her. They both had work tomorrow but, she didn't want the night to come to an end so quickly. Not yet, though.

"Are you free tomorrow?" She asked, tilting her head and bouncing slightly on her heels. She was still giddy from their date tonight at a candle lit restaurant where they had Italian wine and excellent garlic bread. She had loved the drive home too.

A look passed Theodore's face. "Millie..." he started, exasperated, pulling his hand from hers. Millie almost shrunk, missing the warmth of his hand.

Her face fell and she looked at his shoes. "You don't have to." She said, trying to sound like she wasn't disappointed. She didn't want Theodore to get mad and think she was being needy.

"We just went on a date today," he reminded her. As if she could forget.

She had been surprised, she wouldn't lie, when he called her. She was usually the ones making the plans in their relationship, the one trying to make things work.

"It's our one thousandth." Millie said, quietly, kicking a pebble away.

"Our what?" Theodore asked, already tired.

"Our 1000th day, since we started seeing each other." she said, looking up. "I wanted us to do something together, tomorrow."

Theodore gave her the smile that had won her over all these years. He pushed the blonde strands of hair falling into his face away. "You're really cute for remembering things like that. But, don't worry, I have a wonderful surprise planned." Mischief danced in his dark eyes, "You'll be shocked."

He closed the distance between them and captured her lips again, long enough this time, causing her head to spin. She soon forgot to ask what the surprise would be, and when she would get it, distracted by his kiss.

As Theodore walked back to his car, he looked at her, "you'll know when you see it." his thin lips quirked up.

And then, he was gone, zooming off down the street and into the night. As Millie unlocked the door to her home, she couldn't help but smile.

Finally, it seemed, Theodore was starting to see their relationship in a new light, he was starting to put in the work. It was all the motivation she needed to start working on completing the project and freeing up her day tomorrow.

***

LOGAN FOREST ADJUSTED the tie around his neck and proceeded to yank the thing off. He downed the rest of the whiskey in his glass and returned the bottle to his mother's kitchen. His mother - Delilah Forest- descended the stairs, a glass of red wine in her right hand and the rest of her silk gown was gathered in the other. Her dark hair cascaded, in shiny waves, down her shoulder and back. It was the one thing Logan loved about his mother. It was one of the many resemblances between the two.

She smiled, a small smile that made her look younger, when she saw Logan. "Darling..." she called, her voice steady but her eyes unclear. Logan was sure that this wasn't her first or second glass.

He walked over to the bottom of the stairs and grabbed her hand, leading her to the living room, just incase. "What's the occasion?"

"Oh, this?" she raised the glass and brought it to her lips, "I thought of a certain man with beautiful brown eyes."

Logan surpressed a cringe. There it was. She was thinking about the same man from fifteen years ago. The same man who had broken her heart after she found out that he had a family.

"Why did you call me?" Logan asked instead, taking a seat on the couch by his mother's right.He was having an issue at work. None of his employees had managed come up with a suitable product line for the organic concept he was looking for. To think that he pays them good money...

"The Minister's daughter is in the state, I want you to meet her." Delilah looked into her glass and twirled it, acting like she hadn't just set up a date for her grown son.

"Mother..." Logan groaned, dropping his head back.

"She's a nice girl. Sweet manners, pretty, well endowed." she said that last part looking at Logan before she laughed. "You too would make pretty babies."

Logan ignored the last part. "A well endowed woman is good, mother, but it isn't what I am looking for." he told her, long enough before he realised what his statement meant.

"So you are looking." Delilah said, catching on.

"Not at the moment, no. Work keeps me busy." he tried to fix his mistake before his mother got any funny ideas.

"Hogwash," she giggled after she said this. "You might be the CEO, but I think the head offices can survive if you're gone for a few hours or days."

"Apparently, not." He got up and grabbed his suit jacket, circling around the couch to go behind his mother.

"Are you leaving?" Delilah asked, tilting her head to follow his movement.

"I'm going home," he simply said, kissing her cheek.

"Your room is clean, you can stay." She turned on her seat to look at him, a childlike look on her face.

"And risk spending the night playing cards, listening to gossip and drinking with you? No, thanks." He smiled earning a delighted scoff from Delilah. "Besides, I have a couple emails and documents on my desk that needs attention."

Logan began the walk to the expanse double doors.

"Go on, then. I won't keep you. Just ensure that you see the Minister's daughter." she downed the last of the wine.

"I won't," he called out as he left.

"Then, I'll send her to you!" Delilah yelled. Logan shut the door.

He didn't doubt her. His mother would do anything she put her mind to. After all, she was the one who started Forest Skin despite the difficulties.

His phone buzzed and he looked down at the unknown number. The message brought a frown to his face.

MILLICENT sat up in her chair and hit snooze on her alarm clock again. She yawned loudly, bringing her head back to the desk. A relieved sigh escaped her lips as she lulled herself back to sleep.

Just a few more minutes, she thought. She would get ready for work.

With a start, she bolted upright and looked at the clock. She was late! She rushed into the bathroom with speed rivalling that of lightning and prepared herself for work.

Once she was dressed, she went over to her desk and grabbed the project papers, arranging them into her bag. She pushed her feet into her pumps and proceeded to run out the door and into the street. It was a miracle that she was able to run in her heels without falling.

She smoothed down her hair with one hand while putting on her coat with the other. A file fell from her bag and she bent to pick it up, running for the bus stop.a

As she neared her local coffee shop, she thought about stopping to get herself a cup of the black liquid but she thought against it. She was running late. She would have to find how to survive at work.

As she ran past the shop, Fred- the barista- called her and asked her to wait. He dropped the garbage bag he was holding and hurried back into the store. He came out with a cup that had the name MILLIE scrawled on it.

"It's your usual. It's been waiting, sitting warm in the microwave, for you." He smiled, handing it to her.

Millie could have cried if she wasn't running out of time. "Thank you so much!" she cried, backing away, "I'll pay on my way back."

"Don't bother, it's on the house!" the barista yelled after her, hoping she heard him.

Millie made it just in time before the bus pulled out of the bus stop. She saw an empty seat and took it, exhaling. The day was proving to be lucky. She caught the bus, got free coffee and it was the 1000th day with Theodore.

They would see a show tonight. She had already bought the tickets. Then, they would have dinner together. She stared out the window and smiled, watching the familiar environs pass by.

When the bus slowed at a red light, she couldn't help the smile that brightened her face. As the bus neared her stop, she arranged herself and walked to the door, waiting.

The bus pulled over and Millie hurried out, and walking towards the head office. She paused to look up at the eighteen-storey building where she worked, it's glass walls reflecting the rays from the morning sun. The words FOREST SKINCARE sat in front of the building; bold, beautiful, dark green letters. It brought a smile to her face. She loved working here.

Millie went through the revolving doors along with the other employees. As she made her way in the direction of the elevator, she noticed people staring at her. She looked down at her shoes and noticed, with relief, that they were the same pair. Her clothes were neatly ironed, and she had been careful with the cup of coffee.

Her third thought wandered to her hair. She didn't have time to run a brush through it but, that couldn't be the reason. Her hair always looked this way, naturally messy and in a ponytail. It was her normal look, nothing new.

She just decided that she couldn't possibly know what people were thinking so, she shrugged as she swiped her company ID card on the scanner, the waist high glass door opening. She walked through the check point and into the open elevator.

Millie said a hearty good morning to its occupants and they returned it half-heartedly. She didn't mind, nothing was going to soil her mood today. She was going to send in her project to the CEO and she was going to spend her 1000th day with Theodore, surprise included. She even got free coffee!

This day couldn't possibly get any better.

She got out on the 11th floor and walked to the office she shared with four other colleagues. She ignored the stares from the people in the hallway, although it started to bother her.

"Good morning!" she greeted, cheerfully, throwing one of her hands in the air as she walked in.

Her team leader, Margaret Lee, was the only one in the office. "Good morning, Millie." she smiled, "you're in a good mood."

Millie smiled, pushing her glasses up her nose, and walked over to her cubicle. It was the second one from Margaret Lee, a pentagon arrangement of five cubicles. She set her things down and sorted through her bag.

"I finished the project last night," she fished out the folder and handed it to Margaret, "I had a new idea for the body scrub, making most of it natural, at least by eighty-nine percent."

Margaret nodded, flipping through. She closed. "This looks good. Take it over to-"

"Mrs. Lee!" One of Millie's colleague, Bethany Paige, called as she barrelled into the office. "You won't believe what I just saw about Millie!" And then, she noticed Millicent. "Oh, hi, Millie." she waved sheepishly.

"What did you find out?" Millie chuckled, going to meet her. "That I eat my cereal after it's gone soggy?"

Bethany held the phone to her chest and shook her head. "It's nothing, really. You don't need to know."

"Now, I want to." Millie said, glancing behind Bethany. She was some employees staring through the glass walls at them and they scrambled, returning about their business, when she looked their way. "Just show me."

"It's really stupid," she started, reluctantly giving her the phone. "It's not anyone's business."

The world seemed to slow down and speed up as Millie started down at the pictures in Bethany's phone. Blood rushed in her ear and every other sound around her faded away. She felt like she was going to pass out.

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.