Chapter 3
1178 Words
MILICENT STOOD FROZEN AS BETHANY took the phone and showed it to Margaret Lee. 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 this?!”
“Millie?” Margaret Lee called, snapping her back to reality.
“Yes?” she answered.
“These are pictures with that man who works in sales, isn’t it?”
Millie managed a weak nod. “Yes, Theodore Jackson.”
Bethany’s eyes widened. “That’s your boyfriend? 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, I don’t even have them.” Millie said, feeling drained all of a sudden.
Margaret nodded. “I see. Bethany?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Bethany answered.
“Take these documents to the CEO. His secretary will take them, have her give it to him and wait till she does,” Margaret instructed.
Bethany took it. “Okay, ma’am.” she turned to leave and stopped, “why?”
“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.”
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.
“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 opened the door and walked 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 in.
***
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.
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.
“Hey, sorry, didn’t know my phone was ringing. I had it on silent.” Theo replied. Millie swore that she could hear stifled laughter.
“Did–Did you see them?” She asked.
“See what?” Theodore replied.
“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.”
”Crap, are you serious?”
She felt a little relieved. There's a perfectly good explanation. Someone must have hacked his phone. “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.
“Freaking b***h,” She heard Theo swear. She brought the phone back to her ear and didn’t miss the laughter. “Millie is on another level of dumb, good in bed but dumb as a rock. Who the hell but me has those photos?”
She covered her mouth as whoever his audience was laughed. Tears filled her eyes as she hung up, unable to bear it anymore.
Millie felt her legs give away, she gripped the ledge for support as the phone slid from her hand. Her hands shook and her stomach churned.
How could he do this to her? She’d been nothing but good to him. She didn’t cross the line, she came over to his place only when he asked, as he wanted. And she let him take those pictures despite how they had made her feel.
She thought that he was taking those pictures to capture the moment after love making. She thought he loved her.
Millie felt so used. She was all a joke. Almost mindlessly, she pushed out of her heels and lifted her leg. She climbed onto the ledge, looking down as the world spread out in front of her.
Everyone has seen her, she thought. Everyone.
Soon, everyone she knew would see it. Her friends back home, her siblings, her parents… the thought caused her blood to chill.
She leaned forward ever so slightly.
“Have you thought about how much that landing could hurt?”
She startled, almost losing her balance. She turned to the owner of the voice. He was standing a little to her left, his hand in his pocket. He was slim, but not thin, the suit he wore was fitting. She couldn't make out his face without her glasses.
“Who are you?”
“That doesn’t matter, not right now.” he took a step forward.
“Don’t come any closer!” Millie screamed. “Just stay there.”
“Do you really want to jump? Do you want someone to do the job of scrapping your remains off the side walk?” he said.
Millie paled at the description. “Then what should I do?” she asked, desperately.
“I don’t see why a few lousy pictures should make you want to end your life,”
“So you’ve seen them.”
“Yes, and they were so badly edited that even a fool could tell that.”
“Apparently, but the people at this company can’t seem to tell it apart.” Millie said.
He winced. “I should have seen that coming.”
“Why don’t you just leave?”
“Because, Miss Whitlock, you have something that I want.”
- Writer
