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Chapter 4: Lena's Back
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2026-10-03 06:52:44Milo thought he had won.
He spent the whole day in Lucien's office. On Lucien's lap. In Lucien's chair. He answered Lucien's calls with "Lucien's boyfriend speaking." He ate Lucien's lunch. By 5 PM, the whole 58th floor knew: Don't talk to Mr. Beaumont unless you go through the pretty boy with freckles. Milo was happy. He was humming while he packed Lucien's briefcase. Then the elevator dinged. Lena stepped out. Lena was 54, sharp blazer, sharp bob, sharper eyes. She had worked for Lucien for twelve years. She had seen three boyfriends before Milo. None of them lasted. She stopped when she saw Milo in Lucien's office. "Milo," she said. Milo froze. "Hi, Lena," he said, trying to sound innocent. "I thought you had food poisoning." Lena looked at Lucien. Lucien looked at the floor. He knew he was caught. "Food poisoning," Lena repeated flatly. "Interesting. Because I got a text from your phone, Lucien, at 6 AM saying 'Take today off. Paid.'" "I did send that," Lucien admitted. "And I called IT," Lena continued. "Because I thought you were hacked. IT told me the text came from inside the penthouse. From your personal iPad." Milo's ears turned red. Lena turned back to Milo. "So. You impersonated my boss, canceled my workday, and sat in his chair all day threatening interns. Did I miss anything?" Milo lifted his chin. "He's my boyfriend." "And he's my boss," Lena said. "And this is his company. Not a playground for jealous boyfriends." That was the first time anyone had said it to Milo's face. Milo's hands clenched. "He's mine," Milo whispered. "He is not a toy," Lena snapped. "He has a company to run. Investors from Tokyo were waiting for that dinner you canceled. Do you know how much money that dinner was worth?" Milo didn't know. He didn't care. Lucien stood up. "Lena, enough." "No, Lucien, not enough," Lena said. "I have watched you for twelve years. You never let anyone control you. Now you let a 22-year-old photographer tell you what shirt to wear and who you can have coffee with. This is not love. This is—" "Don't say it," Milo cut her off. His voice was shaking. "This is toxic." The office went silent. Milo looked at Lucien. His eyes were huge. "Do you think it's toxic?" Lucien didn't answer fast enough. That one second of silence was enough. Milo grabbed Lucien's briefcase and walked out. He didn't run. He walked. But his shoulders were shaking. "Milo!" Lucien called after him. Lena grabbed Lucien's arm. "Let him go cool off, Lucien. He needs to learn." Lucien looked at Lena, then at the elevator where Milo had disappeared. For the first time in six months, he pulled his arm away from Lena. "You don't get to decide what he needs to learn," Lucien said, voice ice cold. CEO voice. The one that fired people. "You're my assistant. He's my boyfriend. Know the difference." Lena's face went white. Lucien grabbed his jacket and went after Milo. He found Milo in the parking garage, sitting on the floor next to Lucien's car, hugging his knees. Lucien's hoodie was too big for him. "Hey," Lucien said softly. Milo didn't look up. "She's right. I am toxic." "No, you're not." "I am. I canceled your dinner. I deleted Alex. I told Lena not to come. I'm crazy." Lucien sat down on the cold concrete next to him, in his $3,000 suit. "Yeah," Lucien said. "You are a little crazy." Milo let out a wet laugh. "Thanks." "But I like crazy," Lucien said. "I like that you care enough to be crazy. Lena doesn't get it. She thinks love should be calm. I don't want calm. I want you, sitting in my chair, telling interns they're going to New Jersey." Milo wiped his nose with Lucien's hoodie sleeve. "Really?" "Really." Lucien put his arm around him. "But... you can't text Lena from my phone anymore. Okay? That's my boundary. My one boundary." Milo nodded quickly. "Okay. One boundary. I can do one." "And you have to apologize to Lena tomorrow." Milo made a face. "Do I have to?" "Yes." "...Fine. But I'm only saying sorry because you told me to. And I'm still not letting Alex bring you coffee." Lucien laughed and helped him up. "Deal." They drove home in silence. Milo held Lucien's hand the whole way, tight, like if he let go Lucien would disappear. In the rearview mirror, Milo could see the faint mark he left on Lucien's neck yesterday was still there. He smiled a little. Maybe toxic wasn't so bad, if toxic meant Lucien was his.
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