Four: Cracks

Her calculated flattery hung in the air, and she could almost hear the gears turning in his head. Millie leaned back against the sofa, letting the silence stretch, her grin widening as she awaited his response. Then, all of a sudden, a deep sly laugh resonated through the phone, making her smile. It wasn't the kind of laugh Cody usually had-it was darker, smoother, and just as cunning as her own.

Millie smirked. "Now, that's more like the man I know." 

"Fine, fine," Cody finally said, his voice low and playful, almost dangerous "I guess you know me too well, Millie."

"That shouldn't come as a surprise to you." 

"All right," Cody continued, excitement filled his tone. "You win. I'll drop what I'm doing and come back." A pause. "Are you sure Cam won't come for another hour or so?"

"A hundred percent." 

"Wonderful. But don't you dare start that surprise without me. I want to see every detail. And baby," his voice dropped lower, almost a growl. "I can't wait to see what you're wearing-or maybe what you're not wearing."  

Millie felt her pulse quicken as Cody's words turned bolder. She could swear Carmen never experienced this side of him. "You know," he added, "I've been thinking about you all day. I can't wait to have you, to taste every inch of you. To make you scream my name until you can't say anything else." He chuckled darkly, "Get ready, babe. I'm on my way right now."

The call ended abruptly, leaving the tension lingering in the air. Millie stared at the screen for a moment, her lips curling into a sharp, triumphant laugh. She rose to her feet, and with a casual flick of her wrist, she tossed the phone onto the opposite sofa and turned toward the vinyl radio.

Her fingers danced over the controls, selecting a song with a beat that matched the electric energy coursing through her veins. As the music filled the room, she began to sway, her movements fluid and intoxicating.

She danced as if she owned the space, scattering objects in her path-an overturned vase here, a pillow flung there. The house and the arrangements Carmen made before she left were all destroyed. She didn't care anymore.

This was her moment. She belonged here. For years. She had watched Cody from the sidelines, her heart aching with love and envy. She had loved him for as long as she could remember, and yet, he had chosen Carmen-sweet, naive, ugly Carmen. It was laughable, really. Carmen could never give Cody what he truly needed, not like she could. 

Millie twirled, her laughter spilling into the rhythm of the music. She thought about the nights she spent imagining this very moment -the moment when Cody would finally see her, want her, choose her. And now, he was hers, but only in secret. For the past year and six months now, they've been secretly meeting in hotels, her house, his office, and everywhere they wanted. His love for Carmen was all a farce. She had told Carmen it was six months, but really, it's been almost two years now.

"I told myself I'd make you mine, Cody," she murmured to herself, her voice almost lost in the music. "And look where we are now." 

She spun in a wide circle, her dress brushing against her legs as she scattered another trinket from s nearby table. Her eyes sparkled with the thrill of victory. Millie had played her cards well, slipping into the cracks of Cody's life where Carmen had failed to hold his attention.

This was only the beginning. Tonight, she would remind Cody why he kept coming back to her. Tonight, she would solidify her place in his heart and his life. And Carmen? Millie smirked as she thought of her so-called best friend. Carmen would never know what hit her. 

With one final spin, Millie collapsed onto the sofa, breathless. The music blared on, but her thoughts were louder. Cody was hers now, and she wasn't about to let him go. Not ever. And today, she was going to make Carmen realize that. 

****

Back at the office, Carmen concentrated on the stack of paperwork before her, though her thoughts kept drifting to Cody. She wondered if he had returned home from work yet. She had tried calling him earlier, but his phone was switched off. She could feel something wasn't right, but she brushed it out of her mind. She couldn't let these thoughts make her weak, she needed to finish this and get home to her husband. Letting out a weary sigh, she signed her name on a document, adding it to an already sizable pile before reaching for the next one in the bundle.

One hour ago, she had helped seal a lucrative deal for the company. And she did just that in fourth-five minutes. She could understand why the company needed her to be the one to close the deal. The clients specially requested for her, Carmen Wade. She was the only one who could understand them.

After she watched the clients leave, she quickly rushed to her desk to pack up her things when Jenna's voice called out again. 

"Carmen! The boss needs you in his office." 

"Jesus Christ, Jen, please. I can't," Carmen sighed deeply, muttering under her breath, "At this late, I'm going to be late for the anniversary." Still, she headed toward the boss's office.

"I'm sorry!" Jenna called out.

When she arrived, she was surprised to find it empty. Instead, the boss's personal assistant was there, shuffling through a stack of papers. 

"The boss has left for the day," the assistant informed her with a polite smile.

"Left?" Carmen asked incredulously. Wasn't it just a few minutes she saw him at the meeting?

"Yes, he's gone home. But he asked me to hand these files over to you. He needs them arranged and finalized before tomorrow."

Carmen's shoulders slumped as the assistant handed her a thick pile of paperwork. "Of course," Because why not? She thought bitterl. She forced a polite nod, took the files and headed downstairs to her desk as she immediately began to work on them. 

Yes. This was the situation she had found herself in now. She continued working, but her focus was broken when she noticed an elderly woman approaching her-a familiar figure she instantly recognized. 

It was Grace, the boss's mother, a woman known for her elegance and sharp wit. Grace glanced around the nearly empty office before her eyes settled on Carmen.

"Good evening, ma'am. I'm afraid you missed the boss. He's gone home." 

"Carmen?" she greeted warmly, her gaze curious. "What are you still doing here? Isn't today your anniversary?"

The question caught Carmen off guard. Of course, everyone in the company knew about her anniversary with Cody-it was splashed across the tabloids earlier that morning. It has been three years now. She thought everyone would forget, but it was the complete opposite instead. It seemed like they couldn't get over the fact that Manhattan's golden boy was married.

"Yes, it is," Carmen admitted hesitantly. There was nothing she wanted more than to be with her husband right now, cuddled under the sheets, having sex. "But I have to finish this for the boss."

Grace frowned, clearly displeased. "Nonsense. Everyone has already gone home to be with their families. Jenna isn't here either. You should be with your husband, child, not stuck here doing paperwork. What the fuck is wrong with my son?

Her tone left no room for argument, and Carmen couldn't be any more grateful. "Thank you so much, ma'am" she said sincerely, as she immediately set the paperwork aside and grabbed her things, eager to get home.

"Call me Grace." Carmen nodded as Grace continued, "Get home child, now." 

Carmen dashed out of the company's building. However, when she reached the place she parked her car, her heart sank. Her car was gone. A bright orange note fluttered on the curb where she'd parked earlier.

Towed.

Carmen groaned in frustration, realizing she had parked in a restricted zone in her rush to get to the office earlier. With no time to waste, she hailed a cab and directed the driver toward her house, silently praying that she would make it in time to spend her evening with her husband.