Two: What Millie Knows

After the call ended, Carmen closed her laptop, reached for her phone and dialed Jenna to cover for her. Jenna picked immediately "Roldwells' secretary, how can I help?" She's been Roldwells' secretary for years, her voice was now like an automated machine.

"Jenna, it's Carmen. Please, I'll be stepping out for two hours. Three max. Could you cover for me? Please Jen."

Jenna smiled mischievously, "Well, I could. But that would cost you..."

Carmen sighed, knowing what someone like Jenna was looking for "One Hermés Birkin bag and MatteTrance Lipstick?"

Jenna grinned widely. "Done! Be safe, Cam. Two hours. That's what I can do."

"No problem, I'll try. Thank you."

"You're welcome." Jenna said, dropping the call.

Carmen packed up the rest of the thing's necessary, and stepped out into the office hallway. She gave Jenna a quick wave, which was returned with a playful smirk as she passed by her office.

As she made her way through the hallway, she felt the familiar stares of several pairs of eyes following her until she entered the elevator. She was used to it by now. Her husband was Manhattan's golden boy. And his status as a successful, attractive businessman came with its own sort of attention. As his wife, she often found herself a subject of the same look wherever she went-either admiring or envy, sometimes a mixture of both.

A few minutes later, Carmen stepped out of the elevator and spotted Millie, standing at the center of a small crowd. Fans were gathered around her, taking selfies and eagerly asking for autographs.

Millie Hoffman, Carmen's best friend, was hard to miss. She was a striking beauty with porcelain skin, high cheekbones, and blonde straight hair that cascaded down her back.

As one of the most sought-after models in the industry, Millie had graced countless magazine covers and runway shows, her face instantly recognizable to anyone who followed fashion. But beyond that cold fashion model, was the cute, beautiful, kind girl Carmen became best friends with back at college.

Carmen moved closer, and instantly, Millie spotted her. She wrapped up the last of the autographs, blowing a playful kiss to the fans she couldn't get to. "Next time, I promise!" She called out, and with that, the crowd reluctantly began to disperse. Millie wasted no time in rushing over to Carmen, pulling her into a tight bear hug and planting a kiss on her cheek.

"Aww,Cam, you have no idea how much I've missed you!" Millie exclaimed.

"I've missed you too, Mills, but if you crush me like that, you won't see me again," Carmen teased, laughing as she tried to free herself from Millie's hug.

Millie giggled, loosening her grip slightly. "Oh, I'm sorry! I'm just so excited, I don't know why!"

Carmen raised an eyebrow, a playful grin spreading across her face. "Because you're going shopping, that's why you're excited."

Millie's eyes sparkled as she grinned back. "Yes, exactly! And because you're coming with me, of course. But mostly...because I'm spending the day with someone special tomorrow." She winked, her fingers running through her shiny blonde hair in a casual, almost flirtatious manner. Millie was beautiful and she knew it. So she never failed to show it off whenever she had the chance to. And if Carmen was a guy, she would most certainly fall for her.

Carmen rolled her eyes at her best friend but couldn't suppress a smile. "You're unbelievable, Mills. Don't get pregnant."

Millie smirked at her, a knowing look hidden in her gaze. "Trust me, I won't." She winked "we've been going on for six months now."

"You mean banging each other? And you're telling me now?" Carmen turned to Millie, shocked. "Do I know him?" She asked Millie and she just shrugged in response.

"Nope. Not really. I mean, maybe..." Carmen raised a brow as if in question and Millie sighed. "Do not worry your pretty little head about my sex life, bestie. You'll meet him soon, trust me." She laughed.

And In some kind of way, Carmen felt really uneasy but she brushed it off as just nerves or hunger. Being outside with Millie made her want to eat. Carmen followed Millie into her car and they drove off.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the central mall.

"So," Millie started as they walked toward the entrance, "what are you getting him?"

"Well, I already picked something up for him last week," Carmen replied.

"Then why are we here?" Millie whined, throwing her hands up in mock exasperation.

Carmen shot her an incredulous look. "You practically blackmailed me into coming, Mills."

"I did?"

Carmen sighed and rolled her eyes. "You know what? Fine, I'll grab him something else. No gift is ever too much. Now can we just go? I need to be back at the office in two hours, otherwise Jenna's gonna charge me more."

Millie flashed her a grin, giving her a playful nudge. "That's the spirit! Let's make this the best anniversary ever."

They stopped by a few high-end stores, Carmen picked up a few items, but nothing felt quite right. Carmen didn't know what to select for Cody. Now that she was back here, she was second-guessing the gift she'd bought for Cody last week. Would he like it? That was the problem with buying things for rich people-they already had everything.

"You know," Millie began with a mischievous grin, "I still remember the time Cody tried to impress you by cooking that ridiculous three-course meal. It was so burnt, even the fire alarm didn't want to participate."

Carmen couldn't help but laugh. "Don't remind me. He was so proud of it too. Called it his masterpiece."

"Sick," Millie giggled. "And don't forget the time he tried to buy you that ridiculously expensive art piece, but you almost had a heart attack when you saw the price tag. You're both hopeless."

The memories made Carmen smile, and slowly, the perfect gift idea began to form. "Okay, maybe picking something for him isn't as hard as I thought. I know him better than anyone else.

"Yeah, you think so." Millie muttered under her breath as Carmen stopped walking to look at her.

"Did you say something?" She asked

Millie coughs, "No...I mean, yes. Let's get something to really make Cody smile."

"I know right..."

"So what do you have in mind?"

****

Their final stop was the ice cream parlor, where they treated themselves to oversized cones, giggling like teenagers as they strolled back towards the exit.

As they walked, Millie's face suddenly turned a little pale, and she winced

"Mills, you good?" Carmen asked.

Millie waved her hand dismissively, "Oh, it's just... I think I'm feeling a little off. It's nothing, really. Maybe I should head home."

Carmen's smile faded, worry creeping into her voice. "Do you want me to come with you?"

Millie shook her head quickly, "No, no, I'm fine! Actually, I just remembered...I need to meet someone nearby for a quick errand. I'll see you back at the house for the arrangements later, okay?"

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. Go ahead, and don't worry about me. I'll meet you soon."

With a hesitant nod, Carmen agreed, giving Mille a quick hug before hailing a cab. As Carmen's car pulled away, Mille took a deep breath then turned and headed back to the shopping district, slipping into one of the boutiques they'd visited earlier. Her eyes scanned the shelves until they settled in a section she hadn't explored earlier with Carmen. With a small secret smile, she selected a beautiful set of a one piece lingerie, something she knew would catch Cody's eye.

With an evil smile, she walked to the register, paid for it and left in the opposite direction Carmen did.