Session 𝓞ne-Hundred-Two

Session 102:

“The Ultimate Power Move”

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There was this heavy moment of silence that burned around us.

So heavy that it made me draw in a deep breath, anticipating what else could go wrong at this table.

Sure, we all knew this would eventually happen.

Leon was going to have Monroe take over no matter what, but there was also a plan to prevent it from happening.

Or at least Monroe and I planned to drag it all out until we could come up with a real plan.

We never imagined Leon would magically decide this summer would be when his daughter takes over.

There’s not enough time to drag this out further.

We need a plan now.

“Ms. Fierro,” Leon had the nerve to break the heavy silence before Monroe could even catch up with his demands. “You would be a great asset by my daughter’s side.”

Asset?

Essentially, I’m an object to him, which shouldn’t be that surprising, honestly.

Everyone’s an object to him, even his own wife.

And did he say his daughter?

Is he forgetting the woman sitting next to him?

Monroe’s mother?

He couldn’t have said our daughter?

“Asset or liability,” Clarisse subtly emphasized, glancing over to her husband, who nodded in agreement.

“Asset is a much easier route,” Leon determined, his stare shifting to my girlfriend beside me. “Monroe knows how we deal with liabilities.”

I immediately registered the threat laced within his words.

I didn’t react.

I’ve gotten used to not reacting.

At least not in front of her parents.

I just subtly glanced over to Monroe, waiting for her to make the first move for us.

But she was silent, staring past her father at the pristine wallpaper that had delicate gold designs marked over the white background.

I felt past worried.

Not only did they just spring Levane on her.

They also threatened me.

I either take her side at Levane or I don’t, and something worse happens.

We all know what something worse is.

I fully turned my head the moment Monroe stood from her seat, the chair legs scraping the floor.

She didn’t say anything.

She didn’t even look at them.

She just walked away?

I quickly stood from my chair, not bothering to spare her parents a glance before I walked away.

I blindly followed behind my girlfriend, trying my best to remain silent until we were fully alone.

But I was concerned.

And I wanted to make sure she was okay.

I know she’s not okay.

I don’t even have to ask her, honestly.

What I need to ask is how to make this all okay again, but I’m not even sure I can.

And that’s scary.

That’s really fucking scary.

Because all I want to do is fix this for her.

I want to help her feel okay again.

“Monroe,” I said as soon as we walked into the empty bathroom.

She didn’t care if it was empty.

She still walked over to the largest stall, forcing me to quickly follow behind her.

She closed the door as soon as we were inside.

Then—

“Ro, hey, it’s okay, baby,” I whispered as soon as she turned away from me, her breaths unsteady and heavy.

I ran my hands up her back the moment she reached for one of her sleeves to distract herself.

But then she let out a deeper, shaky sigh, pressing her hands to the top of her head.

We were past a breakdown.

She’s not even fumbling with her sleeves.

That can’t even calm her down right now.

“Monroe,” I spoke again, rubbing my hands up and down her back.

She still didn’t say anything.

She just kept focusing on her breaths, drawing in deeply and letting them out even deeper.

“It’s okay. It’s going to be okay,” I repeated.

“No.”

It was the first thing she had said after minutes of silence.

She didn’t even talk at that table with her parents.

The word was weak from her lips, barely audible as she continued focusing on her breathing.

I let out a deep sigh, trying my best to think.

I just wanted to help calm her down, but I genuinely don’t know how.

“I’m going to kill them—I’ll find a way. I’ll do it with my own hands, Liberty.”

I nodded immediately at her rushed words.

“We’ll find a way. Whatever that way is, I got you,” I reassured her. “I get you.”

Monroe only shook her head, but no words came out.

Her frantic breathing got even more noticeable, easily concerning me.

Especially when she slowly lowered down to the ground without another thought.

It was the last thing I expected.

But I didn’t even hesitate to sit on the bathroom floor with her.

Yes, it was a public bathroom, but it also glistened.

Considering the restaurant we’re at, I expected no less, so it’s fine.

“I get you. I’m here,” I repeated again, sitting between her spread out legs as I gently grabbed her face. “I’m here. Everything is okay.”

Her blue eyes were so wide with frantic as I gently caressed her soft bangs away from her face.

I knew everything was crumbling away in her mind like a fucking earthquake.

“I’ll do it. I’ll stick by your side even through taking over Levane, Monroe,” I quickly clarified, hoping she knew that. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m a constant in your world, okay?”

She was still silent, her breaths uneven and shaky.

“I’ll do anything for you, baby. You know this. I said this. Wherever we are and whatever we do, we’ll always make the best of it. I’ll make the best of it for us when it gets hard for you or us because I love you, and that—”

I quickly cut myself short with wide eyes.

Monroe’s eyes even managed to get wider than they were before.

And I knew it was too late to cover it up or take those three words back before she could freak out.

She heard me.

I just dropped the L-bomb on her.

In the midst of a fucking breakdown.

Fuck.

I didn’t mean to do that.

I didn’t mean to say it.

Monroe looks like a deer caught in fucking headlights.

She… doesn’t look like she reciprocates it.

Why would she?

She doesn’t know what love is or how to register it, especially not with me.

I didn’t expect anything more than a reaction like this.

But that doesn’t make it hurt any less.

There’s a heaviness in my chest that I somehow feel in my stomach too.

It almost feels hard to breathe.

I’m such a fucking idiot.

I can’t believe I let it slip.

“I just meant um,” I whispered, glancing down at my lap, “Like I have love for you—I care about you,” I quickly lied, trying my best to fight the tears threatening to pool in my eyes.

I can’t be there for her if I’m a mess.

But my throat feels really tight.

I drew in a deep breath when Monroe suddenly pulled away to stand up, causing me to quickly stumble up from the bathroom floor too.

It was like this conversation never happened.

I think my words caught Monroe so off guard that it made her hold her breath, instead of frantically breathing.

I didn’t say anything else as I followed her out of the large bathroom stall, our heels clicking against the floor.

I should honestly keep my mouth shut forever after this fuck up.

My mind was officially reeling, wondering where Monroe’s mind was at as I followed her out of the bathroom.

I didn’t want to ask her another question or say a single word.

I was officially mute as we walked back toward the main area of the restaurant, where her parents patiently sat.

I guess they knew we didn’t leave?

It was annoying.

Maybe we should’ve left, but even I knew we couldn’t without addressing this.

Or Monroe addressing it, at least.

“You want me to take over Levane? Lovely,” Monroe finally spoke as she stopped by their table, her voice a lot steadier than before.

My eyes widened when she grabbed one of the shiny knives placed by the expensive china plate.

“Threatening Liberty will not continue moving forward,” Monroe said—

Stabbing the knife down on the clothed table.

Right between Clarisse’s fingers.

For once, Clarisse’s reaction showed on her face.

People at the nearby tables even glanced over with curiosity, soft murmurs breaking out through the room.

Leon was calm.

His dark eyes not wavering from his daughter, despite the shocked look on his wife’s face and her stiffened shoulders.

Meanwhile, I didn’t know how to react.

I mean, I couldn’t hide the surprised look on my face.

But I was also proud of my girlfriend.

And a little honored that she went to these lengths to stand up for me instead of herself.

“Liberty stays out of this,” Monroe said, not glancing away from her father once. “Otherwise, I will kill your wife, and I’ll happily go to prison for it. Then you’ll only have one heir left to take over Levane.”

It was the ultimate power move.

And I knew my girlfriend meant it.

I knew she would kill her own mother if it meant proving the point she just made.

Clarisse knew it too.

I could see it all over her face, despite the Botox that stiffened any expression she tried to make.

But the way her eyes subtly went wider—how she stared up at her daughter.

She knew what Monroe was capable of.

Leon didn’t say anything.

But god.

The look on his face.

It made me glance away from him entirely, shivers running down my spine.

This man looked genuinely scary.

The look in his eyes… it was fucking terrifying.

I knew he couldn’t care less about Clarisse.

This was about Levane.

About the possibility of his bastard child taking over instead, and his secret affair coming out.

It would tarnish the Leclair name and possibly ruin Levane’s reputation.

His reputation, too.

Monroe found his kryptonite.

Finally.

“You won’t be able to protect Ms. Fierro from prison, mon bijou,” Leon finally spoke, his voice soft with a passive edge. “And I do believe in an eye for an eye.”

Monroe was silent.

So was I.

I think we were all holding our breath.

Including Clarisse, given the knife still between her long manicured fingers.

“More than an eye,” Leon clarified, tilting his head to the side. “I’ll remove everyone associated with Ms. Fierro. You’ll never have a breathing connection to her again.”

He was good.

Really good, actually.

At this point, I would do anything to keep everyone around me safe.

Sure, I was scared that he had threatened me, but somehow it’s always the people I care about on my mind.

Or if my girlfriend is okay.

I immediately reached for Monroe’s hand when it twitched by her side.

I knew she had hit her limit.

Her own father had pushed her to a limit that I knew her mental capacity was struggling to handle.

“I see your obsession with her, Monroe,” Leon spoke again when his daughter didn’t. “I’m allowing her to be by your side. Show a little more gratitude.”

“I’ll show plenty of gratitude,” Monroe murmured, tugging the knife from the table between her mother’s fingers, “I’ll put you out of your misery. It must be hard living this evil life.”

Clarisse and I both remained silent still.

I knew she didn’t plan to say a single word after the power move Monroe just pulled.

And I decided to be silent, not only because this was their family business, but also because of what just happened in that bathroom.

“I always have backup plans in place. You should know this,” Leon reminded his daughter. “I will get the last word here. Trust me on that.”

I knew that was aimed at me.

Somehow, I would be the one suffering if she killed him.

Possibly everyone else that I care about, too.

Fucking great.

Monroe dropped the knife on the table with a loud clatter that made the murmurs around us grow.

My girlfriend’s expression was concerningly blank.

She didn’t say another word to her father.

She only grabbed my hand in hers and led me away from the table.

I felt numerous pairs of eyes clinging to us as we walked out, the different groups of people listening for any gossip they could get.

Monroe didn’t seem to care.

Her shoulders were rolled back, and her chin was held high.

“I’ll have the onboarding details sent over,” I heard Leon calmly add, making me draw in the deepest breath.

I guess that settles it.

I assume.

Unless Monroe has a better plan.

But the best plan yet was her even threatening to kill either of them.

Somehow, that wouldn’t even work.

Leon was annoyingly steps ahead of any plan Monroe seemed to have.

She’s taking over Levane whether either of us liked it or not.

And I’ll be by her side for anything she needs.

Hopefully, we can just forget about the moment that happened in the bathroom.

I think Monroe has, honestly.

Or maybe she’s trying to?

I’m not sure.

I’m trying not to think about it.

“What are you doing?” I asked as soon as we got settled in the car.

Monroe had pulled her phone out and actively dialed a number.

Is there another plan or something?

“Tying up loose ends,” she calmly explained as the line rang, reaching over to start the car.

I furrowed my brows in confusion, watching her press the phone to her ear.

“Has the NDA been signed?” Monroe suddenly asked as I remained quiet, trying to figure out what loose ends she needed to tie up.

And what NDA?

Who needs to sign an NDA still?

“Let me know once it has,” my girlfriend said, briefly ending the call with god knows who.

“Who are you having sign an NDA?” I asked as she set her phone down in the cup holder, grabbing the gearshift to put the car in reverse.

“Kaia,” Monroe bluntly answered, making my eyes go wide.

“Kaia?” I clarified, confused about why she’s still an issue.

Monroe already did enough.

She’s quite literally brainwashed her.

“The work I did will fade, and I won’t have the time to keep up with it moving forward,” Monroe explained, calmly reversing the car out of the spot. “Your mother also sent someone to smooth over my work.”

I tilted my head, but a part of me wanted to smile.

For Kaia, at least.

I didn’t want her head to be all fucked up.

But in a way, that makes her a target again.

Monroe doesn’t look happy about it either.

“Why did you involve her, Liberty?” my girlfriend suddenly asked me, and I knew she meant my mother.  

“I had no other choice,” I quickly defended, my brows furrowing. “You fucked with her head, Monroe.”

“Language,” my girlfriend corrected me.

I scoffed, “Oh, now it’s language?” I asked, eyeing the side of her face. “You didn’t have an issue with it last night when you were inside of m—”

“I was being generous. I already walked you on your hands and knees for nearly an hour, Liberty,” Monroe clarified, briefly glancing over to me. “I’ve constantly been generous.”

My head bounced back, “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked with a narrowed look.

“There’s a handful of issues with you. Issues that I let pass to be there for you emotionally, rather than punish you, Liberty,” she briefly explained.

“I never asked you to be there for me emotionally, so I don’t know why you’re complaining like I did,” I pointed out.

“You’re my girlfriend. You’re not my arrangement anymore,” Monroe said, calmly shaking her head. “I don’t exactly have a choice in the matter.”

I scoffed.

But I had nothing.

I genuinely had nothing.

All I could do was draw in a deep breath, trying not to let her words get to me.

But I swear I wanted to cry, especially after what happened in that bathroom.

How did this all become my fault?

What did I do except be there for her?

“Liberty,” she suddenly sighed, her hands squeezing tight around the steering wheel. “I’m…” she trailed off, drawing in a deep breath. “I’m self-sabotaging. This never had anything to do with you.”

I shook my head when annoying tears burned in my eyes. “I was only trying to be here for you,” I weakly whispered.

“I know, darling. I’m sorry,” Monroe whispered, reaching over to gently grab my hand in my lap. “I simply don’t think we should continue on like this. That’s why—”

“Carry on like what?” I quickly cut her short, my head whipping toward her direction.

It was silent between us for a moment.

So long that I began counting how many times my heart beat in my chest.

Monroe finally glanced over at me the moment she slowly halted the car at the red light.

Her eyes openly trailed my face, almost like she was trying to remember every detail of it.

“It’s easier if you hate me.”

Her words were lowered and calm—like she had already thought this through.

 “You’re…” I trailed off with furrowed brows. “You’re breaking up with me?”

Monroe was silent.

Tensely silent.

Then she suddenly shook her head.

“No,” she mumbled, shaking her head again, “No.”

I was confused.

She’s confusing me.

“I’m not sure I can let you walk away. I won’t survive through it,” Monroe whispered, flicking on her signal. “I truly don’t know what we can do from here, Liberty. I refuse to bring you into the world of Levane.”

“I don’t care, Monroe,” I said before I could think it through, “I genuinely don’t care. What don’t you get? I’ll be by your side through it all.”

“I care,” she emphasized, drawing in a deep breath. “It’s more than just being by my side. There will be a target on your back. Bigger than the one that my father already put there.”

I remained silent, entirely confused by what she meant.

“Working in big pharma will earn you enemies. Whether it’s vengeful families or rival companies,” Monroe explained, her blue eyes focused on the road ahead. “There are brutal tabloids, and someone is always out for blood.”

“Your parents have handled it. It’ll be fine,” I quickly said, not even caring that being by Monroe’s side will put me in more danger than I’ve ever been in.

I would do it for her.

“Things happen quickly, Liberty. You could be kidnapped or blackmailed or worse—”

“Monroe,” I cut her short, eyeing the side of her beautiful face. “You can’t break up with me.”

“I know,” she whispered, squeezing the steering wheel even tighter. “God, do I know, Liberty.”

I let out a deep sigh, unsure what to do from here.

Or what she wanted to happen.

What’s supposed to happen now?

I know we can’t break up.

That’s set in stone.

“What do you want from me?” I suddenly asked, my voice weaker than I anticipated.

It was enough to make Monroe briefly glance over from the road, her beautiful face fallen from the question alone.

“I want your safety. I want you to be okay, Liberty,” she whispered, glancing back at the road. “If you’re okay, then I’m okay. If you’re not, then…” she trailed off, shaking her head. “I can’t breathe. Even him threatening you like that—god, it was enough to break me, Liberty.”

I blinked a few times, suddenly realizing—

She didn’t break down in the bathroom because she was taking over Levane.

No.

She broke down because he threatened me.

She couldn’t breathe because of it.

“Ro,” I whispered speechlessly.

“I need to think. I’ll figure out the best solution for you,” she determined as she continued focusing on the road.

“Us,” I emphasized. “You’ll find the best solution for us.”

“No,” Monroe didn’t hesitate to say, “I meant what I said. You come over us, always.”

I shook my head, “No—”

“End of discussion, Liberty,” she cut me short for once, not even bothering to let me argue her point.

“Well, I won’t allow that,” I mumbled, glancing away from her to look out of the window.

“You will if I want you to,” Monroe clarified, her voice much firmer with me. “End of discussion, Liberty,” she repeated with heavier emphasis.

I rolled my eyes, especially since I was facing the window.

I definitely wouldn’t do it in front of her face right now.

There’s already too much up in the air.

I didn’t want to add my attitude to the list.

So I just remained silent, staring out of the window as she drove us to her house.

I genuinely wasn’t sure what her plan was from here, but I knew she was about to formulate one.

Possibly even steps ahead of Leon.

I knew this would only get messier from here.