"what are you doing here? and why is victoria calling you?" anastasia asked with a confused expression.

"she was looking for you. do i even want to know what y'all two were doing here?" jade said angrily.

"we were just cleaning." billie muttered out.

"cleaning? that's what your going with?" jade said chuckling, as she rolled her eyes.

"we don't need to explain shit to you. did u finish the press release for the milan breach?" anastasia asked.

"i've been a little busy, apparently i'm not the only one."

"enough. if you have something to say then say it. if not then go back to work."

jade stormed towards the exit but stopped at the door.

"i almost forgot. victoria has a message for you billie. since you came today, she wants you to go to the company picnic this weekend."

"she does? i thought she wanted me fired."

"mm. i guess it's a 'keep your enemies closer' type thing. she also already told mom and dad so they're expecting you there."

jade walked out of the lab without a second glance. anastasia sighed and turned to billie.

"are you okay?"

"we have to be more careful."

"yeah. it won't happen again. also, you don't have to come to the picnic."

the tone of her voice made billie pause for a second.

"well if you don't want me there.." billie said as she moved away from anastasia, but ana stopped her as she put her hand on top of billies arm.

"that's not what i meant. i always want you with me."

"i'll go."

day of the company picnic.

billie looked through her things, trying to find out what to wear.

'i give up. i have no idea what to wear to something like this. a skirt? a sweater? wait no it's too hot for sweaters. ugh!'

as if on cue, billie hears the pattering of feet running down the hallway. she turned just on time to see jason and jacob appear at her door, holding a bag that's almost as big as they are.

"billie! we got you something!" jacob said smiling.

"mom said we could surprise you with something for the picnic." jason said.

"she may have helped a bit." jacob said.

billie smiled and looked inside the bag.

billie's outfit, try to picture it with short sleeves and with the skirt showing

they finally all arrived at central park, the sun is high and a pleasant breeze wafts over the ground.

the boys are walking behind anastasia and billie sadly.

"what's the problem, you two? you don't like picnics?" billie asked.

"normal picnics, yeah. but who knows what victoria has done to this one." jacob said.

"boys. i promise y'all, victoria didn't have any part in planning the picnic." anastasia said.

"but we still have to follow her rules, don't we?" jason asked.

"you can still have fun. besides, there's going to be a lot going on, i'm sure you can eat some ice cream or snack, assuming your mom says it's okay."

"really!?" jason said happily.

"i guess. but just one treat. i don't need y'all getting a sugar overload." anastasia said.

the boys gasped as they turned the corner, the company picnic then came into view.

"it's so pretty. i can see our building from here!" jason said amazed.

victoria walked across the lawn towards the four of them, waving hello.

"anastasia you've got to see this. it's accounting vs. legal on the badminton court!"

victoria pauses as she looks at billies outfit, a small smile appeared on her face.

"well, don't you look adorable. you always know how to turn it on when it matters most, don't you?"

"i try." billie said with a fake smile.

"well, can you try to keep the boys from getting dirty or being too loud or eating any sugar? ana and I will be right back."

before billie could answer, victoria yanked anastasia's arm and took her away. billie and the boys started to look for games to play, until, they ran into familiar faces. it was their grandparents. they all exchanged hellos, and at the end of the conversation they decided to keep the boys for a bit.

billie started walking until one of the engineers she met at the office waved her over to where he was talking to jade.

"hello again, billie. I see you made it to the company picnic. we must've charmed you during your visit." grant said.

"yeah, anastasia really sold the company, I got a private window into exactly how persuasive she can be." jade said.

just then, mr. monet's voice rings out through a megaphone, and everyone gathered around in a grassy field to hear him speak.

"welcome to the annual monet enterprise company picnic! I hope you're ready for some good old-fashioned fun! we've got everything from giant jenga to croquet to kickball! but the highlight of the afternoon will be starting in five minutes.. tug of war!!"

"is he serious? that sounds...aggressive. I thought this was a family-friendly affair."

"so did I." jade mumbled.

"what's that supposed to mean?" billie said looking at jade.

"it's complex a versus complex b! if you're not an employee, pick a side." katherine said.

everyone got into teams, leaving billie stranded in the middle.

"billie! you have to be on our team." jason says loudly."

billie looks at the boys with their huge smiles splattered on their faces.. then to anastasia who's right behind them.

"we could use the extra hand." she said.

"if billie doesn't want to play. she doesn't want to play." jade cut in angrily.

"i'll play." billie said smiling as she made her way over.

"yeah! suck it aunt jade!" jacob said.

"jacob!" anastasia said looking at jacob trying not to laugh.

"I mean.. you're going down?"

"we'll see kiddo. at least we don't have any distractions on our team." jade said as she looked back and forth at ana and billie.

anastasia rolled her eyes. they all huddled up with the other team members on one side of the field.

"its time to play!" older jason said loudly.

"on our mark, both teams will start pulling on opposite sides of the rope. whichever team pulls the center of the top over their line wins!" katherine said.

"boys up front, billie, stand by me."

billie slid in front of anastasia, unaware of how close her presence was behind her.

billie looked across the field to see jade glaring at her.

billie stuck her tongue out at her, making jade roll her eyes.

"is that your method of long-distance trash talk?" ana said laughing.

"it's working, isn't it? jades head isn't in the game, meaning we've got this in the bag."

"everybody ready? on your mark.." older jason said

"get set.." katherine continued.

"pull!"

billie surged forward as the other team started pulling the rope. she then dug her heels in, refusing to stumble towards the other team. she met jades eyes and they both glared at each other.

"pull jacob! pull!" jason said angrily trying his hardest to pull the rope.

"I am pulling!" jacob said loudly.

"then pull harder!" jason said louder.

billies fingers tightened around the rope, as she used all her strength to pull.

anastasia's team gives one final pull having the center of the rope cross the mark. the pull caused billie to stumble back...falling into ana's arms. her grip tightened around billies waist, she looked back into her eyes and just for a moment, the rest of the world faded away.

"hi." billie said with a soft smile.

"hi." ana said back.

billie cant help but dart her eyes down to ana's lips, remembering how soft they felt against hers...how her fingers felt against her skin...

ana noticed her gaze, and almost involuntarily licked her lips.

"billie I-" anastasia gets caught off by the celebrating of her team members.

"congratulations." katherine said.

ana's arms fall away from billie, just in time for jason and jacob to tackle her in a bear hug.

"yall did it boys." she said smiling as she hugged them back.

"we did it, mom!" jason said as he hugged her tighter.

"yeah! we couldn't have beat aunt jade without you and billie." jacob said.

"and we couldn't have done it without you two." billie said as she ruffled jacobs hair, making him look up at her with a huge smile on his face.

"that's one way to put it." jade said looking even more furious than before.

"nobody likes a sore loser jade. be a good example for your nephews." katherine said.

"anastasia, my warrior princess! ive got a wet wipe, and a fresh blouse with your name on it." victoria said with a smirk.

"I-" before she could protest, victoria looped her arm through ana's and tugged her away.

billie watched them go, until the boys claimed her attention.

"billie, could we play giant jenga now?" jason asked smiling.

"absolutely! lead the way."

later after a few rounds of jenga with Jason and Jacob, the boys went off with their grandparents for ice cream, leaving billie free to sneak off to a food station, she had just placed her order when someone stepped behind her.

"you're a hard woman to catch alone." jade said.

"I didn't know you'd been trying."

"after what I saw at the lab, talking to you is all I've been able to think about." she took a deep breath before continuing. "what the hell is going on between you and anastasia? and do not lie to me."

"... we've fooled around a bit.." billie muttered, not one hundred percent sure why she told her the truth.

"seriously? I thought it was just innocent flirting!" jade said loudly. "dare I ask how far you've gone?" jade asked nervously.

"no, thats not any of your business."

"you made it my business when I walked in on the two of you in the lab!" jade said getting mad.

jade sighed deeply, massaging her temple.

"look, billie. i'm all for innocent flirting, like at the engagement party, but whatever I walked in on the other day wasn't innocent. I was on board for making ana jealous when I thought she just didn't want me sleeping with her nanny. I didn't know I was actually making her jealous. i'm just worried about you."

"I know im in way over my head, but I cant seem to help myself. what would you do If you were me?"

"does it matter what I say? you'll just do whatever you want anyway. anastasia is the best woman I know. and in another life, you two could've been great together. but in this life, she has obligations to her family, her company, and don't forget, her fiancee. you have to back down. its the right thing to do."

billie stared at jade, unsure how to respond, no matter what her heart says, a part of her knows she's right. before she could fully confront the truth of that realization, the snack vendor called her order number.

"that's mine. I'd better find jason and jacob soon anyways."

"think about what i've said okay?"

billie nodded, thankfully, by the time she collected her food, jade disappeared into the crowd.

later that afternoon, after many more games and food, the picnic comes to an end. billie helps the twins get ready to leave.

"okay boys, carter will be here any minute. let's wipe our hands and throw away our trash."

"but my hands are super clean! seeeee?" jacob said.

jacob held up his hands, which were covered in streaks of some sort of sauce.

"then, lets wipe them again, just to make them extra clean." billie said chuckling.

billie gathered the paper plates on the blanket and turned to find anastasia approaching her with an open trash bag.

"i'll take those." ana said smiling.

the two of them follow the boys towards the edge of the park where carter will pick them up.

-

they spot carter pulling up in the town car, and victoria and jade are already waiting at the curb.

"looks like the ride home will be a little crowded tonight." billie said.

"good thing I can get out of it for once. I always stay behind and help the cleaning crew after the picnic. it's the least I can do to show my appreciation for everything."

"no one's too good to clean up messes, right mom?" jason said smiling.

"exactly." ana said as she laughed.

"but we dont have to stay right?" jacob asked nervously.

"not until yall are a little bit older." she said smiling.

billie smiled at the look of relief on jacobs face as he climbed into the car, followed by his brother.

"yes, honey, very inspiring. see you at home." victoria said as she kissed anas cheek and followed the boys. jade stood there, waiting for billie to climb inside.

"billie, are you coming?" jade asked.

billie looked at the crowded backseat, then ana who was smiling at her.

"you're more than welcome to stay and help, if you want. it won't take long between us and the crew. we usually divide and conquer to cover more ground."

"i'll stay and help." billie said smiling.

"hmm. just remember what I told you." jade said before sliding into the car.

-

anastasia and billie started to clean up the picnic area, the rest of the cleaning crew went to the other side of the park, giving them privacy.

"youre being awfully quiet over there." anastasia said chuckling nervously still cleaning up the trash.

"sorry. I just... have a lot on my mind."

"like?" ana asked as she stopped cleaning and looked at billie.

"earlier today, jade pulled me aside and told me to leave you alone..."

"what did you say?"

"I sorta told her the truth..but I don't think she'll tell victoria."

"billie, i'm sorry for putting you in this position. you shouldn't have to deal with my sister confronting you like that."

ana reached out to touch her face, billie felt a pang in her chest at the intimacy.

"jade seemed pretty sure that at the end of all this, I would be the one who ends up hurt."

anas fingertips trail softly on billies jawline.

"I will do everything in my power to prevent that. my parents expectations, the company politics, victoria... it all fades away when i'm with you."

"ana.."

just then the sprinklers turn on, dousing them both.

billie curled against anastasia's chest as she tries to shield her.

"okay seriously, who sets their sprinklers to go off in the middle of the afternoon." ana asked laughing.

"someone who got am and pm mixed up?" billie said also laughing.

ana reaches out to smooth billies now-dripping hair out of her face.

"you're beautiful. although you're extremely wet right now."

"yeah. you tend to do that to me." billie said without thinking twice.

ana chuckled and her grip tightened around billie.

"kiss me." billie said whispering, but loud enough ana could here.

anas eyes flash as she lowered her head, capturing billies lips with hers.

billie groaned as anastasia pushed her hips hard against hers, billie grinded back helplessly.

anas lips trail from billies mouth along her jawline, then up to her ear.

"I cant control myself when i'm around you."

"good."

billie tangled her fingers in anas wet hair, as she dragged her lips back to hers, she gasped as anas fingertips grazed her nipples through the wet fabric.

"I want nothing more than to lay you down and take you right here, but..."

billie let out a gasp as anastasia's mouth leaves light kisses on her neck.

"we are still in public... and in broad daylight." billie said finishing off anastasia's sentence.

ana paused, pressing her forehead against billies, shutting her eyes. she leaned in for one last kiss, softer, slower, before pulling away.

"you're going to be the death of me." ana said chuckling

they both glanced around, thankfully the park was still empty.

"or at least the death of my reputation."

"... you're welcome?" billie said with a smile.

anastasia chuckles as she picks up her trash bag again.

"we should probably get back to cleaning."

billie nodded before they both walked away from the sprinklers.

over the next few days, everything seemed to return to normal...

until, billie hears a knock on her bedroom door early in the morning.

'what could anastasia want so early?' billie thought to herself.

she got up, and checked her hair quickly, then opened the door to let her in.

"victoria? what're you doing here?"

"I heard about what happened at the picnic. we need to talk."