{ billies pov }

𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐

I found victoria taking up my usual spot in the kitchen, baking something in the oven, and honestly from the smell of it I can tell she doesn't have a lot of experience in the kitchen.

"victoria, I didn't hear you come in. if you're looking for anastasia, I think she left for work already.

"actually, im here for the twins."

"oh?"

"I hope you like goat cheese because im making everyone breakfast quiches with cauliflower crusts."

"...yeah..."

jason and jacob trundle into the kitchen behind me, still half asleep.

"whats that smell?" jacob asks gagging.

"I think its coming from victoria." jason says.

"good morning, boys! i'm taking you two out for some step mommy-twin bonding time today. after we have a nutritious , homemade breakfast, of course."

I decided to not mention the cardboard box of frozen breakfast quiches stuffed in the trash can.

"and dont think I forgot about you billie, you get to spend the day helping jade plan the engagement party."

𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚙

after forcing down two store bought quiches, I took the subway to monet enterprise to meet up with jade.

"billie its delightful to see you again." jade says smiling.

"hey jade, its good to see you again too."

jade lead me into her office and the two of us got to work.

"here are anastasias' list for us." she said as she handed me like 30 sheets of paper.

"please tell me this is some kind of joke."

"even im not this funny, I dont know why she bothers asking for help if she's going to micromanage this."

" 'entree suggestions'... 'decoration do's and don'ts' 'party games that highlight not only rousseau and monet as companies but also as a couple.' damn there's something seriously wrong with her. when did she even have time to do all this?"

"i'm pretty sure she's a vampire, she never sleeps." jade says laughing. "ready to wade through the appetizers?"

jade passed me another stupid fucking list.

"Its all deconstructed fancy stuff, aren't there going to be kids at this thing?"

"kids have never been victoria's strength."

"well I say we try to sneak sliders in there."

jades eyes gleam with mischief and she smirks.

"somebody not liking victoria?"

"I didn't say that!"

"right but you're trying to ruin this?"

"no, I just want the people at her party to be able to eat."

"as someone on the guest list, I appreciate it."

"appetizers...check. whats next?"

a few hours later, jade hangs up the phone after bargaining with an antiques dealer over the chandelier victoria apparently has to have at the party.

"I think that's actually everything. drink?"

i smiled as jade moved to the cart in the corner of her office casually pouring two glasses.

"i have to say, i'm pretty impressed by the way you tackled everything. when we first met i figured u were.."

"just a party girl?" she asked laughing.

"can you blame me?"

"I know anastasia introduced me as her assistant, but my actual title is deputy chief operating officer. It's a little more complicated than taking messages and scheduling meetings. there are days anastasia and I don't even see each other..or our father, for that matter."

" 'our father'? I thought you were just unofficial siblings."

"I lived with the monets throughout middle and high school. they practically adopted me, all that was missing was the paperwork...anastasia always had everything handed to her growing up, no questions asked. the important job, the cute kids, the fancy fiancee...but i had to work for everything and it's still not enough. I'm right behind her though. It's a close call which one of us will win in the end."

"do i sense a little sibling rivalry here?" i asked chuckling.

"of course not, i wouldn't be here at all if it weren't for her. i'm sure she going to be awarded the position of CEO after dad, and she's going to marry victoria, it's a done deal. I'm just next in line in case she fucks everything up."

"oh.."

"yeah it's just too bad anastasia and victoria.." she stayed silent for a second "never mind." she looked away.

"it's too bad that anastasia and victoria..what?" i asked trying to make her give me some details cuz how the fuck are you just gonna leave me hanging like this?

"I probably shouldn't be airing all our dirty secrets in front of a complete stranger." she said laughing.

"I'm not a stranger, i'm practically family. If victoria is going to be a permanent part of ana's life...it technically affects me too."

"you're right about that.." she waited a bit and took a deep breathe. "ugh fine.."

"their engagement has a lot more to do with business than love. It's basically an arranged marriage."

"an arranged marriage? thats so old-fashioned."

"welcome to the monet family." she said rolling her eyes. "our dad, he's what you might call.... conservative. he won't step down as CEO until anastasia marries victoria and merges the empires."

"seriously? even though it's not exactly a..conservative union?"

"oh, you mean the whole gay marriage thing? It caused quite the fuss the first time around. but after your daughter has already married a woman once, i guess you kinda have to be okay with it."

"i guess that's something."

"I can't blame the man too much. monet enterprise plus Rousseau industries is a heady combination...much like this scotch."

jade took a sip from her glass.

"still..."

"yeah, dad thinks having a wife and kids will help cement a woman in her life."

"and the fact that ana already had both those things?"

"utterly besides the point. deep down, i think dad does want anastasia to be happy, but he's a 'my way or the highway' sorta guy."

"your dad sounds like he has good intentions. he's totally misguided and outdated but i can see where he's coming from. I hope anastasia finds someone too, but only-"

"only if it's you?"

"what?! no! only when she's ready."

"fact of the matter is, anastasia already married for love once. she told me she doesn't think lighting strikes the same place twice."

"so she doesn't think she'll ever find love again?"

"pretty much. explains the 'what the hell' sentiment behind this whole thing, if you ask me."

"poor anastasia." i said starting to play around with my fingers.

"victoria's not so bad. If you have to settle down, why not settle with a rich, pretty robot?" she said laughing.

"fair point. but victoria is nothing compared to me. like i'm literally hot, smart, good with the twins, funny, and i'm down to earth."

"and humble." she said sarcastically.

"you mean confident." i said laughing.

jade looked at me for a while, and i honestly couldn't read the look on her face.

"anyways, victoria doesn't care. she and ana want the same thing, to advance in their companies."

"Is victoria going to be CEO of rousseau Industires too?"

"according to her father? absolutely not. but he'll be hard-pressed to find a reasonable excuse if she manages to merge them with monet enterprise and get the boards backing."

i took a drink from my glass before asking my next question.

"do you think they've slept together? they barely even kissed when she came home from Italy to surprise anastasia on her birthday."

"probably not, they're just two young attractive adults sharing drinks together and killing time."

I took another sip of my drink and tried to process everything she just told me.

"have i told you about the time victoria tried to order a pizza over the phone. It was hilarious."

i shook my head.

"she asked if the 'caterers' had been to le cordon bleu, or if it was just the chef."

"the caterers?"

"she meant the delivery drivers."

i laughed and accidentally dropped some of my drink on my shirt. "oh shit."

"here let me help you." jade sprung up and grabbed a handful of napkins.

"I know how this sounds but.. that stain is less likely to set if you take your top off."

"right okay." i said laughing nervously.

i quickly took off my shirt and started to dab at the stain. jade leaned over and helped.

"I can't believe that actually worked." she laughed.

"focus please. I'm gonna be pissed if i got half naked in front of you and it still stains my shirt."

"a-hem."

we both turned our head to the door and saw anastasia standing there. "I hope i'm not interrupting something."