Beautifully Damned

forty: plot twist

  false god by taylor swift

Imogen.

Maxime had extended his stay, so he could spend more time with me. Being with him made me feel like myself, it felt right. I did have doubts in my mind but I wouldn't be me if I didn't. We sat on the couch at his hotel suite, the back of my head against his bare chest.

I'd been working more, getting into campaigns and shoots. I was glad to be back and I was glad to see that I still had it. My thoughts averted to reality, as my mind started to race, Maxime looked down,

"You have that look on your face" He said

I furrowed my eyebrows, "What look?" I spoke

"The one where you're overthinking" he hummed

"It's nothing, just stress" I said

"Well what i-" He was interrupted by a door knock

I sat up, and looked at the door, "I'm not expecting anyone, who could it be?" He stood

I shrugged as he walked to the door, "I'll be back, I gotta use the bathroom" I said running down the hall

Maxime and I haven't really discussed what this all meant but I knew that we loved each other and I was happy. I looked in the mirror, as I washed my hands. I was in control, I had control.

I took a deep breath as I slicked a fly away down. I walked out, hearing Max talking to someone. I entered the living room, horrified at the sight.

"Léa you need to leave, I can't do this with you a-" He was cut off by my entrance

Léa stood there with nothing but lingerie and heels on. I had no words I just watched as she stood there amused at the situation.

"Oh- Gen! Hey, sorry I didn't realize Princey had someone over. I just needed a little pick me up but I see you got to him rather fast" she picked up her robe

Bitch, I thought to myself, "I'm sorry?" I furrows my brows asking her to repeat

"No I just mean you fell back into old tracks pretty fast girlfriend. So what are you guys?" She asked

"Okay, I really don't even know who you are so please take your sorry ass back to wherever you came from. Frankly I don't appreciate you coming in here and disrespecting me, as a woman it sucks to see bitches like yo-" I started to get blunt until Maxime stepped in

"Léa, I told you we were over, you're out of line. Leave" he commanded

She nodded, "Always lovely to see you. Princey let me know about our flight this week"  She threw on her coat as she walked out the door

I was lost for words, my throat got tight and my eyes filled with water. Maxime pinched the bridge of his nose before looking at me. Nope, I wasn't gonna do this today. I closed my eyes and took a breath, turning around towards my room.

"Fuck, Imogen" He treaded after me

As soon as I entered the room, I slammed the door, locking it in the process. For whatever reason, I wasn't mad at him, she just threw me off. I just needed to breathe, to remember to take space. I knew I would retaliate otherwise.

There's always a reality check when I'm really enjoying life. He's leaving? And so soon, why didn't he mention it? He makes me so happy, how will we do this? I thought

I leaned against the door, before breathing a few times to keep myself grounded. I twisted the lock and opened the door, walking down the hall to reveal Maxime with a tray of my favorite desserts. I nudged my head to the side, in the direction of the couch—indicating that we needed to talk.

He walked over and sat next to me. I took a breath, and looked into his eyes, "I'm not mad" I started

"I'm a little confused, and hurt but I'm not mad" I breathed

"Imogen, you know how much I adore you. I will handle Leá, I promise" he pleaded

I nodded, "So what's our game plan? We never talked about what'll happen when you leave" I asked him

"We can try long distance. You just came back, you're at the peak of your career and with you I can't be selfish and ask you to give that up" he suggested

I nuzzled my head into his chest, "Okay" she said

"Okay?" He said

"I trust you, so we can make this work. But just know, I'm stronger now and I will not hesitate to walk away at the second you fuck up" I clarified

"I love you, my beautiful chérie"

"Promise?" I put my pinky out

He laughed, "Always", he interlocked his pinky with mine
—————

I debated on how the next few days would go before Max's departure. As we walked along the East River, we held hands as I stared at the city. Maxime looked to me,

"Chérie" he started

"Hmm?" We walked

"Thank you" he started

I stopped and looked to him, "What for?" I laughed

"For everything, you made my life better. You gave me a sense of sensibility and compassion, I don't know where I'd be without you" he told me

I smiled, "It's me who should be thanking you, we met when I was in such a vulnerable place. And even though you hurt me the most, it made me 5x the woman I was that first day. I'm stronger, because of you" I poured myself out

His hands cupped my face, and brought me into a long kiss, "We have to go home" he breathed out with a smirk

"Why?" I asked

He pulled me in, to whisper "I'm gonna fuck you into oblivion" he said

I smiled as my eyes widened, we started to walk to where the security parked.

We got to his hotel building, practically running inside. I giggled as he impatiently pressed the elevator button. The doors opened and I walked in, pulling his shirt in with me. After a few moments he broke the kiss as the elevator opened letting us out and him carrying me over his shoulder to his place.

Joy is all I felt in this moment.
*******

Max isn't designed to be the bad guy (in this chapter at least)
False God>>>
Y'all really need to pull out your pitchforks for Léa homewrecker ass