rodmilla-tremaine-blog

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

simba-lyons:

Simba pushed off the desk and stalked towards Milla. In his heart, there was a fire raging. He wanted to cut her down. Her little smirk, the disgustingly sweet drip of her words. Simba knew not a single piece of it was truthful and Simba hated liars. But, he knew his voice would be steady and firm, full of righteousness. 

He stalked towards her and stepped right up to her, towering above her, even in her sharp, pointed heels. She was so slight. He could pick her up and toss her if he wanted to. 

But, he didn’t. 

He wouldn’t.

Instead, he just stared at her, eyes hard.

“I said no games,” he growled at her, voice low and dangerous. “Don’t try to make yourself into a victim, Rodmilla. That may work for the newspapers, but it is not going to work on me. We both know the hand you played and we both know why you played it. And I am not suggesting a change. I’m demanding it.”

Simba straightened up and turned around striding back to the desk and picking up the folder he had. Walking over, he handed her it.

“Here’s a list of several nonprofit organizations I think you might be suited to. They’re all in need of legal council, most are homes for children. All over Europe and a few in America. You will never step foot in a courtroom again, Rodmilla. Ever. And if I find out you have I will make sure you never take another step outside of prison.”

He lifted his chin. 

“You’re lucky you helped me with Kiara. I realize this was only another one of your stupid fucking chess moves, but it was a good one. I swear to Allah, though, if you ever do anything like what you did to my family again to anyone, I will forget all about that kindness.” And Simba knew that for a fact. He would take care of her himself, if he had to.

“My people will be checking in,” he told her. It was a dismissal. 

He went back to the bookshelf near his desk and began packing again–not looking at her. 

Rodmilla’s smirk was wiped off her face. Inside, she felt her anger begin to seep from all the cracks in that stone heart of hers, like magma from a slow-erupting volcano. She hated Simba Lyons for how righteously he looked at her, for the file he produced like she was some employee of his. Like he had any say over her future at all.

Except for Milla, smart as she was, knew how powerful vengeance could be. The thirst for it drove men to do many things-- in Simba’s case, follow her. Spy on her. Treat her like a criminal.

Everything I did, I did for my family. She kept this careful truth tucked in the deepest part of her heart. It was cracked too, but it held strong anyway.

She would not give Simba the satisfaction of hearing any of her explanations.

She would not give Simba the satisfaction of catching her. Ever. Milla knew when to play by the rules, when to cut her loses, when to retreat-- if only so she could regroup, recalibrate and come back stronger than ever. It burned in her to have to bow to someone like this boy, given a throne he hadn’t earned, a throne built on the backs of hundreds of thousands of people. Unlike Tremaine, who had built her own empire from the ground-up.

All he had was a name. That wasn’t power. Not real power. It could send a snake slithering, but it wouldn’t cut off the snake’s head. Even Taka had not been taken down by Simba. She had been the one wielding the butcher’s knife. She’d delivered him Taka the second she’d refused to help him any longer.

Simba would see that one day.   

So she took the folder in her manicured hands, though she did not look at the names of ‘approved’ employers. “Thank you for your generosity,” she deadpanned his way and lifted her chin. “May we never meet again, Mr. Lyons.”

And with that she turned on her heel and slunk out the way she came, her heels echoing down the hall long after she’d left Simba’s sight.

There was much to plan, wasn’t there? 

There always was.

Deception, Disgrace || Lyonsmaine Jr.

#para #lyonsmaine jr #AND THAT'S ALL FOLKS #/sheds tear over my beautiful milla whoo taught me so much ugh

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

#lady #tremaines #watch them bitches go

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

“A little wicked,” that’s what he calls me Cause that’s what I am, that’s what I am.

#lady #is this a lady tremaine spam it is #the last one u will ever get

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

#ee queen #lady

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

simba-lyons:

Simba was packing when Rodmilla came into his office. He was wearing a t-shirt and athletic pants and a pair of dirty trainers. There were boxes strewn all over the place. It looked like a tornado had swept through it. He was getting rid of everything Taka had touched. The only things that would be remaining were the stoic bookcases in the corner and a few choice books. Everything else was gone–the rugs, the conference table in one corner, the desk. He was having his father’s desk, the one from his office at home, brought in sometime next week.

As Rodmilla spoke, a mover bustled in behind her and moved passed her into the office. “That one goes to my mother,” Simba instructed the man who nodded and bent down to retrieve the box before hustling out the door.

Simba still hadn’t looked at Rodmilla yet.

That was a tactic he’d learned from his father. Mufasa used to purposely ignore him for hours if he was just being a little shit, wanting attention. Which was exactly how he viewed Rodmilla: a pest, who thought she still had everyone under her thumb. But they both knew she’d been stripped of those things that she held dear–all her power and influence. 

Eventually, he came to stand in front of Taka’s desk, leaning back against it slightly and crossing his arms, looking Rodmilla in the eye.

“And look how far you’ve fallen,” he said after a moment. He reached behind him to pull the manila folder he’d prepared closer, resting his hand on it and tapping the top with a finger.

“I think we both know why I’ve called you here. No games, Rodmilla. No second chances. We both know what you did,” his voice was hard but level. There was nothing she could say that could incite him. His fury was cold and detached, looking to slice right through her.

“And I want you gone.” 

Rodmilla knew the trick. She’d used the trick before, on her daughters, her interns, on stupid clients, even on Taka Lyons himself. She knew the trick and it grated for this boy to try to use it against her. In his hands, it was barely a weapon though. He was just playing games. Playing house. Playing CEO.

But what did Rodmilla care? She distanced her name from this place before it all had exploded; of that her partners were grateful, which was why she knew they’d let her hand in her resignation instead of firing her. But Simba could not distance himself from Taka in the same way. No, the Lyons name was sullied now, a black stain upon its precious golden legacy. And Milla would be taking that little victory with her. Simba could change his office, he could banish her from Swynlake, but he bore the Lyons name.

Milla had enough friends in high places to know how little that name was starting to mean.

Milla reminded herself of these things so she wouldn’t snip at the boy for treating her like a misbehaving child. She reminded herself that it wasn’t going to be Simba who made her leave; it was Milla’s choice.

Just like it was Milla’s choice to let Taka spiral and implode.

You should be thanking me, Milla thought, eying Simba. For everything I’ve done. Or you’d still be a bloody bartender.

“I’ll remind you that I’m as much of a victim here as you,” she said in a saccharinely sorrowful voice (because she knew that Simba saw through her, but no one else did, and he couldn’t prove it-- and so she taunted him). “For years I lived in fear of what your awful uncle would do to me and my daughters--” because yes, blackmail was the story, easy enough to concoct and sell “-- and I’m just so-- grateful that he was finally caught. I have you to thank for that. So thank you, Simba.” She mocked him.

And she turned toward the windows and folded her arms over her chest, looking out at Main Street-- at this town she’s made her own. But she had no love for this town. Not after snowstorms and hellhounds and demons stalking her in the night.

“But truthfully I think I need a new beginning,” she said and looked back at Simba. “There are so many terrible memories here for myself and my girls. You’re right to suggest a change.”

Deception, Disgrace || Lyonsmaine Jr.

#lyonsmaine jr #para

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

cinderella characters + quotes

[3] lady tremaine

#because ur time is coming to a close my dear #but u will always remain the most flawless of bitches #lady

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

Deception, Disgrace || Lyonsmaine Jr.

@simba-lyons

Rodmilla Tremaine had been summoned. 

No one summoned Rodmilla Tremaine-- Rodmilla Tremaine summoned you. And yet that’s exactly what had happened when she went into work, finding her partners waiting for her, their faces drawn into masks she could not read. Her gaze had narrowed and she crossed her arms. But she was not surprised when they told her that Simba Lyons had made a meeting with her to talk, and that afterward, she was expected to pack her things and go. 

She’d done all she could to stay out of legal trouble-- cooperated with the police, gave a tearful performance about blackmail, the safety of her daughters etc. etc.--but she’d known she could not salvage the entirety of her professional one. 

She knew that Tremaine and Partners would not stand.  

But Milla did not flinch. She held her head high and stared her colleagues down before turning around and leaving the building without another word. She crossed the street to InterPride, feeling the eyes on her as she did. For weeks, she’d borne those eyes of nearly everyone in Swynlake. For weeks, she’d turned those looks of fear, hatred, uncertainty and learned how to wear them as armor. 

She rode up the elevator to the new CEO’s office-- someplace she’d been many times. As she walked in, her lip twitched at the sight of Simba at the desk. Simba-- the fool who’d once crawled to her doorstep and begged for her help with his cousin. Look at him on his high horse now. 

Do you know what I’ve done on that desk, young man? She thought to herself though and already felt a quiet sense of victory. 

“Good morning, Mr. Lyons,” she addressed him politely as ever. “My, how far you’ve come from behind Pixie’s bar.” 

#lyonsmaine jr #para

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

sophisticated-thief:

Flynn curled his lips. “I’m hit, but I’m not on my knees yet.” That did sound like Milla, but also not quite. It was like she was straining to maintain her intimidating pokerface. Then again he could also be entirely wrong as he always was with this woman. He failed to read her on every end possible. As much as he hated to admit it to himself she was simply out of his league.

He was just going to pretend that he didn’t hear that.

“Lovely seeing you as always.” He responded with a pleasant smile. Obviously she didn’t want to talk about any of this. It was one thing if she wished to keep private information a secret. If she just didn’t fill him in because it pleased her, but now the situation was a little different. The news had already blown a part of this. He knew that she was in trouble. Yet she was still trying to defend her dignity.

“What’s it going to be then? Quite frankly I wasn’t aware that we play on the same side.” He continued to chitchat, amused by all this. “But I’m sure the star lawyer has her strategy aaall figured out already, doesn’t she?”

Could this line move any slower?

Milla leered forward, sniffing, trying not to look Flynn in the eye. He didn’t deserve such a thing-- he didn’t deserve anything from her. Because no, they did not play on the same side. She was no petty criminal, no small-town thief, and she didn’t need anyone to take care of her problems for her. She was an adult; Flynn just a boy. He’d served his purpose for her just as Taka had served his and when all this was over (and it would soon be over), Milla would still be standing. Flynn couldn’t keep up with a woman like her.

“I have no idea what you’re alluding to,” she said, her eyes on the menu. “The Lyons scandal is a tragedy. That poor family. I know nothing about it but what we’ve both read in the paper.”

She flicked her hair and then her eyes finally darted to him. “The queue’s moving, Mr. Rider.”

Revenge | Rod Rider

#rod rider #para

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

sophisticated-thief:

Flynn breathed wearily over his wallet as he stood in line to get himself a cup of steaming hot caffeine. It was way too early and he’d just finished his shift so he should be on his way straight to bed. His new job was nice. A lot nicer than the last one, so he could hardly complain, right? If only he didn’t have errands to run, then he might have been fine.

He took a step forward and curled his lips. It felt as if someone’s gaze was piercing the back of his skull and it made his hair stand on end. So he risked a quick gaze - only to relax again instantly and raise his brows. Milla was a powerful appearance. Had been since the day they met, but in the end, he figured, she just became one of his many one night stands. That was all that there was.

“Good morning.” He said and smirked. “How’s it going for you? Though I probably don’t need to ask after receiving yesterday’s newspaper, do I.”

@rodmilla-tremaine

Milla had been up all night. Since the news hit, she’d had to fly into damage control to get ahead of the investigation-- a second one-- that was going to come knocking on her door. She’d already begun to prepare of course and she’d put the necessary steps into motion to absolve herself of-- most of her crimes. Breaking ties had been smart of her at the very least. Look at what Taka had resorted to.

Milla was not yet finished preparing her own defense (to the federal agencies that would come knocking, to the board, to her own daughters if necessary) but she’d ducked out of her office to get fuel. And so she stood in a blasted queue and stared angrily in front of her, so tired and so fed-up and so ready to be finished with all this untangling. She needed to get out of Taka’s web as soon as possible.

And so of course Flynn Rider would be in the same damn queue as her.

Her eyes hardened at that boyish smirk of his. Her insides ran cold and hot (that was the fatigue, she told herself). But Milla did not sneer as she wanted. No, she stared him right in the eye and gave a small smirk. “Oh, so you can read?” she said, honey sweet. “Congratulations Mr. Rider.”

Revenge | Rod Rider

#rod rider #para

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

Your Obedient Servant || Lyonsmaine

A/N: After Taka is informed that Nala is digging through hospital records, he panics and seeks advice from Milla Tremaine. 

@takalyons

Further Reading: The Investigation Begins – Copper and Taka Liars and Loopholes – Taka and Rodmilla A Helpful Interrogation – Copper and Nala Truth is in the Eye of the Beholder – Simba and Taka Rock Bottom - Sweet and Nala 

[Dated July 17]

TAKA: Nala was digging. The news had come to him about a day ago and in an unholy rage he had broken a good deal of his own possessions. After that rage had subsided, he thought. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't go to Milla. Not then, at least. It had been late and he was well aware that he was not on her good side. But he had gotten out of some trouble, blaming Ed had been a stroke of genius. He told law enforcement he wouldn't be pressing charges. Ed was like his son, after all, and he was just misguided and confused by his condition. Ed played the part perfectly.

But now this. Nala, sticking her nose in places it didn't belong. Had she found anything? Had she gone back to Copper? He needed to plan, needed to figure something out. But he had to wait until he was able to get to Rodmilla.

Which happened to be the next day, after her lunch. He had called as soon as the firm had opened to make the appointment. Had told her secretary that it was of the utmost importance.

He arrived promptly, suit ironed and pressed, looking so well put together no one would have known he was seconds away from a breakdown. Milla would, of course, she always had been able to see when he was unravelling. When he was allowed into her office, he entered with a smile and his usual confidence. “Good afternoon, Milla. I hope your lunch was satisfactory.”

MILLA:

Milla did not want to take Taka’s call. When it had come and her secretary had told her who was on the other line, she’d wanted to be ruthless and petty-- drop the call, make up some excuse, just like she was back in her uni days dodging the calls of anxious, no-good boys who thought they deserved her time, and never did. Once, Taka deserved her time. But not anymore.

The case was not closing. InterPride’s scandal was loud enough to have a good amount of the town talking, the press ready to sink their teeth in when given enough to go on. And Milla had no idea what they were going to find, but she knew they were going to find something.

A few years ago, maybe she’d work harder at this point to come up with a solution, in fear of her mistakes coming to light. But she saw that as a rather naive move now. Taka had tricked her into all this in the first place. She’d not signed up for murder, for drugs. Milla’s strategy did not lay in the papers.

She was done with the man himself.

Deciding that had made her unimaginably calm, like a storm had been waging inside her for longer than she realized and now, finally, it had cleared. She told her secretary to schedule an appointment. And this time, when Taka walked in, Milla sat with her hands in her lap, completely unreadable. No soft smile to greet him. No game to play.

“Thank you Taka, it was,” she said and motioned to the chair. “Take a seat.”

TAKA:

Milla looked…. Different. When he had walked in the room she hadn't greeted him as usual. Instead she had stayed at her desk, looking as put together as he did but different. For once, Taka was unable to tell the manor of her mood. There was no cross fierceness. No coy smile. Nothing. Just a blank slate of features. It caused the already overworked muscle in his head to go into overdrive.

What exactly was this meeting going to entail? He knew just from walking into the room it would not be about what he needed it to be about. It wasn't going to end with happy platitudes and friendly reminders. And that was what worried him. Which it shouldn't have because Milla was as entangled with this as he was. She couldn't deny that. If he went down then so did she. It had been a stroke of genius, really.

Still he remained calm and collected on the outside as he sat in the chair opposite her desk. He could nearly recall every time he had perched there, seeking counsel in his less than legal dealings. And this was the second biggest of them all. The uncover of a crime that had remained hidden for three years. If Taka had been smart he would have stayed in London, wouldn't have gotten cocky.

Hindsight was twenty-twenty.

“Nala Calame has been digging around. Pressing that pristine nose in places it does not belong,” he sighed. No point in putting it off with idle chatter. This needed to be dealt with promptly. He was sure Milla understood that. “I have no idea if she has presented anything to our lovely sheriff. Oddly enough my own informant have been unable to procure many details at all. We need a plan. If they do come looking.” The Lyons man (child) pinched the bridge of his nose before looking at Milla. “Think of it as one last favor, yes? After all this I believe a walk towards the straight and narrow is in order. At least until this all dies down.”

MILLA:

Milla-- laughed.

She actually laughed. It was a tiny chuckle, but it was indeed a chuckle, one that had her shoulders shaking. She shook her head at Taka too, her hands followed on her desk. She couldn’t believe this man.

Well, she supposed he could. The past year and a half had been more paranoid than the previous three. He’d been heading toward this inevitable crest for some time no matter how hard Milla had tried to herd him.

No more. She would not be responsible for another cover up. She even like young, bright, focused Nala. She’d been an excellent role model for Zella and she had the kind of fierce ambition that Milla had wanted for her own daughters. It didn’t surprise her that Nala had caught a whiff of a scandal and was working to uncover it.

Should she be worried? Should she care? Maybe more than she did right now-- but every woman for herself, Milla thought. She wasn't going to help Taka go after Nala. No.

If necessary, if she thought Nala was in danger (because she knew what Taka was capable of), she’d alert the police herself.

Now her laughter faded and she looked at Taka with her sharp eyes. “Listen to yourself. Always one more favour-- your promises mean nothing to me, Taka. We both know you’re incapable of the so-called straight and narrow after this childish pursuit of Fey’s Gold. You had everything, Mr. Lyons, you had the power of an international conglomerate, the respect of your peers, more money than you could use in one lifetime-- an entire kingdom at your feet-- and you risked it for drugs.”

She felt like she was lecturing a child, but Taka deserved it.

“I’ve accepted this meeting if only to alert you that I’m severing our professional relationship,” she informed him. “I am unable to continue such a relationship while InterPride gathers scandal after scandal. Tremaine and Partners does not condone the behavior of its CEO nor will it be associated with it.” A beat, and Milla lifted her chin. “You can see yourself out.”

TAKA:

“Excuse me?” He was incredulous. There was no reason for such a rash decision to be made. Though, if he were thinking properly he would know that everything Rodmilla did was thought out and deliberated carefully. It was the only way she operated. She was not some weak willed girl.

But still she was ending their arrangement. The words stuck in his mind as he looked on at Rodmilla. Was she not aware that she was implicated in this too? If she did not help him out of this she would be ruined as well? Had she lost her mind? There was no way she could sever ties with him. It was a bluff. It had to be. She was testing him. Seeing if he would offer something else, something more valuable. He would, of course he would. He did not want to go down for this. Would do whatever it was that she wanted to fix this.

“If you do that you will ruin yourself as well. How will you recover? Your business will suffer as well,” he tried to explain. He did not want to come across as desperate. Taka Lyons was not a desperate man. If she didn’t want to see reason he would leave. But he had to try first. Try and make her see reason. “If they uncover what happened that night you will be implicated as an accomplice. How do you think that is going to go over with your firm?” He raised an eyebrow at her, leaning forward in his seat. “You. Will. Be. Ruined. There is no doubt about it. We have always been in this together, Milla. Help me this one last time and I will give you whatever it is you desire. You have my word.”

MILLA:

She saw the surprise, the desperation, the panic. Once it had annoyed her because it had been her job to clean it up, like a mother might wipe drool off her toddler’s chin. She’d done it though. She had cleaned up Taka, she had cleaned up his messes, she had held his hand and pat his shoulder, and cooed in his ear. Why couldn’t she do it again just one last time, she wondered idly to herself. Why couldn’t she do that and take the man up on his offer? Whatever she desired was quite the large bargaining chip. In a way, isn’t it exactly what she had wanted all along-- to be here, in the seat of power, and have Taka simpering at her feet?

She had wanted that once. She’d wanted Tremaine and Partners to be excellent; she’d achieved that. She wanted her girls to be brilliant-- at least Ana would be, so that was only half a failure-- though…

Though secretly, deep down, she admired Zella for sticking up to her. It’s something that not even the great Taka Lyons could do. Look at him now.

She had gotten, then, everything she had ever wanted. This was the final victory and when faced with it, when given the chance to have Taka under her thumb for the rest of his life… she didn’t want it anymore.

She just wanted her husband back. And the baby she lost. And for her girls to be healthy, happy, and safe. You know who wasn’t safe? Taka. He was not a safe man. He deserved to end up in bars.

“I’m afraid it’s not up to me, Taka,” she went on with a tiny shake of her head. “Tremaine and Partners is ruled by a board like any other, and we’ve had several of our clients express concerns and even threaten to leave our firm because of InterPride. If you had settled this manner earlier, perhaps there would be some way to salvage our relationship, but the board has spoken. We are terminating your contract, effective immediately. I’m sorry that I can no longer be of any service to you.”

TAKA:

She really was terminating their contract. There were no words to express how he felt. And as he sat there staring at her…. He felt each emotion rush over him. This shouldn’t be happening. This should not be happening. Rodmilla had been his confidant, his partner for so long. She shouldn’t be severing ties while he held so much damning information on her as well.

It was easy, then, to focus on his anger. It coursed through him like a tidal wave. It was all encompassing as he sat there, staring her down. How dare she? She had absolutely no right. InterPride was not a risk, he was not a risk. This was a blip. A minor setback. If she would help him, he could get out of it and then it would be smooth sailing. He’d stay on the straight and narrow, just as he had told her. There was an image to uphold and repair. He’d have to bring InterPride back to it’s former glory, show the world that while mishaps did happen, the company was still good. He’d even do away with that godforsaken rent increase. That would put him in many people’s good side.

“You will regret this, Mrs. Tremaine. We are on the same ship and it is sinking, more now that you and your partners have decided to sever ties.” He spoke calmly, doing his best to keep his anger in check. It would not do to have another lawsuit. “If I go down, so will you. Are you ready for that, Rodmilla?”

As he spoke, he rose from his chair, eyes narrowed at the woman. She would regret this. He would make sure of it before the end of this investigation. She would realize the graveness of her decision. Nobody crossed Taka Lyons without repercussions. “I suppose I will be seeing myself out, Mrs. Tremaine. Good day.”

#takadown2k17 #everyone sing the song with me #I HAVE THE HONOR OT BE UR OBEDIENT SERVICE #A. BURR #para #lyonsmaine

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

cinderellaashbourne:

It was pretty sound advice, actually, and Ella sat back in her chair wondering if she was dreaming this entire exchange. If anything, Milla seemed tired of her, and that - Ella could deal with that. It stung a little bit, of course, because she had still thought that her step mother might want to hear how she was doing, after weeks of varying contact, but… well. It was better than her yelling, or locking Ella in her office, or something.

Admitedly, expecting something like that had been quite stupid on Ella’s part, but it didn’t matter now. She could do what her step mother asked of her - she could draw up a budget, she could go over every single last detail of this until she made it work, because she was going to make it work. She had to. She had committed to it now, her word as good as a contract. Milla was expecting her to fail, she could feel it.

She wouldn’t. She wouldn’t fail.

“I will.” she nodded. “I’ll consider everything. I know being more in debt isn’t what I want, but, well–” Student loans were different. You paid them for thirty years and then they were written off and to Ella, thirty years of minor payments seemed like an okay deal. She would live with it, as she had lived with so many things before. 

The thing was, she didn’t really want to take Hades (and by extension, Belle) for everything he was worth. She had had her doubts over suing him in the first place. And yeah, she was entitled to that money, but - well. Taking it felt wrong. Asking for even more felt worse. “I don’t think we have to push for more. Whatever we get… it’ll be enough.”

Well, Ella got one thing blatantly wrong: it wouldn’t be enough. Milla had just told her as much and if she had any sort of a brain (she didn’t), she could do that math herself. Milla was certain she would get the full settlement from the suit at least but it would not cover three years of school. It simply wouldn’t.

And yet Ella was content to simper and fold her hands and do the “kind” thing. That was what Ella was always preaching. Kindness. Understanding. Patience. Those things had gotten her stepdaughter stuck in a mousehole of a shop with barely any savings, got that shoppe burned down, and now would reduce her, probably, to a lifelong battle with debt. Milla had been the kindest and most understanding debt collector in the world too-- her interest rates had been better than anyone on the market. Ella would come to realize this and more when she buried herself in loans and spent, in one fell swoop, all the money Milla had won for her.

She toyed with the idea of simply going behind Ella’s back. She could do it easily; she handled all the paperwork. In fact, Ella didn’t know how much the suit was for, did she? She didn’t know the details and the breakdown. Milla could slip in a few more things and increase the windfall significantly.

But why would she? Why, when Ella was just as daft as ever? Her efforts and her good will would go unnoticed and no one would thank her.

Such was the life of a mother.

“Well alright then,” said Milla and she put on a tight smile. “It sounds like you have a plan. I wish you good luck.” She stood up, signaling that this pointless meeting was over. What else would Ella have to say anyway?

New Direction || Cindermilla

#para #cindermilla

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

Liars And Loopholes || Lyonsmaine

@takalyons

Summary: Following the start of the InterPride investigation, Taka seeks counsel from Milla on what to do next. 

[Dated June 5th]

TAKA:

There was no denying that Taka was shaken after his meeting with Copper. An investigation. A formal one, at that. Of course he’d been subjected to them in the past and all had been fine, but this was something so much bigger. His drug empire in London had been nothing compared to what he was doing in Swynlake, what he had done. If he was not careful, if they dug too deep, they’d find things that needed to stay hidden.

It didn’t matter that Taka was more than certain they would find nothing. He was nothing but meticulous in his work and in covering up his dirty deeds.

Still, it warranted a visit with Rodmilla Tremaine. They needed a plan for if things were to go south. If by some strange miracle, Copper and his platoon of bumbling idiots found something, they needed to be prepared. Because this was something Milla was intricately involved with as well. And he knew that she would not let anything happen to ruin her pristine image and the empire she had built for herself.

Making his way into the office he was quite familiar with, Taka cleared his throat to gather Milla’s attention. “I’d apologize for calling you at such short notice but it would seem we may have a problem.”

MILLA:

These days, Taka Lyons always had a problem.

That had been Milla’s first thought when she’d received his call, demanding a meeting as soon as possible. She had to cancel one of her conferences with another client for it, noting the distress in Taka’s voice though he had tried to smother it. By now, she could read them like a cheap magazine left on the sofa of a dentist’s office though. By now, when she got a call from Taka, she knew what to expect-- a man coming unraveled.

It had been a nuisance before, though part of Milla enjoyed the meetings. She was in control the entire time and always soothed Taka’s ire, whatever the latest drama.

But something had changed inside of Milla following her miscarriage. Something had--broken. When she got Taka’s phone call, a part of her shriveled up like a raisin. She wanted to tell him to stay away.

But she didn’t. She agreed to the meeting and as he came in, Milla smiled at him like she normally would despite having that shriveling feeling in her soul. She was already tired, so tired. Perhaps it was just exhaustion. Maybe she needed more caffeine.

“Don’t we always?” she quipped rather snarkily anyway, though with the smile. “Come then, Taka. What’s going on now?” She settled into her chair and motioned for him to fill the one opposite the desk.

TAKA:

Rodmilla’s snarky tone, while usually endearing and fun, now only grated on Taka’s nerves. There was no cause for it. Not now with everything that was going on. He needed her legal counsel, she needed to be aware because both of their livelihoods were at stake here. There was absolutely no time for snark and quips. It needed to be down to business right away. So he quickly took his seat in front of her desk, leaning forward as his brow furrowed deeply. How had he gotten himself into such a mess? He’d been so careful, had dotted his i’s and crossed his t’s in everything and yet.

“There’s an investigation,” he started slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. For the first time he felt old. His age had crept up on him quickly and suddenly he was years older and he was tired. It no longer mattered that he kept his body in pristine shape or that he did all that he could to remain young and virile. But now, now things were falling apart and he felt as if he was falling apart. “Copper and his incompetent team are looking into InterPride’s finances. They’ve warrants for everything. My home. And I imagine they’ll be pulling you into the station to interrogate.”

Now the fatigue was replaced by the anger. The anger that someone would feel the need to have the sheriff delve into his company’s internal affairs. That his name would be besmirched because people did not agree with his tactics and ways of going about things. “I want to know who has done this. And what evidence they have that would warrant an in depth investigation.”

MILLA:

An investigation.

Milla’s eyes narrowed at the word but her insides remained still, cool, like she was nothing more than a statue. Her brain kicked into overdrive as it put together what little pieces she had at this moment. They were as follows:

Taka was being investigated because he was sloppy and something he did, or something one of his minions did, had been discovered.

The evidence must have been plucked from the offices of InterPride unless--

Milla did not know the whole story.

And that last point was the biggest, most important piece of them all. For Taka had lied to her once, hiding the truth of his plan to kill Mufasa and forcing her to clean up his mess. This feel exactly like that, Taka’s proverbial car gone off-road, skidding dangerously toward the cliff.

She would not go down with him.

Milla lifted her chin. “Never mind that,” she said to his question that she could not possibly answer. ‘If you want my help, Taka, you will tell me everything--everything-- that they might find. There’s no way this is connected with your mess from four years ago,” Milla said this with a flick of her hand. “No one has any reason to turn over those stones. So what have you done, Taka, since then? What have you done and what have you kept from me?”

TAKA:

The way Rodmilla was speaking to him reminded him of how his parents would scold him when he had gotten into trouble. And how fitting was that? Perhaps that was one of the reasons he had always been drawn to her. It had been too easy to manipulate her when he had plotted Mufasa’s death. But they were both older now. And much wiser than they had been back then.

Now Milla knew that he had been hiding things. And he was agitated that he had not thought to go to her first. If he had incorporated Milla, he likely wouldn't be in this predicament. How bittersweet hindsight was.

He smiled wryly at her, unapologetic because he did not apologize. Each move was calculated, measured. If there was a mistake it was because other people made them.

“I have been redirecting InterPride’s funds, some not all, to conduct a bit of an experiment. A series of experiments,” he started simply, looking to Milla. “Fey’s Gold. I am sure you’ve heard of it. That Bell fairy and Bonfamille had adverse reactions to it last year. I was simply researching it while producing it. Clopin and I had a deal. But he disappeared the moment one of his runners got locked up. I’m a businessman. I do not peddle like a common street rat. So I employed the help of another.”

He took a deep breath as he sat back in the chair, watching Milla carefully for any form of reaction. “It would appear there is a leak somewhere. Someone went to the police complaining, I assume, about our financial business and here we are. Me, needing your counsel once more.”

MILLA:

Drugs. Taka was no better than the common street rat peddler he insisted he wasn’t. He was a thug. A punk. An embarrassment.

When Milla had met him, she’d heard little rumours, but she ignored it because Taka had vision and ambition and talent. He knew how to play a room; he certainly knew how to play Mufasa. His classic takeover was too good to resist at the time because Milla wanted InterPride for a client and it made her think about Hamlet--so Shakespearian. Milla could admire a brain like that.

But all along, he’d really been a brute in gentleman’s clothing. She had to admit that she’d been fooled. For a long time, even. Recently she’d had her suspicions, her respect for Taka slipping as his paranoia mounted. She was comforted only by the fact that she could control him so easily.

At least she thought she could, but here he was, dabbling in such low-hanging fruit as drugs. And magic drugs (she wanted to shiver at the thought). Did he fancy himself some British Walter White? Did he want a drug empire?

Milla controlled her face, not letting any of this disgust bleed through. She simply kept her hands folded on her lap.

“You need a scapegoat,” she said curtly after a moment. She was not going to waste her time coddling Taka; this was a mess, and he knew it, and she knew it. “You must stop the investigation as quickly as you can so you have to give them something they want to see so they think they’ve found it all.”

TAKA:

If Taka had been expecting Milla’s cool reassurances, he was sorely disappointed when it never came. Instead he was given blunt and straightforward. Of course, the more rational part of him knew that there was no time for it. They had to get this figured out. The quicker the better. It would mean the investigation would close as quickly as he wanted it to and then, then he could go after whoever had given up the information.

“And what exactly should I offer up, hm? My paperwork is sound. Do you really think I would not have the best of the best working on that? Edward has a skill that I have cultivated since my discovery of him and his siblings.” His words were grated out, agitated as he was. He could not forge the papers, could not offer them the Adamson brat.

It hit him, then. What to do. A marginal error, one that was intentional that could have simply been missed. A bank account that led to someone expendable. To someone at his corporation. It was brilliant. He just needed to make it work.

“An employee. And a bank account in which to siphon some funds.” His mind was working, going through the vast lists of employees to figure out who was expendable enough. “If I were to frame this person, convince them to confess. It would be enough. Everything would be fine.” It would work. It would have to.

MILLA:

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes again. She was resisting a lot of things today. She wanted to sneer at Taka, wanted to lecture him like she did her girls, wanted to-- wanted to quit.

She really badly wanted to quit.

Because even if this plan went well and he managed to direct the attention of the investigation, it would just be another mess that Milla had gotten her hands in without wanting to. She had not signed on to kill Mufasa; she did not sign on to help Taka run his grandiose drug ring with terribly dangerous, irresponsible, childish magical drugs.

She wanted InterPride and InterPride’s capital and that was all. She could see the water rising. The proverbial scale tipping out of balance. The cost was going to outweigh her financial gain.

Taka was no longer a good business partner for her.

None of this she let show, just nodded along to Taka’s thinking-aloud, showing that she was listening. Inside, Milla’s gears were spinning. She was looking for her way out. No more of this, no more lies, no more games of cover-up, not for Milla. She was too tired.

Then, when Taka was done, Milla kept nodded and smiled-- just a little. Taka had seen that smile before. It was triumphant even in its understatement.

“See? You must make sure that it’s airtight, of course,” she said. “Whomever you use, they must be your most loyal of confidantes. Because you will need to condemn them and put as much distance between InterPride and this employee as possible. I can tell you right now I will not be representing such a client in a court of law. They should confess, simply as that. Take a plea bargain for reduced time.”

Taka nodded as her words sank in-- she could see some of the stress leave his shoulders-- and Milla smiled at him. She nearly reached over and pat his hand, but she resisted the urge, getting up instead as Taka did. She was eager for him to leave her office, and it looked like he was too-- and of course he was. He had important business to take care of.

“Good day, Taka,” she said with a little nod, watching the man sweep out. And with a sigh, she fell back into her chair.

It was time to find her own loophole.

#takadown2k17 #para #lyonsmaine #and sO it continues

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

cinderellaashbourne:

Ella was expecting… well, she wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but the ambivalence she was met with did kind of shock her. She had always assumed that underneath it all, the reason Rodmilla kept her around was for some kind of personal gain, that she was getting something out of the shop, or from Ella’s presence in it. But maybe she had been wrong the entire time. It was less of a shock to think that Milla had been not-caring about her for years now, but she still thought the woman might have some stronger opinions about Ella leaving her business behind.

But she hadn’t shown up at her step-mother’s office without having thought everything out. She had considered every last detail, though there were parts of it that she was still working on. This idea, to do what she wanted to do rather than being shoe-horned back into the same little shop on the same little street.

“I want to rebuild the shop, just - not yet.” She said, and she smiled a little, though it wavered at the thought of the lawsuit. Milla and the shop and the fact that she was suing two of her former friends was so detached from her current life that sometimes… she forgot. She let go of that heavy feeling in her core, like a stone lying in her stomach, and she was just herself, for a little while. She tried her best not to let it get to her too much, though. She continued.

“I would use some of the money to pay for it. But I want to keep up with my repayments,” She added. “I’m going to get a job, in town, and work when I’m not at school. I’m entitled to a little funding, so– things should be okay.” She nodded.

Milla did not think that Ella was fully comprehending how expensive this little dream of hers was, especially starting with close to nothing. The settlement--and she was sure she’d get a settlement, because if they went to trial, she’d seek criminal charges against Hades and she doubted little Miss Bookkeep would take such a risk, and so she would simply suck as much money as she could out of them-- perhaps even steal the bookshoppe from under them. That would be delicious payback. A shoppe for a shoppe. 

Anyway, with that settlement, Ella would be in a better position. Even though working during school was hardly ideal and she’d still have to make payments to Milla. 

She’d live meagerly but the scarecrow-of-a-girl was used to that, wasn’t she? She’d started a store with secondhand clothing for god’s sake. 

But ah well. As long as Milla got her money and didn’t have to fund three years of pointless uni course. 

“Well, I’ll be honest in that I think you are underestimating the costs associated with this path,” said Milla as straightforward as ever. “And I would hate for you to rush into such a decision without fully considering the situation, though-- sending in an application, it does sound like you’re..eager.”

Stupid. Same thing. 

“I recommend you pull together a budget for yourself, Ella. Assuming that we get the full settlement from Beauton and Acheron, the money would cover a year at Pride University. It might be a good idea to seek more money from the lawsuit if this is truly the dream you intend on pursuing.” 

New Direction || Cindermilla

#cindermilla #para

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

cinderellaashbourne:

Ella was nervous. She was nervous because she had a feeling that her step mother wasn’t going to like what she was about to say to her, but it had to be done. Whether or not Rodmilla liked it, Ella had a plan for herself, and there was no way it could go ahead without her telling Milla exactly what was going on.

When she was told to go inside, Ella took a moment to straighten herself out, pulling at the hem of her dress and smoothing out her hair. She was working on getting a new wardrobe for herself, but for now she was still in those same few dresses that had managed to survive the fire, the worn-out boots she had escaped with looking even more worn than before.

Milla seemed in a good mood when she entered the room, and maybe that was a good thing. Maybe it would mean that when Ella told her what was going to happen in the coming weeks, she wouldn’t be so… angry? Maybe she wouldn’t be angry at all. Maybe she’d be glad that Ella wasn’t her responsibility anymore. Ella could hope, anyway.

“I know.” She nodded, and she smiled a little, fingering the hem of her dress, a habit she had picked up to save her from biting her nails when she was nervous. “I would’ve stopped by, but I’ve been a little - busy.”

She had been busy being not-busy. She had been busy getting herself together, figuring out where she was going to go from there. “I found a place to live.” She nodded, smiling a little. “And I think I have another place to move into, afterwards. I’m going to move into the university accommodation.” She said, voice wavering a little, though she kept going. “I’ve put in a late application. As I’m a mature student they said they’d still consider it, and let me know as soon as they could.”

Milla, it should be noted, had offered Ella a place back at her home. She had done so out of obligation more than anything. Perhaps, maybe, some pity-- and she knew that having Ella in her back pocket was always a good thing, just in case, especially with the trial looming within the next few months. Keep her close, keep her angry, keep her under control.

But Ella had not wanted that. Stupid girl, with a sense of pride that was downright irrational and foolish. Milla assumed she was still in the Tipton Hotel, letting what little savings she had evaporate into thin air. Hearing that she found a place to live was certainly news, then, to Milla.

And then Ella kept speaking and Milla --

Milla found herself not caring.

This was a shock even to Milla herself. Years ago, she remembered Ella coming to her about university and Milla informing her as kindly as she could that uni just wasn’t for some people (and by some people, she meant daft idiots-- like Ella) and that she did not have the funds to support Ella’s uni dreams, along with feeding and clothing her for three more years. She was 18. It was time for her to make a name for herself. 

Milla had generously, then, lent just enough money to help get the shoppe up. It was a loan; Ella paid her back, and had a place to live and she fed herself, and she was more or less out of Milla’s hair. This had all worked. 

Now she was hearing that Ella was determined to revisit the uni idea. The difference was,of course, that yes she was much older, and yes, Milla assumed she would remain independent. Here she was, finding a house for herself (apparently). She thought of Zella too-- how she’d squandered all the gifts Milla had given her. How ungrateful. 

So strange, that after six or seven years, Milla could feel so...differently. Unless Ella was looking for another handout.

Milla adjusted in her chair and raised her eyebrows. “Well, Ella, I am surprised. I thought you would rebuild your shoppe. I hope you’re intending to use the money from the lawsuit-- when we win it-- to pay for such an education.”

Translation: Fine. I’m still not responsible for you. 

New Direction || Cindermilla

#cindermilla #para #this went way different than i thought #nice

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

cinderellaashbourne:

It had taken a fire and a broken wrist - and a few weeks living in the forest - for Ella to start thinking about the life she wanted to lead. Not the life she would lead, or the life she should lead, but the life she wanted. She had given up on what she wanted a long time ago, when she had signed the lease on the shop, put up shelves and lay down carpet and started getting in stock. She had signed her life away that day, and at the time she’d thought it was a good thing. Not what she wanted, maybe, but a good opportunity.

And it was. She could see the shop for what it was, now that it was gone; it had been a good opportunity, a chance for her to learn and to grow, to get used to being an adult in a much easier way than being thrust into university life. But it was also something of a trap. A way for her step-mother to keep her close, to keep Ella under her thumb, in case she needed her for something. Not to say that Ella wasn’t grateful - she was, incredibly so, for all the help and guidance Milla had given her over the years - she just wasn’t going back to that. Not yet, anyway.

She had gone into town to have her cast taken off, the bone finally heeled after weeks of pain, wrapped in that chunky cast. She was glad it was off, the skin of her arm and the back of her hand meeting the air a nice feeling. It brought a smile to her lips as she thanked the doctor, grabbing her bag and leaving the hospital.

There was some scarring, but nothing too horrible; she had seen worse, and she knew of others who had not faired so well in the face of Hellhound attacks. Her ankle had healed too, a smaller scar marking the place the Hellhound had gotten her a second time around. It didn’t matter. It didn’t bother her too much, out of sight and out of mind. And anyway, she had bigger things to worry about today than her well-healed injuries.

She knew Milla wasn’t expecting her, and that she likely wouldn’t appreciate the unexpected visit, but Ella went to her office anyway, asking Rodmilla’s assistant to let her know that her step-daughter was waiting before she took a seat, trying to breathe normally.

@rodmilla-tremaine

Milla was on a warpath these days. 

You see, a week ago, a creature had snuck into her office when she was all alone, a creature from some dark part of hell, with fangs and foul breath and eyes that looked like they could take her back into that cold void with him. The monster had terrorized her-- tore her blazer, slammed her into the wall, made her scream and cry and beg for mercy. It had slunk back the same way it had slunk in, leaving Milla a shivering mess on the floor, clutching her own knees and sobbing in a way she hadn’t done since she was a little girl. 

She still smelled that creature’s breath. She could feel those claws. Milla had woken several times in the night, paralyzed to her own bed, thinking that the monster was above her, ready to grab her and tear her to pieces.

Milla hated all of this. She was not a woman who was easily afraid. She made others afraid of her. And she knew she had Hades to blame (the monster had spoken his name, had it not?) She would delight in stealing as much money as she could from that piece of dirt but it wouldn’t be enough, not truly, not anymore. Milla had bigger plans and they would involve making Hades, and any other Magick, pay for their sins. 

Also, InterPride was erupting in drama and Zella was an ungrateful brat who had spurned her own mother. 

Thus, the warpath. 

These were the sorts of things Milla was thinking about these days—demons, revenge, retribution, justice. When she heard that Ella was here, she’d realized she’d forgotten all about her stepdaughter’s part in all this. A shame, as she was a victim too. But that’s why Ella must be here, yes? To talk of the case.  

For once, she and Ella were on the same page. 

At least that’s what Milla thought as she told her secretary to send her in. When Ella entered, Milla smiled up at her from her desk. “Hello dear. It’s been quite a while since we’ve talked—so lovely to see you,” she greeted.  

New Direction || Cindermilla

#cindermilla #para

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

#lady #my baaae #so pretty ugh

[rodmilla-tremaine-blog]

geppetto-collodi:

Whenever Geppetto went to a new place, he had a list of things he always did. Find a house, get recommended the best restauraunts etc. One of them was perhaps his favorite and he hastened after someone to have it completed.

“Hello, I had a quick question for you.” he cleared his throat, “What do you think it means to be human?”

Milla turned abruptly at the sound of the man’s voice, her nose scrunching up on instinct. She was prepared to dismiss the stranger right away. She did not have time to hear sales pitches on the street, to give directions, or to take a tourist’s photo for him and his family. 

But this man didn’t want any of those things. 

She blinked rapidly at his question. “Is this some sort of a strange survey?” she asked. 

to be human || open

#gif chat #puppet lady