#milena wolfe

[wannabecatwriter]

Simstober Prompt 9: Tarot

𝕁𝕦𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕖

Upright Meaning: Balance and Equilibrium, Cause and Effect, Fairness, Justice, Responsibility

Reversed: Dishonesty, Imbalance, Lack of Accountability, Legal Flaws, Unfair Treatment

When the personification of a cosmic concept is telling you to go fight for it, you know you’re on the right path.

@simstober

[wannabecatwriter]

As soon as I put Milena/Justice in the household for the photoshoot, she and Rose got into a spat. Which is pretty spot on for both of them. Milena took a lot of time to chill out in her original story. And Rose is always willing to go up against someone she dislikes, even if they’re carrying a sword.

[wannabecatwriter]

Milena gets a strange gleam in her eyes.

- Well, it’s interesting that you ask, but sales offers aren’t the only thing I’ve gotten lately. I got a strange letter the other day - from one of the deans of a university about half-way between here and Twinbrook. He’s been asking if I’d like to take the recently opened position of their Business and Economics professor.

Marwick: Seriously? That sounds so cool! Are you going to take it?

Milena: I don’t know. I’m somewhat worried about stepping into that role, since I have no teaching experience of any kind. But I told him and he said it’s not uncommon for professors to come to the university without prior academic experience. And that the real world experience of running a business like ours would be invaluable to share with the students...

Marwick: You should go for it. He’s right - you do have a lot of experience in the business world. So, you would know what you’re talking about. Besides...

He chuckles.

- I’d love to see those students try to slack off in your classes.

Milena: Oh, they won’t be doing that, not if they want to pass. Not in my classroom.

She doesn’t have to say it - he knows she’ll take the job. This will give her the perfect opportunity to both share her knowledge - and to have young people she can boss around and hold high standards for. 

[wannabecatwriter]

Marwick: Are the shareholders still giving you trouble?

Milena nods. 

- Can you believe it? I couldn’t control any of what happened. But with Marcel’s antics generating so much bad publicity, the stocks have been falling and they’re blaming me. 

Marwick: Jerks. All of them care more about their precious money than about the real effects of what their CEO had been doing. Or about what’s actually been happening to the guy. They just want a nice puppet waving and smiling at the journalists, creating goodwill and whatnot. 

Milena shudders. Her son’s words ring a bit too true. Only a few months ago, she didn’t have much against that kind of thing. But lately, it’s all been getting on her nerves.

Milena: Sonny, I have an important question for you.

Marwick: Mom... if it’s about me coming back into the company... I know I should, especially now. But it’s been -

Milena: Hard to even think about it? I know, I understand. I feel the same way, to be honest. Which is why I’ve been thinking about something. Despite the falling stocks, I’ve had several offers from potential buyers.

Marwick: For Wolfe Realty? For real? Even with the scandal?

Milena: Believe it or not, yes. 

Marwick: Would you be ok selling it, though? I know how much effort you’ve both put into the company.

Milena: We did. Although, we didn’t start with nothing. Your grandparents on both sides helped quite a bit with the starting funds. And I loved taking part in the daily running of the company, I did. But I also know that I don’t want to be doing it anymore.

Marwick: I understand, and whatever you decide regarding the company, I’m with you on it.

Milena: That’s a relief. And don’t worry, you’ll get a nice share of the sale price. 

Marwick: Mom, I’m honestly not even thinking about that. So, what will you be doing once the company is sold?

[wannabecatwriter]

A few days later, the mother and son duo is at the coffee shop, discussing the latest developments in their lives.

As it turned out, the judge was very smart to send Marcel directly to the hospital. Due to his neglect of his own condition, he did need a surgery to remove the slight growth that resulted from his injury and was affecting his behavior and motor skills. Now, he was doing quite well physically and the doctors predicted he will most likely get back to his normal self in a few weeks.

After finding out that Marcel was going to have surgery, Milena swallowed her pride and despite Tara’s warnings, went to see him at the hospital. But as predicted, he started to yell at her and his lawyers ended up shepherding her out of the hospital, 

She was upset, but she needed to see him after all the latest information came out at the courthouse. She had few warm feelings left for him, but she still felt guilty that she didn’t even realize something was wrong.

To her surprise, as soon as Marcel had time to recover from his surgery and was in sound mind, he signed the divorce papers. She was now a free woman.

Marwick: What are you thinking about? It’s not Dad, is it?

Milena: He’s part of it, yes. I’m just thinking about everything. They said he’ll be back to normal. I’m glad.

Marwick frowns.

- Me too. But it’s kind of sad - no one even realized he was sick because his behavior just went from “Normal Asshole” to “Extreme Asshole”. Everyone just assumed it was normal order of business.

Milena: I know.

Marwick: Don’t blame yourself, ok? It took a judge’s order for him to get treatment.

Milena snorts.

- I know! And all that after the years I spent telling him to take care of himself. How could he be so careless?

Marwick: Because he is the way he is.

[wannabecatwriter]

Once the court session ends and Marcel is led away, straight to the hospital, the others reconvene in the court’s hallway.

Milena: What even was that! I had no idea he was sick.

Danielle: It does make sense, though, when you think about all of his recent behavior.

Milena: I was married to him for nearly 25 years - and I didn’t even notice anything different.

Sheree: If I know anything, it’s that the brain can fuck up at any time. And if he completely ignored a concussion... my therapist had a patient like that once. Don’t want to scare you, but it’s a bad idea to ignore something like that.

Miles: I’m not too surprised, actually. I mentioned to Marw that I thought something was off about his old man. At least now we know what it is.

- Indeed.

Tara joins the others.

- I managed to sneak a look at those medical results just now. I don’t know how they’re going to treat him, but I imagine his prison time will be delayed by his hospital time. The guy might need surgery. Did you see him stumble on the way to the stand? I think Judge Calahan did, she even looked at him closer at that time.

Milena: Surgery?

Tara: Doctors suspect something in his head is messing up both his behavior and motor skills.

Milena: .... Perhaps I should visit him.

Tara: Absolutely not! Have you seen him in court? I’d be worried for your safety if you did. Besides, it’s best not to do something that might make his condition worse. And your visit might. Sorry, dear.

[wannabecatwriter]

After changing back into comfortable clothes, they walk to one of the camping spots by the shoreline, where Tara quickly gets a fire started.

Danielle: You know, I haven’t been so relaxed in weeks. And I keep eating without worrying about my weight, which is surprisingly stress-relieving.

Milena: That’s not a surprise - worry about weight is seriously one of the biggest stressors for women these days. So, the less you think about it, the better.

Tara: That’s the kind of thinking I can get behind.

Piper: Me too. Besides, if a food makes you happy, it can’t possibly be bad for you. 

Marwick: Even chips and cake?

Piper: Especially chips and cake!

They all have a good chuckle at this, and he asks:

- So, did you just bring the guitar to put it here for decoration?

Piper: Nope. Any requests?

[wannabecatwriter]

Marwick whispers to his mother:

- Did you know about any of this? The concussion, behavior changes…

Milena shakes her head.

- No, he never mentioned any falls to me. Although…

She recalls finding some over the counter painkillers among his things around that time. He said he had a headache. No wonder! And as for behavior changes? Well, Marcel always did have a short temper, finding faults all around him. Perhaps he did become worse… she wouldn’t have noticed, though.

Judge Calahan: I think I’ve made a decision. Considering your current medical state, I won’t be pursuing a long sentence. Your punishment will consist of 6 months of jail time.

Marcel: That’s not too bad.

Judge Calahan: On the condition that 1. You will seek medical help as soon as you leave this courthouse. This is actually the first thing you will do, because I’m convinced there are some serious problems happening with that brain of yours - you can take a better look at your medical results when we’re done here. 2. You’re going to have 4000 hours of mixed anger management and regular therapy sessions with a licensed mental health professional. Those can be started while you are in jail.

Marcel: What?!

Judge: Don’t interrupt, Mr. Wolfe. I’m already being as nice to you as possible. Once your therapy hours are complete and you therapist can attest that you are a stable member of society, you will have to complete 1000 hours of community service hours. In addition, I’m granting all the women involved in this case a restraining order against you, for obvious reasons. This includes Ms. Grayson, Ms. Callaway, and all of your former secretaries. Also, you are to pay all the women named in the sexual harassment complaint a sum that will include both their legal fees and compensation for their ordeal. That sum will be settled on with their attorney.

Marcel: …..

Judge: And before you leave - I strongly advise you to sign those divorce papers your wife’s attorney sent you. Otherwise, the court will have to get involved again. Also, if you violate those restraining orders or fail to attend any of your sessions, I will be forced to step in once more and insist on a longer jail term. Am I absolutely clear?

Marcel, quietly: Yes ma’am .