The Confrontation
1088 Words
One week after the ultrasound.
7 weeks pregnant.
Jessica was glowing.
She was sitting in a baby store. Holding a tiny onesie.
"Too early," she told herself. "But cute."
Her phone buzzed.
Victoria.
Again.
New i********: post. 2 minutes ago.
Picture: A coffee shop.
Victoria in the front. Perfect hair. Red lipstick.
And in the background, blurred but obvious...
Starling.
At the counter.
Getting coffee.
Caption: `Manifesting my man back š He still remembers I take oat milk ā #SecondChance #Mine`
Jessicaās hands started shaking.
The onesie fell from her fingers.
"Is everything okay, ma'am?" the cashier asked.
Jessica forced a smile. "Fine."
She walked out. Got in the car.
Starlingās last text: `In meetings all day baby. Love you ā¤ļø`
Meetings.
At a coffee shop.
With her.
Jessica didnāt call him.
She didnāt text.
She drove.
Straight to Starling Hale Enterprises.
---
Floor 52.
The receptionist smiled. "Miss Carter! Mr. Hale isā"
"Where is she?" Jessica asked. Her voice was flat. Dead.
The receptionist blinked. "Who?"
"Victoria."
"Oh. Conference room B. Board meeting."
Jessica walked.
She didnāt knock.
She didnāt wait.
She threw the doors open.
12 people.
All in suits.
All staring.
And at the head of the table...
Victoria.
In Starlingās chair.
Legs crossed.
Smiling like she owned the company.
Starling was standing by the window. He turned.
"Jessica," he said. Shock. Panic. "What are you doing here?"
Victoriaās smile got wider. "Well well. Look who it is. The pregnant waitress."
The room went dead silent.
Jessica closed the door behind her.
"Get out," she said to Victoria.
Victoria laughed. "Excuse me?"
"I said GET OUT," Jessica repeated. Louder. "OF MY FIANCĆāS OFFICE. OF MY LIFE."
Victoria stood up slowly. "You donāt get to tell me what to do, sweetie. Iāve been with Starling for 4 years. Youāve been with him for what, 30 days?"
Jessica walked further into the room.
"4 years," Jessica said. "And you lost him. I had 30 days and he proposed."
GASPS.
Starlingās jaw clenched. "Jessica, not hereā"
"Why not here?" Jessica turned to him. "You didnāt care about 'here' when you were with her at the bar. When you were with her at the coffee shop this morning."
"It wasnāt like that," Starling said. "She ambushed me. I left as soon as I could."
Victoria rolled her eyes. "Please. Heās only saying that because youāre pregnant. Because he feels sorry for you."
Jessica turned to her. Slow.
"You want to know what I think, Victoria?" Jessica said. Her voice was calm. Too calm. "I think youāre pathetic."
Victoriaās face fell.
"I think itās pathetic that youāre 32 years old chasing a man who clearly doesnāt want you," Jessica continued. "I think itās pathetic that you have to post pictures to get his attention. I think itās pathetic that youāre sitting in his chair pretending to be important."
"How DARE you," Victoria hissed.
"How dare YOU," Jessica snapped. "You had 4 YEARS with him. 4 YEARS. And you couldnāt keep him. I had 30 days and heās marrying me. I had 7 weeks and Iām having his baby. So you sit down."
Victoriaās eyes filled with tears. Angry tears. "This isnāt over. The board still wantsā"
"The board," Starling cut in. His voice was ice. "The board can go to hell."
He walked to Jessica. Stood next to her. Put his arm around her shoulders.
"Itās been over for 3 years, Victoria," Starling said. "Leave. Now. Before I have security escort you out."
Victoria looked around the room. At the board. At Starling. At Jessicaās hand on her stomach.
Then she grabbed her bag.
"This isnāt the last youāve seen of me," she spat. "You havenāt won yet."
"Watch me," Jessica said.
Victoria stormed out. The door slammed.
---
Silence.
The board members looked at each other.
"Meetingās over," Starling said. "Get out."
They scrambled. Papers. Laptops. Gone in 30 seconds.
Then it was just them.
Jessica was shaking. Adrenaline. Anger. Hormones.
Starling pulled her into his arms.
"Iām sorry," he whispered into her hair. "Iām so sorry. I should have told you about the coffee shop. She was waiting when I got there. I ordered and left immediately."
Jessica cried. "Iām so tired, Starling. Of fighting. Of wondering. Of not trusting."
"I know," Starling said. He kissed her head. "No more. I promise. No more secrets. No more Victoria. Iāll get a restraining order if I have to."
He pulled back. Looked at her. Really looked.
"Are you okay? You and the baby?"
Jessica put his hand on her stomach. It was still flat. But there was life there.
"Weāre okay," she whispered.
Starling exhaled. Like heād been holding his breath.
"Donāt ever scare me like that again," he whispered.
"Donāt ever give me a reason to," Jessica whispered back.
Starling kissed her. Soft. Reassuring. Desperate.
"I love you," he said against her lips. "Only you. Always you."
Jessica nodded. "I love you too."
---
*That night*
Victoria posted one last thing.
Picture of her in a bar. Alone.
Caption: `You win this round. But I donāt lose. #WatchYourBack`
Starling saw it.
He immediately called security. Had Victoria banned from all company buildings.
He blocked her on everything.
He had his lawyer draft a cease and desist.
Then he went home.
To Jessica.
Who was asleep on the couch. Surrounded by baby catalogs and wedding magazines.
He covered her with a blanket.
Kneeled in front of her.
Kissed her stomach.
"No oneās hurting you," he whispered. "Not anymore. Not ever."
Jessica stirred. "Starling?"
"Iām here," he said. "Iām always here."
---
*The next morning*
Breakfast in bed.
Starling made pancakes. Burned them.
Jessica laughed. "Youāre terrible at this."
"Iām better at other things," Starling said. He kissed her.
"Like what?" Jessica teased.
"Like loving you," Starling said. Serious.
Jessicaās heart melted.
"Come on," Starling said. "Doctor appointment today. Then wedding planning."
Jessica smiled. "Okay."
For the first time in weeks, she felt safe.
---
*Two days later*
Jessica got a package.
No return address.
Inside: A ultrasound photo. Not hers.
And a note: `This could have been ours. Too bad you stole him. -V`
Jessica dropped it.
Starling picked it up. His face went dark.
"Sheās not done," he said.
Jessica looked at him. "What are we going to do?"
Starling pulled her close. "Weāre going to get married. And weāre going to be happy. And weāre going to ignore her."
He kissed her forehead.
"She canāt touch us, Jessica. Not anymore."
- Writer
