Chapter 5: When the past walks in
1095 Words
The next morning at Trump Enterprises was loud, chaotic, and irritating enough to already ruin Nelson’s mood. He hadn’t slept well. He kept replaying yesterday, that stupid moment in the hallway,her lips, her struggle, the way she pushed him…
He scoffed under his breath.
Stupid.
Meaningless.
She’s nothing to me.
At least, that was what he told himself.
He stepped into the building, ready to bark orders, only for the front desk to suddenly erupt with shrill excitement.
“Sir! Sir! She’s here!”
Nelson frowned. “Who—”
And then he saw her.
Jess Billie.
Dressed in a tight red dress that screamed expensive and trouble, heels clicking sharply as she walked in like she owned the building. Her curly hair bounced with each step, lips curved into a flirtatious smile.
“Baby!” Jess squealed, launching herself at him before he could react.
The entire lobby went silent.
Employees froze.
Receptionists stood like statues.
Sonia, walking in late and frazzled, stopped dead at the sight of the scene happening right in front of her.
Jess wrapped her arms around Nelson’s neck, pressing her body against his. “Surprise! Did you miss me?”
Nelson’s jaw clenched. “Jess… what are you doing here?”
Jess pulled back dramatically, placing a hand on her chest like she was offended. “What do you mean what am I doing here? I came to see my boyfriend.”
A ripple of whispers exploded through the lobby.
Sonia felt her heart drop.
Boyfriend.
Of course he had a girlfriend.
Of course she was gorgeous and classy.
Of course Sonia was the i***t who slept with her boss and got insulted for it.
Jess turned, finally noticing Sonia standing near the elevator. She gave a slow, catlike smile.
“Oh?” she said sweetly. “Is this your new assistant?”
Before Sonia could open her mouth, Nelson spoke.
“No.”
Jess smirked. “Good. She looks too… plain to work with you.”
Sonia stiffened.
Jess deliberately stepped closer, eyeing Sonia from head to toe like she was something pathetic melting on pavement.
“Let me guess,” Jess drawled. “Intern? Or maybe one of those girls who bring coffee and flirt for attention?”
Sonia forced her voice steady. “I’m the Advertising Manager.”
Jess blinked. Then threw her head back and laughed loudly.
“Honey, don’t lie. My boyfriend wouldn’t hire someone like you for a manager position.”
“Jess.” Nelson’s voice was low, warning.
She ignored him.
“Sweetie,” she said to Sonia, “you’re cute. Truly. But darling… know your level. It saves embarrassment.”
Sonia froze, cheeks burning, anger and humiliation battling inside her chest.
Nelson stepped in between them. “Jess. Enough.”
Jess wrapped her arms around his once more. “Let’s go to your office. We need to talk.”
As they walked past, Sonia’s eyes met Nelson’s for a split second.
Cold.
Hard.
Unreadable.
But she saw something else beneath that coldness.
Tension.
And guilt.
Nelson shut the door the moment Jess entered, but she immediately turned on him.
“You didn’t call me for three weeks! Three whole weeks!”
“I was busy besides we broke up. Remember?”
Jess scoffed. “Don’t use that excuse with me. I’m tired of your distance.”
Nelson leaned against the desk. “Jess, we’ve had this conversation. We weren’t committed. You said you wanted freedom. I gave it to you.”
Jess’s eyes flashed. “Freedom, yes. But not breakup.”
“We were not together,” Nelson said flatly.
Jess stepped forward, grabbing his tie. “Then why didn’t you stop me when I left for Italy?”
“Because you said you needed space.”
Jess’s voice cracked. “I needed space from the drama, not from you.”
He gently removed her hand. “Jess…”
She stared at him, then her gaze hardened. “Is it her?”
Nelson blinked. “Who?”
“That girl downstairs. The one acting innocent. Is she why you suddenly don’t want me?”
“No,” Nelson said coldly. “And you will not speak about my employees that way.”
Jess laughed harshly. “Your employees? Or your new toy?”
Nelson’s jaw clenched. “Get out.”
“Make me.”
He turned away. She stormed toward him, slamming her palm on the desk.
“You can’t dump me and pretend I’m nothing! I’ve been with you longer than any of these useless girls hanging around this place!”
“Jess.”
“You owe me,” she hissed. “And I am not going anywhere.”
Sonia splashed water on her face, gripping the sink tightly. Her reflection looked back at her with tired eyes and trembling lips.
Humiliation tasted bitter.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. She wanted to walk out and never return.
But rent needed paying. Bills didn’t care about heartbreak. Life kept moving.
She took a deep breath.
“You are not going to break, Sonia. Not today. Do not let anyone think so poorly of you.”
But the heaviness in her stomach wasn’t just emotional.
It was… physical.
Too physical.
Her dizziness today…
Her nausea yesterday…
Her missed period last week…
Her heart pounded.
“No,” she whispered. “No. No. No.”
She rushed out of the building, ignoring the receptionist calling after her, and practically sprinted to the pharmacy across the street.
Inside, she grabbed three pregnancy tests with trembling hands, paid quickly, and ran home.
June wasn’t around. Good. Sonia didn’t want an audience.
She locked the door behind her, dropped her bag, and went straight into the bathroom.
She took the first test.
Waited.
Her breath was lodged in her throat.
The second line appeared.
Her knees weakened.
“No…”
She took the second test.
Positive.
Her hands shook.
She took the third test.
Positive.
All three sat on the sink, lined up like soldiers delivering a fatal message.
Sonia covered her mouth, but the sob broke through anyway.
“I’m pregnant,” she whispered.
Her vision blurred with tears.
“With… Nelson’s child.”
She sank to the floor, back against the wall, heart shattering and racing at once.
Her mistake…
Their mistake…
Ha
d turned into something life-changing.
Something she wasn’t ready for.
Something he would hate her for.
But no matter how hard she tried to deny it…
It was real.
It was here.
And there was no turning back.
- Writer
