This Love Hurts

The office was vacant and dark. It's still dark because Jeanne was the first to arrive.

She slowly arranged her steps to Aaron's room. She scanned the entrance card and the door's unlocked. Then, she went to the secret room behind the table.

Jeanne closed the door slowly. She felt empty since Aaron's gone. The smell of Aaron still lingered in the room. It smelled so nice on Jeanne's nose.

Suddenly, she remembered on how she felt when Andy nearing her last night. As far as she know, Andy never smelled that bad even when he was drunk but Jeanne really cannot stand the smell. She was about to throw up after smelling Andy last night but she just held it back because she did not want to look weak. She shushes the imagination away and looks around the room.

Jeanne then slowly approaching the bed. Gently, she sat on the bed and stroke the bedsheet. She then remembers the sight of her and Aaron spending their night together in the room. It was so lovely and romantic. Jeanne smiled beautifully at the thought of it.

"How I miss you, Aaron"

Jeanne monologuing alone in her head. Last night, she dreamt Aaron was still in the office, doing his job focus. Hence, that is why she was so rushing today. She missed him so bad!

Jeanne then stared emptily at the bedsheet. Well, that was before. What if Aaron knows her body state? Maybe she will be ditched just like that.

Also, she did not want to break Aaron's heart too much if Aaron ended up knowing this after this.

She thought for a moment. Soon, she got the idea. She was thinking to leave Aaron even if it aches her and Aaron. But before more severe damage is done, she better walk away.

The ringing phone woke her up again from the daydream. it was Aaron.

"Hello, " said Jeanne slowly.

"Hello, baby. How are you? I've missed you so much!" said Aaron happily on the other side.

"I'm good, " replied Jeanne simple. She is starting to page a gap between her and Aaron. For her, she needs to start the plan faster before it is too late.

"Where were you last night? I called but no answer?" Aaron questioned.

Jeanne explained that she was sleeping early last night. Aaron then talked more about his work there and Jeanne just listened. At times, she looks at the watch it was almost office time.

"I think I gotta go now, it's almost 8" excused Jeanne. Aaron then replied,

"Okay. Love you, bae. If you're tired, just go get some rest in my office okay"

They then say goodbye.

Jeanne walked towards the mirror in front of her before went out of the room. She saw the reflection of herself in the mirror. Her face looks pale. She took her hands to the tummy.

"Hmm, still flat. No changes." Jeanne told herself. Somehow, she felt relieved that there is no physical sign of pregnancy.

"Morning, Jeanne, " greeted Dita, her colleague.

She smiled while nodded. She sat at her table, sorting out paperwork.

Everyone was busy with each other's works as the collection will be released soon. Jeanne continues doing her work sketching the clothes for the collection she felt that something was wrong when she was doing it but she didn't know what it is she asked for Anne to come and check for her.

"I think this one is not that good. I think maybe change of colors or maybe put some pattern on the top" advice Anne, half-heartedly. She still cannot accept that Jeanne is her boss, but reflecting on her company's wellbeing, she has to endure all this.

Jeanne thanked Anne. She can see that Anne is still uncomfortable with her, but she decided to just put that aside.

While she was focused on doing her job, suddenly a call came in. Jeanne picked up the phone, she seemed to focus and stress while responding to it. After a few moments, the. conversation ended.

Jeanne then took a long, deep breath.

"Okay guys, I just received a crucial phone call just now. The show planner told me that we have to extend our date as he was not able to get the prospect clients and public figures to the projected date. And also, there are requests from higher-ups to increase our piece as we have quite plenty of time. So, let's be strong and nail this project perfectly. Chop chop everyone!" Jeanne explained the changes calmly and cheerfully to her team.

Luckily, everyone was ok with the changes.

They then continued with their sketchings for the extra pieces until it was dark, and one by one left the office.

"Bye, Jeanne. You're not going back home?" asked Rex, the last colleague to go home. Jeanne pulled a smile to him.

"Nope, gonna finish this tiny little bit first and I'm done"

Jeanne replies made Rex laugh. They then wave goodbye to each other.

Jeanne leaned her head towards the chair for a moment.

Ah, 10 pm already, whispered Jeanne in her head.

She then reached her phone. No updates from Aaron but she missed him so much. After thinking that should she contact him or not, Jeanne then decided to shut the phone. However, right at the moment, Aaron's message comes in.

"Hello, girl. What are you doing?" asked Aaron?

Jeanne smirked at the way Aaron wrote. Such a playboy material!

"Just resting" replied Jeanne, simple.

"Missing you" another message from Aaron arrived.

Before Jeanne even type a word, a call from Ma came in.

"Hi Baby, when are you coming back? it's late already" asked Ma, concerned.

Jeanne smile, Ma always like that. So extra worried for her one and only daughter.

"Soon, Ma" replied Jeanne.

Ma then continued,

"Plus, Andy is here. Waiting for you"

Jeanne was startled hearing the sentence. What is that guy wants from me?

Jeanne still cannot overcome her mad and hates towards Andy's action. His presence in front of her face will bring nothing but adding gasoline to the fire.

"Hmmm, wait. I forgot to tell you that I have to check on my designer's sketches as well because I will start working outstation tomorrow until next week" explained Jeanne, making excuses to not meet Andy.

"Hm, okay then. Will tell Andy also. Don't work too hard okay, have some time of rest and time to eat as well" said Ma before ending the call.

Jeanne pinched her head. Lately, her head ached so hard. She did not know why, and she doesn't want to know why.

She then taps her phone to message Aaron. Maybe she can stay at Aaron's room for a week because she didn't feel like going home with Andy going back and forth from her home.

"Aaron, can I use your bedroom for a week?" asked Jeanne, hoping that Aaron can help her.

"Why? Did you work overtime? So many workloads? Need extra help?" asked Aaron continuously.

It showed that Aaron really concerns about Jeanne. Jeanne was touched.

"No, not at all. Just don't feel like going home, " said Jeanne.

Aaron did not want to ask much as he knew that Jeanne was already tired when he looked at the clock in front of him. With 12 hours difference, it should be late at night at Jeanne's.

"Sure. Rest well, honey. The meeting will start soon. Bye, " said Aaron.

"Thank you, bye," replied Jeanne.

She was lucky that Aaron would willing to agree to anything. But that was before Aaron know about the existence of the baby. What if he knows about this soon?

Jeanne's head was, even more, spinning at thought of that. With her mouth yawning nonstop since before, she decided to just go to Aaron's room.

After finished bathing and changing to Aaron's comfy clothes, Jeanne went straight to the bed and fell asleep in no time.

On that morning, Jeanne woke up with a note on the side of the bed.

"Ms. Heard, I have prepared the breakfast for you and a bag of clothes for a week, Ordered by Mr. Walter - Harry"

At the front table of the bedroom, there were sushi rolls on top, and clothes for her already hung beside Aaron's cloth in the open wardrobe.

Jeanne felt burdened. Aaron was willing to go this far for her. But she herself? Claiming to love Aaron but carrying other man's baby. What an irony.

Jeanne looked at the clock, it's 6.30 a.m, quite early but she needed to dress up fast before anyone sees her in Aaron's bedroom.

She quickly went to the bath. That day, donned an off the shoulder guipure lace mini dress, matching it with a white small handbag, a tiny gold necklace, and earrings, and backcombed her hair.

"Wow, Aaron is on another level," whispered Jeanne slowly as she saw herself in the mirror. How can he prepare everything from head to toe for her? So impressive!

By 7.15 a.m, she was already in her office, eating the sushi rolls. She was somewhat puzzled by how Aaron knew her favorite and consistent in providing her with such foods.

Well, he has his own ways.

In the meantime, Rex, Cara, Dita, and Anne gradually arrived at the office.

Throughout the day, they were so busy discussing the chosen sketches, fabric and trim selection, color selection, and texture selection.

Now that they have finished choosing the finalized sketches, everyone was happy that one process is done except for Anne. She felt dissatisfied as Jeanne contributed 60% to the final work while Rex, Cara, Dita and herself what the same portion of contribution which is 10% each.

"How can those three stayed silent when I am their original boss at their original office?!" whispered Anne madly. Supposedly, she contributed a little more than them, as equal to her position but it did not seemed so.

When it comes to fabric and trim, color and texture selection, all voice out personal opinions and it was being accepted positively in the team. However, that is not the case for Anne.

Anne is displeased that her suggestion is always being rejected or uplifted by the team. She felt that she lacked power.

Jeanne in the meantime agreed to Anne's plans. However, she felt that a little bit of adjustment will bring the idea to a whole different level.

"Ah, so tired and hungry! Let's grab something, guys!" said Cara.

Cara is often seen as a free-spirited girl. Now that Jeanne is her boss and she is perfectly comfortable with Jeanne, it's no wonder that she talked so informally to Jeanne and Jeanne did not mind that at all.

"Sure" everyone agreed except for Anne.

"Oh, come on!" asked Cara to Anne after seeing her cold reaction.

Anne then nodded a little, just agreeing to everyone's plan.

They then browse through the internet to see what's hot in the town before heading out together from the building.

In front of the building, a man waited patiently beside his car. The thick brown-haired man donned three-quarter black jeans with a baggy white top, looking so fashionable and handsome. Girls who passed by will not be able to tame the seduction of having to look at him twice.

Jeanne and the team were waiting outside of the lobby for the hailing driver patiently before noticing the presence of the man.

"Isn't that....." asked Dita while pointing at the man.

Realizing the presence of the man, Anne quickly running to him while Jeanne seemed wanting to get inside the building again.

"Andy!" shouted Anne while running towards him.

She then grabbed Andy's hand.

However, Andy quickly loosens Anne's hand and running towards Jeanne.

"Jeanne, Jeanne, " shouted Andy.

Jeanne heard the shout but decided to just let it be and quickly run towards the building.

Anne seems shocked by Andy's reaction. Her movement was frozen but her face is clearly reddish due to madness and embarrassment towards Andy's action.

"Damn you both" exclaimed Anne while stomping her heels on the ground.

"There we go again..." the three colleagues said it together while shaking their heads, tired of the drama.