For The Baby

Jeanne woke up with the aching head. Her head ached so badly that she felt like the world is spinning. She then touched her lips. The tip of her lips still in pain and started to swollen due to last night's incident. She glared at the watch,

7.15 a.m already.

She's late! at that instance, she promptly jumped out of the bed and get prepared for the day.

She wore a button-front bodycon denim dress, matched it with ribbon heels. With her position as a fashion designer, she needs to have an on-point look despite what happened. She peeked herself in the mirror-like usual.

Whatever that happened last night, she wants to forget about it as it will bring her nowhere with the hateness and madness. Just let it go.

She seems a little bit better today despite the swollen eyes. The dress somehow felt right at her belly. She put her hands on the tummy gently. The baby may arrive at a suitable time and circumstances, however, she already fell in love with me baby. It is part of her now.

"Marmee will take care of you, honey" whispered Jeanne while gently touching her tummy while smiling.

Now, she has a significant job to do and she shall focus on that one job. She was lucky that Aaron met her, opening vast opportunities for her. This opportunity should not be wasted. It is time to prove herself and regaining everything that she once had again, confidence, fame, and happy life.

The knock on the door woke her from the daydream. it was Harry, with sushi rolls. He did not say a word, just put the food on the table and disappear into thin air without Jeanne even able to say thank you.

Without wasting time, Jeanne took the sushi rolls and went straight to her office room.

Luckily, the office is still empty despite her waking up late today. Before she kicks off her day at work, She browses through her phone.

"Another two weeks to see you, can't wait!" message from Aaron with naughty pictures on the bed. Jeanne laughed seeing the picture.

She then started her day at work. Now the team can proceed to the development process where they will choose the model and do prototyping.

She had an appointment for the selection of the model at the meeting room with Dita and Cara. Rex and Anne needed to go survey to the various fabric suppliers' factories for the next meet up.

Dita and Cara went straight to the meeting room to set up the meeting room and manage the applicants' registration. Meanwhile, Jeanne came in after that.

"Awwww, you look so beautiful today!" claimed Dita who's sitting at the front table after seeing Jeanne walking to the meeting room. Today, Dita and Jeanne were in charge of interviewing the models.

Jeanne smiled from afar.

However, the closer Jeanne gets, she notices something is wrong on Jeanne.

"Wait, what happened to you, girl?" asked Dita with concern while reaching for Jeanne's lips.

Jeanne's just let it be, and replied,

"Nothing much, I fell down in the toilet last night. Hit the sink"

"Auch! That must have hurt a lot" replied Cara from afar as she is in charge of registration and calling out models.

Jeanne just smiled while rising an OK sign, showing that it's nothing much.

Only if they knew, this is nothing compared to the aching truth that was told by Anne last night. Hmm...

However, Jeanne quickly shushes the thought aside, focusing on what's happening in front of her.

One by one model comes in to interview. Out of all 50 applicants that are already interviewed, Jeanne's only approved 3 models when they actually need around 15 models.

"What's wrong with today? No models that perfectly suitable for our collections. Their profiles are so different from what we are trying to portray" said Jeanne in frustration.

Dita and Cara remained silent. They always knew that working with Jeanne, they need to strive for perfection. Even though it was hard to reach her standards, but it is never become a burden to the co-workers to work up to her standards as she alone will try to reach it.

"Chill, Jeanne. We have plenty of model outside okay" said Dita, trying to calm Jeanne.

Jeanne seemed a little bit relax now. From her experience, she disliked spending a lot of time choosing models as she was more concerned about other crucial parts. However, with Dita and Cara supported her, she felt as ease and thankful for them.

Cara then invited the models over and over again until they have a total of 14 final models. It means there is only 1 place left.

"Hm, guys. We only have 1 applicant left and 1 more spot to be filled in, " explained Cara.

Dita and Jeanne looked at each other. It means they have to somehow accept the final applicant.

"We can reject him or her if he or she is not suitable," said Dita but Jeanne remain silent as she did not want to waste another day to find 1 model.

"Call the final applicant in" ordered Jeanne to Cara.

The final applicant walked in and seemed so happy to see Jeanne. Dita and Cara froze for a while before they start the final interview.

"Tell us about yourself" ask Dita with a shaking voice but Jeanne ignored it, assuming that it's nothing much.

"My name is Andy J. Calvin. You can call me Andy" told the model.

Jeanne who was looking at the paper on the table quickly raise her head.

It was that Andy! Jeanne seemed so pissed that the guy was so desperate that he even came to the interview to meet her. However, she kept a zipped mouth and poker face.

Dita who was sitting beside Jeanne is in the dilemma of whether to continue interviewing or just abort the interview. However, Jeanne gave her a nod, asking her to just continue.

Dita continued the interview until the end.

"You're accepted. You may go now" told Jeanne simply after the interview ended.

Dita and Cara seemed puzzled with Jeanne's action while Andy looked so happy.

He said thank you before leaving the room.

"What were you thinking?" asked Dita, questioning Jeanne.

"He fits our collection well. And I don't want to waste another day for the interview" replied Jeanne, emotionless.

"You sure you going to be okay?" asked Cara.

Jeanne just nods and smile.

That night, Jeanne was browsing through the internet as she was feeling sleepy to continue working. Suddenly, an

an article popped out.

"Living the life without a father" by anonymous.

Jeanne suddenly felt interested to read the article.

Throughout the article, the writer explained her struggle with living with a single mother. Her life was far from perfect as her mother is not well of, having to work day and night to provide for her. Meanwhile, at the school, she was bullied due to the imperfection in her family. The bully affects her so hard until she was an adult that she was unable to love her imperfect family because she keeps comparing her family with others.

Jeanne froze for a moment. At that instance, her hands go to her tummy, feeling the same empathy for her baby.

It must be so sad if her baby needs to go the same thing because of her hateness to Andy.

Should I go back to Andy, asked her to herself.

She then thought for a moment before leaving her office and went to Aaron's room to rest.

"What are you thinking?" tease Cara while clapping in front of Jeanne, waking her up from the daydream. From this morning, Jeanne seemed to lose focus and keep on daydreaming.

Jeanne hit Cara's hand and laugh. Deep in her head, she actually still affected by last night's article. She didn't want that to happen to her own baby.

"We have done a survey at the factory and shortlisted them. Here's the list. The representatives will come this evening for the meeting, " explained Anne while giving the list to Jeanne.

From her position, she can see that Jeanne's lips are still swollen and she felt so satisfied. The last two days were epic and she felt so great and she knew she's winning it.

Jeanne took the list and said nothing. Even though she said that she wanted to let go of everything, she still needs time to make up with Anne.

After many moments of self-reflecting, Jeanne took her phone and message someone.

"Meet me at the cafe in front of the office. There's something I want to talk"

message sent.

Jeanne took a deep breath, hoping that what she is trying to do is the right way.

When the clock hit the lunch hour, Jeanne quickly packed up and went to the cafe in front of the office.

Upon arriving, she ordered 1 cup of tea and 1 cup of iced Americano. While waiting for the one she messaged, she browses through the list that Anne gave and read about their profile.

"Did you waited long?" asked that someone upon approaching the table.

"Hi, Andy. Not really. Just arrived" replied Jeanne

Andy who was in front of Jeanne seemed nervous. He did not know what is Jeanne going to discuss. The table was in a silent mode for a moment.

"Why do you want me here?" asked Andy, breaking the silence.

Jeanne then clears her throat. Actually, she wanted to start the conversation long ago but she doesn't know where to start.

"Look, for the sake of the baby, I hope we can be together again," said Jeanne in one breath. She felt at ease after that after able to say the sentence.

Andy was so happy to hear it that he almost jumped out of the chair and cried giddily. His smile was big on his face and did not seem to fade.

He then reached for Jeanne's hand and looked at her deep in the eye.

"Thank you, Jeanne. Thank you so much. I promise that I will be good for the baby. To our little family" explained Andy eagerly, sparking light of hope in Jeanne.

I hope this is the best for us, my baby, Jeanne whispered in her heart.

"I hope you can clear everything about your past relationship and start anew with me and the baby, " continued Jeanne.

"Sure, honey. If u mean Anne, I will clean the air with her as soon as possible" continued Andy again with a serious voice as he really meant it.

Right at that moment when Jeanne and Andy were smiling at each other, Anne entered the cafe. Once she saw them, she quickly went towards them.

"Baby, what are you doing here? With this hoe? And this?" questioned Anne to Andy hypocritically while pointing to Jeanne and Andy's hand together and Jeanne disgustingly.

Andy seemed uncomfortable with the way Anne treat Jeanne. He then woke up from the chair and faces Anne's eyes to eyes.

"Good that you are here. I don't have to search for you. I want to come clean with you that we are over. we were over. And we are ultimately over. Please stay away from both Jeanne and me. We are starting a family" explained Andy sternly to Anne.

Anne laughed hard. She felt too funny when Andy mentioned the word 'family'.

"Wait, what? Family? With this whore? hahahahaa you funny little creature" told Anne while laughed hard. Yet, she was only the one who laughed.

"Yes, we are expecting our first child, " clarified Andy, with a normal tone while clutching Jeanne's hand. Jeanne just remained tight-lipped.

Anne seemed so stunned with the announcement. At first, she thought that they were joking but by the way Andy said it to her, she then knew it's not.

The news is so horrible to Anne that she went completely froze for a period.

"Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you both!" cried Anne with an increasing voice. She started crying and ran out of the cafe.

Anne ran away from them until she felt her legs are not strong to walk anymore. She was so dreadful that she was seated at the side of the road helplessly.

"Damn you, Jeanne!" cried Anne.

The moment when she thought that she's winning but no. In fact, she failed hard.

That day, Anne swore to herself that she will bring destruction to Jeanne's life and destroy everything and everyone that brings happiness to Jeanne.