Chapter 5

Jayden’s POV.

Days ago

Tomorrow is Christmas. I strutted out of a meeting hall, my fists thrown into my pocket. A beep on my phone interrupted me. 

I reached into my pocket and grabbed my phone. The message was from my wife, Danielle. 

As my eyes focused on her message, I felt a smile appear on my face. 

"Hey, Jayden. I hope your day is going well. I have been thinking about you. I miss you. I bet our little pumpkin misses you, too.  It’s Christmas Eve and I hope you can come home early today. Take care."

I exhaled softly, striding hastily to the media room where my next engagement for the day was. 

I didn’t marry Danielle for love. My late mom appreciated her business talent…and her personality, which I didn’t know why. 

I still couldn't decide how I felt about Danielle, but now I wanted to get back to her as soon as possible.

"Good evening, Mr McAllister." the manager said anxiously when she spotted me standing at the door, my eyes scanning the room and the busy staff members.

"Let me have the files." I took them from her desk and scanned through them hurriedly. "I don't like these designs, Anna. You certainly can do better."

"Yes, sir. These are just a rough sketch. The finished product will be better."

"Jayden!" Benny's familiar voice rang from the other end of the hall. I looked in his direction, a smile spreading on my lips. He was walking towards me at an increased pace. "Busy as a bee?"

"I'm chill," I rolled my eyes, glancing at my wristwatch. "I'm in a hurry, man. I need to get my work done before Chirimas holiday and get home to Danielle."

"Wow you are having holidays now. What is it about?" he asked mockingly. "You don't love her, do you?"

"Leave me alone, Ben. I am in no mood for your silly jokes." Benny was a business partner and a close friend.

"I'm not joking." His face wrinkled into a frown. "I have seen you both together; it's obvious she loves you more. I know you, Jayden. You would very much prefer spending your holiday at work than with her. But I suppose you're just being compassionate."

Benny wasn't wrong, and I admitted, "It's Christmas Eve; she needs company." I walked ahead, and he tagged along. "Besides, my sister and father couldn't make it today. It’s still snowing. She would be awfully lonely at home."

"How caring of you!" Benny scoffed, rolling his eyes. I won’t blame you for starting to love her like all of a sudden. She’s so freakin’ hot, after all." 

"Huh?"

"I mean Danielle, your woman. She's so hot."

I was immediately enraged. I turned around slowly to face him. "What the fuck?"

"Yeah, I mean it. No matter how much you claim to dislike her, you have to admit that she has a killer body shape, with a great ass. She must be a goddess in bed."

"Benny!" I lost my cool. "Are you crazy? That's my wife you are talking about. Fucking show some respect, man."

Benny chuckled softly, "Sorry. Just teasing."

Danielle was beautiful, no doubt. She was also a very intelligent woman who had top-notch business ideas, and I respected her for that. The only thing that kept me away from her was how she got into my life. She played dirty tricks to get close to me.

Benny and I, alongside a few other friends, sat at the executive hall drinking wine and resting for a while. "Have you heard, Jayden?" Benny began. "Katherine is back."

I looked up at him, wondering if he was teasing. "Are you serious about that?"

"I swear, man. She came back from France not long ago. She is in this company right now as we speak."

"Who is Katherine?" one of the guys at the table asked Benny.

"Jayden's ex-girlfriend. His former secretary, the blonde one with blue eyes."

"Ah, right!" The man said as I stood to leave. With a lower tone, he added, "I still wonder why they broke things off; they made such a great couple."

A call came into my phone. It was from a prospective partner, but I wasn't in the right mental frame to answer. “Take this call for me, Benny.” I handed my phone to him. 

I then hurried off to find Katherine without any idea of where she might be but ran into her at the entrance to my office. She seemed to be waiting for me. She had found me first.

"Jayden!" She raced forward, attempting to fall into my arms for an embrace. I felt excitement when I saw her and almost opened my arms in reception when the thought hit me. 

I was married. 

I recoiled, pushing her away gently. "Hi, Katherine."

"OMFG, Jayden. You look hotter than I remember."

"Thank you," I said with a brief smile. "I have missed you. Really, Kat. Why didn't you tell me when you came back? How are you?"

"Not good, Jayden. Not good."

I raised a brow in confusion. "What's the matter?"

"Well, Jayden, I came home to spend the holiday with my family, but you know about my condition. I fell ill again. I have been hospitalized for quite some time now."

"I'm so sorry to hear that. Are you getting better?"

"I suppose. But it's pretty lonely in the hospital, you know? Being alone... Without anyone I know talking to me... Especially because it's Christmas."

"I can imagine." What about your family? I wanted to ask. 

Almost as if she read my mind, she said, "Everyone is busy celebrating. They come around once in a long while. I wouldn't blame them. They deserve to enjoy their holiday; it's not their fault I have asthma." She sighed. "Jayden, I'm sorry for not making it to your mother's funeral. I swear I tried."

"I understand, dear." I patted her shoulder gently.

"I’m sure you’d understand, babe. After all, Danielle did way worse, you know? I can’t believe how much she could do to manipulate your mom into choosing her. That’s just so bitchy."

I was startled. "Wow that’s too-" Katherine hated Danielle and was fond of putting every thinkable blame on her.

"Do you not agree? She's the reason you and I are apart."

I gulped a lump and gave a nod in affirmation. "Yea…you're right; she's the reason you and I are not together."

Katherine picked up on my hesitation to agree with her and immediately lashed out at me. "Do you not love me anymore, Jayden?"

"I do, I promise I do."

"Then get rid of her and come be with me. She doesn't deserve you, not after playing tricks to get you!"

"I…I think you are right. You are my only love." I said uneasily, shifting from foot to foot. "But Katie, you need to understand. She and I are having a baby. It's been years together."

"What are you trying to say, then? That you and I don't have a future together?"

There was an awkwardly long silence between us. 

I heaved. "I'll think about getting that divorce."