Fight Me Little Pearl

Chapter 46

Chapter Forty-Six

FRANCESCA

I f there’s one thing I love about Valentino, it’s that he’s a man of his word. When he told me a few days ago that he was ready to do whatever it takes to make the marriage work, he meant it. I’ve been living like a Queen since then. Valentino hasn’t told me he loves me yet, but his actions are loud enough.

“Wake up, baby.” The smell of bacon wafts up my nostrils, and I open my eyes to see Valentino walking toward the bed with a tray. I sit up, my stomach is more in need of biscuits than fried bacon and eggs, but I’m not about to ruin his manly happiness by telling him about the gory side of morning sickness.

“How’d you know I was hungry?” I ask, taking the tray.

“Because I know the little bean will be hungry.” He kisses my lips and leaves the bed. That’s when I realize he’s already dressed to go out.

“You’re going out?” I ask.

“But I won’t be long because I know my babies need me.”

“You’ll be gone until evening.” I nibble at the edge of a piece of toast. “I know it.”

Valentino sighs and sits beside me. “I’ll try to be back earlier, okay? There’s something important going down and I have to be there for it.”

I try not to concern myself with the business aspect of Valentino’s life, but in spite of the happiness we’ve been enjoying the last two days, I can’t help but notice that Valentino has been stressed.

“Okay.” I nod.

“So you won’t be mad if I come home a little late?”

“If you’re not home before nine I might have to put your naked body over my knee and give you a good smacking.”

His eyes shine with amusement. “I might be a bit too big to go over your knee. Perhaps you might want to handcuff me to the bed and do whatever you want with me.”

“Only if you’re back before nine.”

“It’s a deal.” He kisses my forehead and stomach before rising to his feet. “Wish me good luck.”

“Good luck.”

He starts walking towards the door then comes back for one last kiss on my lips before he finally leaves the room. I reach for my dry biscuits and eat them slowly before going to brush my teeth and have my bath. In the bathroom, I stare at my reflection. Looking at me, you’ll never be able to tell that I’m pregnant. My stomach is still flat, and I haven’t changed at all.

The only difference is my eyes. They shine brighter now, happier and free. It’s easy to tell that I’m a woman who is being loved and cared for by her husband.

I’m still examining my reflection when my phone rings. It may be Louisa or Mama because I’m supposed to go to the house today. Louisa and I plan to start shopping for the baby today, plus I also have to give my mama the news of my pregnancy. Valentino doesn’t want us to announce it yet, but we agreed that I’ll tell my mama.

But when I get to the phone, it’s not Louisa or Mama; it’s Thomas. I feel an instant surge of irritation as I watch the phone ring. I don’t know how Thomas went from being the man I thought I loved to one I actively dislike. The phone stops ringing, and I’m about to walk away when it starts again. This time, I take the call.

“Thomas, why are you calling me?” I ask sharply. “Have you forgotten I’m a married woman now?”

“Francesca, the NY Times reached out to me some days ago,” he says. “The CEO personally called to offer me the job.”

“Did you take it?” I ask slowly.

“No. I rejected it,” he says fiercely. “How can you even ask me that? They wanted me to stop advocating for human rights, and I said no. I would never consider it.”

“Oh.” My heart deflates to learn that not only is Thomas a fake activist, but he’s also a liar. I was there when the entire plan was orchestrated, but if I hadn’t, he would have fooled me.

“I miss you, Francesca,” he says. “Can we meet up for a minute? I just need to see your face.”

An angry retort rises up my throat, but then I stop it right before I hurl it at Thomas. I need to see his face, too. Thomas has been lying to me all the time we’ve been together. He knows the type of guy I was looking for and put up a facade to fit into that category. Even now, he still lies to me about the job, saying he rejected it when he accepted it without hesitation and then got rejected because Valentino wanted to be petty.

I need to see his face while I tell him that it was my husband, Valentino, who ordered the CEO of the NY Times to call him. I want to tell him I don’t feel anything for him anymore, not even friendship, and he’d be better off not calling me anymore.

“Okay, Thomas. Let’s meet at the coffee shop in Westside.”

“Where we used to go on our dates?” he asks eagerly.

“Yes, see you there in two hours.” My voice sounds cold and aloof, but when he replies it’s with excitement.

“Okay. I’ll be there.”

I hang up knowing that today I will write the ending of the story of Thomas and Francesca for good. It is not a good ending, but it is the right ending. People who are silly enough to build their castles in the sand must eventually be disappointed.

Louisa calls me while I am in the car heading to Westside.

“What time are you coming? I’m already at the shopping center,” she says, then squeals. “Check out this onesie. Have you seen how cute baby clothes are?”

I giggle. “I have. I saw some online and almost drooled all over my phone.”

“So what time are you coming here?”

“Give me an hour.”

“An hour. Where are you?” she asks.

“I’m on my way, but I have to stop by somewhere first.” I hit the button to put up the partition. “I’m going to see Thomas.”

Louisa gasps. “What? Are you stupid? Are you cheating on Valentino? With his baby in your belly?”

“Relax,” I laugh, surprised at how hard she’s going for Valentino. “I’m just going there to end it forever and put him in his place. I want him to know that the charade is up. I know he’s been lying to me all these years.”

“Oh, okay. I see. But do you have to go to him?” she asks worriedly. “What if Valentino finds out? You don’t want him to get the wrong idea. You’ve both been so happy; I can’t help but worry.”

“Louisa, I’m not going to keep this a secret from Valentino. He’ll be happy to know that I’ve got Thomas out of my life for good. Thomas has been getting so brave. Lately, I’ve been afraid that one day he’ll call me when Valentino is there, and I won’t be able to explain. Or he’ll send one of his dreadful “I miss you” texts, and Valentino will read it. I can’t ever risk that. Especially, since he disgusts me now. It was all a lie. All of it.”

“Okay. You’re right. Putting an end to this dead relationship is a good thing. It’s time for a fresh start.”

“Yes.” I nod, even though she can’t see me. “I’ll see you soon, okay? I won’t be with him for more than a few minutes. I need to look into his eyes while I say these things.”

“Alright, girl. See you.”

“See you.” I hang up the phone and my fingers itch to send a surprise I love you text to Valentino. I haven’t told him yet, but it gets harder to keep it to myself each day. My plan is to tell him over a lovely meal that I’m going to cook myself. I’ll have lots of candles and flowers to make it all romantic and special. As soon as I get Thomas out of the way, I have nothing to worry about anymore.

Suddenly, there’s a knock on my partition as the car swerves sharply to the right, sending me to the other end of the seat. Valentino always warns me to use a seatbelt for this very reason. I snap the seat belt around my midriff and hit the button to lower the partition. The car swerves again, and this time, I panic.

There’s panic in the driver’s eyes, and his knuckles are white around the steering wheel. “What’s happening?”

“I can’t use my hands because I have to get us out of here,” he says urgently. “But I need you to get your phone and call the Boss. Now! We’re under attack!”

“Under attack?”

For a second, I freeze with shock and fear, then I scramble for my phone in my bag and quickly dial Valentino. He doesn’t pick up. He told me he would be busy today, and answering his phone is probably the last of his worries.

The next thing I hear is a loud crash as something slams into the car from my side. I fall forward, hitting my head against something hard as the car spirals out of control. A shrill scream fills the vehicle, and only when my throat hurts do I realize it’s from me. There’s another loud crash, and that is the last thing I hear before darkness swallows me whole.