Jessie pov
I don't know what I did to deserve this, but it seems like the universe is conspiring against me. I watch Gina make a mess of the bed that I've shown her a million times how to make, but still...
"Finally done," she turns to me.
Dear Lord! It looks like she tried to trap a ghost in there! The sheets are all tangled up, the pillows are escaping like fugitives, and the comforter? Well, it's just given up on life and looks like it's been through a war.
"Even a poltergeist can't mess up this bad," I mutter, and she catches my words.
"I don't know what your problem is," she says. "I didn't ask to be here and won't be for long," she adds.
"Do it again!" I demand.
"You are nobody to order me around," her lips snarl.
I smile, a painful and regretful smile. "You are under me, so you do what I say. What is so hard about tucking in a bed?" I ask, frustrated.
"Who cares about a fucking bed? I can't cook either."
"And you're proud to say that... out loud?" I glare at her.
She stares back at me, and her resemblance to her mother is undeniable. She has big, wide eyes, a long bob that frames her small face, and small lips. Overall, she's a beautiful girl with an ugly attitude.
"It's sad being you, cleaning things you can never afford, all those branded things, working for people you'll never share a table with. After this, you'll go back to your rat-infested room while I'll go to a penthouse, a mansion... I am spoiled for choice," she clicks and shakes her head.
I cross my arms. "I invented the spoiled brat act. Worn every brand, traveled the world, dined with people you'll never meet. Stop pretending. I see the real youâthe kid who fought for everything. I snapped my fingers, and everything was mine. Shape up, or you'll be stuck here," I snap, immediately regretting my harsh words.
She stares back at me, shocked. "Yeah right, you had all that, and yet here you are scrubbing toilets."
I shake my head. "Keep wearing that mask, trying to fit in as a Cooper. Deep down, you feel like you don't deserve it and you'll always be the daughter of the other Cooper."
Oh shit! what have i done?
"Stop it!... Stop it!" she shouts, seething. "You don't know who you just messed with." She rips off her uniform, tearing it in the process, and throws it on the floor.
She rips the bed apart, tearing the covers and tossing them to the floor. I watch in horror as she transforms from a spoiled brat to a furious, unhinged person.
My heart pound of all the bad things could happen.
She stomps over the piles on the floor, eyes blazing. Stopping in front of me, she says, "I'm freaking done," and storms out in her underwear.
I remain stunned and incapable of moving after what I just witnessed. Did I break her, or is she always this angry?
I shake off the shock and survey the mess. I'm definitely getting fired. They'll probably charge me for the damaged bedding tooâanother reason for Grey to be angry with me.
As I move around,I notice the flower vases and sculptures arranged by color. I never do that. The beddings on the floor match in color; I sent Gina to fetch them earlier. Familiarity hits me. The night the man was killed, the room looked different. Items were moved and arranged by color. The sheets and pillows were all white, but I had used gray striped pillowcases.
Gina was in that room, or it's an uncanny coincidence.
I leave work early, using the excuse that each room reminds me of the dead body.
Checking my reflection in the one-way glass, I adjust my dress. My eyes notice the small pouch on my lower belly. I breathe in, hoping to hide it. Sighing, I proceed towards the security check and enter the towering skyscraper of Alpha Inc.
I imagine Grey's surprise at seeing me here. Walking up to the information desk, I hope they'll let me into his office. It's been a while, and the woman behind the desk probably doesn't know me.
"Jessie!" I turn to see Chase walking up to me with a smile on his face. "She's with me, Sheila," he winks at the woman behind the desk.
He leads me away from the desk. "You just missed Grey," he says with a smirk on his face.
"He already went home?" I ask.
"I overheard him and Talia saying they're going to try the new Korean restaurant," he says.
"It's just a few blocks away; I could take you," he offers.
I just nod as disappointment washes over me.
"You were hoping to see his new office?" He asks.
"Yeah, and the view he's been talking about," I agree.
"It's a million-dollar one," Chase says with a smug.
I turn to assess his expression. "It was kind of you to vouch for him," I say.
His eyes stay on the road, but I can't miss his tight grip on the wheel. "He won't be there for long," Chase says under his breath.
"Why?" I ask as he stops in front of the Korean restaurant.
"Because he's self-sabotaging," he turns to me, "Look at him, sabotaging the good thing he has with you."
I follow the direction of his gaze. There, I see Grey walking out with Talia. They're talking and laughing. They stop, and Grey takes a lick from her ice-cream. Talia uses her free hand to wipe some ice cream from the corner of his mouth. They both laugh, and I see Talia close in, and her lips touch his.
A knot tightens in my chest, a cold sweat forms on my brow as I grasp the undeniable truth unfolding before me. It's no longer speculation or a gut feeling.
"Get me out of here," I tell Chase.
"You..." He opens his mouth to speak.
"Now!" I cut him off.
Chapter 31 is now available at inktt.