Jane's Point of View

I sat at my desk and stared at the computer screen, numbers were blurred together and emails kept pouring in.


My head was heavy and my heart was racing, and my stomach turned with a strange ache, however I ignored it.

There was still so much to do, meetings, contracts, security updates and new board review.

Geneva's invitation and the strange text from the unknown number, 'Watch your back."


I haven't slept in two days and I haven't eaten properly. My body felt like it was running on dust and air.

Rita entered quietly. 'Jane, you need rest. just take one day off."


'I can't," I said, and I pushed the papers aside. 'Not now, the company is just recovering. I need to keep it strong."

She looked worried. 'Even machines need rest, Jane. You are not a robot."

'I'm fine." I'm not fine.

I tried to stand up, but the room spinned, everything became blurry and my knees wobbled.

The last thing I heard was Rita screaming my name.

'Jane!" and then everything goes black.

___

I woke up in a white room, bright lights were above me and soft beeping sounds beside me. I felt a cold band on my wrist and something in my hand was a needle.

I was in a hospital.

A nurse rushed in. 'She is awake!"

Rita was at my bedside in seconds, her eyes were full of fear. 'Jane! You scared me!"

'What happened?" I whispered.

'You collapsed," she said. 'You passed out in your office and the ambulance came in five minutes. The doctor said you were completely exhausted."

A man in a white coat walked in. He was the doctor.

He checked my pulse, looked at a clipboard, and then sat beside me.

'Ms. Grande," he said gently. 'We ran some tests to make sure you are okay."

I nodded slowly. 'Is it serious?"

He hesitated for a moment and then smiled.

'You are pregnant." I instantly blinked

'What?"

'You are about five weeks gone," he said.

'You have been pushing yourself too hard. Stress, lack of rest, poor nutrition, it all added up. Your body gave you a warning."

Rita gaspsed. 'Jane, you are going to have a baby?"

I was silent. A baby? I looked at my hands and they were shaking.

Me? Pregnant?

I never planned for this, not now and not when everything was happening, not when I was fighting enemies, lawsuits, moles, ghosts

'Do you know who the father is?" the doctor asked carefully.

I closed my eyes. One night came rushing back, the hotel, the party, hades.

No. No, no, no…

I pressed my hands over my face and tears started to form, but I didn't let them fall.

'Can I have some time alone?" I whispered

They nodded and left the room quietly.

I sat there, and stared at the wall.

A baby? Inside me? From him?

I didn't know what to feel and I didn't know what to think. I feel anger, confusion, fear. and I also feel something strange, something soft, like hope.

But no, I couldn't trust that feeling, not yet.

Not when the past was still chasing me

I sat in the hospital bed and stared at the white wall and my mind was blank, my body was tired, my heart was heavy.

I was pregnant as I knew who the father was.

I closed my eyes, and I saw his face. Hades.

That night at the hotel, the trap, the confusion, I didn't remember everything clearly before, but I did now.

He planned it, he drugged me and he stayed close when I was weak and now, I was carrying his child.

A tear rolled down my cheek.

I felt angry, I felt scared and felt ashamed.

Why me? Why now?

I didn't want this and I didn't choose this.

I wanted to scream and I wanted to hit something, but I just sat here, I was shaking and I was crying quietly.

No one could see me like this, I was Jane Grande, I was strong, powerful and I was always in control.

But now, I was broken inside.

The door opened slowly and It was Ava, my personal lawyer. She had my phone, laptop, and a bag of clothes.

She walked in with a soft smile. 'I brought you your things, Jane."

I nodded, and wiped my tears quickly.

She noticed 'Are you okay?"

I tried to lie. 'I'm just tired."

But she has been with me for years. She knew when I was lying.

She sat beside me and held my hand gently. 'What's wrong?"

I opened my mouth and nothing came out. And then suddenly, my chest tightened, my voice cracked and I said the words I have been holding in.

'I'm pregnant."

Ava gasped. Her eyes wide. 'Oh my God! Jane!"

I looked at her and my lips trembled. 'It is Hades."

She didn't say anything at first. Just held my hand tighter.

'He tricked me," I whispered. 'At that party she set everything up. I don't remember, but now I did well and now I am carrying his baby."

Ava looked shocked, but not judgmental. 'Oh, Jane…"

'I didn't know what to do," I cried. 'I couldn't tell the board. I couldn't let the media know. If this gets out, they would say I slept my way to the top, they will say I am weak."

'You are not weak," Ava said firmly. 'You are the strongest woman I know."

'But what if I can't do this?" I whispered 'What if I can't raise this child, especially when the father is the man I hate the most?"

She took a deep breath. 'Then we make a plan. You don't have to decide everything today."

I nodded slowly. For now, only Ava and the doctor knew. No one else could find out.

Not yet.

I looked out the window and the sun was rising and a new day was starting.

But my world was hanging.

And I didn't know what was coming next.