Chapter 45 45. Jessica's A Bitch
Jessica's POV
The door shut with a heavy click. The car smelled of leather, smoke, and power. His eyes lingered on my legs a moment too long before finding my face again.
He didn't speak, and I didn't dare. Every nerve in me hummed, aware of his nearness, of that faint cologne and the sharpness in his gaze that missed nothing.
"You're shivering," he said, adjusting the air conditioning. His hand brushed my knee as he gestured toward the vent. "Or is that nervousness?"
"Both," I admitted.
He leaned back, studying me like a move he might or might not make. "Tell me," he said, "what makes Camila Sterling so dangerous to my son?"
"She's unpredictable and defiant," I replied. "She doesn't care about his legacy or his empire. She makes him soft."
"And you?" His hand rested on the seat behind my shoulders, not quite touching but close enough to feel. "You're more... malleable?"
"I understand his world," I said. "And I know what it takes to stay in it."
A slow assessing smile touched his lips. "Beauty and brains. Rare combination. You could be useful." His fingers grazed my shoulder. "But useful people don't beg. They prove their worth. Are you ready to do whatever it takes?"
My throat tightened, but I held his stare. "Whatever it takes."
"Good, because if you make me waste my time, you'll pay dearly." He leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. "I'll be in touch. Very soon."
The door opened. I stumbled out onto the concrete, my pulse racing. The car pulled away, leaving me standing there, triumphant and unsettled all at once.
I pushed through the penthouse doors with a bright smile, shopping bags swinging from my hand.
"I'm back!" I sang.
Lily's cry cut through the air before I even saw her. She came running from the living room, face streaked and red.
"Mommy!" she wailed, clutching my legs.
I dropped the bags and scooped her up. "Baby, what's wrong?"
"I'm hungry!" she sobbed. "I haven't eaten all day!"
My head snapped toward the kitchen. Camila stood at the island, laughing with two staff members like she hadn't heard a thing.
"You didn't feed her?" My voice rose.
Camila turned sharply from the kitchen island. "That's not true, Jessica. She refused to eat."
"Refused?" I scoffed. "She's four! You don't refuse to feed a child because she's picky."
"I offered her food three times," Camila said, voice low but edged with irritation. "She pushed the plate away and said she wanted you. What was I supposed to do-force her?"
"Oh, don't act innocent," I set Lily down. "You've been dying for a reason to make me look like a bad mother!"
Camila's eyes narrowed. "You don't need my help for that."
The room went dead silent. Even the staff exchanged glances.
I stepped closer, "You think you're better than me because Lucien looks at you like a toy he hasn't broken yet?"
"Get away from me. You're using your daughter as a pawn in your pathetic little game. You're destroying her, Jessica. You should be ashamed."
"At least I have something to offer Lucien besides desperation and a criminal record!"
Camila's face went still, then red. "You know nothing about me."
"I know enough. I know you came from nothing, that you're clinging to Lucien because without him, you're nobody. A fake girlfriend playing dress-up in a world you don't belong in."
"And you?" Camila stepped closer, voice shaking with fury. "You're so obsessed with a man who doesn't want you that you're starving your own child for attention. You're sick, Jessica. You need help."
"At least I'm not a charity case he had to rescue-"
The slap cracked hard across my face before I could finish and I stumbled back, hand flying to my cheek. The sound echoed. The maids gasped. Lily began to cry again.
For a moment, I just stared at her. Then I let the tears come-hot, real tears born from rage and humiliation.
"You... you hit me," I whispered brokenly. "This is what you are. Cruel and jealous."
Camila's hand trembled. "Jessica-"
"Stay away from us." I gathered Lily into my arms and ran for the stairs, my sobs echoing through the penthouse.
Inside the guest room, I locked the door and set Lily down. Then I wiped my tears and burst into a triumphant laughter.
Let Lucien come home. I had my story ready.
"Mommy?" Lily's voice was small. "I'm really hungry."
"Wait till evening, baby. Daddy will be home soon."
"But I'm hungry now." Her lip trembled. "Camila and Daddy made me really nice mashed potatoes this morning. Can't you get me some?"
"No." I checked my reflection. The mark on my cheek was already fading. Damn.
"Please-"
"Enough!" I snapped. "You'll eat when Daddy gets home. Do you want him to love us or not?"
She started crying harder. I dragged her to the bathroom, turned on the tap, and pushed her head under it.
"Drink."
She gulped between sobs.
"Now sleep," I said, yanking her toward the bed. "Not another word."
She curled into a ball, whimpering, but I turned away.
This was for us. For our future.
My phone buzzed around five. The PI.
Subject: Clara Sterling - Background Report
I opened the attachment, scrolling through pages of arrests. Assault. Theft. Trespassing. Public intoxication. The woman was a walking disaster.
"Oh, darling Camila," I smiled. "Your crown just cracked."
I tiptoed out of the room and wandered downstairs for Lucien every few minutes until finally, his voice carried from the foyer, deep but tired, followed by Rafael's even deeper tones.
Showtime.
I shook Lily awake. She could barely stand, her legs wobbling beneath her. Perfect.
"Come on, baby. We're leaving."
I grabbed one shopping bag, shoving our things inside haphazardly, and pulled Lily toward the stairs. She stumbled, and I caught her, half-dragging her down.
Lucien stood in the foyer, loosening his tie. Rafael was behind him. Both men looked up as I descended, tears streaming down my face.
"We're leaving," I announced, voice breaking. "I can't stay here anymore."
Lucien's brow furrowed. "Jessica-"
"She starved us, Lucien. Both of us. Because she's jealous of our friendship." I gestured to Lily, who swayed on her feet. "Look at her! She can barely stand!"
"Jessica, what is-"
"No!" I cried. "She hit me. Called me pathetic. Said I was a terrible mother. We've been friends for five years, Lucien. Five years of loyalty and support, and I'm supposed to take abuse from some-some groupie you picked up for PR?
I stood by you when no one else did. A temporary distraction like her thinks wearing your shirts and warming your bed makes her special?!"
Lucien's jaw tightened. Rafael looked between us, expression unreadable.
"You're right," Lucien said quietly.
My heart skipped. There was a small flutter in my lower belly.
Then he added, "You should leave."