Chapter 7
CHAPTER
I WOKE UP THE next morning feeling tired and achy.
It had been a restless night, full of dreams of shadowy figures following me, watching me.
My feet were swollen, and my exhaustion seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.
But I didn’t have the luxury of letting it slow me down—it was an important day.
The Sampson team was coming in to go over early results of the marketing campaign.
If all looked well, everyone assumed Meredith would announce the account manager in charge.
I had to be on top of my game despite how completely bombed I felt.
Minutes before the client was scheduled to arrive, the receptionist bounded down the hall toward my cubicle, her arms full to the brim with a giant teddy bear and a bunch of mylar balloons bearing phrases like “Oh Baby!” and “Sweet Bundle of Joy.”
My heart dropped into my toes. What the—
“Savannah! Congratulations! I didn’t know you were pregnant!” She handed me the gifts and reached in for an awkward hug.
“Who are these from?” I could barely get the words out. The gifts felt like they were burning in my hands.
“I’m not sure, some delivery guy just dropped them off. But here’s the card that came with them.” She handed me a sealed, cream-colored envelope, blank on the outside. “Are they from your boyfriend?” she teased.
It was easy to see I wore no wedding ring.
The people in my office weren’t big on talking about their personal lives, so for all they knew, I had a serious boyfriend.
But before I had the chance to open up the envelope and find out, several coworkers headed my way, undoubtedly drawn in by the ridiculous balloons and comically large bear.
One woman placed her hand on my back and rubbed. “Congratulations, Savannah! I had no idea! When are you due?”
I cringed at the volume of her voice. I really didn’t want Meredith to catch wind of this.
What I wanted was to run and hide. “Um … early November.” It took all of my strength to force a smile.
I had only wanted to put off announcing it for a few more days, but someone had taken that choice away from me.
Dammit. There was Meredith, just down the hall. She arched an eyebrow and mouthed a quiet “congratulations” before disappearing into the conference room. I gave a limp wave in return.
I set the gifts on the floor by my desk.
Who would do this? Ellie, Max, and my mom all knew I was waiting until after the account manager had been chosen—plus, it would be rather belated to be from Max, anyway.
And I hadn’t really broken the news to anyone else yet.
I took a moment in a bathroom stall, pressed a tissue to my eyes, and tried to get my emotions back under control.
I finally took a seat in the conference room. I avoided eye contact with Meredith and tried to organize my thoughts. Only minutes later, Sam walked in, leading the Sampson team behind him. The meeting was about to start.
The clients seemed happy. As we left the conference room, Sam whispered to me that Meredith would be making the announcement by the end of the day. Would she hold the pregnancy against me? I cautiously held out hope.
Around four o’clock, an email popped into my inbox. I took a deep breath and opened it.
Fuck. I was on the team, but I had not been selected as the account manager.
I laid my head down on my desk and tried not to cry. Dammit! I really thought this was my chance.
From beneath the crook of my arm, I could see the giant teddy bear smiling up at me from the floor.
I reached out a foot and viciously kicked it in the face.
If it weren’t for this stupid bear and dumb balloons, maybe it would have been.
But Meredith probably didn’t want to put someone in charge who would be going on maternity leave midway through the contract.
Then I remembered the card. I pulled it out of my bag where I’d stashed it before the meeting and tore into the envelope. There was a handwritten message inside, but my eyes skipped ahead to the signature at the bottom.
Madison.
Instantly, my head filled with heat and noise.
Savannah,
I’m so glad to hear from Max that the twelve-week appointment went well, and that everything looks good with the baby. The most important thing all of us want is a healthy child.
I really don’t appreciate being told not to come to the appointment, though.
I made it very clear that I wanted to be there, and still you cut me out.
You know I have a vested interest in this child too, since Max and I are together, and I will be the one to help support him as he becomes a father.
I can only think that you are deliberately trying to hurt me, even after everything I’ve done for you.
I really hope this is not about you wanting to be alone with Max. Max is where he belongs—with me. I hope you’re not holding out hope for anything to happen between the two of you again. I’m warning you—I love Max, and I won’t let anything come between us. Not you, or even that child.
Be sure to let me know when the next appointment is. Max and I will see you again soon.
~ Madison
Adrenaline coursed through my body, turning my world red. What the hell?!
I closed my eyes, muffled a scream with my clenched fist, then covered my face with my hands. So much for hoping she wouldn’t be upset about not coming to the appointment. So much for thinking I could set boundaries, and they would be respected.
I eyed the bear and balloons again. I could feel the rage pulsing in my veins.
It wasn’t a sweet gift. No. She had sucked me in with another over-the-top, generous display that makes her look like a kind and understanding friend and me look like a bitch for not wanting it.
Talk about passive fucking aggressive! I crumpled up the card and tossed it into the trash can by my desk.
Then a terrible thought sliced through me like a knife. What if it wasn’t just passive aggressive? What if it was revenge?
Had she somehow known what a gift like this, on today of all days, could cost me?
No. No way. It has to be an unfortunate coincidence.
Right?
I spent that weekend at Mom’s house, licking my wounds over not getting the promotion. By the drive home Sunday night, I felt better. Mom’s wise words, comfort food, and unending love always had that effect. One day I’ll do the same for my baby, I promised myself.
As I entered my apartment, I decided to put my worries about work and Madison aside, and focus on things I could control.
Just because I didn’t get account manager this time doesn’t mean I won’t sometime soon.
We’re always taking on new clients. I’d imagined approaching Meredith about her decision, but now it seemed like a better idea not to mention it.
Hopefully, if she saw that I could stay committed and professional—and not whine or complain—it would be even more points in my favor for the future.
I had debated back and forth countless times over the weekend about whether to tell Max about Madison’s angry—and somewhat threatening?
—letter. But as I lit my favorite vanilla candle and put the kettle on for tea, I decided to let things lie.
She was angry because she felt hurt. Jealous, Max had said—and her note seemed to confirm that.
Maybe she just needed time to calm down, and a little space would do us all better.
Instead, as I unpacked the overnight bag I’d brought to Mom’s, I turned my thoughts toward happier ones.
Ellie had reminded me about our friend Amber’s bachelorette party the following weekend.
It had been ages since I’d had a girls’ night out, and I was ready to blow off some steam.
I couldn’t party as hard as the rest of them, but I could still dance and have a good time.
The night of the bachelorette party, I donned the stretchy black dress I’d bought at the maternity boutique and spent an hour on my hair and makeup.
It had been a while since I’d felt truly cute, and as I surveyed the results in the mirror, I had to admit I liked what I saw.
My hair felt thicker and shinier. It had already grown past my shoulders, and had a slight wave to it, which the book said I owed to pregnancy hormones.
I turned from side to side in front of the mirror, noticing how much my chest had gotten bigger too.
I smiled at my reflection. Was this the pregnancy glow everyone talked about?
Amber had decided on a club called the High Note, her favorite spot for live music, drinks, and dancing. When the girls saw me, they burst into screams, and after a flurry of hugs, I headed to the bar to order myself a drink.
What I loved most about the High Note was that, in addition to a fully stocked bar, they also had an impressive menu of mocktails, served in fancy glasses that looked just like the real thing.
I felt no different than anyone else. The band sounded amazing, so once I had my beverage in hand, I pulled Ellie onto the dance floor with me.
While we were dancing, I felt someone’s hands slide around my waist from behind, and a man’s hot breath in my ear as he whispered, “Well, hello there.”
I bolted around to face a man I’d never seen before, wearing a brown jacket over a button-down shirt and dark jeans with a belt. He leered at me through wire-rimmed glasses and gave me a slimy smile.
“Who are you?”
“It’s me—Rob.” Still smiling, he held out his arms and moved toward me again.
I backed away further. “What are you doing?”
He frowned. “What? What’s wrong?”
Ellie came over and put her arm around me protectively.
“What’s wrong is that you’re touching me, and I have no idea who the hell you are,” I said, speaking loudly so he could hear me over the music.
“Baby, it’s me—Rob. From the app. You told me to meet you here tonight.”
“What app? What the hell are you talking about?”