Pretty Much -Part 4-

Hayley walked into the office the next day, still thinking about the incident the other night with Jake’s boss. She could easily kill him within seconds if she didn’t have to keep her identity a secret. For a guy like that, a kick to the crotch was nuff said. She didn’t need Jake to protect her, but for argument sake, she let him. Then again, that didn’t stop them from having an argument. The good thing was that it ended well aside from the slap. She was defenceless against him. As she walked in, she found a few of her friends smiling at her. 

‘What is this, creep -people-out -with-a-smile day, did I miss a memo, what?’ she asked. Jessica ran to her side, with a cheeky grin. ‘So…What’s your answer?’ She asked Hayley.

‘What’s my answer for what?’ Hayley asked back, arranging her files on her office table.

‘Oh, you know…The project? It involves a Glock 36, a round of bullets, probably a silencer and a club full of testosterone. I’ve even had lil’ costumes designed so we’ll sync.’ Jessica replied excitedly.

‘Uh…I’m done with the last one remember? Take out the guy in St. Tropez and I’m done, that was our agreement.’ Hayley said, leaning against the desk, facing Jessica.

‘Yeah, yeah I remember what I said…Come on, just one more!’ Jessica pleaded.

Hayley sighed and asked, ‘When is it?’

‘Next week.’ Jessica smiled.

‘Forget it…’ 

‘Hayley! I saved you from falling off the yacht at St.Tropez. I had to kick the guy in the face and he broke my Louboutins, you owe me one.’ Jessica said as she crossed her arms.

‘I had to lie to Jake on the phone over the deafening sounds of drunken people yelling and nightclub music, convincing him that I wasn’t where I was, which means you owe me more than what was promised. We’re even.’ Hayley said placing her hands on her hips in response to Jessica’s body language. Just then, Lexy walked into the office holding a stack of papers. ‘Info on the new project, who’s desk will these be on?’

‘Hers!’ Jessica and Hayley answered in unison.

‘Okay, give me a good reason why.’ Jessica demanded and at that moment, all eyes were on Hayley. 

She took a deep breath let it out slowly, ‘I’m pregnant, is that a good enough reason?’

Before she could finish her sentence, both ladies squealed and started hugging her. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea letting them know about it. Too late. 

‘Oh my gosh! Congrats! Why didn’t you tell us?’ Jessica squealed in a pitch a little too high.

‘I don’t think I have to tell everything to everyone, Jess.’ Hayley smiled.

‘Of course you do, we’re not just anyone, we’re your squad. Anyways, this project can wait, we need more info about the target. 11 months will give us just enough time to develop sufficient intel, know his location and last I heard, he had a lot of money behind him.’ Jessica grinned, walking out of the office.

‘But…’ Hayley started but Lexy placed a hand on her shoulder pulling her back.

‘Let her go, she won’t take no for an answer.’

‘11 months?? I wasn’t pregnant when I promised her, you know. I can’t be doing this to Jake, he doesn’t know about any of this and I shouldn’t be keeping it from him. At least Ryan knows what you’re doing.’ Hayley sighed.

‘Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it with Jessica, you go be pregnant.’ Lexy smiled and hugged her.

‘Thanks Lexy.’

‘Hey, I need the weapons design. Give me something that will make the Benelli M4 look like a paintball gun.’ Lexy smiled and turned on her heel.

‘You got it.’ These were the very few ladies who carry PPKs in their purses, except Jess, she prefers the Beretta 92FS.  Jess likes big stuffs, her boyfriend is proof enough, so what else is new?

The sudden ring of her cell phone snapped her out of thought. It was Jake, and she picked it up.

‘Hi, babe…What’s up?’ She asked, smiling into the phone.

‘Just calling to make sure you’re okay.’ He replied.

‘Yea, I’m fine, I’m at the office. Is there anything else?’ 

‘Mom’s coming over tomorrow night.’ He answered and Hayley froze.

‘Wait, your mom or my mom?’ She asked, reconfirming.

‘My mom.’

Oooooh boy.

Pretty Much -Part 3-

After an hour, Jake slowly opened the door, holding an ice pack, some aspirin, and the heaviest frying pan they own. The same pan she threatened to beat him with if he didn't stop tickling her the night before.

‘Hon...’ He called out, but no response was given. She was sitting at the side of the bed facing the window, the moonlight shading the outline of her body.

‘Hayley…I…’ He started and stopped, walking closer towards her, sighing a little.

‘There are absolutely no words to explain how sorry I am for laying my hand on you like I did. I don’t know what came over me, I just got so mad I can’t think straight. And I know I can’t take any of it back now and I shouldn’t have done it in the first place either,’ he said, passing her the pan.

‘I owe you…’

Hayley looked up at him. Taking the pan from him, she stood up and he took a step back, allowing her some room to swing it. Instead of doing so, she threw the pan on the chair beside her and hugged him. Jake wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

‘I’m so sorry Hayley. Forgive me?’

‘There’s nothing to forgive about. I’m sorry too.’ She replied burying her face in the crook of his neck.

Jake sighed, swallowing his pride then told her.

‘You have nothing to be sorry for, Mr Anson was the one that made the remarks before he came over. You didn’t know the things he said. I did and I took it out on you instead.’

‘I shouldn’t have encouraged it, but I thought that it might cost you your job if I didn’t play along.’ She cried into his neck.

He lifted her chin and smiled, kissing her lips softly.

‘You were just being a gracious host. It’s all over now. Come on, it’s late and we should be getting some sleep,’ he whispered into her hair, as she wiped her tears.

‘Honey, wait. There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you…’ She said looking up at him.

Jake looked at his wife and smiled softly. ‘What is it dear?’

Hayley then walked towards the bed and picked up a pregnancy test kit and showed it to Jake. He took it from her and looked at it. It showed two bars.

‘What do two bars mean?’ he asked.

‘I’m pregnant,’ she answered and the colours fell from his face.

‘Are…are you serious? Really?’ He asked, falling back into the chair, staring at the kit. ‘I thought we weren’t able to…’

‘I figured it out when I couldn’t control my temper and start picking up smells that even bloodhounds would miss,’ she said cutting him off.

He shook his head. ‘This is unreal.’ He really couldn’t digest what she just told him.

A wave of disappointment fell over Hayley as she asked him.

‘Do you not want this baby?’

Jake smiled and took her hands in his. ‘Of course I do! I just thought we couldn’t get pregnant…’

‘That’s what I thought too, but we were wrong.’ She smiled back at him and rested her head against his chest. 

'Jake, I love you...' She whispered.

'You too.' Hayley had hoped for something more but maybe it's all part of her being pregnant and emotional so she decided to ignore it.

Pretty Much -Part 2-

‘What?! If I wanted to do that I would've given it to him years before I married you. Is that what you want to hear?? There I said it! Happy now?!’

He took a step towards her and raised his hand, then stopped, pointing instead.

‘You've always had a thing for him since you first saw him in my office when we were dating, and at the annual company party after we got married. If I hadn't stepped in you would have made a move tonight.’

‘I do not! I can't believe you'd say that!’ Hayley shouted, obviously irritated by her husband’s paranoia.

‘Then why the tight dress? Why the show off? Why Hayley?’ Jake said taking another step towards her.

‘Is it wrong now for a wife to look the best she can standing beside her husband?’ She then clenched her fist out of frustration and realized that she wasn’t wearing her ring. If he sees that, it’ll be another issue to resolve so she decided to hide her hand behind her back.

‘The best? You wore that to the nightclub last week with your friends! Is that the best dress for everyone to see you wear when you’re NOT with me?! Now that you are, you just had to wear it in front of him!’

Hayley stood there silent, not knowing how to answer him. She didn’t think that it would come as any harm as to wear something sexy. The initial plan was to surprise him during dinner and after his boss leaves, they’ll proceed to the bedroom. The plan has been foiled.

He was still angry at her for everything. Even if the reason didn’t make any sense, it did now, especially to him. The flirting, playing footie under the table, the conversations they had and even that dress! The least she could do now is to have grace by wearing her wedding ring. Jake knows that she’ll never take it off unless she was in the shower, but later she will remember to wear it again. He couldn’t see it as she was hiding her hand behind her back and was looking down on the floor. This he had to know.

‘What's wrong with your hand?’ He asked, deliberately lowering his voice to a near whisper.

‘Nothing…nothing's wrong…’ She answered, nervously.

Without saying a word, he reached behind her back and grabbed her wrist, pulling it in front of her, staring at the empty ring finger. Hayley looked up at him silent, looking for ways to explain the absence of the ring. Jake took a deep, slow breath and asked.

‘Where is it?’

‘It’s on the dressing table…’

‘Why?’ He asked again, still holding on to her hand.

‘It slipped my mind. I was rushing…’

He lets out another breath. ‘Why was it off in the first place?’

‘It was getting in the way while i was preparing dinner.’

‘Or was it getting in the way of your shameful flirting with my boss?’ He throws her hand down and walked over to dresser, looking for a night shirt.

‘Will you please get off that topic, I wasn't flirting!’ Hayley answered rubbing her hand.

‘Bullshit!’ He shouted at her before reaching into the dresser ruffling through clothes.

Hayley could not tolerate his behaviour any longer. It really pissed her off and without thinking, she involuntarily picked up the nearest item which was a hairbrush and threw it at him, but it missed by a few inches. After realizing what she’d just did, she covered her mouth.

‘I...I didn't mean to do that…’

Jake stopped and glared at her for a few seconds. ‘You're very lucky that you are so hot when you get mad, and that your aim is horrid.’ He shoved the doors shut and slowly closed the distance between them. Hayley decided not to step back but his muscular self, forced her back against the wall.

‘So you're just going to stand there accusing me of flirting with your boss when it was your idea to invite him for dinner and have me prepare it!’

‘I never told you he was coming over, and I hadn't spoken to you on the phone since we decided, so that whole excuse of you knowing is out the door. What, did he call and tell you that he was going to come over for a quickie?’ He said angrily placing his hand at the side of her head.

‘I said I heard you on the phone with him. You know what, maybe I should consider being with him. You'd like that a lot, since you’re suggesting it now anyway. Now that you’ve said it, I might just date him then.’

Hearing that, insanity clouded over Jake’s better judgment. He raised his hand and slapped her across the cheek. For that few minutes, there was no sense of guilt or remorse to what he has done to his wife. Hayley fell to the floor with a thud, wincing at the sharp pain delivered to her right cheek. She sat up looking at her husband who was fuming with his fists clenched at his side.

‘I knew it…’

Hayley was shocked and not able to utter a word, she pressed her palm against the red swell. Jake stood above her scowling.

‘Now, do you think I like doing that? Don't ever talk to me like that again and don't ever try to sneak out on me with anyone.’ He warned her.

The pain was nothing compared to what she felt in her heart. Was this the man she married, the one who was so patient and loving all through these three years of marriage? Tears welled up as she slowly rubbed her cheek.

‘You brought this on yourself, Hayley.’

She stood up slowly, mustered all the courage she had and answered, ‘I have never cheated on you Jake and I never will. I have had enough.’ She wiped the tears from her eyes and walked out of the room.

Jake, realizing what he had just done, walked after her. ’Where do you think you’re going?!’

‘Anywhere that's away from you.’ Hayley answered without turning back and walks into the other room.

‘Oh you would just love that wouldn't you? I work my ass off to provide for you and all you want is a way to push me away!’

‘Maybe now you don’t have to provide for me anymore. You can have it all!’ She shouted back before slamming the door shut.

‘Sure! Just walk away from it, it'll go away if you ignore it. Works every time, right?! Fuck, as if I care!’ Jake slammed his fist against the wall and paces in front of the door she shut on him.

‘We’ve done this too many times for me to give a shit!’

Hayley grabbed a pillow and sat on the bed, trying to recall what had just happened. Jake slapped her. She could still feel the stinging sensation upon her cheek. She placed her cheek upon the cool surface of the pillow and wept into it. Why her?

Pretty Much

After a long week of meetings with a rival company trying to solidify a merger, Jake’s company finally secured the deal, and as a way to celebrate, he invited his boss over for dinner.  Jake opened the door in a huff, briskly looked around for Hayley to inform her of the sudden change in dinner plans. Just as he opened another room door ready to call out her name, she walked out of the kitchen wearing a short frilly dress, looking as stunning as ever.

Jake looked around obviously upset. 

‘Honey, we need to get dinner ready, Mr. Anson is coming over tonight, so let's work out some magic and be sure to impress him.’ Hayley smiled knowingly at her worried husband. ‘Sweetie calm down. It's all done. I’ve the chicken in the oven and the table is all set.’

Jake, curious, raised an eyebrow at her, then asked, ‘How did you know, I just found out myself an hour ago.’ 

She kissed him on the cheek replying, ‘I heard you over the phone this afternoon. Nothing escapes me.’ He kissed her back, cutting his eyes slightly, not entirely buying it but answered anyway, ‘Alright, I'm going to take a shower, just keep things going babe.’ Hayley nonchalantly nodded her head as she walked back into the kitchen.

Jake felt a twinge of guilt for doubting his wife. His boss has had a knack of talking about her ever since he introduced the both of them at the company party three years ago, right after they got married. He had never really seen Hayley’s reaction towards his boss’s shameless flirting. It was highly questionable but yet excusable on her part which drives him utterly insane. On the other hand, she’s with him and not his boss.

Hayley had never thought of anything better than having Jake for a husband. He is a doting husband, so patient, loving and he could win hands down if there was a competition for the best husband around. She knew about Mr Anson, and she didn’t like him one bit. She figured that a man his age would understand the love between a husband and a wife and the risks of coming between one. Guess not. Still she'll try her best at making her husband proud and being very careful with her words around his boss.

After shower, Jake hastily gets dressed and headed back out, taking a deep breath, collecting his head. He walked into the kitchen and smiled at his little wife who was busy washing the remaining dishes in the sink.

 ‘Everything looks and smells wonderful, hon.’ Hayley turned around to face him, smiling back, wiping her hands on a cloth and replied, ‘Thanks sweetie. I made your favourite.’ Just then, the door-bell rang. Jake glanced at his watch and back to Hayley. 

‘Guess that must be him. I’ll get it.’ Straightening himself, he then opened the door. ‘Mr Anson, please come in and make your-self at home.’

His boss, a well-dressed man in his forties with salt and peppered hair and a nice build for a man his age had on a cheerful face for the occasion, an expression rarely shown. ‘Thank you Jake.’ He said as he stepped through the front door. Jake closed the door as Mr Anson looked around obviously scouting for something or someone. His head turned immediately after hearing the sound of heels clicking from the hallway. Jake was aware of that but he did not say a word, after all, the old weasel is his boss. Hayley walked towards the both of them as she extended her hand towards Mr Anson. 

‘Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you again. Please have a seat.’ He shook her hand gently and managed a soft kiss on the back of her palm before replying, ‘The pleasure’s all mine and thank you.’ Jake did not know whether the kiss was out of courtesy or one of his charming tactics. He shook the thought off and continued to entertain his guest. 

‘This is my wife Hayley, as you may recall. I would bring her along with me to annual company parties.’

He looked at Jake and back to Hayley, smiling. ‘Who could ever forget such a lovely face.’ Hayley couldn’t help but smile and blush, the guy’s a cunninglinguist, which is probably the reason why he’s been single all these years. Playboys don't get attached. No, it takes much more than that to ruin a perfectly great marriage she has going on. 

‘Thank you sir, I am only much too glad that Jake puts in effort to bring me. His job isn’t an easy one and it’s rather tiring. Why don’t we all talk about this over dinner, it’s all set in the dining room,' she said as she got up from the couch followed by Mr Anson right after. Jake was scowling behind his boss’s back but spoke with a smile in his tone. ‘Yes, why don’t we?’ Taking a step forward, his boss replied, ‘Sounds like a good plan.’

Jake was watching his boss like a hawk all the way to the dining room. It was the only time he didn’t like the fact that Hayley was wearing a tight little dress, especially when his boss was following up so close behind her. Mr Anson lets his eyes wander along her soft shoulders to her slim waist, her hips down to her ass and slim legs. He was enjoying it right until he sat on one of the chairs at the dining table. 

‘So what are we having for dinner, Miss Hayley?’ Hayley settled the dishes on the table and replied. ‘Roasted chicken. One of my specialties and Jake’s favorite.’ Mr Anson nodded.

 ‘It’s going to be my favorite too once I’ve tasted it.’ 


Jake quickly interjected, not liking the way he is talking to her. ‘It sure is hun.’ He then gave her a playful pinch on the back of her thigh, quietly huffing his disapproval towards his boss’s attitude. 

‘Ouch!’ Hayley winced at the pain and rubbed the area pinched. ‘Sorry dear, you know I can’t resist.’ Jake said overly staking his claim in front of Mr Anson, who scowled but later decided to smile. 

‘Well, I can’t say I blame you Jake. I’m sure I would want to do that every time I have her close.’ 

Jake narrows his eyes towards his boss and takes his seat across the table. Hayley felt nervous and slightly pressured by the silent byplay between the two men. 

‘Ah…Why don’t we just enjoy the meal.’ 

Dinner at the table had gone from the company’s current status to Jake’s promotion, which went quite well until Hayley felt a slight brush against her leg. She thought it was Jake, so she decided to respond by brushing back. It wasn’t until Jake stood up to get the wine that she knew it wasn’t his! She hurriedly pulled back her leg and heard a chuckle from Mr Anson and blushed again. Jake came in just in time to hear his boss’s chuckle and notice the close distance between his leg and his wife’s.

That old fucktard. No, he wasn’t going to let off steam here, not while his boss was still in the house. He kept his emotions in check throughout the entire time and pretended as if he saw nothing. An hour later when it was time for his boss to leave, and they showed him to the door.

‘Thanks for dinner and it was a pleasure meeting you again Hayley. I do hope our next meeting will be somewhere in the near future I hope.’ He winked as he reached for Hayley's hand, but before he could, Jake stopped him by grabbing his wrist and swinging it away, furious this time.

 'You know, I don't care if you are my boss, I really don't appreciate someone trying to make a move on my wife. So you’d better fuck off out of here while you can.'

Hayley looking at her husband, surprised, tries to fix the situation.

 ‘Jake!’ 

She then turned her attention to the shocked Mr Anson and said, ‘Gosh, I’m so sorry sir, he didn’t mean it.’

‘I meant every fucking word of it. You’d better leave now while I’m still sane.’

‘Jake, stop it!’

Mr Anson glared back at Jake and said, ‘No, he's right. My old ways are lost on today's society.’ Straightening himself, he added, ‘I will see you Monday, Jake.’

‘Monday it is, Mr Anson.’ Jake replied as he watched him walk away and closed the door. He then looks back at Hayley, fuming.

‘Are you not aware that the man was undressing you with his eyes??’

‘I think you’re taking this a bit too far, you could’ve lost your job over that.’

 ‘I don't really care, no one does that to you. I can get any position I want now that the merger has gone through.’ He said as he threw his hands up in the air and stomped off towards the bedroom.

‘It certainly didn't help that you were flirting right back, why didn't you run after him if you liked him so much?’

Hayley gasped. ‘How could you say that?? At which point did I flirt back? You tell me!’

‘Oh the way you just melted and fluttered your eyes when he kissed your hand, you tell me that wasn't flirting!! Or maybe it was the way you were enjoying his leg against yours?!’ he exclaimed peeling his shirt off and throwing it across the room.

‘I thought it was you! When I realized it wasn’t, I pulled back and did nothing else.’

‘Right. I feel so much better now that I know both of you were playing footie under our dining table. Fuck that!’

‘Jake! I’m your wife and if that fact doesn’t mean anything to you then yes, maybe I should go after him then.’

Reeling back a little on her comment he shouted back. ‘You’re damn right you are. Or maybe going after him is what you really want? Hmm??’

‘You're such an asshole!’ She said and left for the door.

Jake walked after and closed the door shut with his hand before she could leave. 

‘Why?’ Then he paused and continued.

‘Is it because I won't stand someone obviously unable to keep his attraction for you in check? Or maybe it’s because you obviously bent over that table to show him some of your goods?’

Hayley was shocked to hear what he just said. Never in a million years would she even think that he'd suspect her of an affair especially with that creep he invited.

-to be continued-

(Originally by Kimberley Anne Ang)

*Names are just names. All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead are purely coincidental.*