Trophy Wife

　　Edna squints at the pregnancy test strip, maybe her widened eyes would magically make it positive this time around.

　　She doesn't want to go out a tell her crazy husband, Keith, that she isn't pregnant.

　　It's not like Keith cares, but it would his father, her father-in-law, and boss, that would be the hard one to deal with. He wants to be a grandfather as soon as he could.

　　"Fuck." She gives up and throws the strip into the bin and walks back to the sink.

　　She arranges her hair and wiped the sad look on her face.

　　She grabs her expensive bag and walked down the stairs.

　　Her husband, Keith, is in the living room. He is shirtless wearing terribly shredded jeans. He has a cigarette in his hand, watching TV as he smoked and drank from an alcoholic bottle.

　　He looks as scary as she remembers him from high school, the times he bullied and threatened to kill her.

　　Or the times that he abused her in their bedroom.

　　She has a smile on her face, pretending that she wasn't scared of this man.

　　"Hi." She says as she walked to the door.

　　He looks at her, and then away. She isn't worthy of an answer.

　　"Are you coming in today?" She asks.

　　"No." He grunted.

　　She asks every day and it has been two years now since he came to work at his father's company.

　　"I am going to be late tonight. I have a few meetings to attend. " She adds.

　　"Whatever." That doesn't sound like an answer, but that's what he says to her.

　　She stops and turns to look at him, the doorknob in her hand, and her first foot is almost outside.

　　"I um, took the test again. It came out negative." She says.

　　"Oh." He isn't bothered.

　　She feels sad, but at least he is not going to beat her for this offense.

　　"Bye now."

　　She steps out of the house and shuts the door.

　　Dimore, her driver, and bodyguard step out of the car and helps her with her bag.

　　He greets her and opens the door for her. He routinely asks how her night went as he drives her to work.

　　She looks out of the window and thinks about her life.

　　She was naive and helpless when she got married.

　　Keith's father, Mister Jackson, flew her down to his office after she graduated as the best student in her high school set.

　　He asked her, a seventeen-year-old, to marry his son. Her high school classmate, but also her biggest bully.

　　She couldn't say no because he offered her a lot of money and luxury. She needed the money to take care of her family and her sick brother.

　　So, here she is, haven sold her life and living with the enemy.

　　Dimore stops the car in front of the magnificent office building.

　　He helps her out of the car and also into the building.

　　The worker greets her and she smiles, but her heart is beating very fast in her chest.

　　She goes through the elevator and finally, to the top floor.

　　Her secretary is waiting to get her bag and coat.

　　"He is waiting." She informs her.

　　Edna nods as she hurriedly knocks on the front door and walks in.

　　There he is, the pioneer of the Jackson empire, the father to her husband and brother-in-law, the richest man in the country.

　　He has aged a lot and his hair is more silver than black and so is his beard. His built body seems to have not aged a lot. His glasses are sitting on the bridge of his nose lowly and he clears his throat as she walks toward him.

　　" Good morning, Mister Jackson. " She says. A rather formal way to address a relative.

　　"Dad will do just fine. " He waves his hand as he corrects her. He has been saying that for five years and she still hasn't learned.

　　"Have a seat, Edna. " He tells her and she sits.

　　Her legs are crossed and her hands are clasped together. She avoids looking at his face because his son, her husband, was his replica. It gives her some sort of PTSD.

　　" How is my daughter-in-law doing on this fine day?" He asks.

　　"Mostly good. " She casually answers. " Hope father-in-law had a good night's rest. "

　　"He did. " Mister Jackson nods. " He is just still wanting a good woman to warm his bed. "

　　Edna laughs a little. It's painful inwardly, but she has to laugh at his jokes, they are tasteless. He is a misogynist, like her husband.

　　" Are you ready for the press conference?" He asks her.

　　"Yes. " She answers.

　　"Good. Remember the deal, keep your head up, and answer the questions well. The fate of our company depends on you. " He reminds her.

　　"I won't let you down, sir. " She assures him.

　　He clears his throat again and shuts the file in front of him. She watches his fingers graze the dark blue cover of the file and thinks if this is a good time to tell him.

　　" I took a test this morning. " She looks at him. " It came out negative. "

　　She expects disappointment, and hateful words on why she is bad at doing what women are supposed to be good at.

　　"There is always another opportunity to try again." His calmness takes her by surprise.

　　"Yes." She overcomes the surprise. "I will keep trying. I won't let you down."

　　"You aren't letting me down, my dear child. I just want a grandson to carry on my family's name. "

　　She nods, feeling her throat getting even dryer. He was specific, he wants a boy.

　　Now there are two things to be worried about. Get pregnant, but make sure it's NOT a girl.

　　That's why she was a perfect choice as a wife for Keith, she was perfect. Industrious, smart, and hardworking, and the only dent she has is her being barren.

　　"I am going to make an appointment with my doctor. " She tells him." I am going to double my effort, I have to get pregnant before the end of the year."

　　"That's right." He agrees. "That will make my heart a blessed one."

　　"Yes." She knots her fingers around each other and nods. She is always this nervous and worshiping when it comes to her father-in-law.

　　She has one more request, she prays that he grants it or else she fucking dies.

　　"There is this one more thing I need." She croaks. "It's not much and I just hope that it's okay with you."

　　"Alright, let's hear it." He says without looking at her.

　　"It has been three months since I spoke to my family. I am wondering if it's okay for me to call them." She requests.

　　Her heart races as she waits for him to answer. She is hoping that he says yes, she wants him to say yes badly.

　　"But you are so busy, Edna." He smiles. "You have these meetings and these places to be like, you don't have time for that."

　　"Yes, that's true, but I was just hoping for five minutes, please." She begs. Her eyes are stinging now and her voice cracky. She knows that she might end up bursting into tears.

　　"Well, your brother's treatment is getting more expensive and your parents' allowance has been leaving a huge hole in my pocket." He laments. "This is really too much. "

　　"Sir, I know it is." She pushes further. "But please... I am pleading."

　　He is silent for a while, looking at her with a cold stare.

　　"Fine." He gives in. "Nothing over five minutes. "

　　"Thank you." She lets out a sigh of relief. She feels like her head has been held underwater for five whole minutes and this is the first time that she is breathing the whole time.

　　"You may go." He waves her away.

　　"Thank you."

　　She stands up, her eyes blurred by tears. She is walking so fast that she didn't hear the door open as this man walks in.

　　She bumps into him with so much force that her legs lose balance and she is going to fall.

　　His strong hands save her from the embarrassing fall in time. She looks up and her breath freezes.

　　It's him. Her husband's brother, Malik Jackson.