The Shadow Man

DIVORCE: PART IV

Early the next day, Jacob was wide away sleeping next to the woman. He looked at her and realized, she does have some beauty in her. As he recalled what happened that night, his head suddenly ached, a bit from drinking too much wine, since he could fall asleep at all.

"Hmm, you're awake." Leslie said as he stretched her hands in the air, still half asleep.

Jacob smiled as he removed the hair covering her face, "Good morning."

Leslie was startled by the man's sudden action as she didn't move at all. She didn't find any problem with what the man was doing, "Thank you."

"You better get change, once you're ready, let's talk about what to happen next."

"Okay."

Leslie went ahead to check out the bathroom; it was her first time seeing such a huge bathtub. She thought that since she was given such an opportunity, why not take the chance to relax.

Jacob didn't bother on what the woman was doing. He could briefly hear her giggling and talking to herself in there. He only smiled thinking of what the girl was doing. He went and grabbed the telephone and called someone.

"Hmm, prepare a set of cloths for me. Also, I need some cloths for a woman."

The call ended before the person on the other end could ask why he suddenly requested some clothes for a woman.

Within less than half an hour, someone knocked on their door.

"Why are you suddenly requesting for a women cloth." Shouted the man who brought a lot of bags whilst examining the room, checking if the woman was around.

"Your being too nosy so early in the morning." Jacob said as he grabbed all the bags and placed them on the coffee table.

"Where is she?" The man stepped inside the room, curiously, wondering which beauty had the opportunity to sleep with the man. When he heard a woman's voice sing, his face soon reddened and a smirk followed as he faces the man. "How many…"

Before he could finish, the man kicked him out of the room.

"Wait, Jacob, open up." He knocked on the door, but the man did not answer back anymore. Since he was already kicked out, he decided to do some work instead and investigate the mysterious lady with his friend.

Not a second too late, when Leslie steps out of the bathroom all fresh and covering herself with a rob. She was drying her hair with the towel as she looked at the man curious.

"I heard someone knocking on the door."

"Ah, don't worry about that, here, choice whatever you want." Jacob said as he handed her the bag of women's clothing.

"Where did you get this?" Leslie said as she took the bag, curiously wondering how he got them so when both of them didn't have any money at all.

"I only asked the hotel staff, I'm sure they'll be paying for the room and whatever damage happen here."

"Oh."

Leslie didn't question him and further. It's true that the Blake had booked the room for an entire two days. If any of the things in the room were to be damaged, they have told the staff they'll pay for it. They must have expected the man would go wild and do something crazy to her.

Seeing that the woman didn't ask him any further questions, he decided to go ahead and take a shower as well. Even though he enjoys the smell of wine, he doesn't like smelling like one.

As soon as he steps out, he notices the girl has worn a simple floral dress. The dress was in a vintage style with flower pattern on the skirt part. Seeing how a simple dress could make her shine, the man finally understood why the woman had not shined all these years.

'Technically speaking, she signed with the company during the time Jessica started as well. Jessica must have been so insecure with her back then that she prevented any project to fall on the girl.'

"Should I help you dry your hair?" Jacob suggested as he was still wearing only a towel to cover his lower half.

"What, no need." Leslie quickly averted her gaze away from the man when she heard him. She didn't expect the man to walk out only with a towel on him. Even though it was only for a brief moment, she could witness how perfectly shaped the man's body was. She wanted to peek and check one more time, but she didn't dare. She didn't want the man to tease her any further.

Jacob went ahead and grabbed the bag of clothes prepared for him. He returned to the bathroom to get change. Once he was done, he saw the woman all seated in the chair, waiting patiently for her.

"I'm ready to listen."

Jacob went to her and grabbed the file he had prepared for the man earlier to prepare.

"Read this." He said as he handed her the documents.

As Leslie opened the file and read it, she was shocked by what was written.

"You want me to pretend that I am pregnant?" She inquired as he didn't know exactly what the man was thinking.

"Hmm, within two weeks you'll come to our home with a pregnancy test. If you read the next page, it'll have instruction on what you needed to do. Just contact that number and go to that hospital and that person will help you." Jacob replied as he sat down on the chairs whilst drying his hair.

"But, I'm not pregnant at all. By the time come, surely they'll know." She questioned him as she notices there were flaws in his plans.

"You don't need to worry about that, I'll handle the rest. For now, just follow all the instruction I have arrange for you. In regards to your son."

"He is not my son, my friend's son." She quickly interrupted him as she explained the truth to him. "My friend was young and foolish. Despite that, the man did keep his promise and took care of them. However, an accident happened not long when the child was born. I was her only friend, and I the man have no relatives at all who could take care of the child since both of his parents have passed away. Whilst my friend, who knows who her parents are."

"Since you are the one raising him, he is now your son. I do not judge people because of their circumstances. Things happen for a reason, what's important is the child is fine. I've arranged for him to be transfer to a better hospital."

"You mean, the hospital that your brother works at." She replied as she saw the name of the man in the file.

"Hmm, my brother is a trustworthy man. Even though I am not close with them, I'm sure he won't deny my request to help your son." Jacob said as he hid the truth from the woman. Technically, he and his brother including his sisters, all got along. They even adored him so well since he was the youngest. The fact he grew up with his grandparents made them long for him and whenever he was allowed to visit, they would be so happy.

"I know, this may be rude, but don't you really get along with your family. I saw you and Jade last time; you both seem to get along." She inquired as she recalls the time, she saw him visiting Jade's store and happily chatting with the woman.

"Like I said, there are circumstance with affects one relationship with others." Jacob replied as he took out the cash from one of the bags.

Leslie wonders if that circumstance has anything to do with his marriage to the Blake. Since she was aware that the family didn't show up during the wedding at all. Not only that, the wedding wasn't too grand despite Jessica marrying a Wayne.

"What's this for?" She asked, seeing the man had placed some money on the table.

"Use it for now, you'll need it since you'll need to strengthen yourself. Also, take care of yourself more. I'm sure you'll get the spotlight soon." He said to her as he prepared to get back and sleep.

"Oh, you can just lock the door once you live. I'll be sleeping here for now."

Leslie didn't say anything further as she watched as the man walked to the bed and rested.

"Good bye then."

Jacob didn't reply; he only peeked as soon as the girl left, leaving the rest of the things behind. He had expected the girl would take all the clothes with her; she didn't even take all the money.

"She sure is interesting."

-----

It was almost lunchtime when Jacob returned home. He acted all exhausted and in pain.

"Oh, my Jacob, what happened?" His mother-in-law greeted him along with the rest of her friends.

"I don't remember a thing; I only remember waking up in the hotel but Jess was no longer there." Jacob said whilst leaning one of his hands against the wall as he tried to use it for support.

"Oh, that because Jessica already left. She said she had something to do and left without any words as to where she is heading."

"My, you must have drunk a lot boy. It's best you go back to rest." One of the women suggested whilst giggling with the rest of the lady, finding the man so laughable.

Jacob didn't reply to any of them as he walked himself up to his room. He already knew why those ladies had gathered, and he was glad they had shown their true color.

'I guess it won't be long then.'

Once he returned to his room, he went ahead and looked for the thing he had hidden well. It was an old fashion keypad phone; he sent a message to the recipient as the phone was designed to only send a message to another device.

Once he finished, he went ahead and went back to sleep. He didn't have the energy at all to waste his time with the Blake family. He was aware already of what was happening, so what's the point in playing along with them future.

As he was resting, Mother Blake along with her friends gossiped about the latest news.

"Seriously, does he not do anything at all. I mean, he has been eating for free for the past two years. Your family had indeed suffered."

"I'm glad that Jessica have found a better man. Joe Black is indeed a perfect partner for her. Everyone in the Black family respect him so much, even his own father shows great admiration towards the boy."

"However, are you really sure that the Wayne family will not get involve. Who knows, maybe they'll be upset if you file for a divorce."

As the three ladies looked at each other curiously, waiting for what the woman had to say.

"If the Wayne family does care for him. Then they should have shown their faces at least during the wedding that alone is enough proof that they care for the boy." Mother Blake frankly, told them of the obvious fact. 'If they do care for the boy, even giving him some allowance as he is living with us would been great.'

A few weeks later, Jessica finally returned. She has been informed by her brother to come back since the woman has finally appeared to be pregnant. She was all excited and acting all nice and being the perfect wife towards Jacob. She has been told by their close friends and relatives that their relationship was all in well.

That afternoon, the Blake family were hosting a garden party. Even Jacob, who hardly joined in, was force to join them. Everyone was happily conversing with the man despite he didn't show any interest towards them. He would only smile from time to time and tried to keep his distance from them.