The alarm bells were deafening.
Herbert shuffled closer to me. I could smell the everything bagel he'd had for breakfast. "Did you like my presents?"
"What presents?" I asked faintly.
"The outfits. You didn't post pictures of the last two." He licked his lips.
"You were sending me the packages?" I kicked myself for posting those online. I never should have done that. Now here I was, trapped in an office with my stalker Santa.
"I really wanted to see you in the last outfit," Herbert said. I could practically see him salivating. "That skimpy little number, your hands tied up, pretty mouth gagged."
"I, um… I think I need to go," I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking. "I forgot I had another meeting."
"I’m in love with you, Chloe," Herbert said, looking at me intently. He reached out to stroke my hair, and I flinched.
"Uh huh, sure, well, again, I really need to be going—"
"Are you pregnant?"
"Excuse me?" I said. The anger inspired by that question bolstered me, and I stood up straighter.
"The rumors say you're pregnant with Jack's baby."
"No," I snapped. "Those are just rumors. That thing with Jack wasn't real. There is nothing between him and me. It was all for the show."
Herbert smiled at me, the relief plain on his face. "I'm glad to know you weren't with Jack," Herbert said, visibly relaxing. "That would have been bad." He pulled out a handkerchief and patted the beads of sweat on his forehead. "Now you can be with me." He grabbed my hand and stroked it with a sweaty palm.
I was starting to wish I had gone to the police when the packages started showing up.
"I follow you sometimes," he said.
I needed to escape that office somehow. I started inching my way to the door.
"I’m glad you did," I lied. He didn't stop me from moving around him. "It makes me feel safer knowing you're around." Herbert grabbed me, hugging me. I pushed him off and grabbed the doorknob.
"It was great to meet you, Herbert. Like I said, I have to go, but you and I are going to have a great time. I know it!" I practically ran out of the restaurant.
"It’s a step up," I told myself as I walked around Brooklyn, burying my face in my scarf against the cold. "The pay is okay. The hours seem long. There's no time for work–life balance, not that Jack seemed like he wanted to work–life balance with me. Oh, also the manager is a creep and has been stalking me and sending me creepy sexual presents." I felt like I was going to cry. I really wanted a drink, but it was early. Also, my credit card was maxed out. I had been shocked when the Airbnb reservation was approved. I was sure the bank had me on its naughty list.
"Hey!" a man in a pizza shop said. "You're Chloe from the bake-off! Come try our pizza!" He gave me three slices, and I took pictures and posted them on Instagram. I was willing to trade publicity for free pizza.
After I ate, I walked around the neighborhood, feeling at a loss. Here I was, at yet another low point. What was worse was I missed Jack. I wished he would swoop down and… do what, exactly? Save me?
After he had yelled at me and said I was just like Hartleigh, New York could freeze over before I asked Jack Frost for money. I'd even left the presents he'd given me at his penthouse. The clothes, especially that coat and those shoes, were expensive. It wouldn’t have felt right to take them.
I sat down on a bench in a small park and kicked at the leaves by my feet.
I wondered if I had moved too fast. Maybe I should have held off, played harder to get. Give a mouse a cookie, and he'll sleep with you then not care to continue the relationship. Or maybe Jack had wanted to have a relationship with me, but then I had ruined it all by talking to his parents behind his back, and now he thought he couldn't trust me.
As I walked through the neighborhood back to my Airbnb, I was approached by a Santa. I steeled myself, but this Santa wasn't as short and fat as Herbert.
"Why are you following me?" I yelled at him. He was wearing dark sunglasses, and I couldn't see his face.
"So it's been confirmed that you are indeed pregnant." He smiled through the fake beard. "I am watching you."
I peered at the Santa. He looked very familiar. He saw me studying him, and he turned and walked quickly away.
"Why is everyone so concerned with the state of my womb?" I yelled irritably. A woman walking her cat gave me a dirty look.
