Mistress to My First Love

chapter 4: caught

Chapter 4: Caught

TWO YEARS LATER

Olivia’s Apartment

Mallory walked into the apartment, exhausted from another failed job interview. She went straight to the bedroom, gently laid her daughter, Natasha, in her crib, kissing her forehead.

The little girl slept peacefully, worn out from going with Mallory to the interview all morning. With Olivia and her husband at work, Mallory had no one to leave Natasha with. She couldn’t afford a nanny — she had no job and no money.

The endless interviews were becoming so frustrating that Mallory sometimes wanted to pull at her own hair. They always gave the same answer as the manager today:

“We’ll contact you.”

But they never do.

Mallory sighed and covered her face with her palms. Relying completely on Olivia’s kindness was starting to feel too shameful.

Minutes later, she went to the kitchen to prepare something for her Natasha before she'd wake up.

She had barely started when a hand suddenly gripped her waist, startling her. She jumped and spilled Natasha's oatmeal.

“You’re so jumpy, you know?” Peter whispered in a low, flirty voice that sent chills down her spine.

“You could have just called my attention instead of touching me,” Mallory snapped.

“What’s the fun in that, baby?” Peter leaned closer, pressing his body against her so she could feel his hardness.

Wait...baby? Did he finally hit his head somewhere.

Mallory clenched her fists and tried to move away, but Peter's grip tightened. Her skin crawled with discomfort.

He had been trying to get her into his bed ever since she arrived two years ago — even when she was heavily pregnant. She never told Olivia because she thought she could handle him herself. She also didn’t want to hurt her friend. After she once threatened to cut off his d**k, he had stopped bothering her for months.

“Let me go, Peter. I’m busy,” Mallory said through gritted teeth, taking deeper breaths in a desperate attempt to control her racing heart.

Peter spun her around. She gasped. “Just help me out this once, and I’ll leave you alone. I promise.”

Mallory saw the raw lust in his eyes. The knots in her stomach grew tighter and it became harder to breathe.

"You’re a jerk," she snapped. "My little girl is sleeping next door, and your wife will be back soon. Yet here you are, embarrassing yourself.”

“No one will know if you do it right now.”

“I will never—”

Before Mallory could finish, Peter lifted her onto his shoulder and carried her out of the kitchen, ignoring her screams and curses.

He took her to his bedroom, threw her onto the bed, and pinned her down. Wet, disgusting kisses landed on her neck.

No. This couldn’t be happening again.

What had she done to keep attracting these disgusting men? She wasn’t the first woman to be “blessed” — or rather cursed — with a curvy figure.

She struggled wildly, shouting and clawing at Peter’s back.

“We don’t have to do this the hard way, Mallory,” he told her.

Mallory spat in his face. He froze for a second. She tried to scramble away, but he grabbed her again, pulling her on top of him and forcing his lips onto hers.

Just then, Olivia’s shocked voice sliced through the room. “What the f**k is happening here?!”

***********

Mallory’s world came crashing down as she tried to explain that Peter had attacked her. But Olivia’s eyes — filled with confusion and tears — showed she didn’t believe her.

Peter had already twisted the story and told his version first.

“I trusted you, Mallory… How could you?” Olivia accused.

“I’ve been your friend for years, Olivia. I’ve never lied to you. Why would I start now?” Mallory snapped, unable to hold back her frustration.

Peter quickly stepped forward, sounding calm and wronged.

“You’re not going to believe her over your own husband, are you? She’s been throwing herself at me. I’ve tried to warn her many times. I told her I would never hurt you, but today she came onto me…”

“That’s not true, Peter! You know it!” Mallory cried out, feeling her blood turn cold.

“Enough,” Peter interrupted smoothly. “I’ve been generous enough. All I’ve ever done is help you, and this is how you repay me? You’re the one who let this get too far, Olivia.”

Olivia looked back and forth between them, breathing shakily. Peter sounded so convincing that it was hard not to believe him.

“I told you before,” Peter continued. “We can’t keep feeding a grown woman and a child we didn’t ask for.”

Olivia had always defended Mallory whenever Peter complained. Now she looked unsure whether that had been a mistake.

“Olly, please,” Mallory begged, reaching out. “You know me. He’s lying. Don’t let him turn you against me.”

But Olivia pulled away, stepping back. Peter smirked, knowing he had won.

“I… Mallory… I don’t know what to believe anymore,” Olivia whispered, unable to look both of them in the eyes.

*********

“Please, Peter, don’t do this,” Mallory begged. “Just let us stay a few more days so I can find a place.”

She turned to Olivia, who was still trying to plead with Peter.

“Baby…” Olivia started, but Peter slapped her hard, knocking her to the floor. Mallory flinched and held Natasha tightly.

“Say another word and you’re leaving with them,” Peter warned.

Olivia held her cheek and refused to look at Mallory. Mallory felt pity for her. Peter was a monster, but Olivia still stayed with him. Mallory had seen him hit her many times during her stay.

It broke her heart. Back when Mallory was still married to Sebastian, Olivia had always spoken highly of Peter, making excuses for him. Mallory had urged her to leave him since he wouldn't stop hitting her whenever he was upset, but Olivia refused. She couldn't understand how her friend could still love a man that constantly forgot his temper —and his hands on her—but she couldn't judge when she'd let her own love for Sebastian destroy her. Though Olivia had always boasted that unlike Sebastian, Peter would never cheat. But was that still true?

Another of Mallory's bags flew past her, and she could only watch in horror.

She cuddled Natasha closer, gazing upon her peaceful, angelic face. Natasha was her light and her hope. She planted a lingering kiss on her forehead, pouring all her love into that single gesture. Her daughter didn’t deserve this chaos. She deserved happiness and a stable home. But she feared she might never be able to provide that if she didn't do something to change their current fate.

Right now, she was too weak and unworthy to be called a mother. As Natasha stirred, Mallory rocked her gently back to sleep, watching her features through blurry eyes. She was so tiny, so beautiful, and so perfect that Mallory could almost doubt she had created something so lovely.

The chaos around her faded as she planted another soft kiss on her daughter’s sleepy face, an idea forming in her mind.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” she whispered, squeezing Natasha tighter to her chest as if afraid she'd disappear.

Sometimes we must take risks in order to survive.

***********

Hours later, Mallory stood in front of an old orphanage. The long brown building reminded her how desperate she had become. She held Natasha on her chest as children’s voices — laughing, talking, and crying — floated in the air.

This was her last option. She hated feeling so helpless, but she had no choice.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed the gate open.

____________

A week later, Mallory still hadn’t found a job despite searching everywhere. Time was running out — she only had one month before the orphanage might put Natasha up for adoption. She was willing to do anything to prevent that.

She had stopped trying to reach Olivia. Every call went straight to voicemail. She was surviving on the little money Olivia had secretly given her, and she was deeply grateful for it.

Mallory arrived at Aviso Restaurant. She saw a chubby lady in a lemon-and-black uniform and assumed she worked there. She had seen an ad online for a chef position.

“Good morning, ma’am,” Mallory greeted her politely.

“Morning." The lady barely looked at her before returning her attention to the other woman she'd been gisting with.

“I’m here for the job interview,” Mallory said again, hoping to get the waitress' attention back. “I saw the advertisement online. A chef position.”

The lady turned to her, looking her up and down before saying, “I’m sorry, but that post is old. The interview was done last week.”

Mallory’s heart sank, but she didn’t give up. “Are you sure? I can do anything else— clean, wash dishes…”

The lady pointed to a man in a suit who was speaking with a young woman. “He’s the manager. Go talk to him.”

Mallory took a deep breath and hurried after the manager. She tried to get his attention, explaining her situation, but he kept walking and barely looked at her.

They turned a corner, and Mallory accidentally collided with a waiter carrying a tray containing a bottle of a very expensive looking wine and few glasses. Everything crashed loudly to the floor, drawing the attention of everyone in the restaurant... including the manager.

The waiter’s eyes widened in horror. “Where’s your mind, ma’am?” he snapped.

“I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry, please,” Mallory stammered, looking back and forth between the angry waiter and the manager.

The manager simply shook his head and continued walking away without a word.

The waiter sighed. “You’ll have to pay for the damage. It was a customer’s order.”

Mallory’s heart plummeted.

But before she could respond, a deep, masculine voice spoke from behind her.

“There’ll be no need for that.”