Betrayed But Reclaimed by Her Boss.

Aria It was a cold, freezing night, but so was the beautiful night Caleb asked me to become his girlfriend; it was just like a dream four years ago. Last month he proposed to me to be engaged to him. I walked out of the Uber, recalling the address he told me years ago he lived at. I only happened to be in Arizona for a business trip with my insufferable boss, but I at least had a chance to surprise him. He wasn’t aware I was in Arizona and I was coming to see him. I held our anniversary cake in my hand and proceeded into the high-rise building mentioned in his address. I already made a reservation at a five-star restaurant. I walked into the reception of his apartment complex a man at the desk. “I wish to see Mr. Caleb Keith.” “Caleb Keith? We have no one with that name here.” I frowned, pulling out a phone to show his picture. “This man.” “Oh… Who are you to him, if I may ask?” “His fiancée.” I showed my ring. “We got engaged last month.” The receptionist looked at me oddly, for some reason too dumbfounded to speak, but he forced the silence out. It was getting a bit awkward. “I’m sorry, but the man you just showed me doesn’t go by Mr. Caleb Keith, and he’s already…” The sound of a car driving into the parking lot distracted both of us. A woman and a child got down from the SUV. A man followed soon after. His back appeared oddly familiar. His broad back, softened masculine frame, and face wearing a pair of family-rimmed glasses that rested below his nose bridge, giving his nose a pinched effect. “I think that’s the man you are looking for.” He looks away awkwardly as I try to understand the scene in front of me. “Is that a friend and her daughter? A neighbor he gave a ride to; he is quite kind.” I chuckled awkwardly, my heart as the little girl ran into Caleb’s arms. “Daddy!” He chuckled and picked her up. The woman smiled. “You can’t let him have a moment of rest.” “She’s my princess.” “Let Daddy park the car properly. Come here.” The woman gestured for her daughter to follow her. The receptionist smiled tightly at me. “That’s his wife and his child.” It appears it was his daughter's birthday today; she wore a birthday hat. “What?” I hear myself mutter dumbfounded, my chest burning. Caleb turned the car to park properly, but in that moment, his headlight flashed on me, and he sighted me. Instantly he screeched his brake; his whitened face could be seen through the windshield. I felt the cake I held slip onto the floor, my grip tightening and my tears threatening to fall. I felt stupid; I was the one who messaged him ‘Happy Anniversary’ each year. For some reason he never remembers it. I get us gifts, flowers, and reservations for dinner. He only proposed to me because I complained I wasn’t getting any younger. Now I know why; I was simply the other woman. I recalled my conversation with Jessica last night. This stupid ring on my finger. ‘It looks cheap,’ Jessica frowned as she stared at the ring on my middle finger. “You don’t even care if it would hurt my feelings.” I pouted at her bluntness. “Caleb did his best; he had a lot of loans to cover to treat his ailing brother. I’m glad he had the time to consider my feelings despite the chaos in his life.” She groaned and settled on the bed with me. “You are down bad for him. I’m simply worried he is using you. How could he buy a ring of barely 200 dollars for your engagement ring? There’s zero effort.” I stared at the cheap glass made to look like a diamond. Anyone could see it was a fake, but I wasn’t ashamed. I understood his situation more than anyone and won’t add to his problems. “Dave engaged me after four years of our relationship. It is all I ever wanted: proof he does love me and wishes to spend his life with me. Once we are done with the loans. I would get a real diamond. I promise.” “You are truly a man’s perfect woman. The only problem is they think of you as stupid and tolerable.” I tried to defend him, but she was right. I was truly stupid. I gaslighted myself all these years that our relationship had substance. “Honey, are you okay?” His wife, startled by his abrupt stop, asked. He chuckled awkwardly, avoiding looking at me. “Yes, you and Elizabeth should go back; I will be right back.” His daughter pouted, “No, I want to go with Daddy.” “Elizabeth doesn’t want that; we will wait here.” Furious, I walked to them. He was quivering visibly. I smirked. “You are his wife.” She stared at me warily. “Yes, who are you?” Caleb hurriedly jumped out of his car. “She looks mentally unstable. Go up with Liza now; I will handle the situation.” “Mentally unstable?” I scoffed in disbelief. “What other lies have you told, Caleb, or is that even your real name? Your brother—does he even exist? You fraud, lying s**t of a man!” I yelled, His wife stepped forward, furious. “Who the f**k are you?” I faced her. “Your husband’s side piece, whom he engaged and had been in a relationship with for four years. Today is our fake anniversary.” His wife turned to him, broken, “Dave, is that true?” “Dave, that’s your name!” I scoffed. He lied through his teeth, quite confidently, “I have never met this lunatic of a woman in my entire life. Don’t believe a word she says. Let’s go.” I brought my phone and opened my gallery. “These are our pictures together. On the supposed night he proposed to me.” His wife ignored us and picked up her daughter. “Mommy, who is that woman?” “Nobody, let’s go, Liza.” She left the scene; I could tell she was furious. “How does it feel being a prick?” Caleb glared at me; he was sweating profusely at being caught. “Why the f**k are you here?” “How long do you intend to lie to me—four years, ten, or all my life?” “You are a pathetic woman, Aria. So pathetic for love, I would only hand you a bread crumb, and you would lick the very floor I walk on.” I folded my fist, tears threatening to fall. “I never loved you; I only pitied you. I did everything to make you leave, but you still couldn’t live without me.” “You heartless bastard. You are the asshole for treating two women with such disrespect. You are worth nothing to any of us now.” “Grace is my wife; she would never leave me. We have a child together, but you, you have no one. That’s why you run to anyone who gives you the slightest attention. Like an abandoned puppy.” I finally let the tears flow. My heart is torn with pain and anger. This was how he viewed my love and loyalty—like a dog begging for his attention. “I don’t care for any of that now. I want my money back for the house for your brother’s medical fee. I accept I was stupid to have thought we had true love; nothing like that exists anymore.” “What money?” He scoffed and gestured to the receptionist. ”Call the security for public disturbance and targeted harassment.” I spent my life savings of a million dollar on him, and he is saying, “What money?” Nathan  I checked the time; it was past 10.00pm, and she was supposed to be back. I remembered the order I vividly gave her. We have a meeting by 8:00 am tomorrow. It was unlike her to default. Suddenly my phone rang. “Is this Mr. Nathan Anfield?” “Yes, who is this?” “We are calling from the district police station. Ms. Aria Vale has been arrested for battery and assault, which caused physical injuries to Mr. Dave Keith. She put you as her guardian.” I tried to imagine my 5 ft 5” PA capable of inflicting harm on a grown adult male and found it impossible. “I will be right there.” … With a lawyer I found at the last minute, we walked into the police station, and the first sight was a man with a bruised face and a broken glass lens still on the bridge of his nose. His scalp was also missing visible patches of hair. The injured man stood up immediately when he sighted me. “Where is Aria?” I asked. “You are the boss of that mad woman? You better be careful; she needs to be thrown into a psychiatric ward.” A glare at him, and he shut up. We were led to her cell; her hands were bloodied, and she held the patch of hair missing from the man’s scalp. Shame washed over her upon seeing me. “I’m sorry.” She apologizes, tears falling down her face. “You don’t have to clean my mess.” “Do you have anyone else who will, or would you like to spend the holiday in jail? I’m totally fine with the latter.” She went mute, her head lowered. My lawyer came forward. “I’ll be representing Ms. Vale.”