His Side-Chick's Revenge

Unexpected Arrival

Kate's POV

“How is this even possible?” My breath caught as I stared at my boss’s phone.

On his screen was an article about me. The headline was written in bright red bold font *Home wrecker gets caught*.

A picture of Liam and I in my living room was the main article picture.

His wife must have done this. She took a picture yesterday. My eyes scanned the words of the article and none of it was pleasant. They were calling me a w***e and a gold digger.

Wait!

How did they know everything about me? The article detailed my whole life from my humble beginnings back at the farm with my folks before they died and how I suffered to put myself through college and become who I was today but they didn't say I suffered or worked hard. The article said I must have slept my way to land the position I had now, which was a big lie.

My head spun around for a minute. Why was this so important to the public? Things like this happened everyday and didn't end up in the tabloids.

And then my eyes landed on a photo of Liam, or should I say Damien Castello. Turns out he wasn't just the sous chef of a top restaurant as he had told me. He was the son and heir of the Castello Dynasty. He was wealth, personified. He didn't work as a chef, he owned a chain of five star restaurants across the continent.

How was I a gold digger when I didn't even know he was rich?

He had lied to me. Broken my heart and yet it was my reputation that was getting soiled online. At least I still had my meeting for the promotion that I had worked hard for. I would get my head into work and bury my mind in climbing the corporate ladder. That was the only way I could get over Liam- Damien and what he did to me.

“Sir, this article is not telling the truth” I said to my boss as I handed him back his phone.

“So you didn't have an affair with Damien Castello?” his eyes narrowed at me in an accusatory glance

I sucked in a breath. He didn't believe me. He believed the article. What was I going to say to make him be on my side?

He shook his head and let out a sigh

“Here at Artemis Enterprise, we thrive on our reputation and this scandal is not good for our image.”

“I apologize sir but…” he raised a hand, stopping me from speaking.

“You're fired Miss Lockwood”

“Wait… what?” I couldn't believe my ears. I paused to gauge his tone and there was no sign of him taking back his words. I felt my chest constrict within me “Sir please, you can't do this. I didn't do anything wrong”

“This isn't personal, it's my job to do what's best for the company. Clear your desk and leave as quickly as you can”

No…

This wasn't happening.

I didn't deserve this.

My hands formed fists and tears gathered in my eyes. I was not going to cry. This was an office.

“Sir please I need this job. It's all I have” How was I going to put my head into my job if I didn't have one anymore?

“You should have thought of that before having an affair with a well known socialite”

“I didn't know he was…” my voice cracked as the tears I was holding dropped down.

“Please don't fire me. I've put in my work and sweat into this company for the past five years of my life”

I didn't think I could play this card but I was left with no choice. I placed my hands on his desk and looked him in the eyes despite the shakiness of my voice I spoke

“If you fire me, I'll take this up in court as wrongful termination”

He didn't look phased at my threat

“If you do that, you'd only be making things worse for yourself. Maybe you don't know who Damien's wife is. Wrecking her home has made you a public enemy. Take this to court and every lawyer in town would refuse your case. No one wants to get on the bad side of the Castellos”

A frustrated sigh left my lips and I wiped at my eyes. It was clear I was fighting a losing battle. My hard work at the company had gone down the drain because of one mistake. A mistake I didn't even know I had made until last night. There was only one thing that could make this better.

“What about my severance package”

“That is only for employees that leave on a good note. Goodbye Miss Lockwood”

I sucked in a breath as I accepted defeat. My heart was gone and now my job too.

I loved you, Liam. Why would you do this to me?

A tear fell from my eyes as I emptied my desk into a box.

Where was I supposed to start from now?

If I was a public enemy, who would give me a job?

I suddenly felt weird in my stomach. I rushed into the rest room and threw up in the sink. As I rinsed my face I shook my head. I hadn't eaten all day, so why was I throwing up?

I hoped it wasn't what I thought.

Not now!

Please no.

I finished packing my things into the box and made my way to my car

“Ouch” I cried out as something hard hit my head as soon as I stepped outside the office

“Home wrecker” A young girl yelled as she threw another orange at me and then ran away.

I didn't have the strength to say anything or chase after her. I wiped the tears that fell from my eyes.

Was this going to be my life now?

“Ma'am, I was instructed to collect the company car” one of the security guards came up to me and said just as I was about to get into my car.

I shot the guard a frustrated look

“They took away my job and now they want my car too. I worked hard for this company, I deserve to keep the car”

I hoped he would see my tear stained face and just let me be but he didn't seem to care

“I’m sorry ma'am, I'm just following orders”

A sniffle escaped my lips

“Can I at least drive myself home? It can be picked up from my house”

He shook his head

“I have to take the key now. I'm sorry. Please clear out all your personal belongings”

I let out a sigh as I packed out all my things from the car before handing him the key.

He bowed politely before taking his leave.

My lips twitched, and I bit down on them, the pressure building as I fought to hold back tears.

There was only one person I could call to help me.

My elder sister

Maddie

Our relationship was rocky, but we still tried to show up for each other when it counted.

*Hi Maddie please I need your help* I sent a text to her and in some minutes time she had arrived with her car to give me a ride home

“Thank you so much for coming, Maddie” my voice was low as I got into the car. My head had begun to ache and I couldn't stop sniffling. No matter how hard I tried to be strong. The truth was I was in pains.

“Are you crazy?” She suddenly asked me, startling me

I knew instantly what she was talking about

“You must have seen the news” I said in a low breath

“Everyone has seen it, Kate.” Her loud yelling did not ease my pain at all.

“I swear I did not know who he was. We had been together for two years, I thought I could trust him” my eyes watered as I spoke but I held in the tears. I had cried enough.

“This is why you should be involved on social media. If you had an i********: account or a t****k, you would have known who he was”

“What's a t****k?”

“You have a phone, ask Google” she instructed in an annoyed huff

I stared at the road ahead and felt something bad in the depths of my chest

“Maddie, please tell me everything will be fine”

“I've never been one to lie” she whispered but I heard her clearly

“Oh GOD, my life is ruined” I slammed my head into the headrest

She stopped the car in front of my apartment.

“I know this is a bad time but I have to tell you something”

“Is everything fine at home” Maddie was married to a car salesman and they had two children, her husband used to have a drinking problem before but things seemed better now or was I wrong?

“Is Eric drinking again?” I asked slowly

She shook her head immediately

“Everything is fine but… I'm sorry Kate but until this all blows over, I can't be seen around you. My family doesn't need this kind of drama. The Castellos are evil. I don't want to get on their radar. My children are too little to suffer. Please don't call me or come to my house for now. I love you but I have a family to protect”

My mouth dropped at her words. I couldn't believe my own sister was saying this to me.

“This is the point that I need you the most and you're abandoning me… again”

“Don't make this harder than it has to be.

You're an adult. You made the decision to have an affair. My family shouldn't have to suffer because of you” she reached into the backseat and passed me my box of belongings.

“I didn't know he was married, don’t you believe me?

“That doesn't matter. What happened has happened. Goodbye Kate” she pointed to the door, gesturing for me to get down, once I did, she drove off without another word.

My sister had just confirmed what I knew all along.

I was truly alone.

My stomach hurt as I got into the house and I felt the urge to throw up again.

This was the worst time for this to be happening. I hoped that my suspicions were wrong.

Opening my medicine cabinet, I stared at the pregnancy test I bought a month ago after Liam and I didn't use protection. I knew it was a risk but at the time it felt like a risk I was willing to take. I thought I could trust him. I wanted to start a family with him.

Now I just felt stupid.

I did the test and waited for the result on the stick. My eyes closed as I prayed I was wrong.

I couldn't bring a child into this world now. It's father was a liar whose wife was out to ruin my life. I had no job, no car, no one. Now was not the time to have a child.

“f**k” I yelled as I opened my eyes and the test said positive

I flinched as I heard a knock on my front door.

Could it be…?