It's been two days. Two days since I last saw my husband. I had no choice than to lodge in a hotel when I saw it was getting late.

Thankfully, one of the purses he had thrown at me contained two of three of my credit cards. The third one was in my drawer.

I had to get myself a new phone because my old one was on top of my bedside table when I left. I was hurt but I was also trying to understand that he was angry.

He had seen me with another man and now, I was carrying another man's child. I tried calling him yesterday since I had his number off hand, he had picked at first but as soon as he heard my voice, he ended it and didn't pick again after that.

I was now in a restaurant trying to eat. My baby needed food to survive. Even though I was not hungry, I was obligated to eat for my baby's sake.

I did not like the hotel's food so I found this really nice restaurant close by.

But after toying with the ravioli I ordered, I pushed it away. I lowered my head so no one would see the tears.

"Is the food not to your liking, ma'am?" The young waitress who had served me approached my table.

I quickly used my napkin to wipe my eyes. "No, it's good. I'm just not really hungry." I raised my head but I refused to look at her face.

"I would not mind getting you something else, it will be on the house. We like to make our customers happy." She was really polite but she was not my problem this moment.

The food wasn't as well.

"No, but thank you. Just take away the dish and bring my bill, please." I cleared my throat, still avoiding her eyes.

"If you say so, ma'am." She quietly cleared the plate and went to get my bill.

Events began rushing back into my head but I held back tears. My gaze was stationed on the entrance of the restaurant, watching people come in but not really seeing them.

Until him.

My heart pounded as I blinked to make sure I was seeing clearly. It was him. I would never forget that face.

In the whirlpool of emotions, I threw common sense out the window and rushed up to him. "You!"

He turned a blank expression to me. "How may I help you?"

It was him. "How dare you stand there and act like nothing happened when you ruined my life! Tell me, who paid you? How much were you paid?!"

"What are you on about young lady? Do I know you from somewhere?" His expression now held annoyance and mild irritation.

That made me angry and more tears fell. "You're claiming not to know what happened?! The night of my birthday party?"

I was attracting crowd but I did not care. This man had ruined my life, I had the right to be crazy.

"P-please, I beg you. Come let's go tell Christian I had no hand in whatever happened, p-please." I clutched the lapel of his jacket. "Let's go. You need to tell my husband you were paid."

"Young lady, you're harassing me." His tone was cold and his stare granite.

But I could care less. "You harassed me first! You had sex with me without my consent, my husband knows and now I'm pregnant with this child he doesn't want. You ruined my marriage! I-I hate you!"

He was trying to get me to release his jacket but I only gripped tighter. "I can have the police arrest you, woman!"

I flinched at the low degree turn his tone had taken. I released him automatically. I looked around, everyone was already watching so I had nothing to lose anymore.

I went on my knees. "Please, if you have any conscience, save my marriage. Tell my husband the truth. I swear I won't involve the police just please." I pleading, my voice trembling with tears.

"What is this woman talking about, Mr. Johnson?" A man asked.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Black, I'll have this sorted out in no time. Please, you can take your seats." He told the men beside him. "Get up!"

The tone was low but the command behind it had me getting up quickly. I sniffled. "Will you clear this mess for me, Mr. Johnson?"

He pulled me outside the restaurant. "Are you crazy? Were you sent to ruin my meeting with my clients?"

Despite his angry tone, I felt the urge to retort. "It's just your meeting, you can always have more meetings but I can not have more marriages or more of my husband, can I?! You knew what you were doing when you decided to take advantage of a drunk, married woman who just wanted to enjoy her birthday party!" I stomped my feet in frustration and anger. "You had se..."

He closed the distance between us and held the front of my shirt tightly. "Don't push it with me. I don't hit women but keep up with this attitude, I just might make an exception in this case."

"You..."

"Shut up!"

I clamped my lips immediately, feeling scared of this guy and his menacing aura, alongside hopelessness.

"If I see you anywhere near me, I won't trust myself not to hurt you. You hear me?"

He released his hold on me.

I stared at him. I could not have the wrong person. It was him. Why was he denying me and making things harder for me?

"I understand if you do not want to make a public confession, you can make a private one, Mr. Johnson."

Maybe he was scared of letting everyone know what he'd done.

He gave me the coldest glare ever. "Stay out of my way."

He made to leave.

"What am I supposed to do with this pregnancy all by myself, Mr. Johnson? I sleep in a hotel because my husband won't let me into the house. I just need you to say the truth, clear the air with my husband." I was desperate at this point.

"I won't repeat myself." Then he walked inside.

I walked back into the restaurant. I allowed my eyes roamed the place, I spotted where he was seated.

I marched towards his table. He was with some men. There were glasses of wine before them and a bottle.

There was the waitress who had served me coming towards me. "Ma'am, here's your bill. I..."

I ignored her and focused on the table of these men. I randomly picked two glasses still filled with wine and emptied their contents on him, angry tears filling my eyes.

"I hope your conscience haunts you everyday of your life!" I took the other two wine glasses while he stared in shock and also poured them on him. "I hope you never find peace and may your marriage, if you have any, and life in general be ruined the same way you ruined mine." I wiped tears with the back of my hand. "I hope karma visits you and steal your happiness as you have stolen mine."

I turned away from his table and, on heavy legs and with a despaired heart, walked to mine to get my bag. I opened it and brought my card, I could not stop crying.

There were gasps and whispers. They could say all they wanted, my life was already a scandal.

I handed it to the waitress. "Just take whatever's on the bill, I need to leave."

The waitress harbored pity in her eyes for me. I watched her slid the card.

"Who's the manager here?!" That evil guy boomed angrily.

I saw a waiter hurry towards his table with a clean cloth, he was trying to wipe the stains. I looked away.

"It's not working, ma'am." The waitress said.

I frowned. "That can't be. I have money in there, it's supposed to work. Try it again."

She did and said the same story. "It's still not working, ma'am."

My heart dropped form its natural position. This could not be happening. Had Christian blocked my cards? I brought out the second one. "Please try this."

She did. "Same thing."

"Oh God." Panic set in. How was I going to survive? And I had no cash with me.

I brought out my phone and dialed his number. It rang but he didn't pick up. Three more tries and he picked.

"You're disturbing me, Hailey. I have no..."

"No. No. No. You don't understand. Wait, listen to me. Did you block my cards?"

"When I said everything now belongs to me, I meant it. Now stop disturbing me." He ended the call.

"Ah...ah..." A broken cry escaped my lips. With shaky legs, I propelled myself to my seat.

Eyes were still on me. I knew people would think of how crazy I was acting up, but they would not understand.

"I don't..." How would I tell the girl I could not pay for the food I barely ate? It made me regret not taking her up on that offer of a second chance free food as she had thought I didn't like the first food.

"Ma'am, I wish there's something I can do to help you but my hands are tied. Maybe you could talk to the manager."

"Is the manager available?" I sniffled, struggling with tears. My eyes hurt from too much crying.

"Unfortunately, she's not and her assistant called in sick." The waitress informed.

"Then why did you even suggest talking to her if she's not fucking available?!" I raised my voice in frustration.

She looked taken back.

I blinked, sniffled and sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm just... I'm sorry."

"It's okay, ma'am. Please let me know when you're ready to pay."

She left to go attend to some other customers. There was no way I would be leaving here without paying.

I placed my head on the table, not knowing what to do. I remained that way for quite a while, silently crying and constantly trying Christian's number.

"Good day ma'am."

I raised my head to see two uniformed men standing close to my table. "We received a report of public harassment from Mr. Johnson here." One of the men pointed at him.

He stood, his shirt was stained with wine, his hair had become sticky. And he was more than angry. "Officers, take her away."

"You have the right to remain silent, ma'am." The policeman lifted me up from the seat.

"I..." I met his stare and shut up. There was nothing to defend.

The waitress hurried towards us. "She's yet to pay for her meal." She informed the policemen.

I hung my head in shame. I tried to hold back my tears but I could not.

"I'll pay. Let them take her away." The Mr. Johnson told the waitress.

I picked up my purse as they took me along with them. My eyes met his only for the briefest moment before I looked away.

"Serves her right for behaving like a lunatic." I heard a woman say.

"She belongs in the asylum not the cell." Another whispered.

"How can a woman act so uncouth? And in public? Embarrassing." Another said.

These words cut through my heart and I bled more. I was a good person, I always had been. My father had always thought me to be nice and kind and never let his wealth make me become someone I'd hate.

I loved just one man. Had the perfect life with him. He had been there when I lost my dad. But everything was changing and I had no power over it.

I was pregnant. Homeless. My credit cards had been blocked. No hope of survival. I had a baby to raise. Should I had agreed to abort the baby?

Maybe Christian would take me back. Why did I ever think that he would want to raise another man's child? I should have obeyed and gotten rid of the pregnancy.

I entered the back of the police vehicle, quiet and defeated.

"I have lost." I whispered to myself.

For some reason, I turned my neck and through the back of the car's glass, saw him outside the restaurant watching.

He stared at me with an unsmiling expression and went back inside. I still could not understand why he had denied me.

I was sure he was the man. I had seen his face and it was one I could not forget. The height, build and features were all same and exact.

"I didn't do anything, officer. The man that called you actually raped me while I was drunk and unconscious, you have to believe me, please." I looked at both men flanking my both sides, urging them with my eyes to believe me.

They merely looked at each other and chuckled.

"Be careful what you say of Mr. Johnson, ma'am, else, we'll add character defamation to your list of misconducts."

JARED

A knock sounded on my door, I was very much in a bad place and would so like to order that person away but this was a business place.

I had to be careful, it could be an important client.

"Who is that?"

The door opened and whoever it was walked in.

"What gave you the right to walk in, Miss Bordeaux?" My head was still bent over paperwork.

No client would walk into my office without being invited.

"Have you read the news, Jared?"

I whipped my head up. "Uncle Pete. Good morning."

"Morning, Jared. Here." The man who looked so much like my father, he was his twin actually, slid his phone across to me and took one of the chairs opposite mine.

"What's happening on the news?" Perplexity could be heard in my voice as I took his phone and read what he was trying to show me.

Anger tightened. "You know this is not me, uncle."

He observed me. "Who is that girl? She seem to be pretty certain of knowing you."

"She's a lunatic. Who even allowed this to be posted?! I should shut down that media house." Too restless to seat, I stood to pace my wide office.

She was the reason behind my angry mood. I could not stop thinking of the embarrassment she'd brought me, right before my potential clients.

Thanks to being a business guru and a sweet talker, I would have lost one of the biggest deals of my life all because of a strange loon.

"That's not going to solve the issue, Jared. This is your career we're talking about." He reasoned.

"And it's saved. I had her arrested and she'll be remaining there for as long as I see fit."

"You do have the plans to go into politics some day, that's what you told me, right?"

I paused to study his calm, patient expression with furrowed brows. "What has that got to do with anything, uncle Pete?"

"The internet never forgets, son. Do you want this scandal to come up when you're reading your manifesto or doing a campaign? Moreover, you're globally recognized in the business world as it stands, it could ruin your reputation."

"But I had the police arrest her. They caught that on camera too. Surely they should know I have nothing to do with her. I don't even know her name!" Frustration gnawed deeper and wider.

"People doctor videos, Jared. They cut out the good, liberating parts and showcase only the bad parts. They work to make it go viral and as soon it's done, it's done. No one will ever believe you tried to show your innocence at the end. The world is brutal and competitive." He explained rather firmly.

I ran a hand through my head.

"But why would she even do this? Was she paid to? Maybe business rivals? Because you know me, uncle Jared. I'm not careless with things like this." At this point, I was desperate and really needed the man who had become a father figure since I lost my father. "Moreover, I have a woman I love so dearly. I wouldn't cheat on her."

"I know and I'll like to understand what's going on as well. Although, I do have a guess who might be responsible." His look told me everything.

But I disagreed. "No, it can not be him. He's not even in the country."

He raised both his hands. "Fine. Let's forget that and focus on this. Now you need to find a way to make this right because that video is going viral and the articles written alongside it is just shows your rivals are going to enjoy using this opportunity to ruin you."

"So what do you suggest I do, uncle Pete?" I sat back down.

"You go to the station and release her."

"Release her?" That was a crazy idea.

"Yes. Then I'd contact every social media house to take down the video and delete the articles."

"No, uncle. I can not release her." I disagreed.

"Because...?" He quirked a brow, waiting for my response.

"Because she might embarrass me worse. Moreover, I still am angry over what she did yesterday at the restaurant."

"You'll let your emotions make decisions important to your career for you?"

"Uncle, please. Another suggestion. How about I tell the police to torture her so she would confess who sent her. I'm sure she was sent." That sounded better to me.

"You want the police to torture a pregnant woman? What if she's innocent?"

I controlled my annoyance just because of how much respect I had for him. "Did you see what she did? You know what, I think this will die down quick enough. She'll remain there and I'll get back to climbing the societal ladder."

Another knock came on the door.

"Yes?" I snapped, angry enough as it was.

"It's me, Celine, sir. I have a call from Mr. Black."

"Come in." That was my client from yesterday. He'd said he would reach out to me today after being impressed with my speech yesterday.

She walked and handed the phone to me.

"Mr. Black." I paused to listen, blood drained from my face. "What? No, you..I promise it's a mistake. I don't even know the girl. You were there...I..."

I heard the beeping sound of the call.

"Mr. Black? Are you there? Fuck!" I threw the phone on the table.

"Sir, I also have received two emails this morning. One from the Portugal client, he said you should not bother making the journey next week, that he's no longer interested. The one from Sydney also said he's cancelling the contract and would want his money back." My secretary informed me though warily.

I sank into my chair and had my head bowed.

"Thank you, Miss Bordeaux. You can leave." Uncle Pete discharged her.

Seconds later, I heard the door locked. I raised my head then. "I am losing my biggest clients, uncle Pete. What the hell is happening?"

My phone rang, I checked the caller ID. My mother.

I heaved a sigh and picked. "Not now, mom. Let's talk later."

"Hold on, Jared. What is this I'm seeing everywhere?" She sounded unhappy. "Is this how I raised you?!"

"Let's talk later." I ended the call, I edged forward desperately. "Do you think if I release her, this whole news will die down?"

"If I know anything about fame and the world at large, you and this strange girl's path have just become more entangled because you need to do more than release her, given the state of things."

"What else are you suggesting, uncle? I'll do it." I was desperate at this point. I needed clients to keep winning Business Man of The Year.

"You also need to marry her."