Chapter 5: Marked Enemy

I look around me, hope filling my chest when I spot a restaurant. I have no money to buy food, but I pray someone will help me with something to eat before I look for a job tomorrow.

“Hi there. Table for one?” The waiter greets me with a warm smile.

I shake my head, tears pulling in my eyes. “I… I’m hungry, sir… and… I don’t have any money. Please… help me.”

He stares at me in surprise, then quickly blinks. “Sure, uh… what would you like to eat?”

A wave of relief washes over me. “Anything… anything, please,” I whisper.

“Please, have a seat, ma’am.” He gestures to an empty table.

“Thank you so much,” I say quietly, walking to the table.

He mutters something to a lady who looks like the manager. She glances at me, and her eyes widen in surprise, recognition turning into anger.

“That whore!” she barks, striding toward me. I jump to my feet in fear. “The only thing you’re getting is leftovers!” She turns to the man. “Fetch her the food we kept for dogs. Whores like her don’t deserve anything good!”

“I’m not a whore!” I yell, glaring at her. “Don’t you dare call me that!”

She gasps in mock shock. “So you have a big mouth now?” she hisses. “It’s because of women like you that men treat us like trash!” She turns to the entire restaurant. Customers and employees stare at us, some surprised, some curious.

“This woman is married to Marcus Calloway! The owner of Calloway Industries!”

They all gasp, and whisper to each other.

“It seems you haven’t watched the news today! Her hypocrisy has been revealed, she was sleeping with the gardener, and got pregnant by him!”

My heart sinks. “That is not true!”

“That bastard in your stomach will starve until you’re on your knees begging!”

“My child is not a bastard!” I cry, tears running down my face. “I don’t want anything from you or this restaurant!”

She laughs, cursing me, calling me names. I fight the urge to smash the glass vase on her smug face, but I control myself. She's lucky I can't afford to be thrown in jail now.

“All of you will pay for calling my child a bastard!” I cry, running out of the restaurant.

I collapse to my knees outside, sobbing bitterly. I feel so helpless, so lost. I can’t believe it’s on the news. The whole world is calling my child a bastard. They think of me as a whore.

“Hey,” a soft feminine voice makes me jolt. I quickly rise to my feet, wiping away tears.

“I’m sorry for what happened back there,” she says, her eyes kind and gentle. “The boss is a grumpy, mean woman. Don’t take her words to heart… she treats everyone like that.”

I nod weakly.

“I don’t have much… but I got you some sandwiches, a chocolate smoothie, and a bottle of water.” She hands them to me, her sweet, smiling eyes urging me to take them.

Without hesitation, I collect them.

“Thank you so much,” I say between bites.

“It’s nothing,” she whispers. “I know what it’s like to be kicked out by the man you love.”

She looks at me, hesitating, as though afraid to say what’s on her mind. Then she sighs. “You can come stay with me until you get your own place.”

My eyes widen. “Really?” I ask, swallowing hard.

“Yes… and um… there’s a club looking for servers. Maybe you can try your luck.”

“Thank you so much!” I say, tears stinging my eyes as I pull her into a hug. “You just saved me and my baby. I’ll be forever grateful.”

“It’s nothing,” she says, rubbing my back. “I’ve been in your position before. I know how hard it can be.”

Finally… finally I can breathe, while finding my way out of this hell.

*****

I hate clubs. Anywhere there’s alcohol, smoking, and betting…I hate with all my heart. But I don’t have a choice. It’s the only place I can work after what Marcus did.

I told Kora, the kind lady who let me stay in her place and fed me, that I hated clubs and wouldn’t be comfortable working in one. Borrowing her clothes, I went out searching for cleaning and serving jobs, but I was denied everywhere. Employers kicked me out with so much hostility. At first, I thought it was because of the accusations, but I later found out Marcus had me blacklisted: as long as I’m in New York, I won’t get a job.

That’s why I took this job. I will work hard, day and night, until I earn enough to leave for Los Angeles… or anywhere far from here. Hopefully, things will be better for me and my baby.

“You!” The manager’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. “Stop standing there and move. VIP table just asked for a server. You’re taking it.”

“Alright,” I nod, rushing there.

My eyes widen in anger and disbelief when I see him. Marcus. He is with a group of friends, a lady perched on his lap, his arm around her waist.

She whispers something in his ear and he smiles. He smiles? I’ve never seen Marcus smile before. Never imagined he’d let a woman sit on his lap.

I take a deep breath and step closer. I recognize the lady instantly. Melissa, the daughter of Tate Lonel, manager of Tate Estates.

Anger boils in my chest. She is the same woman Linda and her daughter always compared me to. They mocked me, saying they wished she was the daughter-in-law. They believed she was more deserving of him.

One of his friends waves me over, and I rush to their table, hoping he won’t recognize me.

But the moment his eyes land on me, anger and disgust rush into his gaze, his jaw locking tight.

“Never knew you would serve at a club, hypocrite.”

Melissa lets out a mocking laugh. “She’s probably here to find another rich guy so she can pin the bastard on him!”

“My child is not a bastard!” I snap, my eyes blazing with anger.

His eyes darken with more anger. “You better enjoy your shift: it will be your last. I’ll make sure they fire you!” His voice is filled with hatred. “You will suffer severely until you admit that thing inside you is a bastard!”

“My child is not a bastard!” I cry, tears pooling in my eyes. “Marcus, mark my words! You will regret ever calling my child a bastard! I will make you pay for this!”

He jumps to his feet, ready to strike, but before he can say a word, I storm out of the bar.

Marcus is determined to destroy me. I’m nothing but a pawn in his game of torture, as he always did to those who crossed him. But I won’t back down. I need to find a way to protect my child from that evil man.

The same way he is determined to ruin me, I will destroy him and every single person who dared to call my child a bastard.