Chapter 5 Stripped Bare

I thought heartbreak came quietly, in the small hours of the night when I lay awake staring at the ceiling, wondering if Mark's love for me was real.

But I was wrong.

Humiliation came like a hurricane the following week.

It started with my landlord banging on my door at dawn. His face was red with anger, he kept shouting and yelling my name.

I was embarrassed.

"Clara, I can't take this anymore. The Moguls' lawyers have been sniffing around. They've threatened me with inspections, fines, lawsuits and things I can't afford. I am sorry, but you need to move out by the end of the month."

I felt the floor shift under me. "But.....I have always paid rent. I have never missed a payment." I said with tears almost forming in my eyes.

"It's not about that." His voice was soft for a moment, but he didn't look at me. "They don't want you here, Clara and I can't fight them. You know how much power they have."

Behind me, Lily was holding her teddy bear, watching us with wide, scared eyes. I wanted to scream, to fight, but the words stuck in my throat. All I could do was nod, my hands kept shaking as I closed the door.

The Mogul's had won.

By noon, the news had spread in the neighbourhood.

"That's the woman who's trying to sleep with the Mogul heir."

"She's a gold digger, she's using her child to get him to marry her."

"I heard she has a bad past. I heard she is nothing but evil."

I walked down the street with Lily's hand in mine, my face covered with shame as they stared. When I got to the diner, it was worse.

A group of wealthy women sat in one of the tables, their designer bags sat beside them like trophies. I could feel their eyes on me as I poured their coffee.

"Such a shame," one of them said loudly, her voice filled with disdain for me. "These single mothers will do anything to climb up the wealthy ladder. But it never lasts."

The others laughed at me, and I nearly dropped the pot of coffee I was using to serve them..

My hands were shaking so badly I had to run to the kitchen, where my boss, Mr. Hardy, was waiting for me.

"Clara... I don't know how to say this." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Business has been slow, and now you know I like you. But, the Moguls......you know they are very connected people. They have made calls, Clara. They don't want you working here."

I couldn't believe my ears. "Are you firing me?"

He sighed heavily, but he didn't look at me. "You're one of the best waitresses I've had, but I can't fight them. If I lose their catering contracts, this diner won't survive. I'm sorry."

I stood there frozen, and hot tears burst from my eyes. Mr Hardy didn't know how to console me. He just stood there pitying me.

"You need to go on your knees and beg Victoria, maybe she'll leave you alone." Mr Hardy said quietly.

"I didn't do anything wrong.'' I replied with my tears choking my words. This was too much for me. How would I support Lily?

Why couldn't they leave me alone? They had won. Mark was already engaged to Emily. I was simply the waitress in the shadows that loved a billionaire.

That night, when I got back to my tiny flat, Mark was waiting outside the door.

He looked tired, I could see dark circles under his eyes, he looked really angry when I saw him at first. But when he saw my tear-stained face, his anger died down.

"Clara, what happened?" He reached tried to pull me in but I pulled away.

"They're destroying me, Mark," I whispered, my voice breaking with tears. My head kept banging from crying all day but I managed to talk to him. "I'm going to lose my job, Mark. They're calling me names and spreading lies. And it's all because of you. I am not a cheap prostitute Mark and you know it"

His face twisted with guilt. "You're not Clara. You're the love of my life. It's my parents, they'll do anything to separate us. But I promise, I won't let them."

"You can't stop them," I managed to say even though my head was banging. "You're their son. You belong to their world and I don't. Your mother is making sure that I never forget it."

He moved closer to me, and held my wet face with his warm hands. The smell of his cologne made me feel wet down there. I wanted him to move even closer and make me forget it all.

"Clara, listen to me. They can take everything else from you, but they can't take me. I won't marry Emily. I don't care if they cut me off. I'd rather have nothing with you than everything without you."

I looked into his eyes and my insides melted. I was suffering because of this man and yet I wanted to suffer more because I couldn't control myself around him.

I pulled him into my arms in a tight embrace. Tears spilled down my cheeks as I whispered to his ears. "Why are you doing this to yourself? Why are you doing this to us?"

"Because I love you," he said quietly but fiercely, the words left his mouth like embers of burning passion. "And I won't let them win."

His forehead pressed into mine, his breath was warm amd smelled of mint, his eyes were burning with the truth of his undying love for me.

He hands slipped down my hips gently and then slowly under my gown. I drew my neck back to allow him to kiss me even more passionately.

Then I heard that sweet familiar voice. My insides groaned with the pain of interrupted passion.

It was Lily.

"Mummy, I'm hungry.''

He groaned knowing that Lily had broken a pasionate moment but his face changed to smiles when he saw her innocent face.

He picked her up. " What would like to eat gummy bear." She chuckled happily as he carefully tickled her side.

"Cococereal!'' Lily replied giggling happily.

"Let's go and make you some.'' With that, he carried her into the kitchen. I stood there watching them with a smile on my face. Mark would have been the perfect father for Lily.

I followee them into the Kitchen and watched as he happily poured her a plate of cereal. She was telling him stories of how a bully in her school was punished the school.

"Are you scared of bullies?'' He asked her in the kindest voice I had heard.

"No, Uncle Mark''. She replied with her mouthful of cereal.

"Good.'' He said wearing a proud father look. "You don't have to be afraid ever."

Mark touched her face, his hand brushing Lily's hair gently. "I'll protect you and mummy, Lily. No matter what it takes."

"From what?'' Her soft voice asked in a whisper.

Mark smiled. "From everything and everyone that wants to come between me and your mummy". Lily nodded with a smile and gave him the warmest hug ever.

"Thank you, Uncle Mark" Lily replied with beautiful smile.

"You're welcome gmmy bear. Now eat up.'' He tickled her again. She giggled.

My heart melted. I wanted to believe love was enough. I wanted to believe his promises. But I was scared.

His family wasn't just trying to separate us. They were stripping me bare, piece by piece and I knew they were only starting.

I knew I loved Mark so much and he felt the smae way about me. I wasn't sure love would save me from his wicked family.

I don't know what this love holds for me and that alone scares me.