“Eve,” Heidi stated, and that said everything.
“That woman is vile. A total bitch.”
“Mrs Kensington, I’m sorry, but everyone knows Oliver’s having an affair with her. Somebody needed to tell you, guess that’s me,” Heidi whispered, holding my gaze.
“Stay here, I need a coffee,” I replied and walked to the counter, taking a few minutes to compose myself. Somehow, I wasn’t as shocked as I should have been. Heidi had confirmed my suspicions. Her words hurt, but Heidi hadn’t blabbed outof spite. The sympathy and fear in Heidi’s eyes spoke volumes. How I’d missed it, I didn’t know, but Heidi was terrified of Oliver.
After composing myself, I returned to the table.
“Why did Oliver fire you, Heidi? You’ve been his secretary ever since he took over,” I asked.
“As I said, Eve. That whore told Oliver I was spying for you, and he dismissed me immediately,” Heidi explained.
“What?” I gasped. “Surely Oliver didn’t just take Eve’s word?”
“Mrs Kensington, he did. All the times I covered and did things for him, and Oliver took the word of that slut,” Heidi spat.
“You have good taste,” I murmured, thinking of all the presents she must have bought on Oliver’s behalf.
“Thanks. Mrs Kensington, I don’t wish to cause you pain, but you have to understand what’s happening. This flash drive contains everything you need about Eve attacking you and other related topics. There’s enough evidence on that to bury Oliver. Ma’am,” Heidi reached out and took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, “I wouldn’t recommend watching it unless you’re a sadist. But it’s proof of Oliver being unfaithful, and not only with Eve. A decade, ma’am, I worked as his secretary, and I was cast aside.” Heidi looked devastated.
But that didn’t even come close to what I was feeling. Oliver hadn’t just had one affair. There’d been multiple. Eve was just another in a long line of them. God, what a fool I’d been. The perfect, faithful background wife. Why hadn’t my friends told me? That hurt just as much. Had they known and said nothing? If so, why?
“Mrs Kensington?” Heidi pulled me out of my thoughts.
“I’m lost for words, Heidi. Oliver’s changed and not for the better,” I murmured. I squeezed her hand in return, and Heidi sniffed. “What will you do for work?”
“Don’t know. Well, I guess I’ll sign up with an agency and hope Oliver hasn’t blacklisted me,” Heidi replied.
For a decade, Heidi had been Oliver’s right hand until Eve. I captured Heidi’s eyes. “How many times did you cover Oliver’s affairs?”
Heidi held my gaze. “Oliver was my boss, I was obligated to keep secrets.”
“Confidentiality means a lot to you.”
“Mrs Kensignton, it’s my job to protect my employer,” Heidi replied.
“Give me your number, Heidi. I know someone who might be able to use your skills,” I said. Despite the grief and betrayal I felt, admiration for Heidi’s loyalty rose. Eve must have done something worse than what Heidi was saying.
Heidi looked at me, startled. “Mrs Kensington…”
“Call me Alicia. I don’t think Mrs Kensington will be a moniker I’ll carry much longer,” I whispered. Pain slashed through me at those words. But they were the truth. Oliver had demanded I wait on his mistress hand and foot. No, something like that would never happen.
All those years together—gone. All because of one greedy, grasping woman. Eve wanted Oliver? She could have him. I wouldn’t fight for someone who didn’t want me. The realisation seeped into me.Oliver didn’t want me.
Then I gasped. Heidi grabbed my hand as something she’d said sank in.
“Heidi, you claimed this wasn’t Oliver’s first affair?” I’d heard the words, but now they drilled relentlessly into my head. Not his first time being unfaithful. Not the first time Oliver had lied and deceived me. How many? Heartbroken and bleeding, I stared at the flash drive. The evidence was on there.
Heidi’s gaze shot to one side, and she didn’t answer. Those reactions were signs of guilt and of someone not wanting to cause further harm. I knew exactly what Heidi was hiding.
“Was there a bastard child?” I whispered.
“Not that I’m aware of,” Heidi replied quickly.
“I bet Oliver’s still giving money to some of those whores?”
Heidi held my gaze and nodded. Bingo! Either those ex-mistresses had blackmailed Oliver, or he remembered them fondly. It didn’t matter; there’d be a paper trail. There always was.
