The Café Scandal: A Story of Betrayal and Karma
Tessa never expected her quick lunch break to turn into a full-blown scandal. But life has a funny way of dropping bombshells when you least expect them.
That afternoon, all she wanted was a sandwich and a coffee. Her stomach growled as she pushed open the café door, the rich smell of roasted beans and fresh pastries hitting her nose. She scanned the room for an empty table—and then froze.
There, in the corner booth, was her father-in-law, Richard.
Not unusual, except for one glaring detail: he wasn’t alone. And the woman with him? Definitely not her mother-in-law.
Tessa’s breath caught in her throat as she watched Richard lean in, his fingers brushing the woman’s hand before they shared a kiss. A kiss.
Her pulse roared in her ears. Oh my God.
She recognized the woman instantly—Elizabeth. The wife of Charles, Richard’s best friend… and Tessa’s boss.
This was bad. Really, really bad.
Tessa spun on her heel, ready to bolt before Richard spotted her. But fate had other plans.
“Tessa?!” His sharp voice cut through the café like a whip.
She turned slowly, forcing a tight smile. “Richard. Fancy seeing you here.”
His face darkened as he marched toward her, his expensive cologne overpowering. He grabbed her arm, fingers digging in hard enough to bruise. “What the hell are you doing here?“
“Getting lunch,” she said through gritted teeth, yanking her arm free. “Unlike you, apparently.”
His nostrils flared. “Listen carefully,” he hissed, voice low and dangerous. “If you breathe a word of this to anyone—especially my wife—I will ruin you.“
Tessa scoffed. “Oh, really? How?”
Richard’s smile was venomous. “That job Charles gave you? Gone. Daniel’s business? I’ll pull every investor. Your cozy little life? Over.“
A fire ignited in Tessa’s chest. This man thought he could threaten her?
“You’re unbelievable,” she snapped. “You cheat on your wife—with your best friend’s wife—and I’m the one who has to keep quiet?”
Richard’s face went pale. “You know Elizabeth?“
“Yes, you idiot! She’s Charles’ wife! My boss!“
Panic flashed in his eyes. Before he could respond, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen—and his entire body stiffened.
“Charles.“
He answered, voice suddenly smooth. “Hey, Charles. Yeah, just in a meeting—”
Then his face drained of color. “What? No, I— No, I haven’t seen Elizabeth. Look, I can explain—“
The call ended abruptly. Richard stared at his phone, jaw slack.
Tessa smirked. “Karma’s fast today, huh?“
Turns out, Charles had been trying to reach Elizabeth—and when she finally answered, he’d overheard everything. The jig was up.
By the end of the week, Charles had cut ties with Richard, pulled his investments, and left Richard’s empire crumbling. Meanwhile, Tessa got a promotion—without Richard’s influence.
And Daniel’s mom? She kicked Richard out the second she found out.
Now, Tessa sat in her new office, sipping coffee with a view.
Some lunch breaks change everything.