Katherine wandered through the empty house, her fingers absently brushing against their wedding portrait hanging on the wall. The happiness that once sparkled in her eyes now felt like a distant mirage. Friends had warned her about George, said his charming smile hid a liar’s heart. But Kate had been blinded. His words, his affection, his promises—they’d thawed her frozen heart after her first husband’s death. Five years without joy, and then George had swept in like a whirlwind. She’d seen only him. And him? He hadn’t come home again last night. Yesterday, he’d shouted at her, and that shout—like a bucket of cold water—had snapped her awake. Kate sank onto the sofa, her thoughts tangled. When had he changed? After she’d made him co-owner of her company, handed him half her business.
Kate smirked bitterly. George fancied himself clever, but he couldn’t even be bothered with details. The contract she’d drafted? He hadn’t bothered reading to the end. She’d already rehearsed the speech in her head—how they loved each other, how George would never dare betray her. But he’d missed the clause: proof of infidelity, and everything she’d given him would revert to her. No wonder he’d been so brazen. The phone on the table buzzed suddenly, and Kate, seized by hopeless hope, lunged for it. Unknown number.
“Hello, Katie-girl, why do you sound like a drowned crow?” came a cheerful voice. Kate pulled the phone away in shock, then pressed it back to her ear. “Tommy? Is that you?”
“You recognised me! Not a total lost cause, then! Get outside, we’re going for a wander!” Laughter crackled down the line. “I’m at the station, be there soon. You wouldn’t believe how many numbers I rang to find yours! Are you a spy or something?”
Kate laughed, and the weight on her heart lifted just a little. Tommy—life of every party, school’s class clown, and her longtime admirer. Back then, he’d been hopelessly smitten, but she’d gently let him down. Too loud, too bright, too alive for her world at the time. At graduation, he’d said, “Don’t mope, Katie-girl. We’ll meet again.” And off he went. Later, she heard he’d joined the army, signed up full-time—though everyone had pegged him for academia. And now, fifteen years later, he’d just… called. Without thinking, Kate grabbed her coat, keys, bag, and bolted outside.
Tommy pulled up in a taxi minutes later. Stepping out, he gaped at her house and whistled.
“Blimey, Katie-girl, you’ve done all right for yourself! Got space for my rucksack?”
Kate smiled. Tommy had changed—cropped hair gone salt-and-pepper, shoulders broad enough to make her feel like a kid beside him. They hauled his things inside, and she turned back to the car.
“Where to, Tommy?”
He blinked at her. “Where to? You mad? Gorgeous day like this, I want your undivided attention.”
Kate tossed the keys into her bag. “Lead the way.”
“Now that’s more like it! Let’s find some greasy spoon and eat everything on the menu.”
They strolled through the snowy streets of York, and Kate stole glances at her old friend.
“You’ve changed.”
“And you’re even prettier,” he winked. “Don’t blush, it’s the truth.”
“Did you tell your mum you were back?”
Tommy’s face darkened. “Mum’s gone. Seven years now. I came back then, wanted to see you—but you were so happy with your first husband. Saw you both at the shopping centre.”
Kate sighed. “I was. Not for long. Cancer. Eight months, and that was it.”
Tommy squeezed her hand. “Sorry.”
“I’m the one who’s sorry.”
He tugged her along. “Look! That same old café!”
Kate grinned. They’d haunted the place after school. Now she was used to posh restaurants, but still, she said, “Let’s go.”
Over tea, she asked, “What about you? Married?”
“Nah.” He looked away. “Heart’s always belonged to one. I’m in town on business—left the army five years back, started my own thing. And you? Still married?”
Kate winced. “Yes. But… not happily.”
They talked till dawn, wandered, sipped coffee from paper cups, scarfed down kebabs—Tommy joking they were “straight from the dodgiest alley in town.” He left for his hotel at sunrise, rucksack in tow, promising to call when his meetings wrapped. And suddenly, Kate felt hollow. The loneliness hit so hard she wanted to howl. By morning, she’d formed a plan.
“Katherine, Mr. Reynolds is here,” her secretary announced.
“Send him in.”
In walked Ian Reynolds, an old family friend. Kate smiled. “Looking at you, I think you’d make a better director than head of security.”
“I am the director—of yours,” he chuckled. “What’s happened?”
Kate spilled everything. Ian listened, then asked, “Sure you want the truth? You banned any talk about George before.”
“Time to open my eyes,” she sighed.
Ian slid a folder across. “Here. Olivia Carter, new in town, wrapped your husband around her finger. Bleeding him dry, angling for his share of your company. George is besotted—or just thick. They’ve got meetings tomorrow, planning to sell his stake for some ‘new venture.’ But mark my words, he’ll get nothing. She’s using him.”
Kate studied the photos, heart squeezing.
“Got a solicitor and witnesses for the infidelity?”
“Kate, please. Sorted.”
“I’d like to make it sting a bit more. Keep it quiet.”
By evening, Kate knew it all. George had hidden his marriage from Olivia, let her think the company was his. And Olivia needed a temp for two days. Kate adjusted her wig and walked into the office.
“Hello?”
Olivia eyed her coldly. “For the interview?”
An hour later, Kate was knee-deep in work. Olivia—pleased—even rang George, telling him to stay away to “keep things clean.” That night, George tried sneaking into Kate’s room, but she slammed the door, claiming exhaustion.
The meeting started oddly. The buyer arrived early, scrutinising documents, unnerving Olivia. With sunlight flooding the office, Kate barely saw his face. Odd he was alone—this wasn’t small change. But there’d be no deal: Kate had frozen George’s shares, pending their return.
George strutted in. “So, signed yet?”
Olivia floundered. “Still reviewing.”
George laughed stiffly. “What’s to review? Company’s yours, money’s ours.”
Kate stepped forward. “Does the actual owner know you’re trading her firm without consent?”
George didn’t even look at her. “Who’s this?”
Olivia leapt up. “Ignore her! Hired her as a temp, turns out she’s unhinged!”
Kate calmly stood. “I’ll agree there. Not noticing your husband’s affairs under your nose? That’s unhinged.”
Everyone stared. The buyer recovered first.
“Katie-girl, shouldn’t be surprised all my disasters involve you. How’d you know the company’s his wife’s?”
“Tommy?” Kate laughed. “Didn’t expect you here! I am the wife. And this, meet the mistress. They’re selling my company.”
George advanced. “Deal’s on. This share’s been mine a year. And glad you know—no more hiding with Olivia.”
Olivia finally found her voice. “You’re married? And the company’s not yours?”
Kate waved dismissively. “Don’t worry, he’ll be single soon. But the company’s back with me—thanks to a clause George couldn’t be bothered reading.”
Kate drove for hours, nerves frayed. Cried, wallowed, then swore off men—no more long romances, just fleeting flings.
“Where’ve you been? I’m turning into an icicle!”
Kate turned. Tommy. Tears spilled—first quiet, then great, heaving sobs against his shoulder.
“Don’t get you,” he grumbled. “Saved your company, ditched the husband, still bawling. Let’s get inside before I freeze solid.”
On the sofa, knees tucked, tea in hand, Kate listened to Tommy’s grumbling.
“Fridge is empty, what sort of woman are you?”
“Check the freezer, there’s something.”
He rummaged. “Well, it’s something. Soon, I’ll be feeding you.”
“Tommy, why are you here? You could’ve walked away.”
He blinked. “From you? Not a chance.”
Kate studied him.And as Tommy’s laughter filled the room, Kate realised she’d been searching for love in all the wrong places when it had been waiting for her all along.