I was handpicked by the head of the Sterling empire. My job? To be the perfect, obedient "trophy" for his wild younger brother. Don't control Asher. Let him race his cars. Let him get into brawls. Let him party until dawn. I was useful because I was invisible. So I happily collected my double paycheck. Until that night. I stood there, tears welling up in my eyes. "Asher, please don't race tonight. I'm really scared..." Asher just idly touched his cigarette. He smirked. "Relax, babe. Your husband is invincible." I turned my head, following a gut feeling. I looked at the prize for tonight's race. It was a girl. A girl in a white dress. Damn it. There goes my double salary. I silently unlocked my phone. And I started drafting my resignation letter to his brother. 01 Asher Sterling was a certified hell-raiser. His hobbies included, but were not limited to: Running people off the road with his sports cars. Sending other trust-fund kids to the ER during bar fights. Refusing no one. This caused socialites to tear each other apart, eventually dragging the drama to the Sterling doorstep. Because of Asher's chaotic track record, the Sterling Group's stock prices were a rollercoaster. Eventually, a secretary brought me before the eldest Sterling brother. Harrison Sterling. He sat with his long legs crossed, assessing me calmly. The secretary spoke respectfully. "She's the most beautiful hostess at The Onyx Lounge." A long silence followed. Harrison withdrew his gaze. His long fingers wrote out a check. He handed it to me. I glanced at the number of zeros. I paused. Then I smiled. "Does Mr. Sterling want a sugar baby?" The secretary clarified immediately. "It's for the Second Young Master, Asher." Then came the instructions. Asher likes girls with long hair. White dresses. He hates personalities that are too sharp. He wants someone submissive. He hates being lectured. After the briefing, Harrison spoke his first words to me. His tone was cold. "You'll get this amount every month. Wired to your account." He was certain I wouldn't refuse. I held the check. After a moment, I gave Harrison a brilliant smile. "Deal." I really couldn't refuse. 02 I was delivered to Asher's side. The third time he played the hero to save me, he looked down. He curled his lip. "Hey doll, we seem to have a connection." I lowered my head shyly. I whispered, "I'm sorry to trouble you again." Asher tutted. His fingertip caught a lock of hair by my face. "Being too pretty isn't always a blessing. Why are you always getting bullied?" The night wind lifted the hem of my white dress. My long hair danced gently in the breeze. My eyes reddened. After a long pause, I hummed softly. "I... I'm used to it. It's been like this since I was little." Asher froze. Just then, his friends stumbled out of the bar, looking for him. "Asher, why are you hiding in this alley?" One of them sized me up. He reached out with a grin to touch my face. "Where'd you find this beauty? She looks fresh." Smack. Asher slapped the hand away. He frowned deeply. "Back off." The others immediately smoothed things over. "My bad, my bad. If she's pretty, she's obviously Asher's girl." Once they awkwardly left, tears I couldn't hold back finally spilled. I tugged at Asher's sleeve. He didn't pull away. I looked up, meeting his gaze with pitiful adoration. "Because you're here, they don't dare bully me anymore." Asher bent his finger. He wiped a tear from the corner of my eye. My eyelashes trembled. I summoned my courage. "Do... do you have a girlfriend?" The night wind was cold. It made me shiver. Asher bent down. He effortlessly scooped me up into his arms. His tone was casual. "Not right now. And I don't plan to in the future." I stared at him blankly. Asher carried me toward the sports car parked at the intersection. Many eyes turned our way. Embarrassed, I buried my face in his chest. I murmured, "It's okay... I... I don't need a title." My answer was within his expectations. After all, a girl's love and dependence are always so obvious. So intense. Asher gave a lazy, satisfied smirk. He placed me in the passenger seat. And dropped a kiss on my lips. "Good girl." 03 Everything went smoothly. In everyone's eyes, I was beautiful, gentle, and clueless about Asher's wealth. I simply loved Asher, the man. I loved him so much I worried about him every second. I didn't want him racing or fighting. I was terrified of him getting hurt. I didn't want other girls around him. I feared losing him. Even though I had no official title, I never threw tantrums. I would only cry silently. Begging him with pathetic weakness. Luckily, Asher really liked me. As long as I cried, he compromised on everything. He settled down for a long time. It shocked everyone. Asher took me shopping. Movies. Trips. We just spent time kissing and sleeping. His friends said he had turned over a new leaf. Harrison must have been satisfied too. He tripled my salary. I became the canary in Asher's palm. Pampered and spoiled. In many eyes, I was the top candidate to be the future Mrs. Asher Sterling. Honestly? I didn't know if Asher actually cared about me. Maybe it was just the novelty. But I knew Harrison would never allow a hostess to marry into the family. Even though I was taken to Harrison on my very first day at the club. But in the eyes of these elites, just squeezing into their circle was my honor. I couldn't ask for more. Harrison was right. Asher was right. So, when I stood there crying again, begging Asher not to race... He just idly touched a cigarette. "Relax, your husband is invincible." This was the first time, outside of the bedroom, that he refused me. My eyes were red as I looked at him. "Asher." He didn't look at me again. He crushed the cigarette. He walked toward the black sports car he hadn't touched in ages. His back was tall and imposing. The crowd whistled in excitement. This was Asher's first race in a year. I had a sudden premonition. Slowly, I turned my head. A girl in a white dress was being pulled onto the podium. She looked down uneasily. She incited pity. In that moment, I felt a mix of emotions. A rich heiress glanced at me. She inspected her nails. "She was sick a few days ago. That girl is a hostess who got harassed. Asher saved her." I blinked slowly. I digested the information. In those few seconds, doubt flashed through my mind. Did Harrison customize another perfect canary for Asher? Unlikely. Harrison wouldn't be this sloppy. Plus... although the girl looked scared, she was stubborn. She lacked my practiced affectation. I sighed. I looked up at the sky sadly. Tears filled my eyes. Purely muscle memory at this point. But I was genuinely sad. My double salary was gone. The heiress saw my expression and scoffed. "You really don't know your place. This day was bound to come." I silently opened my phone. I Googled: "How to write a resignation letter." How to write it professionally yet emotionally? I needed to get one last severance package from Harrison. After all, I worked so hard. 04 Asher won. The other driver's car spun out and crashed. The scene was chaotic. Ambulance sirens drew closer. The crowd didn't dare blame Asher. So they vented their anger on the girl. "If anything happens to Liam, you're done for! Just wait." The girl backed away. She trembled with fear. Asher sneered. He stepped in front of her. "You guys are pathetic. What does this have to do with her?" I stared at them for a few seconds. Then I walked over. I took off the jacket Asher had draped over me. I put it on the girl. I spoke gently. "It's cold tonight. Be careful." Ignoring Asher's probing gaze, I smiled. "When you helped me, it was a night just like this." The girl stared at me blankly. Then she turned to Asher. "Mr. Sterling, is she..." Asher didn't answer. He just lowered his eyes, staring at me. Under his gaze, I couldn't even fake a smile anymore. I could only twitch my lips bitterly. After all... With this incident, forget the bonus. Harrison might dock this month's pay. Sigh. Fine, deduct it. I've saved enough anyway. Wait. I won't be held legally responsible, right?! The thought scared me. My expression nearly crumbled. The girl anxiously grabbed Asher's hem. "What... what's wrong with her? Does she not like me?" Asher withdrew his gaze from my face. He comforted the girl flatly. "No. Don't be afraid." I turned around. I walked away, looking like I had lost my soul. Many people were watching the drama. They didn't expect my day of abandonment to come so soon. Asher didn't chase after me. The girl was sweating from fear, so Asher took her to change. I was sweating too. I took out my phone, leaving a sweaty print on the screen. I wiped it on my dress. I opened my email. Sent. The drafted resignation letter was on its way to Harrison. Sincere language. Gratitude to the boss. Before I get blamed, I need to cut ties! Just then, I got a call. It was the manager at The Onyx Lounge. "Chloe, can you come back tomorrow? You left stuff in your locker." I paused. "Okay." After hanging up, I hailed a cab. I went to the apartment I secretly bought. To maintain perfect skin for Asher, I rarely stayed up late. But tonight, I relaxed. I pulled out the SIM card. I played on my phone in bed until dawn. I slept until evening. I woke up, put in a new SIM card. I threw on a loose T-shirt and shorts. I went to The Onyx Lounge bare-faced. I hadn't been this relaxed in a long time. The manager was briefly stunned when she saw me. She led me to get my things without asking questions. I grabbed my stuff. I waved goodbye. I turned to leave. "Is this the place?" A familiar voice. Magnetic. Lazy. A girl whispered, "Yes." The entourage behind them exclaimed. "Asher is so good, finding the place for the little lady." Asher looked at the manager. "Bring the people who were in her group." I silently pulled a mask from my pocket. I lowered my head, trying to slip away. "Chloe?" Someone gasped. No way. They recognized me like this? I messed up my hair and shook my head. The manager stepped forward, smiling. "Who is that? Ladies and gentlemen, let me take you to the VIP room." I felt a surge of gratitude. The next second, my wrist was grabbed. Asher's voice rang out in the gilded lobby. "Look up." "Take off the mask." I froze. But I didn't move. I stared at the floor, playing deaf. The room was dead silent. Until a weak voice called out mournfully. "Asher, my stomach hurts." A stalemate for a few seconds. Asher finally let go of my hand. He walked toward the girl. I walked out step by step. My nerves were pulled tight. I was terrified there was still a scene for me to play. Only when I was in the taxi did the realization hit me. The scent of cedarwood on Asher... It was replaced by a faint floral perfume. They must have been together for a long time. To catch each other's scent like that.
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