After the fifth time tonight, he rolls off me, the mattress groaning in protest. He dresses in the blue-gray light of the pre-dawn city, his movements efficient and detached. He tosses a platinum card onto the nightstand. It lands with a faint, sterile click. “Don’t come back here again,” he says, his voice flat. “Ava and I are getting engaged.” Five years. I have been Carter Hayes’s beautiful, perfectly kept secret for five years, and he’s ending it with five million dollars in a bank account I now own. His tone is cold, severe, as if he’s bracing for a scene, for the clinging he’s paid so handsomely to avoid. He doesn't know that Leo Sterling, the man who practically owns half of Manhattan’s skyline, has been pursuing me for the better part of a year, just waiting for me to say yes. Leo is wealthier, more powerful, and far more generous than Carter ever was. A golden canary like me? I can sing for any man who owns the cage. 1 “You’ve been with me a long time,” Carter says, buttoning his shirt. The sound of it is unnervingly final. “You know the rules.” He doesn’t look at me, just throws the card on the bedside table before pulling on his trousers. His face is a mask of indifference, a carefully constructed blank slate. “I want your things out of here within the week.” I nod, the sound I make a small, quiet “Mm.” Carter Hayes was never my boyfriend. He was my patron, my keeper. Our relationship was a transaction, built on sex, not love. A man of his pedigree, from a family whose name is carved into the stone of half the buildings on the Upper East Side, would never fall for someone like me. I knew that from the very first night. I never allowed myself the luxury of delusion. When the man who owns your time tells you the contract is over, a smart girl knows to walk away without a fuss. My eyes fix on the card, a small piece of plastic meant to represent sixty months of my life. Still, a hollow ache opens up in my chest. Five million dollars for five years with Carter Hayes. By the time I hear the heavy front door click shut, I realize I never even saw his back as he left. My phone buzzes on the nightstand, shattering the silence. It’s Leo. His voice comes through the speaker, a low rumble like aged whiskey. “Chloe,” he says. “This is the ninth time I’m asking. Are you ready to be with me?” He pauses, a soft breath on the other end. “If you say no, I’ll just have to call again next month and make it an even ten.” For a year, eight separate times, Leo Sterling has asked me to leave Carter for him. And while I may be a kept woman, I have my own strange code of ethics. Carter was paying my bills, and until he was the one to end it, I wouldn’t be the one to leave. I stay quiet for a moment, and I hear him sigh, a sound of gentle resignation. “It’s okay,” he says, his voice softening. “I can wait.” Just as he’s about to hang up, the words leave my lips before I can stop them. “Yes,” I say. “From now on, I’m with you.” A beat of stunned silence, then, “Really? Chloe, that’s… that’s incredible!” The undisguised joy, the sheer, unadulterated excitement in his voice, is a thing I haven’t heard directed at me in a very long time. Leo Sterling is a bigger player than Carter in every conceivable way. And for a girl like me, who learned to love money because it was the only thing that never let her down, one patron is as good as another. Or so I tell myself. 2 Leo is in Zurich for the week, closing a deal. “I’ll have my assistant arrange for you to move your things into my penthouse,” he’d said over the phone, his voice already mapping out the logistics. “Just tell David whatever you need.” Carter gave me a week, but it only took a day for his fiancée to get involved. I arrive back at the apartment to find my life piled on the curb outside the service entrance. Designer dresses, shoes, books… all of it tossed into a heap of expensive trash. As I’m standing there, staring at the wreckage, the service door swings open. It’s Ava Prescott, Carter’s fiancée. “I’ve never seen anything so shameless,” she says, her voice a lazy drawl. She leans against the doorframe, arms crossed over her chest, a picture of bored superiority. “Still hanging around, hoping for a handout?” She looks me up and down, her lip curled in a delicate sneer. “A girl like you needs to learn her place. Don't go getting any ideas about moving up in the world.” Her words are coated in venom, her eyes filled with the casual disdain of the truly privileged. I know her type. Girls like Ava Prescott don’t see people like me as human; they see us as obstacles or entertainment. But I force a polite, practiced smile. “Miss Prescott, I have no intention of lingering. I understand the terms of the arrangement perfectly.” I crouch down and begin to gather my clothes, the silk of a blouse feeling cold against my skin. Just then, a black town car pulls up, and Carter gets out. He surveys the scene, his brow furrowing in a flicker of annoyance. “What’s going on here?” Ava immediately melts against his side, her voice turning into a saccharine purr. “Carter, darling, look at her. She refuses to leave. I know how these women think,” she says, loud enough for me to hear every word. “She’s probably trying to figure out a way to trap you.” Carter stands over me, a long shadow falling across my discarded belongings. I look up, my eyes meeting his. His gaze is heavy, filled with the crushing weight of his power, a warning. “Chloe,” he says, his voice laced with ice. “I suggest you make this easy on everyone. Let’s end this cleanly.” A bitter laugh escapes my lips before I can stop it. Does he really think I’m the one who can’t let go? “Don’t worry, Mr. Hayes,” I say, my voice steady. “I have no intention of clinging to you.” I quickly stuff the rest of my things into my suitcases. As I turn to wheel them away, Carter’s voice cuts through the air, sharp and impatient. “You took the money. Now stay out of my sight.” My feet freeze for a second, but I don’t turn back. 3 Leo’s assistant, David, meets me on the corner. He loads my luggage into the back of a sleek, black Mercedes. He’s the epitome of professionalism, whisking me away from the curb and toward a new life. He takes me to Leo’s penthouse, a stunning glass-walled apartment overlooking Central Park. “Miss Miller,” David says, handing me a heavy, cream-colored envelope as he unloads my bags. “Whatever you need, my number is programmed into the house phone.” The envelope contains an invitation. “This is for a private auction tomorrow evening. Mr. Sterling said that if you see anything you like, you are to bid on it. The price is not a concern.” I take the invitation, the thick cardstock cool in my hand. "Thank you, David." Leo’s home is vast. As I step inside, a housekeeper and another staff member are waiting to greet me. The sheer scale of it all is a little overwhelming. In five years with Carter, I was never once allowed to feel this welcome in his space. I was a guest, always temporary. Here, it seems, I am expected. 4 The next evening, I dress for the auction. David picks me up and escorts me to the venue, a lavish ballroom in a downtown hotel. “I’ll be seated in the row directly behind you, Miss Miller,” he says discreetly. “You can bid yourself, or if you prefer, just catch my eye, and I’ll handle it for you.” “I understand,” I reply. Part of the job is knowing how to please your benefactor. Leo sent me here tonight because he wanted me to enjoy myself, to feel provided for. Buying something, even something small, is a way of showing gratitude. It’s a performance of appreciation. I scan the catalog. My eyes land on a beautiful sapphire ring, delicate and understated. It’s one of the less extravagant pieces, which makes it perfect. A tasteful choice. As I find my seat, a familiar cold dread washes over me. Carter and Ava are here. The moment Carter sees me, his brow knits together in displeasure. “What are you doing here?” Ava, standing beside him, lets out a little laugh. “Isn’t it obvious? She’s fishing. Looking for her next patron.” I say nothing. Carter’s eyes narrow. “Chloe, I believe I told you to stay out of my sight.” A real smile, sharp and genuine this time, touches my lips. “Is this your private event, Mr. Hayes? Am I not allowed to attend? Because I have an invitation.” His face darkens. It’s the first time I have ever spoken back to him, and the shock on his face is deeply satisfying. The auction begins. The sapphire ring is the first item. I raise my paddle. A moment later, I hear a bid from behind me. It’s Carter. I turn slightly and catch Ava’s eye. She’s smirking, a triumphant, childish look on her face. She’s making him bid against me purely out of spite. I’m about to raise my paddle again, but before I can, David’s voice rings out, calm and clear. He’s standing up. “Apologies, everyone,” he says to the auctioneer. “I have Mr. Sterling on the line. His new girlfriend fancies the ring, and he has instructed me to acquire it, regardless of the cost.” A hush falls over the room. My heart hammers against my ribs. I’m stunned, and I can feel the ripple of shock and gossip spread through the crowd. To place an unlimited bid on a relatively minor piece was a statement. A loud one. From the row behind me, I hear Carter’s friend murmur, a teasing edge to his voice. “Well, well. Looks like the untouchable Leo Sterling finally has a woman. I wonder who could possibly tame that workaholic.” I sink lower in my seat, my face burning. Before the auction is even over, I text David that I feel unwell and would like to leave. In the car on the way back, he hands me a small, velvet box. “Mr. Sterling was very clear. If you wanted it, it was not to end up in anyone else’s hands.” He then passes me a black, featureless credit card. “Mr. Sterling will likely be back in about a week. He said you should feel free to use this for anything you might need or want.” 5 A few days later, bored and restless, I decide to go shopping for a dress. David mentioned that Sterling Enterprises is hosting its annual charity gala next week, and Leo wants me to attend as his date. I need something new. A woman on a man’s arm should reflect his status. I’m browsing in a boutique on Madison Avenue when a pair of stunning, stiletto-heeled pumps catches my eye. “Excuse me,” I say to a sales associate. “Could I try these in a seven?” “Help me with these shoes.” The second voice is Ava’s. We’ve spoken at the exact same time. Of course. It seems I can’t escape her. I have no desire for another confrontation. I turn to leave. “What’s the matter?” Ava’s mocking voice follows me. “Can’t steal my man, so you’re trying to steal my shoes instead?” I’ve already tried to de-escalate, to be the bigger person. I’ve held my tongue. But she won’t let it go. “I’m letting you have the shoes, Ava,” I say, my voice tight. She raises an eyebrow, a cruel smirk playing on her lips. “You know, Chloe, you’re so good at pleasing men on your back. Why don’t you please me? Kneel and help me try on my shoes.” I freeze. The sheer audacity, the calculated cruelty of it—it’s breathtaking. “You should watch your mouth, Ava.” She steps forward, and before I can react, her hand connects with my cheek. The slap is sharp, echoing in the quiet store. My face stings, a hot, spreading fire. “If I hadn’t been studying in London,” she hisses, her face inches from mine, “you never would have gotten your claws into Carter for so long. This is a warning. Stay away from him.” I press my hand to my throbbing cheek. And, as if on cue, Carter walks into the store. He goes straight to her side. “What’s wrong?” “The Sterling gala is next week, and I was trying to find the perfect pair of shoes to wear with you,” she says, her voice a perfect imitation of a frustrated little girl. “And she deliberately tried to take the ones I wanted. It made me so angry I just… I slapped her.” Carter looks at my face, at the bright red handprint blooming on my skin. For a split second, I see something flash in his eyes—a flicker of something that might be concern. But it’s gone as quickly as it appears. He turns his attention back to Ava, his voice softening. “Did you hurt your hand?” She pouts. “I’m still mad.” She points a perfectly manicured finger at me. “You love money, don’t you? I’ll pay you. Kneel and put my shoes on for me.” The humiliation is thick, choking. I say nothing. I look at Carter, a silent appeal in my eyes. He wraps his arm around Ava’s waist, pulling her close. His gaze on me is cold, dismissive. “You do whatever it takes in the bedroom,” he says, his voice low and cutting. “What’s the big deal about trying on a shoe?” His words hit me like a physical blow. A cold laugh bubbles up inside me. All this time, that’s all I ever was to him. A toy. An object without dignity or respect. I force myself to stand tall. “That’s a disgusting thing to say, Carter. It’s beneath even you.” And with that, I turn and walk out, leaving them to their ugly victory. 6 David is waiting for me in the parking garage. When I pull open the back door of the car, I’m surprised to see Leo sitting inside. “Leo,” I say, my voice betraying my shock. A genuine smile lights up my face. “I thought you weren’t back until next week.” He reaches out and gently tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear. His touch is warm. “The deal closed early. I came straight back.” His eyes scan my face, then my empty hands. “You didn’t buy anything?” I shake my head. “I couldn’t find anything I liked.” “I’ll have a stylist send a selection to the penthouse tomorrow. You can choose from home.” His gaze lingers on my face, his brow furrowing with concern. “What happened to your cheek?” I’d tried to cover the redness with concealer in the restroom, but the slight swelling is still visible. “Oh, it’s nothing,” I lie, forcing a smile. “Probably just an allergic reaction to something.” Leo’s expression becomes serious, but he doesn’t press me. 7 At the charity gala, I am on Leo’s arm. Just before we enter the grand ballroom, Leo is pulled aside by David to discuss something urgent. I wait for him by the entrance, and that’s when I see them arrive. Carter and Ava. Carter’s eyes lock on me, a mixture of surprise and annoyance on his face. “How did you get into an event like this? It’s invitation only.” Ava looks me up and down, her expression one of pure disdain. “She probably found herself another rich old man.” I remain silent. But then Ava’s eyes fix on my hand, on the sapphire ring sparkling on my finger. The ring from the auction. “Hey, how are you wearing that ring?” she asks, her tone accusatory. “Leo Sterling bought that.” Then, a look of dawning comprehension crosses her face, followed by derision. “Oh, Chloe. You can’t be that desperate. Did you really go out and buy a cheap knockoff? How pathetic.” But I see Carter’s expression shift. He’s staring at the ring, a look of grim realization spreading across his face. He’s about to say something, but just then, Leo walks toward us. He comes directly to my side and, in full view of Carter and Ava, takes my hand in his. His thumb gently strokes the sapphire. “I bought it for her,” Leo says, his voice calm and lethal. “How could it be a knockoff?” “What does that mean?” Carter chokes out, his face paling. Leo wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. “Carter, old friend,” he says, a cool smile playing on his lips. “I should introduce you. This is Chloe. My girlfriend.” Carter stares at me, his mouth slightly agape, looking utterly lost for words. Ava just mutters under her breath, “Wow. She works fast.” I offer them a small, serene smile. Then, I take Leo’s arm, and together, we walk into the gala, leaving Carter standing there in stunned silence.
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