Chapter 1

I took a job test-sleeping an heiress's fiancé.

Sounds insane, right? But my sister's in the hospital, my mom raised us alone after my dad bailed while she was pregnant. I'm a fresh grad making intern money. What choice did I have?

Felicity Monroe said the guy was her arranged match. She didn't want to marry someone who couldn't perform, so she hired me to test-drive him first.

Lights off, we look similar enough. He'd never know.

Last night was the job. She paid fast and asked for a written review.

I lay in my tiny rental counting the zeros in my account, thinking at least this covers my sister's treatment for the month.

—Until I walked into work.

"You're lucky, you know," my cubicle-mate whispered once, "Mr. Cross hasn't been in the office since you started. He's terrifying in person."

She barely finished the sentence when the elevator doors slid open—and there he was.

The CEO of Nexus Corp. My boss. Adrian Cross.

He stepped out of the elevator in a tailored suit, face cold as ice, everyone around him murmuring "Good morning, Mr. Cross."

I froze.

No.

The man I slept with is my boss?

I spent the whole day terrified, face buried in my computer, pretending to work while last night's images kept flashing through my head—no, stop thinking about it.

Before clocking out, I snuck a look in my compact mirror: thick glasses, messy ponytail, bare face.

Completely different from last night's me with the red dress and full makeup. I should be fine... right?

My phone buzzed.

A message on the burner account.

Six months ago, Felicity didn't want to deal with her arranged fiancé, so she had me catfish him using her identity. After half a year, I knew him better than she did.

He wasn't much of a talker, but sometimes he'd say things that were unexpectedly... sincere. Once I mentioned I liked strawberries offhand. Next day, Felicity received a whole crate of them air-shipped. She gave them all to me.

I ate them while reminding myself: these were for "Felicity," not you.

Now I knew. The man I'd been talking to for six months was my boss.

I opened the message.

Him: 【Last night was good.】

I glanced toward the CEO's office. That same man was in there now, stone-faced in some meeting.

I hesitated, then replied: 【It was okay.】

He responded instantly: 【Okay?】

【Next time I'll make sure you can't talk.】

This guy acts like he's above everyone at the office. But in private? This is what he's like?

I was about to fire back when another message came through: 【Are you alright? I was too rough last night.】

I paused.

He usually didn't say much, but then he'd drop something like this out of nowhere.

My fingers went soft as I typed: 【I'm fine. I can take it.】

His reply: 【Good girl.】

…

I slapped my phone face-down on the desk, cheeks burning.

Get it together. He said that to "Felicity." Not you.

My phone buzzed again.

This time it was the real Felicity.

【EMERGENCY! He asked to meet again! Same hotel room as last night!】

【Please help me one more time! Double the pay!】

I stared at the screen, then looked toward the CEO's office.

He'd just walked out, heading for the elevator.

My hands were shaking.

He was that wild last night, and he wants more tonight?

And I—

I have to go back?