Chapter 7 Lydia's POV

It seemed I needed to have a serious talk with Simon.

Thinking of Simon, my mind immediately conjured up the scene of the two of us in bed together. It was our first time, but I had to admit — the man was good. Really good. Just thinking about it made me swallow involuntarily.

My mouth dry, I got up and headed downstairs for some water, only to hear two women's voices coming from Natasha's room.

Marlo and Natasha.

I slowed my steps. Their voices carried clearly through the door.

"Damn Lydia — what gives her the right to land a man like Simon? If I hadn't come back a little late, Simon never would have given her a second look!"

"Natasha, don't be upset. Simon only thought Lydia was decent because he hadn't seen you yet. The moment you show up, he'll fall for you instantly!"

At that, Natasha's voice turned eager: "Mom, do you have a plan?"

"I heard Simon is heading to a hot spring resort in a couple of days. You could quietly follow him there..."

"Your skin is so smooth and soft, your chest so full, and you know exactly how to move — Simon won't be able to keep his hands off you. He won't give that slut Lydia another thought."

...

I'd heard enough. Feeling vaguely nauseated, I turned and went back downstairs.

Those two really had no shame.

It seemed I needed to talk to Simon sooner rather than later.

---

First thing the next morning, I went to find Simon.

He was in a meeting, so his assistant received me instead.

I sat on a cushioned chair, watching Simon across the room as he spoke with easy confidence. The sunlight fell behind him, making his features look even sharper and more defined — like a natural work of art, carved by the hand of God.

Handsome men really do draw attention wherever they go. And when he was working, he was even more attractive.

He must have sensed my gaze, because Simon glanced up and caught my eye. I quickly reached for a glass of water to cover my embarrassment, and turned to the assistant beside me.

"Your boss is so good-looking — does he have a girlfriend?"

The assistant sighed, his expression shifting to something almost pitying.

"The boss's first love wanted to see more of the world. She didn't want to settle down so soon, so they broke up."

"I heard she came back a few days ago, and the boss prepared all sorts of things to win her back — but she stood him up. Poor guy..." He shook his head. "Apparently the boss spent that whole night drinking alone at a bar."

A few days ago?

Something clicked.

So that night at the bar — he was there because his ex had stood him up. He'd been in a bad mood, drowning his sorrows.

No wonder he hadn't objected at all when I showed up.

His heart must have been wrecked by that woman. He probably just wanted to find someone — anyone — to take the edge off.

I found myself curious. What kind of woman would a man like Simon fall for?

"Were they close? Him and his ex?"

The assistant shook his head. "That I don't know. But the boss spoiled her — gave her almost anything she asked for. After they broke up, he seemed fine on the surface, but I think he was really hurting inside."

Being stood up by a woman you'd cared about for years, told she was leaving for the sake of freedom — no one could just shake that off overnight.

I had always assumed Simon was the dominant one in relationships. The way he'd come at me that night had left me with no room to resist.

I never would have guessed someone had walked out on him.

The assistant seemed to warm to the subject, as if a floodgate had opened.

"The boss has a lot on his plate too. The company's been busy, and within the Levitt family..." He paused and lowered his voice slightly. "Let's just say the boss is under considerable pressure. If he can't get married and stabilize things soon, his position as CEO might not hold."

I was taken aback.

Hadn't the Levitt family just named him their new head of power?

How could his position already be shaky?

I leaned back against the sofa, my gaze drifting back to Simon.

I vaguely remembered Ivor mentioning once that the Levitt family was enormous — nearly ten heirs alone.

Every one of them hungry for a piece. Every one of them eyeing the CEO's chair.

I didn't know how Simon had managed to climb to the top.

But now it seemed the seat wasn't as secure as it looked.

So when he publicly announced yesterday that he liked me — when he didn't even flinch at going up against Ivor — it was all just to push toward an engagement as quickly as possible. To settle the power struggle within the Levitt family.

The moment that fell into place, something in me relaxed.

The thing people fear most is not knowing what someone else wants from them. But if you know they have an agenda — suddenly, using each other feels perfectly reasonable.

A marriage alliance with the Levitt family would help me break free from Ivor, and temporarily shut Marlo and Hector up.

That was good for me.

And an engagement with me would secure Simon's position as CEO.

This engagement was a win for both of us.

Across the room, Simon seemed to sense my gaze again. He looked up, and our eyes met.

There was something in those deep eyes I couldn't quite read — and then the corners of his lips curved into a faint smile, like a poppy flower, beautiful and dangerous.

I marveled again at the fact that Simon's ex had actually walked away from a man this devastatingly handsome.

Truly unbelievable.

Simon said his goodbyes to the other party and finally walked over to me.

"My fiancée," he said. "So devoted — you even come to keep watch while I work."

He leaned in close, his breath grazing my neck, and I instinctively pulled back.

He wrapped an arm around my waist and drew me into him.

Thinking of what the assistant had just told me, I pressed lightly against his chest. "I know you only went to that bar because your ex stood you up and you were upset. You're clearly not over her — so you don't have to pretend to be close with me."

Simon's arm stiffened slightly around me. He narrowed his eyes. "You found out?"

I held my chin up and nodded. "I made a mistake that night. I thought you were..."

I met his gaze — and suddenly the words wouldn't come.

But he supplied them himself, eyes bright with amusement: "You thought I was a male escort?"

I pressed my lips together. My face burned.

I had left three hundred dollars on the nightstand for him that morning.

Thinking about it now, I wanted to cut my own hand off.

Simon leaned in, his lips brushing lightly across my cheek, his restless hand sliding along the small of my back.

"My dear Lydia, you've got it wrong. I didn't sleep with you because I was spiraling after a breakup. And I'm not marrying you just to hold onto the CEO position."

His tone was teasing, like someone toying with a little cat.

I frowned, genuinely confused. But that was exactly what his assistant had just told me. And if that wasn't the reason — then what was?

"We've only met twice," I said. "You can't possibly have fallen for me at first sight. You're not going to tell me it has to be me and no one else."

I held his gaze and tried my best not to look like the one at a disadvantage. With a man like this, showing weakness would only get me swallowed whole.

But Simon let out a soft laugh and suddenly leaned in, closing his lips around my earlobe. "Of course it's because..."