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 walked out before I was even born. I'm a fresh grad making intern money. What choice did I have?

Cressida Hale 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.

Here's the thing though—last night wasn't even the first time I'd dealt with this guy.

Six months ago, Cressida didn't want to deal with her fiancé's daily messages, so she had me take over. Play her online. After half a year of that, I knew him better than she did.

He wasn't much of a talker. But sometimes he'd drop something unexpectedly sincere out of nowhere. Once I mentioned offhand that I liked strawberries. Next day, Cressida got a whole crate of them air-shipped to her door. She passed them all to me.

I ate every single one while reminding myself: those were for "Cressida." Not you.

So yeah. 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, figuring at least this covered my sister's treatment for the month.

Then I walked into work.

"You're lucky," Becca whispered from the next cubicle. "Mr. Cross hasn't been in since you started. He's terrifying in person."

She barely finished the sentence when the elevator doors opened.

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

He stepped out in a tailored suit, face completely unreadable, everyone around him murmuring "Good morning, Mr. Cross" as he passed.

I went still.

No.

The man I slept with last night is my boss?

I spent the whole day with my face buried in my monitor, replaying things I really did not need to be replaying at work. Stop. Stop thinking about it.

Before clocking out I checked myself in my compact mirror. Thick glasses, messy ponytail, zero makeup.

Nothing like last night's version of me in the red dress. I should be fine.

My phone buzzed. Message on the burner.

I glanced at the CEO's office, then opened it.

Him: 【Last night was good.】

That same man was in there right now, stone-faced in some meeting.

I typed back: 【It was okay.】

Instant reply: 【Okay?】

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

So he's like this in private. Interesting.

I was about to say something back when another message came through.

【Are you alright? I was too rough last night.】

I stopped.

He barely ever said much. Then he'd go and say something like that.

My fingers typed before I thought about it: 【I'm fine. I can take it.】

【Good girl.】

I flipped my phone face-down on the desk. My face was on fire.

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

My phone buzzed again. The real Cressida this time.

【EMERGENCY! He asked to meet again! Same hotel, same room!】

【Please, one more time! I'll double the pay!】

I looked at the screen. Then at the CEO's office.

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

My hands wouldn't stop shaking.

He was that intense last night, and he wants to go again tonight?

And I—

I have to go back?