Chapter 1
Due to the system's request, I had to humiliate my bankrupt ex-boyfriend in front of everyone.
I slapped him with a check and made him stoop down to pick it up.
The system's icy prompt rang out in my mind. "Mission complete. Reward: 1.5 million dollars in cash."
I watched as he crouched down in embarrassment, his slender fingers clutching that weightless check.
He looked up, his deep eyes locking onto mine, the corner of his mouth curling into a subtle smirk.
He mouthed to me, "Baby, let's play something different tonight."
*****
Sophie Grant's shrill voice cut through the quiet restaurant. "Madison, aren't you shameless? Ryan's already been messed up enough by you, and now you're here to humiliate him again."
She blocked Ryan's way, tears streaming down her face.
The diners around us threw me dirty looks, pointing fingers and gossiping about me.
The system said, "Uh-oh, the real deal walked in."
I waved the check in my hand, the thin slip of paper drawing a money-shaped arc through the air.
"Shameless? Yup, and so what?" I sneered, my eyes sliding right past her and locking onto the silent guy behind her.
It was Ryan Porter, my bankrupt ex-boyfriend, the guy who was supposed to end up with Sophie in this story.
He was wearing a shirt so faded that it was almost white, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, showing off lean, defined muscles. Even in this mess, he stood tall, his posture straight.
But right now, that strikingly handsome face was full of pain and humiliation.
Yeah, he was putting on a show.
I saw right through it.
The system's cold, robotic voice kept urging me in my mind, "Ding. Ryan's humiliation level went up. Come on, keep going and finish the main task: humiliate him with a check.
"Mission description: Smack Ryan with a 1.5-million check and make him pick it up.
"Mission reward: 1.5 million in cash."
1.5 million for 1.5 million. That was a good deal.
I curled my lips into a smirk and strode toward him in my four-inch heels.
The sharp click of my heels echoed like a drumbeat of doom, each step pounding on Sophie's taut nerves.
"Madison, stop. You're not allowed to hurt Ryan anymore." She threw her arms wide, like she'd throw herself in front of a bullet for him.
Tch, cutting off my payday.
She couldn't be bothered to waste words and sidestepped Sophie.
Sophie reached out but missed, stumbling a few steps and looking at me in shock.
I walked up to Ryan with my chin held high, holding the check right in front of his face.
"Ryan, do you know what this is?" I asked.
He stayed silent, his deep eyes reflecting her arrogant, defiant expression.
"1.5 million," I said, snapping the check with my fingertip so it made a sharp sound. "Is that enough to buy you for one night?"
A wave of gasps swept through the crowd.
Sophie's face turned white as a sheet. "Madison. Y-You're shameless."
Ryan's fists clenched at his sides, veins standing out on the backs of his hands, like he was barely holding back a tidal wave of rage.
System said, "Ryan's rage meter is maxed out. Host, time to slap him with the check. Do it now."
Without a second thought, I snapped her wrist.
The check landed squarely on his face and then drifted lightly to the floor.
It was just the right amount of force, enough to humiliate, but not actually hurt him.
My phone buzzed with a message: [Mission complete. You've received 1.5 million dollars in your account.]
Done.
I eyed the check lying on the floor with a smug look, tilting my chin at Ryan and saying in my signature mean-girl voice, "Pick it up."
The whole place went dead silent.
Everyone held their breath, watching the guy everyone used to look up to face the kind of humiliation that shattered his dignity to pieces.
Sophie's tears were streaming down her face like a river as she rushed over. She grabbed Ryan's arm. "Ryan, let's go. We don't need her dirty money."
But Ryan gently pushed her aside.
He never took his eyes off me, those deep eyes swirling with hate, anger, and a trace of mocking amusement that only I could recognize.
With everyone watching in pity, he slowly bent down.
For the first time, his straight, proud back bowed in front of everyone.
He crouched, his slender fingers picking up the check.
Damn, his waist and those hands were so fucking hot.
I whistled inwardly.
He picked up the check, stood up, and handed it back to me, his voice rough. "Princess, looks like you dropped something."
I paused, caught off guard.
This jerk was always adding extra drama.
The system didn't flag the mission as failed, so the task was done. He was messing with me now.
I raised an eyebrow, refusing to take it.
"Take it," I said. "It's yours now."
He shot me a deep, lingering look, then, right in front of everyone, carefully folded the check and slipped it into the pocket closest to his heart.
He handled it like he was tucking away a rare gem.
Everyone was totally dumbfounded.
Wait, this wasn't how the script's supposed to go. Wasn't he supposed to rip up the check and yell, "Don't underestimate the poor?"
Sophie was totally lost. "Ryan, you..."
Ryan didn't even glance at her. His eyes stayed locked on me.
He looked up, his deep eyes fixed on mine, the corner of his mouth curling into a sly smirk that nobody else caught.
He mouthed to me, "Baby, let's play something different tonight."
I almost let my smug mask slip.
What a flirt he was.