Chapter 2 · He Heard My Thoughts and Went Obsessed

I, Alison Cooper, a diligent transmigrator, was now rolling out my Plan B.

Since acting like a vicious gold-digger didn't work, it was time to switch lanes.

I was going to turn into the clingiest pest ever.

I'd stick to him 24/7, annoy him to death, and make him dump me for good.

So, with my stunning face, I strutted into the CEO's office in a bright pink Chanel-inspired suit that totally clashed with the serious vibe of the Vance Holdings building.

"Surprise!" I blew a kiss straight at Jackson, who was right in the middle of a video conference.

The execs around the table looked like their jaws had hit the floor.

Jackson's assistant, Carter, nearly spilled his coffee.

'Oh wow, this is peak awkwardness. I'm totally here for it. Come on, Jackson, blow up, call me shameless, and toss me out already.'

My inner gremlin was already throwing a party.

Jackson gave me a nonchalant glance, then turned to the equally stunned foreign partners on the screen and said in flawless foreign language, "Sorry, my fiancée is a bit playful. Let's pause for ten minutes."

With that, he ended the video call.

Fiancée?

'Jackson, snap out of it. I'm your cannon fodder ex-girlfriend, not your fiancée!'

Before I could even process what happened, Jackson was already striding over to me.

He shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders, completely swallowing up that eye-catching pink outfit.

"Aren't you cold in that?" he asked.

There wasn't a hint of reproach in his voice, only that same helpless, doting tone.

I stuck my chin out defiantly. "Not cold at all. I think I look amazing."

'Come on, tell me my taste is trash. Call me a salon girl. Say something harsh to me.'

Jackson pinched my nose and chuckled.

"Of course, babe. You'd look gorgeous in anything," he said. "Just don't freeze yourself for a surprise next time."

He pulled me into his chair behind the desk, then knelt down in front of me. He tilted his head up and gazed at me.

"What brings you here out of the blue? Missing me?" he smiled.

I was getting a little lightheaded from all this.

But I had to stay focused. I was here to cause chaos, not to get soft.

I cleared my throat and pulled out a giant gift box wrapped in shiny gold paper, topped with an oversized red bow.

"Ta-da! I brought you a gift," I declared.

I made sure to sound as ridiculously dramatic as possible.

'Inside is a beast statue I scored for a whopping $15 at a street stall. It looks so tacky and ugly. I picked it to make you cringe. Come on, say you hate it.'

Jackson's smile only grew wider.

He acted like he didn't even notice how ridiculously tacky the wrapping was, taking it as if it were some priceless treasure and carefully unwrapping it.

When that goofy, gold (with the paint already flaking) plastic statue finally came out, I caught Carter's lips twitching like crazy.

Mission accomplished.

I gave myself a mental high-five.

But Jackson held it in his hands, checking it out for a bit, then looked up at me like I was the only thing in the room, his gaze intense.

"I really like it," he said.

'You like it? Are you sure?'

He grabbed the desk intercom. "Carter, get the design team up here.

"Tell them this year's company anniversary party favor will be custom-made to look like this statue. And make it solid gold."

Carter nearly spit out his coffee.

I was totally dumbfounded.

'Solid gold? Are you kidding me? How ugly would that thing look in solid gold? Are you trying to ruin your company's image or what?'

Jackson hung up the phone and reverently placed the statue right at the corner of his desk, like it was some priceless treasure.

He took my hand and pressed a gentle kiss to it.

Jackson said, "Sweetheart, you really put thought into this.

"You remembered I've been busy with a new project, so you brought me a statue for good luck.

"This is the best gift I've ever received."

I was speechless.

I didn't mean that.

I wanted to gross you out with how hideous it was.

Looking at his face, practically satisfied about his girlfriend, for the first time, I seriously questioned my own talent for self-sabotage.

How could things go so wrong?

Chapter 2

I, Alison Cooper, a diligent transmigrator, was now rolling out my Plan B.

Since acting like a vicious gold-digger didn't work, it was time to switch lanes.

I was going to turn into the clingiest pest ever.

I'd stick to him 24/7, annoy him to death, and make him dump me for good.

So, with my stunning face, I strutted into the CEO's office in a bright pink Chanel-inspired suit that totally clashed with the serious vibe of the Vance Holdings building.

"Surprise!" I blew a kiss straight at Jackson, who was right in the middle of a video conference.

The execs around the table looked like their jaws had hit the floor.

Jackson's assistant, Carter, nearly spilled his coffee.

'Oh wow, this is peak awkwardness. I'm totally here for it. Come on, Jackson, blow up, call me shameless, and toss me out already.'

My inner gremlin was already throwing a party.

With that, he ended the video call.

Fiancée?

'Jackson, snap out of it. I'm your cannon fodder ex-girlfriend, not your fiancée!'

Before I could even process what happened, Jackson was already striding over to me.

He shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders, completely swallowing up that eye-catching pink outfit.

"Aren't you cold in that?" he asked.

There wasn't a hint of reproach in his voice, only that same helpless, doting tone.

I stuck my chin out defiantly. "Not cold at all. I think I look amazing."

'Come on, tell me my taste is trash. Call me a salon girl. Say something harsh to me.'

Jackson pinched my nose and chuckled.

"Of course, babe. You'd look gorgeous in anything," he said. "Just don't freeze yourself for a surprise next time."

He pulled me into his chair behind the desk, then knelt down in front of me. He tilted his head up and gazed at me.

"What brings you here out of the blue? Missing me?" he smiled.

I was getting a little lightheaded from all this.

But I had to stay focused. I was here to cause chaos, not to get soft.

I cleared my throat and pulled out a giant gift box wrapped in shiny gold paper, topped with an oversized red bow.

"Ta-da! I brought you a gift," I declared.

I made sure to sound as ridiculously dramatic as possible.

'Inside is a beast statue I scored for a whopping $15 at a street stall. It looks so tacky and ugly. I picked it to make you cringe. Come on, say you hate it.'

Jackson's smile only grew wider.

He acted like he didn't even notice how ridiculously tacky the wrapping was, taking it as if it were some priceless treasure and carefully unwrapping it.

When that goofy, gold (with the paint already flaking) plastic statue finally came out, I caught Carter's lips twitching like crazy.

Mission accomplished.

I gave myself a mental high-five.

But Jackson held it in his hands, checking it out for a bit, then looked up at me like I was the only thing in the room, his gaze intense.

"I really like it," he said.

'You like it? Are you sure?'

He grabbed the desk intercom. "Carter, get the design team up here.

"Tell them this year's company anniversary party favor will be custom-made to look like this statue. And make it solid gold."

Carter nearly spit out his coffee.

I was totally dumbfounded.

'Solid gold? Are you kidding me? How ugly would that thing look in solid gold? Are you trying to ruin your company's image or what?'

Jackson hung up the phone and reverently placed the statue right at the corner of his desk, like it was some priceless treasure.

He took my hand and pressed a gentle kiss to it.

Jackson said, "Sweetheart, you really put thought into this.

"You remembered I've been busy with a new project, so you brought me a statue for good luck.

"This is the best gift I've ever received."

I was speechless.

I didn't mean that.

I wanted to gross you out with how hideous it was.

Looking at his face, practically satisfied about his girlfriend, for the first time, I seriously questioned my own talent for self-sabotage.

How could things go so wrong?