Chapter 1
I spent three years with Jacob Quinn, a CEO. I was a stand-in for Celine Reed, the woman he could never get over. The day she came back from overseas, I took the money he handed me and vanished without a trace.
I was a nobody actress, and I was just in it for the money. My dream was simple. To save up enough, quit showbiz, and open a tiny, cozy restaurant.
Jacob's eyes turned red with rage. He shot back, "Is money all you care about? Would you really sell your pride just for money?"
I nodded and gave him the biggest, brightest smile. "Yep," I said. "Pride won't put food on the table. But money will."
After I made a graceful exit, Jacob completely lost it. He tore the world apart, hunting for me. He even broke down, crying on a cooking show, begging me to come back to him, live on national TV.
*****
The day Jacob's dream girl, Celine, got back from overseas, I was in the kitchen, making him a pot of slow-cooked beef stew.
The stew was bubbling in the pot. The whole house filled up with that warm, homey smell.
When he pushed the door open, he brought in the cold air from outside, along with a trace of some perfume I didn't recognize.
It definitely wasn't mine.
"She's back," Jacob said. His voice was flat, like what he was talking about had nothing to do with me.
I turned off the stove. I paused for a second while scooping the stew, then acted like nothing was wrong and poured it into a bowl.
"So, you still want the stew?" I asked.
He frowned. It seemed he didn't like how calm I was.
"Chloe, are you even listening? Celine is back," he snapped.
I put the bowl down in front of him, took off my apron, and gave him a practiced, professional smile.
"I get it, Mr. Quinn. So that means our arrangement is done, right?" I said.
Three years ago, Jacob hired me because I looked a lot like Celine.
The contract was very clear. I was just a substitute, playing the role of his girlfriend until his real love came back.
His eyes finally shifted. He went from blank to studying me, like he was trying to figure me out.
Jacob asked, "You don't have anything to say?"
I tilted my head, thought for a moment, then held out my hand. "Mr. Quinn, isn't it time to pay me the rest?" I said.
He'd probably never met a woman who could kill the mood like I could.
His face went dark right away. He pulled a black card out of his wallet and tossed it on the table.
"There's 15 million dollars on there. The PIN is your birthday. Now get lost," he said.
His words cut like a knife, but I didn't care.
I picked up the card, held it up to the light, and admired it like it was a piece of art.
Then I walked right up to him. He stared at me, shocked. I stood on my tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Mr. Quinn, thanks for being so generous these past three years. It's been a pleasure," I said.
I smiled, and this time, it was genuine.
Fifteen million dollars? That was enough to make me smile in my sleep.
But then he suddenly grabbed my wrist. His grip was so tight, like he wanted to crush my bones.
"Is money all you care about? Would you really sell your pride just for money?" Jacob's eyes were bloodshot, wild and furious, like a beast pushed to the edge.
I could feel the pain, but my smile never wavered. "Yep," I said. "Pride won't put food on the table. But money will."
I yanked my hand free, grabbed my already-packed suitcase, and walked out of that cage I'd been stuck in for three years. I didn't look back.
Behind me, I heard porcelain shatter with a loud crash.
I bet he never even touched that stew I made.