Chapter 1
Three years ago, my boyfriend, Nathan Reed, proposed to me, and then out of nowhere, he broke up with me.
The next morning, I saw him coming out of a hotel, hand in hand with the heiress Kaylee Lawson.
I went up to confront him, but he shoved me aside and sneered, "I must've been blind to choose you. Kaylee's family owns a company.
"I can start working with her right after graduation. Being with you would only drag me down."
Seeing I wouldn't let it go, Kaylee snatched a wad of cash from her purse and slapped it right across my face.
She sneered, "You're just some trashy hick from the countryside. Nobody in their right mind would ever want you."
Three years later, I inherited my family's auction house and became the famous Miss Richardson everyone talked about.
At the auction house, I encountered Nathan and Kaylee.
They were busy showing off, boasting about how well they knew the auction house's owner.
With a calm smile, I walked over and asked, "Since when did we become such close friends?"
*****
"Miss Richardson, some guests are causing trouble in the private suite on Floor B. They're demanding to see the auction items ahead of time," one of my staff informed me.
Honestly, the guests on Floor B weren't exactly my top-tier clients.
But they were still guests, and I had to show them some respect.
So, as I walked in, I brought along a plate of elegantly arranged fruit.
The moment I stepped into the suite and saw who was inside, I was stunned. I couldn't believe my eyes.
Seriously? What a small world.
The ones causing all the commotion were none other than Kaylee and my ex, Nathan.
When Nathan and I first got together, he wasn't the kind of guy who chased after wealth and power.
His family was poor, and he had an elderly, sick mother to look after.
But even with all that, he never lost hope, always hustling to provide for himself and his mom.
He even promised me a happy, stable future.
That was why I chose him. He was positive, driven, and always put his family first.
But ever since Kaylee came into the picture, he changed.
I just couldn't wrap my head around how that confident yet modest, bright-eyed guy I once knew could turn into a social climber chasing after the rich and powerful.
For a whole month after we broke up, I even thought about revealing my true background to him, letting him know I could help him out.
But he blocked me everywhere, like he couldn't stand the sight of me anymore.
But it was all in the past.
Kaylee recognized me instantly. She let out a little laugh, clearly amused, and didn't hesitate to start mocking me.
"Honey, isn't this the ex who just couldn't get over you?" she said, her tone full of smugness.
Kaylee made a point of snuggling up close to Nathan, making sure I saw exactly who she was with as she looked me up and down.
"It's been three years, and I thought you'd be living a high life by now. But look at you, just stuck here handing out fruit like a waitress. Real impressive," she sneered.
As she spoke, she waved her hand in my face, making sure I saw the diamond on her ring finger.
But for some reason, Nathan's face went pale the moment he saw me.
But Kaylee didn't notice that anything was off. She just kept piling on the insults.
"So, how much do you make in a month now? Bet you don't even make as much in a month as I threw at your face back then. Want me to do it again today?" she taunted.
As soon as she finished, her posse burst out laughing, clearly enjoying the show.
I pushed down my anger, not wanting to have anything more to do with her.
Keeping my tone cool, I said, "I heard you all wanted to see the auction items ahead of time.
"Sorry, but you're not members yet, so you'll have to wait until the auction starts."
With that, I turned to leave.
It was the big opening day of the auction, and there was no way I was letting them mess up my vibe.
As for Nathan, I had really been over him.
I wished he and Kaylee would find their happiness.
Just as I was about to step out, a voice barked, "Wait a minute!
"You think you can just hand us a plate of fruit and send us packing? Do we look like beggars to you? We're the big shots here today!"
The one mouthing off was Kaylee's number one sidekick, Pablo Parker.
As he spoke, he strode forward and stretched out his arm, blocking my path.
Kaylee's eyes sparkled with mischief as she watched the scene unfold.
"With that kind of attitude, it's no wonder you're still stuck as a waitress after all these years. There's nobody else here to serve us, so you'll be our personal waitress tonight," she said, her voice full of mockery.
I turned around, keeping it professional.
"Sorry, but I'm swamped today. I don't have time to wait on you," I said.
As soon as I finished, the whole room burst out laughing, like I'd just told the funniest joke of the year.
"A waitress making just a grand a month says she's too busy to serve us? That's interesting!" someone cackled.
Kaylee was doubled over with laughter, barely able to catch her breath as she mocked, "Can you even afford rent with that salary?
"My family's got an apartment about a twenty-minute ride from here, and we need a maid. Interested?"
I gave her a frosty stare and said, "No, thanks. I actually live upstairs at the auction house."
My place was the penthouse on top, which was 2,000 square feet all to myself, super convenient for work, too.
Honestly, Kaylee's apartment was nothing special, but she sure acted like it was some palace.
Just then, Kaylee's other sidekick, Stefan Waller, chimed in with a sneer.
"She's offering you a job as her maid, and you don't even know how to bow in gratitude? Living in the penthouse of the auction house and acting all proud, you're really so low," he mocked.
After that, Stefan nudged Nathan, trying to stir things up even more.
"Nathan, if you hadn't latched onto Kaylee back then, you'd probably be stuck working as a waiter, making just one thousand dollars a month, too," he laughed.