Chapter 2

"Well, here's to you two growing old together. Maybe you'll even end up dying side by side in some rundown slum," I said.

Morgan let out a soft laugh, her eyes full of sarcasm and disdain.

She challenged, "Seraphina, if you're so tough, then stop hiding behind the Miller Group's power to push Keenan around and make him give in.

"We're both women, so why not play fair? Let's see who can actually capture Keenan's heart."

So that was what Morgan was really after when she called me.

Looked like she was only interested in sharing Keenan's good fortune, but had no intention of sticking with him through the hard times.

"So seducing people is your talent? Well, making bank is what I do best," I shot back. "Besides, I never intended to make some loser submit."

I added, "I'm just taking back what's rightfully mine."

With that, I hung up and shot Keenan a look.

"Cut the act. No matter what smooth talk you try, I'm not letting up," I said. "And about men—do you really think you're the only guy out there?"

I grabbed Payton, my assistant, who had just walked in, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him.

It wasn't that I was blindly confident. I just knew Payton was the kind of assistant who always followed orders without question.

At this moment, he wouldn't dare to push me away.

But I hadn't expected that, just a few seconds after I pressed my lips to his, Payton went from passive to taking charge. He even opened his mouth to kiss me back.

Keenan must've seen it too. His ego couldn't handle it, so he suddenly rushed over and yanked us apart.

"Sera, you really don't have to stoop so low just to piss me off," Keenan said.

I scoffed, "You're reading too much into this. I just don't love you anymore."

Five years ago, Keenan was working at the company that was my nemesis back then.

The first time I ever laid eyes on him, he was getting absolutely roasted by my rival.

Maybe I just wanted to make my rival miserable, or maybe I felt guilty—he was getting cursed out so badly, all because of me.

After all, I was busy plotting to swallow up their whole operation at the time.

Anyway, when I saw him just standing there with his head down, taking all that crap from my rival without saying a word, I jumped in before I even knew what I was doing.

I stood up for him and fired back at my rival, then hooked him up with a new job at the company.

That was when he started chasing after me, promising he'd work his ass off to be someone worthy of me.

I was no rookie in the business world. There was no way I'd just trust some random guy, especially since we were worlds apart when it came to social class.

But somehow, he managed to win me over with his genuine heart and persistence.

But back then, I had no idea he was actually up to no good.

Just like now, he still didn't get it. I could clip the wings he thought he'd grown, any time I wanted.

I shrugged off my blouse, leaving me in just a form-fitting slip dress.

Then I wrapped my arms around Payton.

"Keenan, we're not done here. Mind closing the door on your way out?" I said.

"So you're dumping me for that pathetic assistant? Fine, we'll see who gets the last laugh," Keenan sneered.

Keenan shot me a nasty look and walked out.

I couldn't be bothered to care. Just as I reached for my blouse, out of nowhere, a force at my waist pulled me straight into a solid embrace.

Payton's lips found mine again.

I pushed him away, my voice cold.

"What, getting a little too into your role?" I snapped.

He stayed silent, not making another move.

But there was a strange flicker in his eyes I couldn't quite place.

For some reason, a twinge of guilt crept up on me out of nowhere.

Sure, I was used to ordering Payton around, but this was the first time I'd taken advantage of him so openly.

I buried the feeling and slipped right back into my usual cool self.

"How fast can you bring him down?" I asked.

Yeah, I meant my loser ex, Keenan.

"Three days," Payton said.

I nodded, pleased with that.

The next morning, before Payton had a chance to check in with me, Kailynn was already at my door.

She had been my best friend for more than ten years and one of just two people who ever knew about my love life.

She hadn't even made it through my front door before her mouth got here first.

"Keenan is such an asshole! Girl, you must have the worst luck ever to end up with a boyfriend like him," Kailynn said.

Unbothered, I replied, "Anyway, he's just my ex now."

"Sera! An ex should be dead to you! So why is he still out there, spreading rumors that you've got some messy love life?" Kailynn exclaimed.

Five years ago, I'd just taken over the Miller Group and was still finding my feet.

At a business dinner, drinks were flowing, and one of the guys from a partner company was obviously tipsy. He tried to get me to link arms for a toast, acting like it was all just a joke.

"Calling you Miss Miller sounds too formal. How about I just call you Sera from now on?" he said.