Chapter 1 · Paid to Leave, Forced to Stay

The CEO's first love just came back to town.

She threw a bank card at me and told me to get lost, never show my face again.

I choked back tears as I took the 1.5 million dollars, bought a ticket to Orindal that same night, and got ready to live it up.

But at the airport, she pinned me against the wall, her eyes red as she demanded, "Did I say you could run off?"

Come on, boss lady. Were you going to break my legs or not?

*****

Amber Romero stood in the entryway, her voice cold as she said, "He's back."

The sharp click of her heels echoed through the entryway. She hadn't even changed out of her shoes, and her brand-new Chanel trench coat still held a trace of the night's chill.

I was sprawled on the couch, playing a game on her massive 100-inch TV. Her words made my hand slip, and my character let out a scream as it fell off a cliff.

"Who?" I took off my headphones, still a bit confused.

Amber was my boss, my so-called roommate, and basically my meal ticket.

She was the kind of woman who could freeze anyone solid with just a look.

She rarely spoke to me in that emotionless, almost eerily calm tone, the kind that always meant trouble was coming.

Instead of answering, Amber pulled a black card from her purse and tossed it onto the coffee table.

The card hit the glass with a sharp, almost jarring sound.

She said coldly, "There's 1.5 million dollars in there. The PIN is your birthday. Take the money and disappear. Don't ever let me see you again."

I just froze.

1.5 million dollars? Seriously? Disappear?

I'd been by Amber's side for three years. From the days when she was just a stubborn kid fighting her family, to now, the queen CEO running a multi-billion dollar corporation.

I'd shared street food with her, and sipped wine worth ten thousand dollars a bottle.

Our relationship was... weird.

To everyone else, I was her driver and assistant.

But inside that fancy villa, I was the only person around. I cooked for her, sparred with her when she needed to vent, and played games in the living room on her sleepless nights, just so the place didn't feel dead.

We had a deal, a mutual support roommate contract.

She gave me a roof over my head and a fat paycheck, and I played the role of her fake boyfriend to keep her family off her case.

The three-year deal ended today.

And I knew exactly who "he" was. Edgar Greene.

Amber had been talking about him for three years. He was the guy in the only photo of her with a man on her phone, her first love, the one she never got over.

The guy who'd been studying abroad and was supposed to be coming back any day now.

So he really was back.

It turned out that in fairy tales, side characters like me really did get booted when the main love story kicked in.

I stared at that black card, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.

There was a flash of disappointment, but honestly, it was drowned out by a rush of freedom and wild joy.

1.5 million dollars. I was an orphan with nothing to my name. I never even dreamed of seeing this much money in my life!

Finally, luck's raining down on me!

I had to fight the urge to grin like an idiot and put on my best sad face.

I slowly sat up on the couch, giving her my best puppy eyes.

"Amber, can't I just stay?" I asked.

If I were going to play the part, I might as well go all in.

She already handed over the severance pay, so I had to act like I was reluctant to leave. I had to make it look like these three years meant something.

For a split second, Amber's eyes almost looked like she felt sorry for me.

But that hint of softness vanished, replaced by her usual icy glare.

"Vincent, don't make me say it again," she said, her voice cold as ever.

She paused, her voice went even colder. "If you cling to me, or show up in front of me again, I'll break your legs."

Holy crap. That was savage. That was straight out of a drama, like when the boss kicked out the villainess.

I never thought I'd get the villainess treatment myself.

My heart raced, not from fear, but from pure thrill.

The more savage her words, the more determined she was to get back with her first love. Which meant my 1.5 million dollars was basically locked in!

I dropped my head, shoulders twitching as I let out a sad, suppressed whimper.

I was using every ounce of willpower not to snort-laugh out loud.

"Okay... I'll go," I said, my voice trembling.

I picked up the black card with shaky hands, as if it weighed a ton.

"I hope you... can find happiness," I said.

Amber turned her head away, refusing to look at me.

She said, "I'll have my assistant pack up your stuff and toss it tomorrow. You need to leave now."

"No need," I replied, getting to my feet, my voice thick with fake emotion. "I don't really have anything... I'm leaving now."

With that, I walked out the villa door without looking back, making it look like I'd just been cast out by the whole world.

The moment the door closed behind me, all that fake sadness disappeared instantly.

Chapter 1

The CEO's first love just came back to town.

She threw a bank card at me and told me to get lost, never show my face again.

I choked back tears as I took the 1.5 million dollars, bought a ticket to Orindal that same night, and got ready to live it up.

But at the airport, she pinned me against the wall, her eyes red as she demanded, "Did I say you could run off?"

Come on, boss lady. Were you going to break my legs or not?

*****

Amber Romero stood in the entryway, her voice cold as she said, "He's back."

The sharp click of her heels echoed through the entryway. She hadn't even changed out of her shoes, and her brand-new Chanel trench coat still held a trace of the night's chill.

I was sprawled on the couch, playing a game on her massive 100-inch TV. Her words made my hand slip, and my character let out a scream as it fell off a cliff.

"Who?" I took off my headphones, still a bit confused.

Amber was my boss, my so-called roommate, and basically my meal ticket.

She was the kind of woman who could freeze anyone solid with just a look.

She rarely spoke to me in that emotionless, almost eerily calm tone, the kind that always meant trouble was coming.

Instead of answering, Amber pulled a black card from her purse and tossed it onto the coffee table.

The card hit the glass with a sharp, almost jarring sound.

She said coldly, "There's 1.5 million dollars in there. The PIN is your birthday. Take the money and disappear. Don't ever let me see you again."

I just froze.

1.5 million dollars? Seriously? Disappear?

I'd been by Amber's side for three years. From the days when she was just a stubborn kid fighting her family, to now, the queen CEO running a multi-billion dollar corporation.

I'd shared street food with her, and sipped wine worth ten thousand dollars a bottle.

Our relationship was... weird.

To everyone else, I was her driver and assistant.

We had a deal, a mutual support roommate contract.

She gave me a roof over my head and a fat paycheck, and I played the role of her fake boyfriend to keep her family off her case.

The three-year deal ended today.

And I knew exactly who "he" was. Edgar Greene.

Amber had been talking about him for three years. He was the guy in the only photo of her with a man on her phone, her first love, the one she never got over.

The guy who'd been studying abroad and was supposed to be coming back any day now.

So he really was back.

It turned out that in fairy tales, side characters like me really did get booted when the main love story kicked in.

I stared at that black card, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.

There was a flash of disappointment, but honestly, it was drowned out by a rush of freedom and wild joy.

1.5 million dollars. I was an orphan with nothing to my name. I never even dreamed of seeing this much money in my life!

Finally, luck's raining down on me!

I had to fight the urge to grin like an idiot and put on my best sad face.

I slowly sat up on the couch, giving her my best puppy eyes.

"Amber, can't I just stay?" I asked.

If I were going to play the part, I might as well go all in.

She already handed over the severance pay, so I had to act like I was reluctant to leave. I had to make it look like these three years meant something.

For a split second, Amber's eyes almost looked like she felt sorry for me.

But that hint of softness vanished, replaced by her usual icy glare.

"Vincent, don't make me say it again," she said, her voice cold as ever.

She paused, her voice went even colder. "If you cling to me, or show up in front of me again, I'll break your legs."

Holy crap. That was savage. That was straight out of a drama, like when the boss kicked out the villainess.

I never thought I'd get the villainess treatment myself.

My heart raced, not from fear, but from pure thrill.

The more savage her words, the more determined she was to get back with her first love. Which meant my 1.5 million dollars was basically locked in!

I dropped my head, shoulders twitching as I let out a sad, suppressed whimper.

I was using every ounce of willpower not to snort-laugh out loud.

"Okay... I'll go," I said, my voice trembling.

I picked up the black card with shaky hands, as if it weighed a ton.

"I hope you... can find happiness," I said.

Amber turned her head away, refusing to look at me.

She said, "I'll have my assistant pack up your stuff and toss it tomorrow. You need to leave now."

"No need," I replied, getting to my feet, my voice thick with fake emotion. "I don't really have anything... I'm leaving now."

With that, I walked out the villa door without looking back, making it look like I'd just been cast out by the whole world.

The moment the door closed behind me, all that fake sadness disappeared instantly.