Chapter 2

The next day, Sophia didn't go out.

She stayed home and obsessed over that watch.

It was a Patek Philippe, an entry-level model that cost 70 thousand dollars.

She sat there with her tablet, flipping through photos over and over again while muttering to herself.

"This blue dial is so gorgeous. Ryan's definitely going to love it. I wonder if the boutique has it in stock."

I was sitting on the couch next to her, flipping through a finance magazine.

That was when her sister Emily's call came through.

Sophia put it on speaker. "Hey, Emily."

"Sophie, how'd it go? Did you talk to Alexander?" Emily's voice sounded eager and a little rushed.

"I did, yeah." Sophia's tone had this smug little edge to it. "He said yes, and he even told me to let him know if I needed more money."

"I knew it!" Emily's voice shot up about eight octaves. "Alexander loves you, so of course he's not going to say no. You're just too careful about everything."

Sophia laughed, "I just didn't want him to get the wrong idea."

"Wrong idea about what? You and Ryan are completely innocent, and you've got nothing to hide," Emily said like she was stating the obvious. "Plus, Alexander's loaded. What's 70 thousand dollars to him? It's pocket change!

"Men are supposed to be generous, and if he's going to nitpick over this kind of money, then what's the point of even dating him?"

I turned the page of my magazine.

There was an article about a tech company going public.

That company was registered under my name.

Of course, Sophia and Emily had no idea about that.

In their eyes, I was just some trust fund kid who'd inherited the family business and spent his days doing absolutely nothing.

"You're right, Emily." Sophia sounded convinced. "I'll go check out the boutique this afternoon."

"Yes, go! Oh, and don't actually use your own money, that'd be stupid." Emily started coaching her. "Just swipe that black card Alexander gave you, and let him know you're not being distant with him."

"Is that... okay?" Sophia hesitated a little.

"What's wrong with it? His money's meant for you to spend, isn't it? You're actually building intimacy and making him feel needed. Get it?

"Trust me on this. I've been through it all, and I wouldn't steer you wrong."

I listened to the phone conversation and found the whole thing pretty amusing.

Here was a woman who'd married some average salary man and worried about groceries every day, acting like she was some expert and teaching a girl who was basically being kept by an elite billionaire how to manipulate said billionaire.

It was honestly the best joke I'd heard all year.

"Okay, I'll listen to you, Emily."

Sophia hung up the phone and turned to look at me with bright, sparkling eyes.

"Lex, I want to go shopping this afternoon. Will you come with me?"

"I've got some stuff at the company. Can't make it," I said without looking up.

"Oh..." She sounded disappointed. "Then I'll ask Emily to go with me."

"Mm."

She got up and went back to the bedroom to change.

I closed my magazine and tossed it onto the coffee table.

My phone buzzed.

It was a message from my assistant.

[Mr. Quinn, do you need us to monitor the spending activity on Ms. Gale's supplementary black card today?]

I typed back two words.

[Not necessary.]

The card I'd given her had no spending limit.

Forget 70 thousand dollars—she could charge seven million dollars or even 70 million dollars if she had the guts, and the transaction would go through.

I wanted to see just how big her appetite really was, or more accurately, how ambitious her sister Emily was.

Emily—I'd met her a few times, and every time she looked at me, it was like she was staring at a walking gold mine.

Her brainwashing of her little sister had been incredibly effective.

She was the one who told Sophia that if a man really loved you, he should spend money on you.

She was the one who told Sophia that a man's boundaries could be constantly tested and pushed.

She was the one who told Sophia that guys like me were total suckers for the "innocent, kind-hearted, loyal friend" act.

So Sophia played this role in front of me—a little naive, a little ditzy, someone who'd give her heart and soul to her friends, the classic "silly girl."

She thought I was buying it.

The truth was, I was just watching the show and waiting to see how these two sisters would push themselves right off the edge of a cliff.

That afternoon, the purchase notification came through.

[Your card has been charged 238,000.]

The charge came from a Patek Philippe boutique.

Perfect.

The fish had taken the bait, and now it was time to let out the line.

That evening, Sophia came home carrying shopping bags in both hands, and her face was lit up with excitement she couldn't hide.

She walked right up to me and held out an elegant little box.

"Lex, this is for you."

I raised an eyebrow and opened it.

Inside was a Hermès tie that probably cost around 15 hundred dollars.

So she'd spent 70 thousand of my dollars and bought me a 15-hundred-dollar tie in return.

What a great deal.

"Do you like it? I saw it while I was out shopping and thought it would look perfect on you," Sopia said with a bright smile.

She was staring at me with this hopeful expression on her face.

"It's fine." I closed the box and set it aside without much thought.

Her expression froze for a second, and I could tell she thought my reaction was way too bland.

"Lex, what's wrong? Are you upset about something?"

"No."

I stood up. "I'm gonna go take a shower."

I walked past her, and I could smell her perfume mixed with this weird combination of satisfaction and guilt.

She stood there behind me for a long time, but I didn't turn around.

I knew exactly what she was thinking.

She was wondering why I hadn't gotten all excited over her little gift like I used to, and she was wondering if I was actually mad at her.

Poor girl. I wasn't mad.

I just figured it was time to move this whole show into the next act.