Chapter 3
Just like that, I became Alexander's kept woman.
Sweet, pretty, considerate—never overdoing it, just enough charm to make him want to spoil me.
I needed him, loved him, and made sure he knew I'd never leave.
Claire was always out of reach. But me? I was real. I was here.
Alexander spoiled me senseless, treating me like I was his entire world.
He'd take me on shopping trips for clothes and bags, sparing no expense on luxury goods as if it were nothing.
I was pampered into a princess; he even willingly joined Reed Holdings just to support my spending.
He went from a trust fund brat to a young boss—too busy running the company to pull dangerous stunts anymore.
Carol was thrilled. Every time she got happy, she'd slip me a fat bonus.
I was more than happy to keep Alexander smiling.
The only catch? After he'd have his fun with me each night, I had to wait for him to fall asleep before sneaking out to log my work report.
I took my job seriously.
I'd analyze his moods, track his recovery, and plan treatment steps.
Everything he did—what he ate, how many times he smiled—I documented it all.
Diligent and consistent. Two years straight, never missed a day.
Carol was completely satisfied with my work ethic.
When things got intense between Alexander and me, he'd go soft. "Baby, I love you so much. Will you marry me?"
But I always knew—a substitute was always a substitute.
Once Claire came back, I'd collect my final check and call it quits.
My phone chimed, interrupting my typing.
[Latest update @brokeaf]
There were two sneaky photos attached.
The intel guy I hired was solid—even from a thousand feet away, crystal clear shots.
Claire was in a white dress, pure and perfect, straight out of a fairytale.
She hadn't changed a bit.
Alexander, in a black suit, tall and handsome, was staring at her from across the street.
The whole scene screamed destiny.
Their chemistry radiated right through the screen.
Second photo: already wrapped in each other's arms.
Claire was wrapped up in Alexander's arms, giving him that lovestruck look.
Alexander was smiling at her, totally smitten.
The old flame seemed to be burning bright again.
Even through the screen, I wanted to congratulate the lovebirds.
With this development, I turned my daily log into a final report—time to wrap things up.
I pasted those two photos right into my report.
Then I fired it off to the boss.
[Boss, Alex's mood is excellent—full recovery. Treatment complete.]
Boss: [Legend!]
[Come by tomorrow to sign off and collect your final check.]
[Got it, boss.]
To celebrate, I dug into the birthday cake on the table for a late-night snack.
That cake cost 30 grand—every bite tasted like money.
Birthdays? Honestly, they never mattered to me.
I hadn't celebrated one in years.
I was too excited to sleep a wink, tossing and turning all night.
The next morning, I dragged myself to work with dark circles under my eyes, bundled up in layers.
Up in the CEO's office on the top floor, I watched Carol sign a check with more zeros than I'd ever seen in my life.
After two years walking on eggshells, I could finally breathe. The nightmare was over.
"Sophie, you've shown how capable you are. Why not come work at Reed Holdings?" Carol gave me a warm smile.
I knew she was testing me. I grinned. "Finally got my hands on real money—why would I go back to work? I'm moving abroad. Already picked a place, just waiting to sign the papers."
Carol's smile widened. "Sounds wonderful. When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow."
Before I could even leave the building, I ran into someone I knew.
I never expected to see Alexander here—he was supposed to be off being lovey-dovey with Claire.
He hated lies more than anything. And honestly? I hadn't said a single honest word to him.
If he caught on, he'd lose it and make my life miserable.
Good thing I was decked out in full disguise today—mask and all. Even my own mother wouldn't recognize me.
I brushed past him along the wall, my heart thudding in my throat.
"Sophie?"
When I heard that familiar voice, my heart sank. Screwed.
But I kept playing it cool and kept moving.
Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist. "How dare you ignore me? What are you doing here?"
He spun me around, forcing me to meet his eyes.
My mask hid half my face, and I hadn't even bothered with makeup—my dark circles and bloodshot eyes were impossible to hide. I looked awful.
Alexander frowned. "So you came here to stir up trouble with my mom just because I missed your birthday?"
Seriously, what was he even thinking? I muttered, "No... I just wanted to find a job."
I swear, I was actually telling the truth.
He sneered, "Isn't my money enough for you? It's not like I've stopped supporting you, so what's with the job hunt?"
Sorry, but I was out—time to bail.
Seeing I didn't respond, he thought I was still sulking and softened his tone. "Go home and get yourself ready. You're coming with me to dinner tonight."
He'd ditched me last night, and now he wanted me to go out with him?
Carrot and stick. Classic.
But hey, I was just doing my job. He paid enough, so playing the perfect kept woman was exactly my duty.
"Okay." I nodded sweetly.