When I landed back in the States after three years abroad, my childhood sweetheart was now a billionaire CEO, dating my doppelgänger. His mom hit me up immediately: "Ten million dollars. Get back with my son." I politely declined. "Mrs. Sterling, you know the rules. A proper 'the one that got away' stays away. I'm supposed to be dead to him." "One hundred million. Are you in or out?" "Say less. Satisfaction guaranteed." 1 The day I touched down at JFK, my phone lit up with a call from a number saved as "Sugar Mama." I smirked and answered. "Hi, Mrs. Sterling." Yep. My ex-boyfriend's mom is my primary investor. She’s the angel who funded my "study abroad" escape plan. "Chloe, I'll give you ten million dollars. Get back with Liam." "Mrs. Sterling, come on. Liam and I broke up three years ago. Plus, have you seen inflation? Even pork prices are up." "...Thirty million. Drive that little girlfriend of his away." "Mrs. Sterling, you know the drill. As a qualified 'white moonlight'—his first love—I’m supposed to be a ghost. How could I meddle in their relationship?" She knew my style. Silence on the other end for a few seconds, then she gritted her teeth. "One hundred million. Do we have a deal?" Damn. Sugar Mama doesn't play. I agreed instantly. "No problem. Consider it done." She hung up immediately, like speaking to me was physically painful. Two minutes later, a notification popped up. Deposit received: $30,000,000. Gotta love a repeat customer. Pre-payment is standard procedure. I stared at the long string of zeros in my bank app, grinning like an idiot. On the airport TV screens, a news ticker flashed: [Billionaire CEO Liam Sterling drops $50 million on Malibu mansion for actress Seraphina Rose.] I looked up and saw that familiar face. Three years later, Liam had leveled up. The boyish softness was gone, replaced by a cold, sharp edge. He looked like a man who could ruin your life with a signature. Next to him was Seraphina Rose. A gorgeous actress who looked about 50% like me. I chuckled. Liam, you cliché. Playing the "replacement" trope? 2 Three years ago, my parents died in a car crash. My family’s company went bankrupt. I was eighteen, orphaned, and kicked to the curb by vultures posing as relatives. In the pouring rain, Liam pulled me into his arms. "Chloe, don't be scared. I'll protect you." I held onto him, soaking up his warmth. Back then, he was just a kid. He had nothing but a sincere heart. He offered it to me on a silver platter. But in the real world? A sincere heart is worthless. So when his mom found me, slapped a ten-million-dollar check on the table, and told me to leave, I didn't hesitate. The day I left, Liam called me a hundred times. He begged. "Chloe, don't go. I'll take care of you, okay? Please, don't leave me!" It was the first time I heard the big-brother figure of my childhood cry. I comforted him gently, told him to be a good boy, and then blocked his number. 3 I sent my resume to the jewelry design firm owned by Sterling Corp, rented an apartment nearby, and started doing my homework on the last three years. Holy crap. For the first two years, Liam grinded. He went from the overlooked heir to the iron-fisted CEO in record time. My childhood friend became a tyrant, completely sidelining his own mother in the company. As for meeting Seraphina? Pure soap opera drama. A year ago, Seraphina was a nobody. Her shady agent tricked her into attending a "networking" party to sell her off to some old pervert. Liam, playing the white knight, saved her. Since then, the stoic CEO has been obsessed. He takes her to galas, feeds her resources, and spoils her rotten. They haven't officially announced it, but everyone knows. "CEO and the Starlet?" I scrolled through fanfiction written by netizens. "Damn, the writing isn't bad." The lore was basically public knowledge. Seraphina's backstory: Orphanage kid, mid-tier college, hustled from extra to leading lady. Very inspirational. Liam's devotion: Buying her diamonds, dresses, mansions. Getting her roles. The conflict: Mama Sterling hates Seraphina. Liam fights his mom for her. Now I understood why Sugar Mama called me the second I landed. Back then, Liam just defied her to date me—a bankrupt orphan. She threw money at me to make me disappear. Now, he's sidelining her for his new toy? She probably wants to murder Seraphina. 4 I settled in with my new Samoyed puppy from the pet store. I rubbed his fluffy head. "Money! Money! Who's a good boy?" His name is Money. Manifestation, people. My phone rang. "Ms. White? Your application has been approved. When can you start?" "Tomorrow works." I hung up and kissed the dog. "Lucky boy! The money is literally coming!" The next morning, I put on my "corporate baddie" outfit and walked into Sterling Tower. "Whoa! Are you Chloe?" A girl with a ponytail bounced over. "I'm Jess! I'm obsessed with your designs! Especially the 'Rose Poetry' collection! I can't believe we're coworkers!" I smiled. "Thanks. That's my favorite too." After all, the inspiration for 'Rose Poetry' was Liam. Jess was super bubbly, filling me in on office gossip. Two days later, Jess sprinted to my desk. "Did you hear? The Big Boss is coming for an inspection this morning!" "Which boss?" "Liam Sterling! And rumor has it he's bringing his girlfriend." Liam and Seraphina? I immediately grabbed my makeup bag and headed to the restroom. I thought I'd need time to get close to him. Who knew he'd deliver himself to my doorstep? Ex-girlfriend reunion rules: You must look better than them. 5 The floor was buzzing until the elevator dinged. Liam walked out holding Seraphina's hand, fingers interlaced. Jess nudged me. "Hey, zone back in! Manager wants the design team in the conference room." I walked in. Liam sat at the head of the table, looking sharp in a suit that probably cost more than my car. When we walked in, he glanced at the door. Our eyes met. I wondered how he'd react. He just looked away, indifferent. Like I was a stranger. A pang of bitterness hit my chest. I ignored it and sat down. The manager was bowing and scraping. "Mr. Sterling, Ms. Rose, the design team is here." Liam looked at Seraphina. "You pick." Seraphina smiled at us. "Sorry to bother everyone. Liam insisted on designing our one-year anniversary gift personally." Barf. "I smell the stench of love," Jess whispered. "By the way... is it just me, or do you and his girlfriend look kinda alike?" Before I could answer, Seraphina spoke up. "I heard Chloe just joined the team. Can I meet her?" I stood up, smiling. "Hi. Chloe White." Seraphina looked surprised. "I love your work! I didn't realize we had similar taste and similar faces!" 6 Provocation? Definitely. She wasn't as innocent as the fanfics claimed. Whatever. I'm not a saint either. "Yeah," I said, tucking hair behind my ear. I looked straight at Liam. "I'm surprised too. Three years later, Mr. Sterling's taste hasn't changed a bit." I smiled sweetly. "Swapped the person, kept the model." Seraphina's face fell. Liam couldn't sit still anymore. He stared at me with cold, dead eyes. "I'm not like some people. Flipping a switch, heartless and cruel." The colleagues exchanged glances. The tea was piping hot. "Chloe, you're funny." Seraphina stepped between us, blocking Liam's view. She forced a smile. "So, it's decided! Liam's anniversary gift for me... I'll leave it in your hands!" She emphasized "anniversary gift" like she was marking territory. Sorry, girl. I'm immune. "You're welcome. Remember to pay the 30% deposit upfront." Strictly business. Even the boss's girlfriend follows protocol. The room went silent. The bald manager looked like he wanted to laser-eye me into oblivion. Liam stood up, radiating menace. He sneered. "Don't worry. You'll get what's yours." He stormed out. The manager sighed. "Chloe White, what did you see in Mr. Sterling's exit?" Me: "Tall, dark, and handsome?" "Wrong! Rage!" The manager face-palmed. "A great career path right in front of you, and you torched it!" Colleagues looked at me with pity or glee. Jess looked worried. "Chloe... being blunt is cool, but in corporate, you gotta play the game." "Me?" I pointed at myself. "Oh, I'm playing the game. Hard." My phone buzzed on the table. Unknown number. I picked up. A stranger's voice. "Ms. White? This is Mr. Sterling's assistant. He has a message for you." "Wow," I said. "Bosses are so arrogant these days. Can't even speak for themselves?" Silence. Two seconds later, a familiar, gritty voice came through the speaker. "Chloe. If you want the deposit, unblock my number."
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