CHAPTER 2
Nelly’s POV
I had just finished my shift at the restaurant, wiping down tables when the manager walked in, looking serious.
“Listen up!” he called out. “Tomorrow is an important day, so I need you all to pay attention.”
We all stopped what we were doing and turned to him.
“The CEO of this restaurant, Jason Wilson, will be visiting. I need everyone to be on their best behavior.” With that, he turned and walked back to his office.
Excited whispers filled the air.
“Wow, this will be my first time seeing him!” one of the waitresses gushed.
“I’ve been working here forever and have only seen him once,” another added. “He’s cold but damn handsome.”
I glanced at my wristwatch—it was getting late. My other job was waiting. Without another word, I grabbed my bag and slipped out of the restaurant.
As soon as I walked into the dressing room of the brothel, Agnes whistled.
“Damn, Nelly, where have you been? You look stunning tonight.”
“Got held up at work.”
She smirked. “The boss wants to see you.”
That made me pause. The boss never called for anyone unless it was something important. I quickly dropped my bag and went to her office.
Boss—our madam—was a tough woman, built from fire and steel. People said her father sold her off as a teenager to pay his debts, but she clawed her way out and built this place from scratch. Now, she ran one of the most high-end brothels in the city.
She had been good to me since the day she found me crying in the bathroom. Ever since I told her about my situation, she made sure to send high-paying clients my way.
“Sit, Nelly,” she said, gesturing to the chair in front of her.
I obeyed, waiting as she finished a phone call.
“There’s a client willing to pay big,” she said finally, locking eyes with me. “You up for it?”
I grinned. “Of course, Boss.”
“Room 401. He’s waiting. Be good.”
I nodded and walked out.
---
In a short time, I had learned a lot about men. They were easy to handle—give them the right touch, and they melted. With my body? They never stood a chance.
I stepped into Room 401, my movements slow, calculated.
A deep voice broke the silence. “Are you the girl they sent?”
The tone alone sent a chill down my spine. I turned, and—damn.
A tall, dangerously handsome man sat on the couch, legs crossed, watching me with unreadable eyes.
I smirked, stepping closer, my voice sultry. “Are we doing this on the couch?”
He didn’t react. Just watched me.
I trailed my fingers down his chest, lower… The slight twitch beneath my touch made me smirk. Got him.
Leaning in, I whispered, “Come on, you don’t want to keep the big guy waiting.” I flicked my tongue over his earlobe, expecting him to finally give in.
Nothing.
He just sat there, staring.
A sliver of doubt crept in. Every other man would have been all over me by now.
Finally, he spoke. “I want to take a shower first.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Then you will take one too.”
I frowned. In all my time here, no man had ever asked for that. But I nodded and sat on the couch as he disappeared into the bathroom.
This was going to be a long night.
---
“You’re joking!” Sugar cackled, nearly splashing water out of the bathtub as we washed up the next morning.
“I swear, I was so confused,” I groaned. “He even made me shower too, like I was some dirty street girl.”
Sugar shook her head, still laughing. “Some clients are just weird. You’ve just never had one like that before.”
“Well, whatever. At least he paid well.”
After our bath, we got dressed and headed to the restaurant for our shift. I made a mental note to visit Grandma after work and make a deposit at the hospital.
---
The restaurant was packed, orders flying in, trays clattering, customers shouting. I was rushing from table to table when I noticed our manager heading to the entrance in a hurry.
Then came the whispers.
“That’s him.”
“The CEO.”
“Mr. Wilson, this way, please,” the manager said, leading a tall, powerful-looking man toward his office.
I barely glanced up until Sugar nudged me.
“Damn, he’s smoky hot,” she whispered. “Wouldn’t mind a night with him.”
I rolled my eyes. “You sleep with men every night, Sugar. What kind haven’t you had?”
She grinned. “That’s why they call me Sugar, baby.”
I chuckled, shaking my head—then stopped.
Something about the CEO’s presence made my skin prickle. His posture, his physique… something felt familiar.
I frowned, trying to place him.
Then he turned.
And my heart stopped.
“It’s him,” I whispered, eyes widening.
At the same moment, his gaze swept across the room—
And landed right on me.
**CHAPTER 3****Jason's POV**What is she doing here? I questioned in my head as I stepped into my mansion.The woman I had a one-night stand with is my employee. It's indeed a small world.Come to think of it, what would make a woman who has a job as a waitress turn to something as desperate as prostitution for her end-of-month paycheck?Women, I thought aloud, do they ever get satisfied? I reflected on my ex and my past relationship with a woman I loved deeply and committed so much to.What didn’t I do for her? What did she ask for that I didn’t fulfill?I would go to any length to make sure she was satisfied and happy.Was it sex? I gave her that.Was it money? I had plenty and gave her direct access to my bank card.Was it attention? Darn it, I gave her all of that. She was my first love—the only person in the world I've ever shown my vulnerability to.I guess she saw all of me and then took advantage of my weakness.Tears fell from my eyes at the thought of her betrayal.It's not
**CHAPTER 4****Jason POV**This is just a business transaction to them. They know very well that I'm not currently dating anyone, which is why they imposed this condition.How am I expected to find a woman and get married within a month? That only happens in movies and novels, not in real life.They want me to marry Diana to strengthen business ties, but have they considered my feelings about this?I've always known my parents expect me to do whatever they want, but not this time.As I sat in the car heading to my restaurant, my thoughts wandered. I was here to check on my business and see how it was faring, but I guess I’ll have to add finding a wife to my agenda.I picked up my phone and called my P.A."Mr. Wilson," Bryan answered the phone, sounding breathless. He must be enjoying his mini vacation, I thought to myself. Since there wasn't much work to do at the restaurant, I had given him some time off.“Get to work and find me a woman who's ready to sign a marriage contract lasti
CHAPTER 5Nelly POV"That damn woman, she thinks she can ruin my day and get me fired on the spot", I said, pacing in our dressing room raging inside."Damn her and damn her money. Just because she has the money doesn't mean she can go around bullying everybody"."Nelly you have to calm down", sugar said behind me."Calm down? Did you just tell me to calm down? I almost lost my job because of her and all you tell me is I should calm down", I retorted."This is not the first or second time she will be doing this to me. That was why she insisted I be the one to serve her. Never knew she got some plans up her sleeves." I snared."One day, just one day, if we ever crossed paths, I promised to pay her back full-time. She will regret this", I said with venom in my voice.It was at this point I heard my manager's voice. "Nelly Mr Wilson wants you in his office"."Sir, is there a problem? Did I do something wrong? I asked, worry dripping from my voice and written all over my face."I don't k
Nelly's POV "Marry him," he said as if he were suggesting something as casual as ordering a cup of coffee."Sir, come again, please," I demanded, my brows furrowing as I struggled to process his words. "You said…?""I said you should marry—"“I heard you clearly,” I snapped, interrupting him. "I'm just trying to understand why you would suggest something as serious as marriage. Why would I marry you?" I gestured between us, my voice rising slightly. "And how would that solve either of our problems?"His jaw clenched, his gaze shifting away. The air between us turned heavy."I'm being forced to marry someone I don't want to," he admitted, his voice quieter, shoulders tense."Forced?" I echoed, confusion twisting in my mind. Why would a grown man be forced into marriage?"So, you want a contract, wife?" I asked, carefully choosing my words. He was my boss, after all—I had to tread carefully."Don't you think it’s best to stand firm in your decision not to marry her? Or better yet, fin
"Did you just call me a bitch? Look in the mirror and ask yourself who really fits that title—you or me?" I shot back, my voice laced with disgust as I wiped my stinging cheek.Candice smirked, crossing her arms. "You know you owe me," she said, her voice dripping with mockery."Who is this… lowlife?" another woman beside her asked, eyeing me like I was something she scraped off her shoe.I rolled my eyes. Birds of a feather do flock together."Remember the girl I told you about? The one who ruined my dress at the restaurant?" Candice sneered. "Well, here she is."My fingers curled into fists at my sides. A small crowd had gathered, whispering and watching. It felt like déjà vu—another public humiliation, another moment where Candice played the victim while I was made to look like the villain."Accusing and harassing people must be your favorite pastime," I said, my voice steady despite the heat rising in my face. "I didn’t ruin your dress and you know it. You knocked my hands away on
Jason’s POVA WEEK AGO“Honey,” my father said gently, setting down his cutlery. “Remember, we invited him here for lunch. Let’s not turn this into a business discussion.”“Business discussion?” My mother’s voice shot up, disbelief written all over her face. “You call me caring about my son’s love life a business conversation?”“Love life?” I scoffed, gripping my fork tightly before slamming it onto the plate. The sound clattered through the dining room. “Mom, let’s be real—you don’t care about my love life. You never have.”Her lips pressed into a thin line, but I wasn’t done.“It’s always about business with you,” I continued, my voice rising. “Every decision you make for me isn’t about my happiness—it’s about the company. It always has been.”“Jason,” she warned, her tone sharp.“Don’t tell me how to speak,” I cut in coldly. “You’re the one pushing me to the edge.”She exhaled slowly, composing herself. “Alright then, tell me. What exactly is wrong with Diana? Why can’t you just st
CHAPTER 9Jason’s POV"I didn't invite you here," I said, striding toward the kitchen, my patience already wearing thin.Diana followed me, her heels clicking against the floor. "I called you several times, but you didn’t pick up," she whined. "Since you were ignoring me, I figured I’d surprise you."I scoffed, pulling open the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water. "A surprise? Or an ambush?" I twisted off the cap and took a sip, ignoring the way she was eyeing me like we were still something."This place hasn't changed a bit," she murmured, running her fingers over the edge of the couch. Then her gaze settled on me, her eyes softening. "It still feels like home."I clenched my jaw. "That’s funny, because you lost the right to call this place home a long time ago."Her expression faltered for a second before she plastered on a smile. "Jason, come on," she purred, taking a slow step toward me. "Don’t be like that.""Don't come closer," I warned, my voice low.She paused, pouting. "Why
CHAPTER 10“Auntie!” I gasped, stopping in my tracks as I stepped into Grandma’s hospital room. My heart thumped hard against my chest. I hadn’t expected to see my late father’s sister here—she rarely visited.She turned, offering me a small, strained smile. “Yes, dear. I was going to call you,” she said, opening her arms. “Come here.”I hesitated for a fraction of a second before stepping into her embrace. Her familiar scent—something like lavender and old books—wrapped around me, but there was a stiffness in her hold that didn’t go unnoticed.Pulling away, I turned to Grandma, whose wrinkled yet warm face softened when she saw me. “Grandma,” I breathed, bending to hug her frail frame. Her hands trembled slightly as she patted my back.“You two were talking before I came in,” I said, straightening up. My eyes flicked between them, catching the unspoken exchange between them. “What was it about?”“It was nothing,” Auntie said quickly, but the way she averted her gaze told me otherwise
NELLY'S POVSome questions aren’t meant to be answered—especially when the answer rips open a wound you’ve spent your whole life pretending didn’t exist.“Where are your parents?”The question hit me like a slap. Mr. Wilson’s voice was calm, almost casual, but his eyes? They were drilling holes straight through me.I froze, my hand clenching around my fork under the table. I blinked at the food on my plate but suddenly couldn’t tell rice from vegetables.“My parents…” I began, but my voice trailed off, thin and shaky.From across the table, Diana snorted. “Cat got your tongue?” Her voice was sweet poison. “He asked about your parents, dear. Or don’t you have any?”I swallowed hard, forcing down the lump rising in my throat.“I… I lost them when I was little,” I finally said, staring down at my plate. “Raised by my grandparents.”Silence.Not even the clink of a spoon.I hated talking about this—because how do you explain missing people you never really knew? My memories were made up o
Nelly’s POVI don’t know why my stomach won’t stop churning.The mansion stood tall and intimidating under the evening sky, its perfectly trimmed hedges and glowing windows a reminder that I didn’t belong here. Not really. Not in their world of luxury, old money, and sharp tongues hidden behind polite smiles.Jason parked the car, killing the engine in silence. For a moment, neither of us moved. The tension had followed us from the apartment, clinging to the air like perfume.He finally looked at me. “You okay?”I forced a smile. “I’m fine.”That was a lie.I wasn’t fine.Not with the knot twisting in my chest, or the pit in my stomach that told me tonight wasn’t just a dinner—it was a test.He reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my cheek for a beat longer than necessary.“We go in together,” he said firmly.I nodded. “Together.”We walked up to the front door, my heels clicking softly on the marble steps. When it opened, I was met wi
Nelly's POVTWO DAYS LATERThe last two days had been peaceful—no drama, no awkward silences. Just soft mornings, warm dinners, and shared looks across the table that made my heart flutter. But tonight? Tonight would be different.We were heading to dinner at Jason’s parents’ place.I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my dress for the hundredth time. Not too flashy, not too plain. Just the right amount of “fake wife” mixed with “respectable daughter-in-law.”“Nelly!” Jason’s voice echoed from downstairs.“Coming!” I called back, grabbing my handbag and hurrying out.When I reached the living room, he was already by the door, keys in hand. He didn’t even look at me.“You took long enough,” he muttered, turning the knob.My smile dropped. A compliment would’ve been nice. Hell, even a smirk. But no, classic Jason—cool and distant.Still, I followed him out. The evening air brushed against my skin as we stepped into the car. I couldn’t help sneaking glances at him while he drove. T
Nelly’s POVThe faint clatter of pans woke me.At first, I thought it was a dream—one of those soft, fleeting ones you don’t want to end. But the scent of something buttery and warm floated down the hallway, and I realized it was real.I rubbed my eyes, wrapped my robe tighter, and padded out of the room.The apartment was quiet, hushed like the early moments before a city fully wakes up. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting gold stripes across the walls. I followed the smell toward the kitchen, heart thudding—half from curiosity, half from last night’s still-lingering emotions.Jason was there.Shirtless. Barefoot. Frying eggs.I stopped at the entrance, my fingers gripping the edge of the doorway. He hadn’t noticed me yet.His back was to me, muscles shifting with every movement, and his hair was tousled—like he’d run his hands through it a thousand times overnight. There was a tiredness in the slope of his shoulders, but his movements were careful, almost... thoughtful.He
Nelly’s POVThe clock ticked louder than usual. I sat on the edge of the couch, arms wrapped tightly around my knees. The breakfast I made had gone cold hours ago, untouched. I didn’t even have the strength to clear it from the table.All I could think about was her—Diana.Her smug face. Her words.And Jason… walking out like I didn’t deserve answers.I waited.And waited.The sky turned orange, then grey.And finally, the door creaked open.Jason stepped in, loosening his tie like nothing had happened. He paused when he saw me sitting there, arms still folded, eyes locked on him like fire."You’re back," I said flatly.He gave a nod, ran a hand through his hair, and dropped his keys on the counter. "Yeah."“Do you have
Nelly’s POV“Gregg… Gregg… Gregg…”That damn alarm again. I groaned, reaching blindly for the clock on the nightstand and smacking it silent."Why did I even forget to turn it off? Or maybe I should just throw the damn thing away," I muttered, dragging myself out of the cozy bed. I hadn’t needed an alarm since moving in here. No more running to the restaurant. No more brothel. Just this quiet house, this new life that still felt too shiny to touch.I freshened up, fixed the bed, and took a slow walk around the room—my room.It was beautiful. Creamy walls. Huge windows that poured in sunlight like a blessing. A bed big enough for four Emilys. A bookshelf full of books Jason probably hadn’t touched. A vanity that looked like it belonged to a Hollywood starlet.Everything screamed money, class, and comfort.And for a second, I just stood there… soaking it in."This can't be my life," I whispered.But it was.I pulled my thoughts together and made my way to the kitchen. Maybe I’d cook br
Nelly's POVI watched him as he ate.The flickering chandelier light danced across Jason’s face, softening his usual sharp features. He didn’t speak much, but he kept reaching for more, tasting every dish like it was some gourmet feast.The silence wasn’t awkward—it was calming. Comfortable.A part of me couldn’t believe I made him a meal. A whole spread, actually. And he was enjoying it.I took a bite of the pepperoni pizza and let the crispy crust and gooey cheese distract me for a moment. My eyes kept drifting back to him though, and before I realized it, I was studying him again.He looked relaxed now—so different from the cold CEO I’d been dealing with lately. His tie was loosened, his sleeves rolled up, and his hair had that messy, just-showered look that made him even more distracting.But
JASON’S POVAm I being too hard on her? On myself?I leaned back in my office chair, staring at the ceiling like it held the answers. My mind was a mess—no structure, no calm. Just thoughts spinning, tugging me in a dozen directions.What did Nelly say that day again? Something about my mom warning her. I didn’t even let her finish before brushing her off.God. I should’ve listened.She looked hurt. No, more than hurt—disappointed. I hate that I caused that.And yet, every time I feel something real between us, every time I get too close, my mind drags me back to the past like chains around my neck.I can’t risk it again. That’s why I gave her those damn rules. I had to set boundaries. Protect both of us.But maybe I went too far.Snap! Snap!"Hey, Kobo for your thoughts, man?" Dave waved his fingers in front of my face before crashing into the chair opposite me.I gave him a side-eye. "Must you snap like that?""You were zoning out like a ghost," he grinned. "I thought you'd left thi
The cool breeze slipped through the open car window, brushing gently across my face as we drove down the quiet road. I leaned back into the seat, resting my head on the headrest, letting my eyes flutter shut for a moment.But I couldn’t escape my thoughts.His parents clearly didn’t approve of me. That much was obvious from the moment I stepped into their house. His mother looked at me like I was dirt on her designer shoes. His father didn’t say much, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes—he didn’t think I belonged.They probably had high hopes for that other woman Jason refused to marry. The one with the rich family and polished manners. Someone from their world.But if she’s such a perfect match, then why was Jason so against marrying her?I hesitated before speaking, afraid of overstepping. But I needed to know.“Your parents…” I said softly, glancing at him. “They don’t like me.”Jason didn’t even look at me. His eyes stayed fixed on the road. “Don’t worry about that.”My chest t