Liam Devereux
I stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of my penthouse, looking out at the New York skyline. The city was alive, buzzing with energy, but my mind was far from the dazzling lights below.
I hadn’t expected her to come.
The Sophie I remembered was too proud, too stubborn. She had once looked at me like I was her entire world, and then she had walked away without looking back.
I thought she’d rather die than crawl back to me, yet tonight, she sat in my penthouse, signed my contract, and took my money.
Desperation could make people do things they never thought they would.
A sharp knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. For a split second, I thought it might be her. Maybe she had second thoughts. Maybe she had come back to fight me on the terms of our deal.
But then I heard James’ voice.
“She just left.”
I gave a slight nod but didn’t turn around. I knew James was still standing there, waiting for me to say something.
After a few moments of silence, he spoke again. “Boss…” His voice held a note of curiosity. “Why did you do that? I thought you didn’t want the press to know about your private life. Why drag her into this?”
“She’s just a means to an end, James. Nothing more.”
I turned away from the window and sat on the edge of the bed, slipping off my shoes. James didn’t move. He was still standing there, watching me like he was trying to figure me out.
I let out a dry chuckle. “Vanessa is threatening to tell the media about us. With Sophie in the picture, Vanessa wouldn’t dare come out and tell them we were together. But if I’m single, and Vanessa exposes our past, she’ll become the center of attention.”
Understanding dawned in James’ eyes.
Vanessa is my ex-fiancee. The woman who wanted to play games with my reputation.
“But is this going to be worth it? That poor girl, Sophie, does she know what she’s gotten herself into?” James asked after a pause.
I didn’t respond.
“Boss…” He hesitated before speaking again. “She mentioned Lucas. Is she the woman you told me about?”
A sharp grunt left my lips. My gaze snapped to his. He realized his mistake immediately. “I— I didn’t mean—”
“She is,” I interrupted, my voice cold. “Now you see why she deserves it, don’t you?”
James didn’t answer, but his expression told me he didn’t agree.
I didn’t care.
I wanted Sophie to feel the same pain I felt when she left. The same emptiness. The same betrayal. If she thought she could come back into my life, take my money, and leave unscathed, she was sorely mistaken.
“What about Lucas?” James asked hesitantly.
“I don’t care about him.”
“But, boss—”
“This conversation is over.” My voice dropped into a dangerous tone.
He left without another word, closing the door behind him.
Just then, my phone buzzed again. It’s a message from Vanessa.
“Just landed in New York. See you tomorrow, baby.”