Olivia’s POV

    “These things take time,” Chase said. “I can’t just rush this.”

    “Why the hell not?” Olivia demanded. “You rush it with everyone else you’ve ever slept with. Why is this

    one different?”

    “Because this one is not as receptive to my charms as the bored housewives of the high society,” he argued, with some passion. Enough to give Olivia pause.

    “Careful, Chase,” she said, “Or I’m going to assume that you might actually be developing feelings for this

    bitch.”

    Knowing Chase, the idea wasughable. He was a yboy through and through, and was entirely unable to develop feelings for anyone. If he was capable, he would have gained those feelings for Olivia a long time ago. After all, why wouldn’t he? She was the best he was ever going to have.

    Chase only cared about two things: himself, and money.

    Olivia had the money that kept Chase’s affections and his loyalty. She was deeply annoyed now that it seemed like he was having second thoughts to the n they had already agreed to.

    “This isn’t about feelings,” Chase said, spitting out the word like it personally offended him. “But I’m not a brute, Olivia. I’m not going to force myself on someone who doesn’t want me.”

    “Everyone has always wanted you right away before,” Olivia said. “What’s the damn hold up here?”

    “The hold up,” Chase said, “is that Amber isn’t like the other women. She’s careful. As a single mother, who can me her? She doesn’t just fuck around… Besides, didn’t you say you wanted her to fall in love

    with me?”

    “Yes, by using the power of your dick,i” /iOlivia said tly, ring at him. “Instead it seems like you are actually courting her.”

    “It’s part of the process,” Chase replied. “Someone like Amber isn’t going to fall for the lines. She needs something seemingly more genuine.”

    That particr quip was a low blow for Olivia, who only really needed a good look at Chase to want him in her bed. Did he think that Amber was better than her somehow, because she was good at ying hard

    to get?

    “You talk about her with a bit of awe in your voice,” Olivia said, her words growing cold. “Do you even hear yourself?”

    “It’s not like that,” Chase said quickly.

    “Then prove it,” Olivia snapped. “Do not forget your one and only objective here. You are to make that bitch your love ve, get her drunk off your dick, and then drop her t. While she’s chasing after you, Julian will finally see her for the lowly slut she is and move on with someone better. Me.”

    It wasn’t a n without ws, but Olivia was growing more and more desperate. With Julian and Amber’s rtionship seemingly growing stronger all the time, she had to do something ito /isplit them up once and

    for all, and fast.

    Rather than putting all her eggs in one basket, she was spreading them around. Chase was just one of many ns in the works, though presently his was the most expensive.

    “Amber is a challenge,” Chase said. “But the situation isn’t impossible. I’m sure I can win her over with just a bit more time.”

    “I’m growing impatient, Chasei,/ii” /iOlivia told him. “If I don’t start seeing some results, perhaps we will have to renegotiate the amount we agreed on for this task.”

    Chase stilled, his face going somewhat pale.

    Olivia took no great pleasure in threatening Chase. She was even mildly fond of him at least of his efforts in bed. But he was just one cog in the clock of her mastern, and she was tired of him being a

    money sink.

    “Results,” Olivia said, doubling down. “Today. Or I will send you back to the city and cut all funds, got it?”

    Chase lowered his head, showing some shame. Olivia scoffed. A man who sold his body and his morals to maintain his luxurious lifestyle shouldn’t have any shame left.

    “Answer me,i” /ishe said, annoyance showing.

    “I got it, I got it,” Chase said quickly. There was a spark of defiance in his eyes, something that irritated Olivia further. Somehow, she still had yet to fully break his spirit, even if she did have it mostly chained at the moment. The chains were made of money. “Are we done?”

    This brat.

    “Go first,i” /iOlivia said, barking her orders now. “I will take longer so no one suspects.”

    Chase didn’t talk back this time. He just walked away.

    Olivia watched him, frowning.

    He was nearing the end of his usefulness.

    Amber’s POV

    At the table, with dinner finished and dessert wrapping up, I was ready to call a night to this whole sorted evening. What an emotional roller–coaster. I was utterly exhausted.

    Soon, everyone started to say their goodbyes as we stood from the table. Some people lingered, but many started for the door.

    “Amber,” Julian said. He was moving around the table toe and speak to me, but Olivia caught him by the arm before he could make it.

    Wasn’t that the way it always seemed to be?

    Julian could never quite get around Olivia toe to my side.

    Chase appeared beside me. With a wide grin, he offered me his arm once more. “Does my queen need an

    escort to her car?”

    His charm made Alice giggle. That, coupled with the fact that she was still holding the stuffed animal he

    had won for her, thawed some of the iciness I felt for Chase.

    “Very well,” I said, “but only if you use your other arm to escort the princess.”

    “Of course,” he said, and Alice giggled harder.

    I looked around, searching for Anna. She was still saying goodbye. That was fine, we could wait for her

    out in the car.

    As I nced, I saw Julian again trying to get by Olivia, but she was bing more insistent in whatever

    she wanted to talk to him about.

    Chase led Alice and I outside. Just beyond the door, Alice said, “Oh, my shoe is untied. Wait a minute!”

    Chase released her and Alice bent down to tie her shoei. /i

    “Thank you for this,” I said. “I was ready to leave…”

    “This was so much more than I had originally nned,” Chase said, somewhat sheepishly. “But I’m d you were here, Amber. Truly. It made everything bearable.”

    “You are just saying that,” I said. “I didn’t do anything.”

    Chase’s smile turned somewhat fond. “You truly have no idea how much I care for you, do you? The depths of my feelings…”

    “Chase, we’ve only just met.”

    “It doesn’t matter. Amber, you are someone who has be so special to me in such a short amount of time. I can’t even exin… Maybe it would be better if I showed you.”

    “What are you —b?/bb” /b

    At once, Chase leaned in and kissed me.

    Julian’s POV

    I couldn’t get around Olivia easily. For whatever reason, she was being frustratingly persistent tonight, and she wasn’t even trying to talk about anything importantly. What did I care how her dinner tasted?

    Finally, I was able to sidestep around her and make it to the door.

    Opening it, I stopped in my tracks.

    Chase was kissing Amber.