Chapter 1
When I was ten, my mother found out that my billionaire father had been emotionally involved with another woman. She packed our things and took me away.
Before she passed, she told me, “Rich men are fickle. But he’s still your father, and you don’t get to choose that.”
“If you can, when you choose a man, choose one without money.”
So later, when my entrepreneur boyfriend-Ryan Sutton went bankrupt three times, it never crossed my mind to leave him.
The first time, I worked a nine-to-five during the day and hauled my guitar from bar to bar at night, playing for whoever
would listen.
The second time, I sold the limited-edition guitar my mom gave me, quit my office job, and started pushing drinks
full-time, all for a one-dollar commission on a single bottle of beer.
The third time, he shoved a four hundred thousand dollars IOU toward me, eyes red. I stayed silent and drained my glass.
Just as I was debating whether to ask my billionaire father for help, I overheard Ryan Sutton talking with his friends.
“Well, Ryan, you’ve got quite the charm-enough to make a bar girl fork over hundreds of thousands for you.”
“She’s already slinging drinks. Think the next step is selling herself?”
Through the box door, Ryan’s voice was crystal clear.
“The next debt is four hundred thousand grand. If she’s really that far gone, I wouldn’t mind letting you guys have a taste.
But I believe Lena still has her limits. As long as she’s willing to stay clean, you’re not to actually touch her.”
I smiled faintly and dialed my father’s number.
“Thanks for your daily texts for over a decade. This time, I’ve decided to come home.”
I hung up. The muffled laughter through the door was grating.
As I turned to leave, the box door swung open.
Ryan stood there, momentarily surprised to see me.
In the blink of an eye, his expression shifted into a look of helpless guilt.
“Lena, I’m sorry. My business failed again. This time I owe… four hundred thousand grand.”
His acting was flawless. He even pointed toward the room behind him with feigned awkwardness.
“I’ve already asked all my friends in there, but none of them will help. You’re the only one I can count on.”
I looked at the designer labels covering him from head to toe, then down at my own skimpy uniform, worn to boost drink sales. The irony was suffocating.
I let out a cold laugh.
“I’ve already given you everything I had. How else do you plan to count on me? Sell me? Make me sleep with someone to pay your debt?”
In the three years we had been together, Ryan had gone bankrupt twice before, and both times I had bailed him out.
Chapter 1
12.50%
“I’ve already given you everything I had. How else do you plan to count on me? Sell me? Make me sleep with someone to
pay your debt?”
In the three years we had been together, Ryan had gone bankrupt twice before, and both times I had bailed him out.
The first time, I worked a nine-to-five by day and played guitar at bars by night.
Seeing me work so hard had moved him to tears, and he promised that one day he would give me a better life.
The second time, I sold the limited-edition guitar my mother gave me, quit my office job, and sold drinks instead, just to earn that one-dollar commission per beer.
Only a few days ago, I had finished paying off his massive debt. I thought we could finally be together without burdens.
But now, a third bankruptcy and another four hundred thousand grand had landed right on schedule.
If I had not overheard their laughter in that box, I might have still believed he was doing it all for our future.
Who would have thought it was all a carefully crafted con?
I had poured every bit of my love into him, and all I got in return was test after test.
Ryan’s brow furrowed as if he wanted to say something.
The box door opened again, and his drinking buddies piled out.
“Lena, Ryan owes another four hundred thousand grand this time. When are you paying it off? How about I buy out your
drinks for the night… and we’ll call it even on your debt.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll book you… for drinks too, double the price.”
“Don’t worry, Lena, Ryan won’t mind. We’re just trying to help you with the debt.”
Their smirks were dripping with sleaze. Every word was a dirty hint, each one trying to outbid the other, claiming it was all for my sake.
I gave a bitter smile and looked at Ryan.
He stood motionless, eyes full of anticipation, as if waiting for my answer.
That last shred of hope I had for him died right there.
I nodded, dead-eyed.
“Sure. Cash or card?”
Ryan froze, clearly not expecting that. In his mind, I was poor but principled. I would never sell myself for money.
His face darkened, knuckles whitening as he clenched his fists.
“Lena, there are other ways to get money. Don’t say things out of spite. If you’re thinking of using yourself to pay my debt, I’d rather let the loan sharks break my legs.”
He turned on his heel and walked away.
I watched his back, wondering if he was truly disappointed or just trying to force me into submission.
Either way, it no longer mattered.
The leading man had exited, and his friends scattered soon after, no longer interested in the drinks.
I gave a self-mocking laugh and headed to find the bar’s floor manager.
“Sorry, I’m quitting.”
