Chapter 3

KELLY

By the time I pulled into the driveway and killed the engine of my bike, I was still muttering under my breath.

“What a colossal asshole,” I hissed, yanking off my gloves. “Imagine… he’s the one practically drooling to meet me, yet he has the audacity to call me ugly.”

I swung my leg over the seat and stood there for a second, still boiling.

If only he knew.

If only he realized that I’m the very same Sexy Red he’s been willing to throw a billion at just to get ten minutes of my time.

The same Sexy Red that makes men forget their own names.

The same Sexy Red who has four degrees, a résumé full of achievements, and fighting skills that could put half the country’s bodyguards out of business.

The same Sexy Red who can dance in a way that hypnotizes an entire room.

“How many women can match that?” I scoffed to myself. “I’m beautiful, I’m from one of the best families, and—oh—let’s not forget—I’m also one of the richest women alive.”

And yet… here I was… insulted by that arrogant prick.

The worst part? I’d actually been feeling sorry for him before.

I’d even thought he was kind of cute. His persistence had been flattering. For a moment, I’d wondered if maybe—maybe—he wasn’t as bad as he looked on paper.

And then…

Bam. The idiot opened his mouth and proved me wrong.

I shook my head, pulling off my helmet as I stepped into the house.

“Kelly, you’re back,” my mom said with a smile from the living room. “How was work?”

I gave her a lazy grin. “Oh, you know me. My job’s tiny...just the way I like it. I don’t stress myself. Half the time I’m sleeping at my desk or tossing out a few instructions here and there.”

She sighed, shaking her head in mock defeat. “I still wish you’d take the car instead of that ugly bicycle. I worry every time you ride it.”

“Mom, come on,” I said, leaning the helmet on the table. “The bike makes me happy. Besides, no one messes with me when I’m on it.”

Her eyes softened, but then her voice took on that careful tone she always used when she was about to corner me. “You know your dad’s out of town, right? Left this morning. Won’t be back until next week.”

I frowned. “Okay… and why does that sound like you’re leading up to something?”

She clasped her hands together. “Well, actually… it’s about my best friend, Essence...you know how much I adore her. She has a son. One of the most eligible bachelors in the city. He’s looking for a wife, and he likes you. I think you two would be perfect for each other.”

The smile slid off my face like butter on hot toast.

“Oh no. How did I get sucked into this trap?” I groaned. “Mom, I’m twenty. Twenty-one in a few months. Marriage is not really...”

“Kelly, please.” Her voice softened, but her eyes stayed firm. “I’m worried about you. You don’t have friends. You don’t go out. You’re either napping in your office or napping here at home. You don’t socialize, you don’t… live. I'm worried that if I'm gone, you would be all alone in this world."

"Mom....."

“And this man—my friend’s son—he’s good. Solid. No scandals. No affairs. He’s a gentleman. Every woman wants him, but he chose you. I just know if you meet him, you’ll like him.”

I turned my head away, chewing the inside of my cheek… but then she coughed. That small, dry cough that always made me cave.

I sighed. “Alright, Mom. Don’t stress yourself. If it’ll make you happy, I’ll meet him.”

Her face lit up instantly. “Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“Oh, thank you!” she said, her voice rising with excitement.

I headed for my room, my boots clicking against the tiles. Mom was diabetic and hypertensive, which meant one thing....I didn’t let her stress if I could help it. Dad would skin me alive if he even heard I’d argued with her.

The truth was, I hated seeing her hurt. Which is exactly why she had no idea who I really was.

Sure, she knew I was smart. Brilliant, actually. Finished high school young, graduated with top marks, earned multiple degrees at the same time while my peers were still figuring out how to spell “degree.” She knew all that.

But the rest? My real life? She had no clue.

She didn’t know that I was into stocks. That I’d bought up so many shares I’d lost count. That my investments made me richer than Dad… and probably richer than that arrogant idiot who’d called me ugly earlier.

And she definitely didn’t know about my hobbies.

Like fighting.

Car racing.

Or dancing.

Dancing was why I’d opened my club in the first place. Nobody knew I owned it. Everyone thought I was just one of the dancers. Which suited me perfectly. The real staff were on the payroll, while I only stepped onto that stage twice a week...under a completely different look.

The “wild look.”

The one that would probably make Mom so giddy she’d pass out on the spot. So I kept it hidden.

I danced to feel alive, to be me for a little while. Then I came home, threw on the glasses and the mole, and played the role of the shy, introverted homebody.

It worked. Nobody suspected a thing. And I intended to keep it that way. I was an only child...I wasn’t about to give my mom a reason to worry.

I shut my bedroom door and thought about him again. The man who’d called me “ugly duckling.”

“What a fool,” I muttered, kicking off my shoes. “On one hand, he’s dying to meet me. On the other, he calls me ugly. Men… so superficial and full of themselves. If he had an ounce of sense, he’d see the resemblance between me and the dancer he’s desperate for.”

I paused in front of my mirror. “Or not,” I added with a smirk.

I peeled the mole off my face, took off my glasses, then reached up and pulled off my wig. My red hair tumbled free.

I’d been a blonde growing up, but I’d dyed it red, years ago. These days, I kept it hidden...under wigs at home, I only let it free at the club. The moment I stepped off stage, I was back in disguise. Right on my bicycle and pedalling home.

Half the people I danced for wouldn’t recognize me if they passed me on the street an hour later.

But now… marriage was on the table.

Marriage.

The word alone made me want to laugh and scream at the same time. It had never been part of my plan. Not now, not ever.

But Mom wanted it. And Mom had always been in love with Dad—twenty-plus years and still acting like teenagers. I’d never seen a better marriage in my life.

So… I’d play along. For now.

Go with the flow.

But heaven help the poor man who thought I was going to make this easy for him.