Chapter 2

While everyone else in the conference room continued to present their PowerPoint slides and propose their solutions for the new quarter, I took out my phone to text Joseph Gray, Jeannie's brother.

"I comforted Ms. Gray in the conference room today.

"It's 150 thousand dollars for completing a dangerous assignment and 100 thousand dollars for physical contact. That's 250 thousand dollars in total. Wire it to the usual account. Thanks, Joseph."

The money was in my account not ten seconds later. I felt my phone buzz with the notification, then happily slid it back into my pocket.

The meeting continued for about two hours before it finally ended. The high-level executives scurried off like spooked rabbits.

I gathered my things and made to leave, but Jeannie didn't even look up from the documents she was reading at the end of the table as she ordered, "Come here and rub my feet."

"Right away, Ms. Gray!" I jogged over and crouched, giving her the foot rub she demanded.

As I massaged her calves, I thought to myself, "That's a thousand dollars for every second of this foot rub! Easy money!"

I was the emotional support companion Joseph had hired at a ludicrous salary.

Jeannie was the youngest female CEO in Elmsdale. She had a face that could make anyone do a double-take, but she ruled with an iron fist that not even the old foxes on the board possessed.

Unfortunately, she also suffered from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and had a paranoid attachment style. She couldn't care less about the people around her if she lashed out during an episode.

At the company's annual gala last year, Jeannie had hurled an entire bottle of champagne at the LED screen while over 300 employees watched in horror. I was the only one who could stop her.

The reason was simple—from the side, I looked a lot like Ian Lowry, Jeannie's first love.

Three years ago, Ian had been on his way to pick up Jeannie at the airport when a construction truck ran a red light and crashed into his car. He didn't make it.

As a result, I became the perfect replacement—one who came from an ordinary family, had neither wealth nor connections to speak of, and was getting paid to be a doormat. Everyone thought I loved Jeannie so much that I'd abandoned my pride and dignity in the process.

I showed up for work at the company at 6:30 am every day and made coffee for Jeannie before she arrived.

Like a fireman on standby, I'd keep my post at the conference room entrance every time she had an outburst during a meeting. Whenever she started smashing things during a meltdown, I'd crouch and pick up the broken glass, piece by piece.

At one point, even Jeannie believed I loved her so much that the emotion was carved into my bones. She was convinced that I'd never leave her.

Half a month passed, and Jeannie's best friend, Angela Ziegler, held a get-together at the most prestigious club in Elmsdale. Over a dozen heiresses had piled into the lounge, each with a champagne flute in hand.

Jeannie sat in the center of the couch, while I staked the seat in the corner behind her like an invisible ornament.

Angela sauntered over with a glass of wine in hand and appraised me from head to toe.

"Jeannie, your sidekick is getting easier on the eyes." A wicked smile curled her lips as she gestured at me with her wine glass. "Don't tell me you've actually fallen in love with him. How long has it been now?

"There are no male creatures around you except this one. At this point, we all think you're planning to marry him!"

Jeannie looked like she'd just heard the biggest joke of the century. She leaned into the couch and kicked my calf with the pointed tip of her stiletto. It wasn't a light kick, nor was it hard enough to hurt me. And yet, the condescension was implied.

"Marry him?" She looked down her nose at me, her mouth twisting into a cruel smirk. "Would you grow attached to a walking tranquilizer?"

The women in the room burst into laughter.

"You pop a tranquilizer or two when you're about to have a meltdown and relax afterward. Who'd give the pill another thought once your nerves have calmed down?" She kicked me again with the tip of her shoe. "This guy's just a therapy device, okay? A medical consumable."

I dusted the shoe print on my pant leg but didn't stand up. My smile brightened, and I reached out to straighten her shoe, which hung crookedly from her heel after she'd kicked me twice.

I moved delicately, handing the shoe like I would something fragile.

"Jeannie's right," I said evenly, as if giving a formal account of my work. "It's my privilege to be your emotional support human."

A hint of annoyance flashed in Jeannie's eyes as she watched my show of obedience. She downed the drink in her glass in one gulp, then stood up and left to use the restroom.

The laughter in the lounge gradually died down. Angela leaned forward and whispered, "Hey, you're not actually in love with her, are you?"

I smiled and made no reply.