Chapter 1

I was superstar Grant's most obedient canary.

I never checked his phone, never asked about his late-night parties, and certainly never pushed for a title.

Whenever Grant was busy on set or lost in a lover's embrace, I never disturbed him.

When he needed someone to accompany him on the red carpet or at cocktail parties, I would show up right on time in four-inch heels.

I would soothe investors and smooth over scandals for him, my smile always sexy and perfectly appropriate.

Even Grant himself would often wrap his arm around my waist afterward and say:

"Reese, you are far more useful than those overpaid producers on my payroll."

Whether in bed or in the cutthroat Hollywood scene, we had always worked well together.

Until a starlet with zero boundaries appeared by his side.

She snooped through his phone, hitched rides on his private jet, crashed his executive meetings, and even cried at 3 a.m. to make him pick her up from some bar.

Instead of getting mad, Grant smiled and praised her for being pure and unfiltered.

The first time she attended an industry dinner, she stood right where Grant's date was supposed to be.

A producer reminded her that it was my reserved seat.

She simply pressed herself against Grant's arm and blinked. "Grant didn't say I couldn't sit here."

Grant simply stroked her curly hair and didn't make her get up.

Later, this girl blatantly moved into my hillside mansion, wore my dresses, and even threw out my five-year collection of limited-edition vinyls.

Then she lined up a row of limited-edition bags in the display cabinet.

She clung to Grant's arm, tilted her head, and asked me, "Reese, you've been with him in this industry for so long, you get how it works, right? I'm sure you don't mind."

Of course I understood, and I didn't mind anything at all.

I looked in the mirror and reapplied my lipstick. After all, Reese never lost her cool over a man.

I took off my simple pearl studs and put on a pair of flashy, provocative diamond fringe earrings.

The diamonds swayed by my ears, blindingly brilliant.

In this industry, you followed the rules that matched your status.

A kept woman could be gold-digging and vain, but she should never forget her place.

Too bad Tessa would never learn this lesson.

She thought Grant kept breaking the rules for her because she was more special than me.

She didn't understand that a man who broke the rules for you today could easily do it again for someone else tomorrow.

"Ms. Reese, the car picking you up tonight has temporarily changed its route."

On the other end of the line, Grant's assistant paused.

"The boss already boarded the yacht with Tessa. You'll have to take a cab there yourself."

I sat at the vanity table and clicked the final clasp of my fringe earring into place.

The diamonds brushed against my jawline. The coldness kept me awake.

"Alright."

I didn't even bother asking for a reason.

Whether he sent a car for me or not was entirely irrelevant.

The entire industry knew that this arrogant A-list actor had always despised those fake, bootlicking streaming execs.

For the past five years, his only job was to sit in the VIP seat looking unbothered.

I was the one who handled all the sweet-talking, profit exchanges, and resource trading for him.

As soon as I stepped onto the deck of the yacht party, the PR director rushed over, looking troubled.

"Reese, your seat has been temporarily changed."

I followed the director's dodging gaze toward the inner VIP area.

At the center booth on Grant's right, Tessa was holding a glass of champagne and whispering intimately in his ear.

A sapphire necklace hung below her collarbone.

It was the one passed down from Grant's grandmother. It was only worn at formal events to signify the woman in his life.

Just three days ago, Grant's assistant had delivered it to my dressing room, instructing me that I had to wear it tonight.

Now, it was hanging around Tessa's neck.

"Reese, you're finally here."

Tessa stood up and waved at me excitedly.

More than half of the industry bigwigs on the deck turned their eyes toward us.

"This necklace is so shiny, but it feels a bit heavy on the neck."

She stroked the massive sapphire, smiling innocently.

"Grant said the dress he picked out for me was too plain, so he told me to just grab something to match."

Whatever. I didn't care anyway.

It was just that a family heirloom marking his leading lady had become a cheap trinket she could casually grab, just like that.