Chapter 1

CEO of the Ashworth Group? Nathan Ashworth?

The Ashworth Group was a Fortune 500 company.

The moment I saw those comments, I changed my mind. "Sure. Why not? I'll meet him."

Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? You actually want him?"

I deliberately provoked her, keeping my tone casual. "You're the one who offered him to me. What? Changed your mind already?"

Chloe always spoke in a sweet, innocent voice. She loved online dating and had four online boyfriends at the same time.

Boyfriend Number One was a PhD student who was so smart that Chloe had him do her schoolwork for her.

Number Two was a rich kid who paid for almost everything she wanted.

Number Three was a pro gamer who carried her through ranked matches.

That was how Chloe managed to live like a princess even though her family wasn't rich.

Number Four was her newest catch. Someone had posted a girl's photo on an anonymous campus crush page. Chloe claimed the photo was hers, and that was how she caught Number Four's attention.

But lately, Chloe had done nothing but complain about him in the dorm.

One minute, she said he didn't understand women. The next, she complained that he was impossible to deal with.

Now Number Four wanted to meet her in person. Chloe didn't want him anymore, so she decided to dump him on me instead.

When she realized I was trying to get a reaction out of her, Chloe rolled her eyes. "He's just some guy I met online. It's not like I don't have other choices."

Chloe quickly forwarded me his profile. Then, as if she wanted to prove she didn't care, she blocked him right in front of me, but not before sending one last message. "I'm switching to a new account for work. I'll follow you from my new one soon."

Then she turned to me with a mocking smile. "I'm not like you. Guys actually want me. You get one little bit of attention, and you hold on to it like your life depends on it."

I ignored her. The profile she'd sent me had a single letter for a display name: Q. His profile picture was a cat.

I sent him a follow request. Without even looking at Chloe, I said, "Send me the time and place."

I still needed information from her, so there was no reason to argue with her yet.

When I refused to react to her insults, Chloe finally got bored and sent me the details.

Six o'clock that evening. Starlight Cafe.

I remembered seeing Starlight Cafe before. It was close to the Ashworth Group headquarters.

That made me trust those strange comments a little more.

[What is the heroine thinking? Is she really going to give Nathan's contact info to the villainess?]

[Exactly! The villainess will do anything to marry into a rich family. I'm starting to worry about our poor male lead.]

I ignored Chloe's nasty insults. I had less than three hours before the meeting, so I needed to get ready.

I went through my closet several times before finally settling on a white dress that looked elegant but still youthful.

The comments were right about one thing. I really would do whatever it took to move up in life.

And right now, I needed Nathan's money and connections.

I put on some light makeup and left the dorm.

But as soon as I got downstairs, I realized I'd left my documents behind.

I hurried back upstairs. Just as I reached the dorm room, I heard Megan Brooks ask, "Chloe, don't you feel a little bad about giving that guy to Ivy?"

Chloe sneered. "Why would I? Q is the most boring guy I've ever met! I told him I needed money for a project. He only gave me $6,000 once, and then he kept asking me for a business plan!

"Seriously, who follows a girl from a campus crush page just to talk about business? I was going to keep him around for a while, but then he asked to meet at a cafe for our first date! He's obviously some broke guy trying to act rich. I couldn't be bothered." Chloe pouted before continuing. "And you know what else? I looked up the watch he wore in one of his photos. It only cost $300! He's definitely broke. Ivy's desperate for a boyfriend anyway, so I figured she could have him."

She giggled. "Want to bet whether Ivy will come back tonight? She's desperate for love and money. I bet she'll sleep with that old man the first chance she gets."

Megan burst out laughing. "You're probably right. She acts like she's better than everyone else, but the second you offered her a boyfriend, she jumped at the chance."

My dorm mate Hannah Cole joined in. "Exactly! She has no self-respect. But Chloe, you really know how to pick them. Your boyfriends are either rich or super smart. By the way, my internship is coming up. Do you think your rich boyfriend could help me get in?"

Megan quickly added, "What about Lucas? You know I'm applying to grad school and my application still needs some work. Could you ask him to help me?"

Chloe laughed. "That's easy. All I have to do is ask. My boys will do anything for me!"

[Wait, did the heroine really just say that? Even I'm starting to feel uncomfortable.]

[Oh, come on! The heroine is just honest and says whatever is on her mind. She doesn't mean anything bad by it! And look at the villainess! She's already turning everyone against the heroine!]

[But heroine, don't give him away just because you're angry! The male lead is only a little quiet and serious. He's not a flirt like the other guys. When it comes to money, power, and personality, none of them can compare to him!]

I picked up my documents without showing any emotion, then turned around and headed for the cafe.