His First Love

"What? What?"

Penny looked like she had just heard the secret of the century. She grabbed Lauren's arm, practically bouncing.

"Isn't the Strickland heir supposed to have zero interest in women? He actually has a first love? And she's our new CEO?"

Lauren laughed and swatted Penny's hand away. "Look at you, completely out of the loop. You don't even know the basic gossip about high society. How do you plan to survive in the executive office?"

Penny tugged at Lauren's sleeve and pouted. "I'm begging you, Lauren. Enlighten me!"

Only then did Lauren lower her voice.

"Mr. Strickland and the chairman's daughter grew up together. They're basically childhood sweethearts. Word is, five years ago, he actually proposed to Miss Hale."

"But she turned him down to focus on her studies. They had a falling out and didn't speak for five years. And yet, the moment she landed back in the States, Mr. Strickland personally went to JFK to pick her up. If that doesn't tell you how deeply he feels about her, nothing will."

Penny covered her mouth, her round eyes wide with excitement. "Oh my God! This is the sweetest drama ever!"

Estelle's chest tightened and color drained from her face, little by little.

So that was why Edward had ended their contract early.

His first love was back.

But if he already had someone he loved, why had he bought a night with her five years ago without a moment's hesitation?

Why had he forced her to sign a contract after sleeping with her just once?

And why, every time he touched her, did he lose all control?

She could hardly believe it. She was about to ask Lauren where she had heard all this when the CEO's private elevator suddenly opened.

Janice Daniels, the chairman's executive assistant, stepped out first with several department heads.

They bowed slightly toward the people inside and gestured politely.

"Mr. Strickland, Ms. Hale, this is the executive floor. Please, this way."

The words had barely left her mouth when a man in an expensive tailored suit walked out, radiating a cold, commanding presence.

His features were deep and sharply defined. His face was stunningly handsome, his body tall and lean, his bearing clean and refined.

He looked like a nobleman stepping out of a painting. Elegant and cold at the same time. No one dared to look straight at him.

Estelle recognized Edward instantly. Her heart clenched.

What was he doing at Evergreen International?

Before she could think it through, Edward turned slightly and extended his long, defined hand toward the elevator.

A moment later, a small, delicate, porcelain-white hand settled into his palm.

He closed his fingers around it and gently led the woman out.

The moment Estelle saw the woman's face, she suddenly understood why Edward had been willing to buy a night with her.

She looked a little like his first love.

Not a perfect copy. Just something around the eyes.

But that small resemblance was enough to make Estelle face the truth.

She used to believe Edward liked her at least a little. She never imagined he had only seen her as a stand-in.

A sharp pain shot through her heart out of nowhere. Then wave after wave of agony followed, so intense her face turned ghostly white.

Penny noticed right away. "Stella, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"

Estelle shook her head. Penny wanted to say more, but Janice was already leading the two of them over.

Estelle dropped her gaze at once. She didn't dare look at them. But her hands on the keyboard wouldn't stop trembling.

Janice made the introductions. "This is the executive office. Everyone here is an assistant to the CEO. Ms. Hale, if you ever need anything, they're here for you."

The woman nodded and looked around at everyone, her voice soft.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm your new CEO. My name is Aeliyah Hale."

Aeliyah...

At that name, Estelle's face went even paler.

Images flashed through her mind, again and again. Edward holding her in bed, the two of them tangled together as if their lives depended on it.

In those moments, lost in passion, Edward always whispered "Ellie" into her ear.

She had always thought it was his pet name for her. For Estelle.

Only now did she understand.

He had never been calling her.

He had been calling Aeliyah...

Estelle clenched her fists. Her long nails dug into her palms, but she couldn't feel the pain.

The suffocating feeling of being used and then thrown away crashed over her. Her eyes burned red.

She had been such a fool.

All because of a few rare moments of tenderness from Edward, she had fallen in love with him, completely and without hesitation.