HAYLEY’s POV“You are a fucking thief, Hayley and I should have known when I gave you this job.”“You are fired, Hayley… I do not ever want to see you anywhere near my property.”“You are good for nothing… very useless and on top that, a thief”I took another swing of the bottle in my hand, my head buzzing with unsettled thoughts and the crippling fear that I was a twenty five years old jobless woman in New York.I giggled at the thought, my eyes blurring as I took another swing of the beer. My throat burned and my eyes watered as the beer hit my tongue, traveling down to my stomach but I did not care… it was nothing compared to my shitty life.Chester had been right about one thing when he broke up with me via letter, never minding that he had left me in crippling debt.He had said there was nothing I was good for and he had been right.Here I was in the middle of a dingy bar and cradling a beer while I thought about how I wasn’t going to starve for the next couple of days until I got

HAYLEY’s POVHe had to be fucking crazyMarry him?What were men on these days to have such fucking blatant audacity?I climbed the stairs to my home, sighing as I kicked the shoes I had on, awayTo think I had thought he had something important to say, like maybe offer me another fucking job.Marriage was the last thing on my mind and to a stranger?I stared at the card he had squeezed into my hand; one that held his number and name.Christian Montgomery.… I readWhy the hell did it sound oddly familiar? Like I had heard it somewhere and it was something I ought to know.“Whatever” I scoffed, tossing the paper aside and collapsing on the sofa.I had to call my friends but they worked late at night at some strip club so I did not think they would be with their phones at the moment.They had gotten me the job so it was only right that I told them I had been fired for something I had no idea about.Although I was pretty sure I had been fired because I had refused the advances of his son

HAYLEY’S POV I figured with each painful and frustrating day spent living in this personal hell that is my life, I realized that God has favorites. Chester almost humiliated me at the club last night. I also drew the attention of a stranger, who never seemed to leave me alone. Since the first day we met, he could pick up on the fact that I was needy and broke. Is that how everyone sees me? a total fuckup? I eventually got to see my mom at the hospital yesterday; I couldn’t even pay her clinic bills. I felt so ashamed. I couldn’t look her in the eye, but I felt her pity. I couldn’t do this anymore; I couldn’t keep depending on Kitty and Darren to survive or let myself down. So I took his advice, the handsome, judgy stalker. Christian Montgomery, CEO of Montgomery Enterprise Holdings I could almost swear that the name sounded too familiar, but then I just couldn’t quite get it. I kept staring at the card he gave me and the big name boldly sitting on the company building as I stood

HAYLEY’S POV "Moving? To where? What’s going on, Hayley? "Kitty kept pestering me with her numerous questions as she followed me around the house as I shoved my things into the duffel bag I moved in with anyway. "I really can’t explain it, Kitty; I wish I could tell you…."I paused and she stopped abruptly, narrowing me down like she was waiting for the remaining sentence. "But?" She arched a brow.I exhaled deeply, in as much as I love kitty. I couldn’t risk letting her know about this arrangement, news spread. All she has to do is blab to one person and it’s over for me. "I promise that I’ll explain everything as soon as I can, I’m sorry and I love you" Kitty moved closer to me, "I just want to know you’ll be fine, if where you’re going will be of great help to you then I won’t stop you." I let out a soft smile; She had always supported me. "Be safe love." She pulled me into a hug before I dragged my duffel bag and walked out of the apartment. Terry, Christian’s driver quickl

CHAPTER NINE After Christian dropped the bombshell on the reporters, they still wanted more, but Christian seemed to be a man of suspense. He knew what he was doing; he had it all planned out. He just wanted to give the media a hint to further sell this lie; at least by tomorrow morning, the media would be going wild. I couldn’t believe my eyes as Christian and I walked into the business meeting gala. The lavishness of the venue made me short of breath. Everything looked so good, from the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling to the walls adorned with artwork and the impeccably dressed guests, whose every move smelled like money and power. Never have I even dreamed of being somewhere like this. I guess busting your ass at a local bar for a long time won’t give you time to dream. Beside me, Christian appeared cold and distant. I’m not surprised he wasn’t as mind-blown as I was; he was born into this. "Wait here, I’ll check around for my parents." His hands brushed my arm sli