جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

✦ ❦ ✦ Selena Pov ✦ ❦ ✦ I leaned against the headboard of my tiny apartment bed, phone pressed to my ear, already knowing this conversation was about to change my whole month. I just needed the money so bad. My girls — the rich, high-class I*******m babes I linked with a couple months ago — were planning this insane round trip in exactly one month. Private villas, yacht days, club-hopping in different cities, the whole main character experience. I refused to be the one showing up with last-season bags and borrowed energy. I wanted the latest drops, the custom outfits, the "I belong here" aura. My part-time gigs weren't cutting it. Time to get creative. I hit FaceTime on Isabelle. She answered on the third ring, hair wrapped, eating noodles in her kitchen. "Wassgood, washing bad bitch?" I said, grinning as I flipped the camera to show my messy curls and the pile of fashion magazines on my bed. Isabelle paused mid-bite, eyes narrowing. "Yo, girl… I'm scared. You only hit me wit

✦ ❦ ✦ Selena Pov ✦ ❦ ✦ The courthouse ceremony was quick, cold, and exactly what I signed up for. No big ballroom, no dramatic walk down the aisle, just a judge with reading glasses and tired eyes, two courthouse employees who'd probably witnessed a hundred marriages today, and the sharp smell of polished wood and old paper. The kind of place where love came to get officially documented and then moved on. I wore a sleek white tailored dress that hugged my body like it was made for me — classy but with enough edge that I still felt like myself. Not a bridel or soft. Just me, elevated. The dress showed off my curves, the neckline was strategic, and the way it fell made me look expensive. I had spent an hour doing my makeup that morning, perfecting the look. Not too much — just enough to photograph well if this moment ended up in any official records. Matthew stood beside me in a dark suit, looking every bit the powerful CEO. His blonde hair was perfectly styled, jaw tight, grey ey

✦ ❦ ✦ Selena Pov ✦ ❦ ✦ It was a lazy weekend afternoon. Golden sunlight flooded my private wing of the mansion, hitting the marble in a way that made everything look like a luxury advertisement. I was sprawled across the plush chaise in my sitting area, phone propped up against a pillow, FaceTiming Isabelle. My curls were in a messy bun, I had on a cute silk robe, and I was pfeeling myself in that way that only comes when you're living in someone else's mansion rent-free. "Girl," I said, grinning wide at the camera, "Alexander is so fine. Like, dangerously handsome. The way he looked at me at that art exhibition? Whew. I'm crushing hard, but I'm keeping it cool, you know? Matthew on the other hand… cold as a damn freezer. Acts like he's God's gift to earth. But guess what? I don't even care. This is strictly for the bag." Isabelle laughed on the screen, her face taking up half the phone. "You are playing with fire, Selena. But I love it. Be careful though. These billionaire situat

✦ ❦ ✦ Selena Pov ✦ ❦ ✦ The morning light felt different. Brighter. Sweeter. I woke up slowly in Matthew's massive bed, stretching like a cat across the silk sheets. My phone buzzed on the nightstand. I reached for it lazily, expecting a notification from one of the girls. But what I saw made me sit up straight. ❀❀$5,000,000 deposited into your account.❀❀ I stared at the screen. Refreshed it and read it again. Five million dollars. Girl!!! This is huge. This is real money. My money. A loud, excited squeal escaped my mouth before I could stop it. I jumped out of bed, doing a full happy dance right there in my silk pajamas, curls bouncing everywhere like I was on a music video set. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Bag secured, baby! That's what I'm talking about!" Matthew walked out of the bathroom, freshly showered, towel around his neck, probably about to ask what the hell I was screaming about at 7 AM. "The money just hit, husband," I said, showing him the notification on my screen like he was

✦ ❦ ✦Selena Pov✦ ❦ ✦ It was a quiet afternoon in the mansion. I was in my apartment, curled up on the couch in shorts and a croptop, scrolling through trip hotels and mentally cataloging outfit ideas when my phone rang. The contact name made me pause before answering. Alexander. I smiled the second I saw it and answered on the third ring, keeping my voice soft but playful. "Hey." "Selena," his voice came through warm and familiar. "I was hoping you'd pick up. There's a private dinner event tonight at The Mason's Hotel. Small, exclusive, good food, better company. I want you to come with me." I raised an eyebrow, already grinning even though he couldn't see it. "You inviting a married woman out, Alexander?" "I'm inviting the most interesting woman I've met in a long time," he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "Come on. Just dinner. No pressure. But I think you'd actually enjoy it. No billionaire business talk. Just real conversation." I bit my lip, thinking. Matthew