Chapter 1

In the afternoon, I was shopping with my best friend when I bumped into the aloof Callum Lawson at the Chanel boutique, buying the haute couture gown I had reserved for ages. However, I noticed his secretary was wearing the same gown that night. Instead of questioning him, I smirked and had every Chanel boutique in the city transfer over that same haute couture gown. After that, I presented it to him so he could buy it to his heart's content. Meanwhile, my best friend stayed up all night drafting a divorce agreement for me. With my money and looks, men were the last thing I was short of. At a company's annual gala, I held a glass of red wine and chatted with the company's branch higher-ups. As the music began, the dance floor began to fill with people dancing. It was then that Callum arrived with his secretary, Ariel Reed. I saw with my own eyes as he adjusted the brooch on her chest at the entrance. Callum had a doting smile and seemed satisfied with his muse. Callum always had impeccable taste. After his careful adjustment, Ariel's face seemed to look more defined. Still, she barely managed to match the haute couture Chanel gown she was wearing. At that moment, everything I had been imagining was completely shattered. When I saw Callum walking out of the shop this morning, I was brimming with happiness, assuming that the gown was meant for me. I even got my make-up artist to give me a look that perfectly matched the attire. However, Callum didn't bring the gown back home until the gala began. I could only call to ask if there was anything he wanted to give me. When Callum brushed me off about being busy with work, l managed to catch a woman's sweet voice talking in the background. "Mr. Lawson, won't Mrs. Lawson be upset if she finds out?" "Don't worry. Her closet holds enough clothes to stage a full fashion show," Callum responded nonchalantly. I suddenly realized that Callum wasn't as innocent as I thought him to be. Ariel smiled sweetly, flashing her dimples at me. It looked familiar. "Hello, Mrs. Lawson. You look stunning tonight." Her flattery only hardened my gaze. I eyed her from head to toe before answering, "Nice gown. Looks just like the Chanel piece I ordered a while back." Everyone here was smart enough to read between the lines. Ariel graduated from college a year ago. Thus, there was no way she could afford a haute couture gown worth 200 thousand dollars. Ariel shifted uneasily under my gaze. She pursed her lips and fiddled with her fingers as she glanced at Callum. Callum met my gaze with his usual calm and unreadable gaze. "Nancy, don't misunderstand. Ariel told me that she had never attended such a formal occasion or worn a gown before. Since she’s been working hard and shows promise, I picked up a gown for her." Arching an eyebrow, I shot a look at the assistant standing next to me. In the next second, a line of 13 Chanel sales associates dressed in impeccably tailored uniforms walked into the hall with poised smiles. Each of them presented the same gown Ariel was wearing to Callum. Just as Callum looked at me questioningly, I crossed my arms and leaned against the carved marble pillar. A teasing smile tugged at my lips. "Pay up. The 13 bosses from each branch brought their secretaries tonight, and I bet all of them are ambitious enough. I'm sure you wouldn't play favorites and only gift your secretary, right?" Ariel knew that I was making things difficult for both of them. Her face drained of color as she pleaded tearily, "Mrs. Lawson, please don't make things difficult for Mr. Lawson. It's all my fault. I'll return the gown right away." Ariel made it seem as if I were the one being unreasonable, ruining her relationship with Callum.