I stormed out of Julian's mansion, a cocktail of shame and anger brewing inside me. How foolish I'd been to believe—even for a second—that Julian Grey, my boss and a notorious playboy, could feel anything for me beyond professional convenience. That moment, when he'd whispered Chloe's name, had shattered whatever illusion I'd foolishly nurtured.
I hailed a cab to take me home, but as the car sped through the quiet streets, regret began to gnaw at me. If I simply left now, everything I’d endured tonight—my embarrassment, my emotional turmoil—would have been for nothing. I had to go back. Maybe not for love, but for something just as important: compensation.
The thought solidified in my mind as I instructed the cab driver to stop. Stepping out of the car, I immediately received a call. Marcus Caldwell, Julian’s best friend and a renowned rake, was on the line.
“How’s Julian?” Marcus asked, his voice smooth but tinged with curiosity.
“He’s asleep. Don’t worry,” I replied. Then, feigning hesitation, I added, “He kept calling for someone named Chloe. It seemed like he wanted to see her. Do you happen to know this Chloe?”
Marcus chuckled on the other end. “Olivia, you’re quite the clever one. Ever considered working for me instead? I’ll double your salary.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “That’s generous of you, Mr. Caldwell, but I don’t think it would be appropriate given your friendship with Julian.”
Marcus laughed again, clearly amused. “Fair enough. But if it’s Chloe you’re curious about, let me enlighten you.”
What followed left me stunned.
Chloe Grant. The name wasn’t unfamiliar, but I had no idea she was Julian’s former love. According to Marcus, Chloe was the one woman who truly matched Julian in every way. They had been childhood sweethearts, the golden couple of their social circle.
“Their families have been close for generations,” Marcus explained. “Julian and Chloe were inseparable until they went abroad for university. Then, something happened—no one knows what—but they broke up. Rumor has it Julian cheated. Who knows? All I can say is, after that, he changed.”
I listened intently as Marcus described how Julian had been before Chloe left. “He was a saint back then,” Marcus said with mock disdain. “Didn’t even look at another woman. He was so boring we didn’t want to hang out with him.”
But once Chloe was out of the picture, Julian transformed. He discovered the joys of freedom—and women.
“In my opinion,” Marcus continued, “that breakup was the best thing that ever happened to him. Look at him now—living the dream, drinking fine wine, surrounded by beautiful women.”
“And Chloe?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
“Oh, she’s engaged to some documentary filmmaker. A real nobody, if you ask me,” Marcus replied dismissively. “Her family’s been against it, but she’s stubborn. Got engaged recently, I think.”
That revelation set the wheels turning in my mind. I thanked Marcus for the information, but my thoughts were already elsewhere.
I couldn’t help but Google Chloe’s name once the call ended. Photos of her filled my screen—beautiful, sophisticated, and utterly radiant. I studied her features carefully, feeling an odd sense of familiarity. Then, as I sat cross-legged on the carpet in Julian’s living room, the pieces fell into place.
Damn. That’s why Julian’s ex-girlfriends all seemed vaguely similar.
They shared subtle resemblances to Chloe—her eyes, her smile, her posture. None of them was a perfect match, but together, they formed a mosaic of her. It was as if Julian had spent the last several years trying to recreate Chloe in bits and pieces, unwilling to admit that he still loved the woman who’d left him.
What a peculiar man, I thought. Here he was, one of the richest men in the city, yet even his wealth couldn’t buy him happiness. It was ironic, really, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
Money couldn’t buy everything, after all.
But then, an idea struck me—a way to turn this twisted situation into an opportunity. If I could help Julian find closure, perhaps I could also secure the funds I needed for my dream villa. A win-win scenario.
Fueled by this sudden burst of inspiration, I rushed back to Julian’s bedroom, eager to share my brilliant plan with him.
But when I opened the door, I stopped in my tracks.
Julian lay curled up on the enormous bed, looking small and vulnerable, like a dog waiting for its owner to return. His face, usually so composed and confident, was etched with quiet despair.
For the first time, I saw Julian not as the arrogant capitalist who treated people as pawns, but as a man deeply in love—and deeply hurt.
My excitement evaporated, replaced by an unsettling mix of pity and guilt.
Julian Grey, the man who seemed to have everything, was still clinging to the memory of someone who had left him long ago.
I quietly backed out of the room, closing the door behind me. As I stood in the hallway, my resolve wavered. Could I really go through with my plan, knowing how much pain he was in?
A part of me wanted to abandon the idea altogether. But another part— the practical, stubborn part—reminded me that Julian had everything. Love or no love, he still had power, wealth, and influence. Why should he get to keep all of that while I struggled to make ends meet?
Why should he have something I didn’t?
I didn’t have the answer, but one thing was clear: Julian’s love for Chloe was his weakness. Whether or not I exploited it would determine my next move.
And I wasn’t sure what kind of person I wanted to be yet.
