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Chapter 1 Welcome the New Rose Sophie Cook was trapped between heat and ice. Stanley Sterling's body burned against hers, while the window at her back stayed cold. "M-Mr. Sterling, it's my birthday today," she said, the words coming out shaky. Stanley smiled, slow and lazy, and then kissed her quiet. Sophie's eyes stung. She knew how stupid that was, expecting a happy birthday from someone she barely knew. None of it felt real. She'd walked away from Ethan Hawthorne on her birthday, the guy she'd loved for years. And three hours later, she was tangled up with someone she didn't even know, up against a penthouse window. ***** Three hours earlier, things were different. Sophie and Ethan hadn't made it to a year. This was supposed to be the first birthday he'd celebrate with her, and she'd been counting down the days. He picked a fancy revolving restaurant and said seven o'clock, but when she got there early, he never showed up. "Here you go, miss." The waiter set a glass of water in front of Sophie. "Thanks." She smiled a little, her eyes bright with quiet anticipation. She checked her phone one more time, but there was still nothing from Ethan. Even so, she sat up straight, kept her hopes to herself, and waited. Seven thirty came and went. Then eight. Then eight thirty. The restaurant filled up and emptied out around her. Sophie stayed, drinking glass after glass of water until she couldn't wait any longer. By ten o'clock, she pulled out her phone, hesitated, and finally typed out a message. [Are you busy?] she texted, along with a small emoji that looked exhausted. There was no reply. She bit her lip and told herself he was probably caught up in something. Not wanting to bother him, she dropped the idea of texting again. Nearly twenty minutes later, his response finally appeared. Her heart jumped as she typed the chat box, but the second she read his words, she went completely cold. Ethan: [Olivia's awake. I'm staying with her tonight.] The city glittered below her, but Sophie wasn't really seeing it. Her eyes were burning, and she didn't bother to blink the tears away. Olivia Lane was back. After three years of silence, the girl Ethan had never stopped thinking about had finally opened her eyes. Sophie looked down at her phone. Her fingers were shaking, but she typed anyway, clinging to something she'd already lost. [Just stay until my birthday is over. Please.] Ethan: [You were never more than a stand-in. [Don't do this, Sophie. You know your place.] When Olivia slipped into a coma, Ethan disappeared into himself for two whole years. That was when he went to Sophie. Sophie looked enough like Olivia to fool the eye. And she'd always known exactly what she was to him. She was a stand-in, a way to fill the empty space. Now the real one was awake, which meant the replacement had to go. That was the deal. "Hey, pretty lady." A child's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. Sophie sniffled, steadied herself, and turned to face the little girl who had spoken. The girl couldn't have been more than seven, with a small woven basket strapped to her back and stuffed full of roses. "I'm not buying any roses, but thank you, sweetheart." Sophie's voice came out soft and a little tired as she reached out and gently touched the little girl's hair. "That's not it, pretty lady," the girl said, handing Sophie a single bloom and pointing a chubby finger across the room. "That gentleman over there already paid for it. It's for you." "What?" Sophie blinked and looked over. A man stood by the front desk, swiping his card at the register. He wasn't facing her. But she noticed how straight his shoulders were, how tidy his short hair looked, and the way he kept one hand loosely in his pocket. He wore a loose white suit that somehow looked both relaxed and sharp. Everything about him said money, and none of it tried too hard. Sophie turned back to the girl and gave her a small smile. "I can't accept this. You should take it back to—" "Pretty lady, you can't welcome a new rose into your arms while you're still holding onto the old thorns." The girl made a cute face, shoved the rose into Sophie's hand, and ran off before she could answer. Sophie stood there, the words sinking in. 'Is it really that obvious I've been through a breakup? Even a little kid could see right through me,' she thought. Sophie lifted the rose to her nose and breathed in. The rose smelled exactly like it looked, soft, sweet and almost too perfect. Funny how something so small could make her forget, even for a second, how much everything hurt. She'd never been stupid enough to think she was the one he wanted. That spot had always belonged to Olivia. She'd been waiting for this day for a long time. Now that it was here, it didn't come close to breaking her. Rose in hand, Sophie stood up and stepped into the elevator. The doors were about to close when a hand stopped them, long fingers wrapped around the edge. Then the doors slid back open. Stanley stood there, tall and imposing, and Sophie found herself looking up before she could stop herself. As the doors opened all the way, his face came into full view with its sharp nose, thin lips, and cold, captivating eyes. A face that perfect was a rare thing to find. For one second, she met his gaze. And then she knew. It was him, the man in the white suit, the one who'd given her the rose. Sophie dropped her gaze and quickly looked away. Stanley didn't seem to care. He stepped into the elevator in his handmade brown leather shoes, and a faint, expensive pine scent followed him inside. Sophie's breath caught as she moved toward the corner, the rose in her hand suddenly feeling like it was burning her skin. Chapter 2 We're Not a Match The elevator stopped at the next floor. People poured in, pushing Stanley back until he was standing right next to Sophie. The air grew thin, but his pine smell stayed close, light, barely there, yet somehow all around her. Then he turned his head. His cool, lazy eyes landed on the rose in her hand. "You—" "Don't overthink it," Sophie said quickly, her heart pounding. "I didn't want to waste a good rose." Stanley raised an eyebrow. "I—" "I know you're interested, but I can't. Sorry." The awkwardness made her cringe, and her back was already damp with sweat. He chuckled softly, his voice slow and easy. "We—" "There is no 'we,'" Sophie cut in, meeting his eyes. "You seem like a great guy. But we're not a match." No one had ever dared to cut him off before. It was new. Stanley slipped one hand into his pocket and watched her, amused by how her nerves kept making her interrupt him. She wore a creamy white dress that hugged her tiny waist, with thin straps sitting on her bare shoulders, and her long hair fell to her waist like silk. She looked soft, like someone who wouldn't fight back. "I don't think we are a match either," Stanley said, lifting an eyebrow like he was relieved to finally finish a sentence. "You should find someone better. I'm the best, and that's not what you deserve." Sophie didn't know what to say. "So..." Stanley drawled, his eyes lazy but cold, "I'm curious, miss. What made you think I was interested in you?" Sophie stood there, even more confused. His suit was made from expensive fabric, and the watch on his wrist sparkled like a night sky. Everything about him screamed money. But his expression was cool and relaxed, with a kind of quiet elegance that came naturally to him. He was better-looking and better-built than most movie stars. So, calling him "the best" wasn't really a stretch. When the truth finally hit her, Sophie realized how rude she must have seemed. Her face turned bright red with embarrassment. A moment later, another thought crossed her mind. "So the rose you gave me..." "The rose I gave you?" Stanley looked confused, his voice slow and calm. "A little girl kept bothering me to buy one, so I paid her to leave me alone. I didn't want the rose, so I told her to give it to anyone." Sophie froze completely. Her ears started turning red too. She realized that he hadn't been confused about anything. She had been the one making all the wrong assumptions. Then she remembered something else. "But you spoke to me first." "You were standing behind me, and a thorn from your rose poked me," Stanley said. "I was going to tell you to pull it back a little." He raised his lean wrist. On his skin was a tiny pinprick with the faintest trace of blood. Sophie paused, finally understanding how badly she had misunderstood. "I'm sorry, sir." "Sorry won't cut it." Stanley let out a soft laugh, still looking as relaxed and untroubled as ever. His eyes drifted over Sophie's slender wrist. "You'll have to poke yourself too. Then I'll accept your apology." Sophie blinked. She had to admit that was fair. She'd been the one to mess up twice, assuming he was hitting on her and then stabbing him with a thorn. So, she owed him one. "Fine," she said, nodding. She cleared her throat and, with him watching, searched until she found the smallest thorn she could. "Will this hurt?" she asked anyway. "It hurt when you got me before," he said, "but you picked the smallest one this time, so I'm guessing no." That was all she needed to hear, so she pressed it into her skin without a second thought. The moment the thorn went in, she sucked in a breath. She couldn't believe she'd bought his lie and pushed that hard. "If it hurts," Stanley said, "then I guess I was wrong." Sophie stared at him, speechless. He had never met anyone so easy to mess with. He'd thought she was too delicate to go through with it, but she turned out to be stubborn and actually did it. Even a professional torturer would've been proud. Back at the restaurant, Stanley had noticed Sophie sitting alone by the window with nothing but a glass of water. Her eyes looked as teary then as they did now. Anyone could tell she had been stood up and was feeling heartbroken. That was when a little girl selling roses came up to him. Feeling a bit soft, he bought one and asked the girl to pass along a simple message that said, "You can't welcome a new rose into your arms while you're still holding onto the old thorns." Sophie was still biting her lip and rubbing the spot where the thorn had pricked her when the elevator doors opened to the first floor. Stanley gave her one last look and walked away. ***** Stanley stepped out onto the sidewalk, and a flashy yellow McLaren pulled up right in front of him. "All alone, handsome? Get in. I'll take you for a good time," the driver called out. The window rolled down to reveal Ryan Sutton, a young, confident guy. He took off his sunglasses and waved at Stanley with a playful grin. Stanley hooked his finger around Ryan's sunglasses and tossed them away. They landed right in the trash can with a thud, without him looking. "Stanley! Those were custom. Months I waited!" Ryan whined from behind the wheel. Stanley slid into the passenger seat and tossed his pricey jacket into the back. "Then go get them." Ryan shut up. He'd played himself again, and he knew it. He hit the gas and headed for the hotel he'd booked. "So what took you so long to pay?" Ryan asked, simply making noise. "Some woman got dumped. I gave her a rose," Stanley said casually. "You? A guy who doesn't do women? You gave a woman a rose? Why?" Ryan stared at Stanley like he'd lost his mind. "You know what you did, so you tell me why." Stanley's voice went cold. "Give me the antidote." "Antidote? What antidote? I don't know what you're talking about." Ryan blinked like crazy, and every blink gave him away. "Don't make me ask again." "I... I really don't know." Stanley gave him a cold look, not bothering to say any more. That one look was all it took. Ryan broke immediately, sobbing loudly as he spilled everything. "It wasn't my fault. Your father told me to drug you. He said you haven't been with a woman in years and was worried something was wrong with you." Stanley frowned. He had never really cared much about women. The only reason he had given that rose to Sophie earlier was because something about her stirred a strange heat inside him, something he couldn't explain. It left him feeling restless and off balance. When he stood close to her in the elevator, her faint scent started clouding his head. As he turned away, he almost asked her to spend the night with him for sixty thousand dollars. And that was when his hand accidentally brushed against a rose thorn. Chapter 3 She's a Stand-in Luckily, Sophie's random chatter helped Stanley pull himself back together. Two possibilities crossed his mind. Either he was going crazy, or someone had drugged him. He wasn't crazy, so it had to be the drug. He knew someone had drugged him, but he didn't know who. He never expected Ryan to fall for such a simple bluff, let alone find out that the person behind it all was his own bored, reckless father. "The antidote," Stanley said again, sounding pissed. "Your father was afraid you'd mess up his plan after finding out, so he had a lab make you something custom. There's no antidote," Ryan said, shrinking down like he was trying to disappear. The only thing that might work was that actress waiting for Stanley at the hotel, but Ryan wasn't stupid enough to say that out loud. "Take me to the hospital." Stanley leaned back and tried to hold it together. When Stanley didn't lose it, Ryan let out a breath. He turned the car toward the nearest hospital and gave it one last shot. "Look, man, if you've got some kind of block, talk to me. "You really don't want to try a little fun? Trust me, it's worth it. Or maybe we should go back to the hotel. They've got... Holy crap! Look out!" By the time Ryan looked forward again, he couldn't avoid the person standing in the middle of the road. He yanked the wheel, and the car smashed through the guardrail and plunged straight into the lake. Stanley had been dragged into this mess for no reason. He sat there, completely speechless. ***** Several minutes earlier, Sophie walked out of the building and headed down the sidewalk, holding the rose in one hand while pressing the other over her pricked wrist. She looked completely disappointed and hoped to clear her mind by the lake across the street. Then, out of nowhere, a sports car that had turned around up ahead came racing straight toward her. Sophie heard the guy inside yell, "Holy crap!" before he yanked the wheel hard to the side. A loud bang followed, and the car crashed through the guardrail and went straight into the lake. Sophie stood there, too stunned to process what had happened. But the moment she saw the car sink beneath the water and disappear, she snapped out of it and knew she had to help. She quickly called for help, told them where she was, and dove straight down to where the car had sunk. But when she got there, the car was completely empty. As she tried to swim back up to the surface, her ankle got tangled in some weeds. Soon, she was running out of air. 'Great,' she thought. 'Am I really going to die here on my own birthday?' Out of nowhere, a tall shadow closed in from behind. A strong arm caught her waist and yanked her free from the weeds. The next second, he spun her around underwater and pinned her against the car window. He moved in, and his warm lips pressed against hers. Sophie went completely stiff, her mind hazy with one thought. 'Am I really getting kissed and cornered against a car underwater by a stranger?' A few seconds of sharing air, and he swam her up to the surface and onto the shore. Sophie lay on the ground, coughing so hard that she could barely breathe, drenched and dripping everywhere. A voice came from above her, warm, lazy, and ridiculously nice to listen to. "Next time, know your limits, hero." That teasing tone felt familiar. Sophie looked up at the man she'd meant to save, the one who'd ended up saving her instead. Stanley stood there looking cool and elegant, completely soaked but not the least bit messy. Sophie's brow furrowed when she saw that it was him again. "What a coincidence. I'm Sophie Cook. Thanks for saving me," she said, her voice soft and scratchy from coughing. "And you are?" "Sterling, that's my last name," he said, his voice deep and lazy. Sophie repeated that to herself. 'Sterling... So this quiet, unfriendly guy is Mr. Sterling.' Stanley looked down at Sophie, studying her. Her soft white dress was soaking wet and clinging to every curve of her body. With every cough and breath she took, her chest rose and fell in a way that left little to the imagination. Then something Ryan had once told him suddenly came back to Stanley. "A girl who looks innocent but sexy, the kind who ticks every box for you, will drive you insane the moment you see her. "If you ever find someone like that, she's the perfect match in bed, the one you only dream about. She'll blow your mind." The heat kept rising inside Stanley, and his body was burning so bad that he could barely think straight. Sophie was soaked, her thin dress stuck to her body, and she carried a chill that seemed to cut right through the heat. That coolness felt like the only thing that could calm the fire inside him. She was pulling at something inside him, and his control was hanging by a thread. He almost said it, almost told her he'd pay her to stay, but he swallowed the words down at the last second. He looked away without missing a beat, his voice cool and steady. "Can you get home on your own?" Sophie nodded. "I'll be fine, Mr. Sterling." Then something hit her. "Wait, wasn't there someone else in the car?" "He took second place in Jelasburg's freediving competition last year," he said, his tone lazy. "So what exactly are you worried about, hero?" Her ears were burning. He'd called her "hero" again, and honestly, she deserved it. Jumping into a lake to save a guy who didn't even need saving was pretty dumb. But at least the other one was safe, and that was enough to stop her from worrying. Sophie pushed herself up, even though she felt weak. Just as she got steady, she started to fall backward. Luckily, Stanley's large, warm hand caught her waist and held her in place. "Thanks," she said, her voice soft and gentle. Her waist felt so delicate in his hand that it seemed like it would break if he squeezed too hard. Without really thinking, he pressed a little more firmly, and the thin wet fabric didn't stop his fingers from digging into her soft skin. Sophie winced and sucked in a sharp breath, making Stanley let her go. He thought to himself. 'She couldn't even handle a little pressure like that? What a delicate princess.' "If you're strong enough to thank me, you should be strong enough to stand on your own," he said as he pulled his hand back and shoved it into his pocket. The next thing he knew, Sophie fell right into his arms. Before Stanley knew it, he had already wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her up. When he looked down, he realized that she was burning up and barely aware of what was going on. "So one swim and you're down with a fever?" Stanley muttered as he shot her a look. She didn't answer because she was already half-gone. "Great. Picked myself a problem," he complained to himself. He had to hit the hospital anyway to flush the drug out, so he flagged down a cab and took Sophie along. ***** Ryan's head burst out of the lake with a splash. "Seriously? I've been hiding underwater forever and Stanley didn't even come looking for me? Now I'm pissed," he grunted. Right then, his phone buzzed in his pocket. "Good thing my phone's waterproof. This thing's a tank," he said, grinning. When he saw it was an unknown number, he hung up without a second thought. By the third call, Ryan was back on shore. He finally picked up, annoyed. "What's up, losers?" Stanley had been waiting on the other end, and his voice came through cold. "You crawl out of your grave yet? Took you forever." "Stanley! My dear Stanley, are you okay?" "Get to the hospital entrance and call this number to pay the driver," Stanley said coldly before hanging up. ***** After leaving Sophie in the emergency waiting area, Stanley walked away by himself. The nurse at the front desk noticed Sophie was alone and kindly gave her a glass of water, which helped her feel more awake and a lot better. Her vision was still a bit blurry, but then across the emergency room, she spotted Ethan standing at the hospital entrance. The second their eyes met, Sophie's eyes turned red and filled with tears before she could stop herself. She was supposed to be with him right now, celebrating her birthday at some nice rooftop restaurant, but instead, she was a complete mess while he looked at her without any warmth. At the hospital entrance, Victor Lane watched Sophie from across the room, let out a sigh, and gave Ethan a little push. "Ethan, she's crying and looks so sad. Aren't you going to go comfort her?" Ethan turned and walked off, his voice low and cold. "A stand-in like her? Not worth my time." Chapter 4 We're Done Now Ethan glanced back at Victor and called out, "Come on. Olivia's waiting." Victor gave Sophie a look, shook his head, and followed. When they got to Olivia's door, Ethan stopped. "You go in. I need a smoke." "Okay," Victor said. He knew Ethan had always been a heavy smoker. But then he remembered that Ethan had barely touched a cigarette all year and never carried any. So seeing him with a pack now only made Victor wonder if Ethan was nervous about seeing Olivia. ***** Ethan made his way to the smoking area and lit his cigarette. Smoke curled up around him, softening the hard edges of his face. His suit was sharp, hugging his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and it made him look distant, almost untouchable. He pulled out his phone and scrolled past endless work messages before opening a conversation. Sophie: [Just stay until my birthday is over. Please.] Ethan: [You were never more than a stand-in. [Don't do this, Sophie. You know your place.] He barely started his cigarette before stubbing it out, tossing it in the trash, and heading downstairs. When he got to the ER, he spotted Sophie slumped against the wall, completely out of it. Her face was bright red, and her clothes were soaking wet. He walked over, took off his expensive suit jacket, and draped it over her shoulders. Only then did she open her eyes, still red and puffy. "What happened?" he asked, looking down at her. Sophie looked up at him, slipped the jacket off, and shoved it back into his hands. "So we're done now, right?" Ethan's grip on the jacket tightened, and he let out a cold, flat "Yeah." Then he walked off without another word. Sophie dug her nails into her palms. That was all he gave her. Almost a year together, and he couldn't even bother to say it was over. She closed her eyes, too tired to think, when someone spoke up next to her. "Been three years. Good evening, Sophie." Sophie opened her eyes, still blinking. Olivia was in a wheelchair with Victor beside her. Her face was pale from three years without sunlight, but she was still gorgeous. She leaned into Sophie's ear and lowered her voice. "I gave you three years. With that face that looks so much like mine, did you ever get into Ethan's bed?" Sophie heard the cruelty in her voice, and her eyes went wide. "You didn't, did you? Yeah, I figured. Why would Ethan touch a fake like you?" Olivia smiled, and then moved closer. "Feeling hot right now? Your head heavy, your chest and stomach all sore?" Victor realized something was wrong. He turned to look at Olivia, shocked. Sophie's voice shook a little. "You drugged me?" As she thought back, Sophie whispered, "Was it at the restaurant? Did you pay someone to put something in my water?" "Not bad. You're not as stupid as I thought," Olivia said casually. "And I've got some good news for you. "This is a brand new drug, and there's no cure, so coming to the hospital won't do you any good. Either you find a guy to sleep with, or you sit there and wait to die." Olivia finished her vicious speech and laughed, clearly pleased with herself. Sophie lost all her composure, and the heat that had been burning through her suddenly turned into a freezing chill. "Olivia, how could you do something like this? Since when did you become so cruel?" Victor's face went pale with shock. Everyone in their small group knew that Sophie had liked Ethan for years. But she had always kept her distance and never made a move on him. Three years ago, Olivia fell into a coma, and everyone thought she would never wake up. Ethan couldn't move on for two years, so he ended up with Sophie, who looked a bit like Olivia. Now that Olivia was awake, Ethan was ready to throw Sophie away. In Victor's eyes, that was already bad enough. But what was even worse was Olivia drugging her, trying to destroy her completely. "You want to save her so badly, Victor?" Olivia said sharply. "Then go talk to Ethan. Tell your future brother-in-law to take off his pants and climb into bed with her. "Let them stay tangled up forever. And let me, your own sister, never have a single peaceful day." She didn't try to hide her smirk because she knew Victor wouldn't lift a finger. And she knew Sophie wouldn't go begging Ethan for help either. "Happy birthday, Sophie. Hope you have the night you deserve." She laughed, turned her wheelchair around, and rolled off. Victor was left standing there, his face tight with embarrassment. Sophie tried to stand, but her body was weak and unsteady. He grabbed her arm before she could fall. Feeling her skin burning up under his fingers, he frowned. "Sophie, let's get you to the hotel next door. I'll find you a decent guy." Victor was nearly eight years older. He'd met her through Ethan and had always been kind to her, like a caring older brother. But she'd always known the truth. None of that kindness was ever really about her. It was always about Ethan. Now that she and Ethan were over, none of his friends would stay hers. "Don't bother." Sophie pulled away from Victor before he could hold her up. Everything inside her was burning. The heat was so deep that it felt like her bones were melting, and the only thing left to come out was tears. Each one fell hot against her skin. Now she saw it clearly. She should have stayed far away from both Olivia and Ethan. Love and hate meant nothing to her now. Both felt like games for kids. Her head was pounding, but one thought cut through the fog. 'Why am I so stupid to hold on to Ethan? Look where it's gotten me. Being stepped on by both of them like I mean nothing.' "If you don't want to do it with some random guy..." Victor looked worried, like he was fighting with himself. Then he added, "I could do it. Only if you're okay with that." He had always kept himself clean, so he figured that at least she would be safe with him. If she ended up with someone dirty tonight, there would be no coming back from that. "Don't bother." Sophie gave the same cold answer. She was done with anyone who had anything to do with Ethan. Victor wasn't about to let Sophie walk out in this state. He reached for her arm again. "Sophie, you're not thinking straight. I'm not going to stand here and watch you run off with some random guy." Sophie could barely keep her head up, and every time she tried to pull away, his grip only got tighter. Right when she thought she couldn't hold on any longer, a voice cut through the haze. "Let her go." The voice was lazy and cold, almost careless, but something about it felt dangerously sharp. Victor's hand dropped before he even realized it, and he turned to look. Stanley stood there, tall and effortlessly elegant in a simple gray outfit that somehow looked expensive. One hand in his pocket, he seemed completely at ease, like nothing in the world could bother him. After being pushed around by Ethan and Olivia and then trapped by Victor, she was already at her limit. So when someone finally took her side, Sophie's eyes welled up with tears. "Mr. Sterling." Her voice came out thick and shaky. Almost without thinking, Stanley reached out and wiped the tears from the corner of her eye with his long fingers. His warm fingertips brushed gently against her soft skin. 'She cries a lot,' he thought. 'What is she, made of tears?' "What are you crying about now?" Stanley tapped the corner of Sophie's eye, his voice lazy and teasing. "You're not Cinderella. A few tears aren't going to bring you a fairy godmother." Sophie didn't know how to respond. She went completely still, and just like that, the tears stopped. Chapter 5 Special Services Victor stood there frozen, taken aback by how familiar Stanley was being with Sophie. He had never seen anyone other than Ethan get that close to her. "Sophie, you know this guy?" Victor asked, frowning. "Why are you so worried about it? What are you to her?" Stanley stepped in front of Sophie, his voice calm and careless. That one question left Victor with nothing to say. He wasn't anything to Sophie, not even a friend. By the time Victor snapped out of it, Stanley had already swept Sophie off her feet and was heading outside. "Hold on, then what are you to her?" Victor quickly chased after them and blocked the way. "What are you, a cop?" Stanley narrowed his eyes. "No, that's not..." Victor was stunned again. "Then you don't get to question her like that." Stanley had run out of patience. He shoved Victor aside with his shoulder and walked off with Sophie in his arms. ***** A few minutes earlier, Stanley had been told there was no antidote for the drug in his system and that he'd have to ride it out. The one good thing was that his own father had arranged for it, so all he'd get was one bad night with no real damage. When he walked out of the doctor's office, Ryan had already sent hotel staff to bring a car, a change of clothes, and a spare phone to the hospital. He changed and then drove through the hospital, passing right by the emergency room. A quick look inside was all it took to spot Sophie getting shoved around. He knew she was trouble, and trouble was exactly what he hated most. And yet, he still got out and walked toward her. He carried Sophie out of the ER, set her in the passenger seat, and buckled her up before starting the car. "Where do you live?" he asked. "Evergreen Apartments. Thank you, Mr. Sterling," she replied weakly. As soon as she let herself go slack, she could feel the heat crawling through her veins even more clearly. It was a strange feeling, one that made her cheeks burn with shame. "Mr. Sterling, can I borrow your phone for a second?" Sophie asked. "Help yourself," Stanley said as he nodded toward the phone in the holder next to the center console. Olivia's words were still ringing in her ears, and Sophie knew she was out of options. She took the phone, searched online for an escort service that offered guys, and dialed the number. She gripped the phone tightly, and the moment someone answered, her palms broke out in a sweat. "Do you offer any special services?" she asked. "I need a guy, preferably someone who can stay with me all night..." Then the tires let out a sharp squeal. Stanley slammed on the brakes, and the sudden stop threw Sophie forward until she hit her head. She accidentally hit the speaker button, and the phone landed on the car floor. The guy on the other end sounded way too excited. "We sure do, ma'am. Three hundred dollars for one session, or six hundred for the whole night. "Our guys are the hottest in Ristarville. All of them have nice bodies and know all kinds of moves, so you can play however you want. "If you can dream it, one of our guys can make it happen for you..." Sophie had already stopped listening to whatever the guy on the phone was saying. She rubbed her forehead and sat up straight, and then shot Stanley a look with hurt in her eyes, as if asking why he'd suddenly slammed on the brakes. "Mr. Sterling?" Her voice was soft, and there was no real force behind it. "Sorry, a dog ran out into the road," Stanley said as he picked up the phone and hung up. "I didn't see any dog." She pressed her lips together, not letting him get away with it. "That's because you were too busy looking for a man." His tone was totally casual, like he didn't care one bit. Sophie's face went bright red right away. Stanley let his eyes sweep over her. Her whole body was flushed in a way that wasn't normal, and her big, bright eyes looked dazed and glossy, all wet and tempting. Her shoulder strap had slipped down to show off smooth, beautiful skin, but she didn't seem to realize it. 'She's running a high fever and still out here looking for a man. Did she get dumped and want to get back at her ex this way or something?' he thought. His gaze dropped to her lips. She kept pressing them together, nervous and unsure, and they looked so soft and sweet that all he could think was how good they'd feel against his. And he knew from experience. He'd kissed her in the water earlier, and her lips were so soft that he'd wanted to bite them and never let go. Her waist was so tiny that he felt like he could circle it with one hand. She had curves in all the right places too, full and tempting. Ryan had called it innocent but sexy, and he was right. Every part of her, from her face to her body, was exactly what Stanley wanted, drawing him in and making him crave more. The heat he had fought down with sheer willpower came rushing back all at once. He swore quietly under his breath, and Sophie lifted her gaze to him. He pressed the button with his long fingers and rolled down the window, letting the night breeze drift inside. His left elbow rested on the edge of the window, and his fingers tapped in a slow rhythm, like he was turning something over in his mind. "Mr. Sterling, can I borrow your phone again? I wasn't finished with my call," Sophie said. Stanley didn't answer, but he didn't say no either. She pressed her lips together, gathered her nerve, and reached for the phone in his hand. But the moment her fingers touched it, he twisted his hand around and grabbed her wrist. The phone slipped out of her hand and landed on the car's plush carpet. "Ms. Cook, so that's the kind of guy you're okay with?" he asked. Stanley's grip on her wrist felt scorching hot against her feverish skin, and his strange question made her heart skip a beat. She looked up and found herself staring into his cold, deep-set eyes. There was something hungry in his stare, completely out in the open, and it felt even hotter than his fingers on her skin. He drew out every word, slow and careless, but incredibly tempting. "How about someone with an even nicer body?" Chapter 6 Taking Her to the Hotel "Wh-what do you mean?" Sophie stammered, her head spinning. Stanley smiled a little and said nothing. He kept playing with her soft hand instead. "Can't say I've done it before, but if you really need the whole night, I guess I could push through," he said. Then he took her hand and laced his fingers through hers, and the warmth started to pass between them. Stanley had never been the type to hold back in a negotiation. He always put his cards on the table first and let people see exactly what he was working with. That was how he did things, even back in college when he handled deals for the school. But this time, that same move worked against him. It hit him way harder than he ever saw coming. Her small, soft hand was like a slow burn, quietly eating away at his self-control. His breath got heavier, but his face didn't show it. He still looked completely relaxed, like nothing was wrong. "So, Ms. Cook, do you get what I'm telling you?" "Mr. Sterling, you... you..." Sophie's brain went blank. The warmth from his hand was so strong that it actually scared her. "What?" Stanley said with a small smile, tapping her fingers under his shirt. "You've got three seconds left to tell me no. "Three... two... one. Okay, so Ms. Cook, I'm taking you to a hotel now." ***** The doorman spotted the hotel's private car coming from down the street, and the second it stopped, he stepped up, bowed, and pulled the door open. "Mr. Sterling," he greeted respectfully. Stanley gave him a small nod. Then he walked to the passenger side, picked Sophie up, and carried her inside. The doorman quickly waved for someone to park the car. Once Stanley was in the elevator, the doormen started talking quietly among themselves while standing nice and straight. "You know what they say about those rich guys from Jelasburg. And look, first night here and he's already with a girl." "You don't know who that is? That's Stanley Sterling, the golden boy of Jelasburg. If I had his money, I'd be way worse than him. The only thing keeping me in line is being broke." "But you know what? Ristarville is different. Look at Ethan. He and Olivia grew up together, and even after she ended up in a coma, he still comes to see her all the time. Can't let her go." "Yeah, he's like the only decent one out of all those rich families." While the doormen kept gossiping, Stanley's elevator had already taken him to the top floor. As soon as the elevator doors slid open, a butler in a black suit and white bow tie stepped forward. "Mr. Sterling," he greeted. Then he walked beside Stanley to room 9909 and opened the heavy carved door of the presidential suite. He knew his place and kept his eyes down the whole time, never once looking at the woman in Stanley's arms. The door slammed shut behind Stanley and Sophie. "Stanley..." she started, but his lips came down on hers before she could finish. Stanley, who had seemed so relaxed and easygoing moments ago, had turned into someone else entirely, kissing her like he couldn't hold back any longer. This was more addictive than anything he had ever known, and the hunger inside him was begging for more. "Mr. Sterling..." Sophie whispered. Then a small sound from her brought Stanley back to his senses. He looked down and realized her small body was trembling in his arms. Scared by how rough he had been, Sophie lifted her head, swallowed hard, and asked nervously, "Can I take a shower first?" Stanley almost laughed, but not because he thought it was funny. 'Here we are, right in the middle of everything, and she wants to stop and take a shower? Women really are nothing but trouble.' Then he looked at her eyes, all red and sad, soft and glossy, like she'd cry right there if he said no. The desire was eating at him, so Stanley went and took a cold shower first before it got the best of him. Sophie came out wrapped in nothing but a thin towel with her hair still wet. Before she could do anything, Stanley pulled her to the big window and pressed her against the cold glass, with a sheer curtain between them and the outside. "Ms. Cook, are you ready now?" he asked, his voice rough. Goosebumps spread across Sophie's skin. The heat and dizziness didn't go away after her shower. They only got worse. She knew there was no point in stalling anymore. She bit her lip, and then whispered, "Yes." Stanley's eyes went dark. With a small flick of his fingers, the only towel she had fell to the floor. Sophie's heart started racing, and right then, fireworks went off outside the window. She blinked and pulled the curtain back a little to see what was out there. In the park behind the hotel, a group of young people were singing "Happy Birthday" to a girl. They had small sparklers in their hands, lighting up the night around them. The room was so dark that almost nothing was visible, with only one weak lamp on. But then moonlight slipped through the crack in the curtain and lit up Sophie's skin, making it look soft and luminous. The sight made Stanley's blood run hot. He gritted his teeth, pulled her close, and asked, "You like fireworks?" Sophie's eyes stung. She looked up at him and held his gaze. Pressed against him like this, she almost believed that they meant something to each other. For a moment, she wanted to open up to him. "It's my birthday today, Mr. Sterling. I..." she whispered. But he kissed her before she could even finish. He didn't care about birthdays right now. Then, for no clear reason, he stopped cold. Sophie thought she'd ruined his mood by crying, so she quickly apologized, "Sorry, I... I didn't mean to cry." Stanley took a deep breath and kissed the corner of her wet, reddened eyes, his voice a little rough. "If you feel like crying, just cry. Why are you apologizing?" He couldn't take it when she looked all sad and upset like that. Sophie was shaking a little. "But you..." She remembered how he'd teased her, saying that she wasn't Cinderella, and that her tears wouldn't magically summon a fairy godmother. That made her think he hated it when she cried. "Stop trying to figure out what's going on in a man's head. You won't get it right anyway. So go ahead and cry tonight," Stanley said with a soft laugh, reading her mind perfectly. "Go ahead and cry?" she asked, confused. "Yeah." His voice was casual with a hint of a smile. "Who knows? Maybe tonight, your tears will be the ones that make your wish come true." Sophie blinked her glossy eyes, her face growing redder and her heart pounding faster. Then she remembered what her best friend, Jessica Woods, had once told her. "A man's way with words in bed could rival the greatest writers," Jessica had said. Stanley's voice came out lazy and tempting, fading into the darkness like a whisper. "Time to start, my crying Cinderella," he murmured. Chapter 7 Happy Birthday Afterwards, Stanley carried Sophie's limp body to the bathroom and then tucked her back between the sheets. She was out before her head hit the pillow. Stanley changed into his pajamas, but sleep was nowhere in sight. He sat down at the desk, fired up his laptop, and started flipping through the news. A soft sneeze came from the bed as Sophie turned over in her sleep. Stanley glanced over his shoulder at the thermostat, and then reached for the remote and bumped up the heat. He got up and walked to the bed, staring down at the way Sophie curled into herself. She had rolled onto her side, and the blanket had slipped enough to show off the elegant line of her back and the slim curve of her waist. There were red marks on her waist where he had gripped too hard. They were impossible to miss, and they said everything. His mind went back to that split second when something had caught him off guard. He remembered the way he had frozen earlier, right when he found out it was her first time. She'd been dumped, so he figured she'd had a boyfriend before and wasn't new to any of this. That meant they could have one night with no strings attached and then go their separate ways in the morning, clean and easy. But she was a virgin, and he hadn't seen that coming. This made things a bit more complicated for Stanley. It felt like being the first person to put a stitch into a rare, expensive piece of silk. There was something about it that he couldn't quite name, something that tied them together now. He pulled the blanket over Sophie, who was asleep in his bed, and sat back down. Right then, a knock came at the door. He glanced at her, and then got up to answer it. Ryan was standing there with a big grin, holding out a white handbag. "Stanley, I did what you said and had someone go fish it out, and they actually found a bag. Was this yours? How come I didn't notice it when you got in?" "Yes," Stanley said, taking it without really paying attention. "I'm exhausted and starving. Don't you think Ristarville isn't meant for us? First day here and this happened. Once you're done, we need to get back to Jelasburg," Ryan complained, trying to step inside. "Not meant for you. Things are working out fine for me here in Ristarville." Then he lazily raised his arm to block Ryan. "What are you doing coming in here this late? Go back to your room." "You're not seriously still mad about the lake thing, are you? Is that why you won't let me in?" Ryan's eyes went wide with disbelief. Normally, when their group crashed at a hotel, doors were never locked, and anyone could walk in whenever they wanted. So getting shut out now felt strange. Ryan's nose twitched the second he finished talking, and that smell told him something wasn't right. "Stanley, you... you..." Ryan's jaw dropped. "Did you finally lose your virginity?" "Keep it down. What are you, a foghorn?" Stanley shot a quick look toward the bedroom. Ryan was absolutely wrecked by what he was hearing. 'What's going on? Stanley was always untouchable. But now he's lost his virginity, let the girl stay over, and is creeping around like he's afraid to wake her. 'Oh no. What if Stanley got possessed when he fell into that lake? That was exactly how those dramas went.' But honestly, Ryan was less worried about possession and more curious about something else. "So, Stanley, how'd it feel? First time getting laid. Was it worth the hype?" he asked, his eyes all bright and nosy. Stanley gave a lazy, sharp-edged smirk and said, "Get lost." "Come on, don't be like that. Tell me something about that... Stanley? Stanley!" The door shut, cutting off Ryan's loud, nosy questions. Stanley sat back down at the desk and opened the handbag. Sophie's phone, wallet, and driver's license were all right there. Her driver's license photo showed her in a white shirt, her eyes curved into a soft smile, looking sweet and well-behaved. He glanced at her birth date on the license and raised an eyebrow when he saw she was only nineteen, still young and immature. ***** Sophie had a nightmare. In the dream, Ethan stood next to Olivia, lighting the candles on her birthday cake before pulling her close and kissing her forehead. "Ethan, I want sparklers," Olivia whined. Ethan nodded, and a sparkler appeared in his hand. Olivia was laughing until she caught sight of Sophie in the dark corner. Then her smile turned ugly, and her eyes went cold and mean. "You've got nothing for your birthday, Sophie. Nothing at all," she spat. "No Ethan. No celebration. Nothing. You pathetic loser. Why don't you go kill yourself?" And Ethan, the guy Sophie had chased after for years, stood there looking like he couldn't care less. Olivia's fingers dug into Sophie's throat, and Sophie suddenly understood that she was dreaming. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pull herself out of it. The panic of being trapped inside her own nightmare was suffocating her. Then, without warning, a loud bang exploded outside the window. Sophie jolted awake, her eyes snapping open. She turned toward the window, and the darkness of the dream melted away the moment she saw what was happening out there. Her lashes fluttered as she whispered, still half lost in sleep, "So beautiful." Fireworks were bursting against the night sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, one after another without stopping. Ristarville, which had been swallowed by deep darkness moments ago, was suddenly glowing with light. Bright, colorful light spilled into the room like falling stars, and it lit up the shock on Sophie's face as she lay in bed. For a moment, the night turned into day. People from the hotel and the neighborhood all rushed to their windows. Some of them were already talking about what they were seeing. "Wow, look at those fireworks." "Oh my, take a picture. How come nobody told us about a show this big? We almost missed it." "Is some big shot trying to impress his girl? This is insane." That was when Sophie noticed Stanley standing by the window in silk pajamas, one hand in his pocket, looking totally relaxed. In front of him sat a beautifully decorated two-tier cake. The candles burned as brightly as the fireworks outside. Next to the cake were more than a dozen velvet gift boxes, all wrapped up perfectly. Sophie's heart started pounding in a strange, uneven rhythm. For a second, she couldn't tell if she was dreaming or awake. Then Stanley looked at her with the fireworks lighting him up from behind, and he spoke in that careless voice of his, "Sorry for waking you, but there's only ten minutes left before your birthday's over. "Ms. Cook, happy birthday." 'Happy birthday... to me?' she thought. 'And there are fireworks and a cake too. Is this real, or am I dreaming inside a dream? It all feels so unreal.' Sophie's lips parted like she wanted to speak, but her chest was too tight with feelings that she couldn't sort through. She could feel the tears coming again. Then a loud bang ripped through the silence. More fireworks shot into the sky, huge and bright. Sophie looked up as the fireworks bloomed and slowly faded. Then thousands of drones appeared overhead, their blinking lights forming two enormous lines of text that had people for miles around stopping to stare. [To Miss Cinderella: [Happy birthday. May every year bring you joy and everything your heart desires.] With another bang, more fireworks burst open, brilliant and endless, like they would never stop. It almost felt like they could burn away whatever darkness lay ahead, like they would watch over her, year after year.