I was beautiful, timid, and just greedy enough to know what I wanted out of life. My friends had rich boyfriends who bought them yachts, penthouses, and vacation homes. I had a billionaire heir who paid for my designer wardrobe and kept me in a riverfront penthouse in Manhattan. But all I really wanted was a bowl of spicy pasta, a plate of meatballs, and a basket of garlic bread from my favorite restaurant. Six years ago, when Theo Kane first approached me, he had looked me over like a man considering a purchase. He liked my face, and I needed money. We understood each other perfectly. When he asked how much I wanted, I typed in two hundred dollars. Then I added an extra zero. He transferred twenty thousand. That was how I became Theo Kane’s woman. He gave me expensive jewelry, couture dresses, and a penthouse with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river. He thought I stayed because I loved him. The truth was that I stayed because his private chef prepared the finest dry-aged steaks money could buy, and because I was too frightened to return to the life I’d escaped. I was also too timid to ask Theo what we were. Girlfriend? Mistress? A convenient arrangement he could end whenever he got bored? I never dared to ask. Instead, I learned to smile when he wanted me to smile, keep quiet when he wanted silence, and discreetly sell the watches, handbags, and designer clothes he discarded. The secondhand market was surprisingly profitable. My friends called me a shameless gold digger behind my back. They assumed I was too stupid to understand that Theo would never marry me. They weren’t entirely wrong. But I had a plan. Once I saved enough money, I’d buy a little house in a quiet town, plant a garden, and spend the rest of my life eating whatever I pleased. Preferably at Bella’s Kitchen, the casual Italian restaurant I’d loved since college. Their spicy rigatoni, tender meatballs, and buttery garlic bread had gotten me through more bad days than I could count. I didn’t need a yacht. I just needed enough money to never be afraid again. Then Daisy Quinn showed up. The first time we met, she snatched my handbag off the chair beside Theo and dropped into the seat. “Move over. I’m sitting next to big brother.” Theo didn’t stop her. When she casually mentioned wanting to open a little dessert shop after graduation, he said he’d take care of it. Everyone at the table exchanged amused glances. They were waiting to see how I’d react. I had been with Theo for six years. I’d long since learned that a woman could lose everything by making the wrong scene at the wrong time. So I picked up my fork and kept eating. Let Daisy have her dessert shop. Let her have the attention, too. As long as I could save enough to buy my little house and eat at Bella’s whenever I wanted, I could live with almost anything. At least, that’s what I told myself. 1 Daisy had an impressive appetite for things that belonged to other people. At dinner, she wanted the pink diamond necklace Theo had bought at an auction. Then she wanted the money for a dessert shop. And because she’d taken the seat beside him, she had also helped herself to my limited-edition crocodile handbag. She was running the bag’s leather edge along the corner of the table, apparently unaware that she was damaging it. My heart ached. I’d planned to sell that bag for thirty thousand dollars. Theo sat at the head of the table, looking bored. An unlit cigar rested between his fingers. “The shop is yours,” he said. “And you can have the necklace.” Daisy’s face lit up. “Really? You’re the best, Theo!” Across the table, Chase Whitaker raised an eyebrow. “Hold on. Didn’t you buy that necklace for someone else?” His gaze slid toward me. “Someone who was supposed to get it for your sixth anniversary?” Daisy’s smile faltered. Then she turned to me with a look of exaggerated guilt. “Oh, Cecily, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” She held up the necklace, admiring the pink diamonds. “Would you mind? I’ve wanted one like this for ages.” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Besides, you’ve been with Theo for six years. You probably don’t care about little things like jewelry anymore, right?” I looked down at my plate. The chef had prepared a beautifully marbled ribeye, sliced into neat portions. The meat was tender, rich, and expensive enough to feed a small family for a week. I chewed slowly before answering. “It’s fine. I don’t mind.” In my head, I was already calculating what I could make by selling the Richard Mille watches in my closet. If I played my cards right, I could be out of here before the end of the month. Theo glanced at me. Something in his expression tightened, as though my lack of protest had disappointed him. I gave him a small smile. “You taught me well, Mr. Kane.” Daisy’s expression soured. She tossed my handbag onto the table as if she’d suddenly lost interest in it. “Can someone pass me the shrimp cocktail?” Theo nodded toward Chase. “Give it to her.” Chase passed the platter across the table, shooting me a brief, sympathetic look. I pretended not to notice. For the rest of dinner, I was practically invisible. The conversation revolved around Daisy’s graduation, her plans for the dessert shop, and which charity gala Theo should take her to next. I waited for the server to bring another plate of food, then helped myself to the cold seafood and a few bites of steak. By the time dessert arrived, Daisy had taken over the conversation entirely. She laughed at Theo’s jokes, touched his arm when she spoke, and leaned close enough that her perfume drifted across the table. After dinner, she looped both arms around his. “Theo, can you take me back to campus? I don’t want to get a ride by myself this late.” Then she glanced at me. “Cecily can call a car, right?” The night air was bitter when we stepped outside. Theo didn’t even look at me. “Get home on your own. Have my assistant reimburse the fare.” A moment later, his car pulled away, leaving a cloud of exhaust in my face. I stood on the sidewalk and watched the taillights disappear. Then I opened the notes app on my phone. Cold exposure: $5,000. Transportation reimbursement: $1,000. I stared at the figures for a moment, then deleted the second entry. A rideshare would have cost too much. I unlocked a shared bicycle and pedaled home instead. Every dollar counted. When I reached the penthouse, the rooms were dark and silent. I changed into comfortable clothes, tied my hair back, and went into the kitchen. There was still a beautiful steak in the refrigerator, reserved for the chef’s next service. I took it out, seasoned it, and cooked it in a hot skillet with butter, garlic, and fresh thyme. The smell filled the kitchen. I poured myself a small glass of red wine and sat down to eat. This was the real reason I’d stayed for six years. Not the penthouse. Not the jewelry. Not even Theo’s handsome face. It was the security of knowing that, no matter how humiliating the day had been, I could come home to a warm meal and a roof over my head. I’d grown up poor. When I was younger, my mother had disappeared with the little money we had, leaving me to deal with the debts she’d accumulated. Debt collectors had cornered me outside my apartment. I still remembered the panic, the shame, the way I’d stood there unable to think of a single person I could call. Theo had appeared that afternoon. He’d looked at me the way a wealthy man might look at a stray dog—dirty, frightened, and probably more trouble than it was worth. Then he’d paid what I owed and taken me home with him. He gave me everything I’d never had. And in exchange, I learned that a gilded cage was still a cage. I was halfway through my dinner when the front door opened. Theo walked in, bringing the cold night air with him. A sweet floral perfume clung to his coat. Daisy’s perfume. His gaze fell on my plate. “You’re eating again?” I set down my fork. “Would you like something? I can heat up some food for you.” He walked over and tipped my chin up with two fingers. “Why didn’t you make a scene tonight?” 2 His fingertips were rough against my skin. I kept my expression mild. “You had your reasons.” Theo studied me as if he were trying to decide whether I meant it. “You’d better.” He released my chin and shrugged out of his custom coat. “Throw this away tomorrow. It smells awful.” I caught the coat before it hit the floor. The fabric was exquisite, the tailoring flawless. I’d seen similar pieces sell for five thousand dollars on resale sites. And now it smelled like Daisy’s perfume. The scent was almost overwhelming, but I couldn’t help thinking that the girl might as well have been wearing a sign that said money waiting to be made. “I’ll take care of it,” I said. Theo loosened his tie. “Daisy will be staying here for a while. Her dorm is too noisy, and she needs somewhere quiet to prepare for her graduation exhibition.” He said it casually, as if he were informing me that the weather might change. “The view here should suit her.” I lowered my eyes. “Of course. I’ll have the guest room ready.” “Good.” His gaze sharpened. “And be nice to her. Daisy has a weak heart. She can’t handle people upsetting her.” I nodded. “I understand.” The next afternoon, Daisy arrived with several suitcases and the air of someone who had just inherited a mansion. She was wearing silk pajamas and carrying an iced coffee. “This plant has to go,” she announced, pointing at the potted ficus near the window. “It makes the place feel so old-fashioned.” Then she looked at the sofa. “Can we replace this with something ivory? Pink and ivory would be so much prettier.” Theo barely glanced up from his phone. “Whatever you want.” Daisy smiled in triumph. I said nothing. The ficus had been the first plant I’d bought after moving in. I’d nursed it back to health when its leaves started turning yellow, and for six years it had stood beside the window, quietly growing. By evening, it was gone. The sofa was next. Then the curtains. My old furniture, collected one piece at a time from antique shops and flea markets, was carried away by the staff. Daisy wanted everything new, pale, and pretty. She was still wandering around the living room when she spotted Lucky. My golden retriever had been with me for five years. He was the one living creature in the penthouse who depended on me without expecting me to earn his affection. He padded toward Daisy, tail wagging. She recoiled. “What’s that?” “My dog,” I said. Daisy clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, no. I’m allergic to dogs.” She began coughing, her face turning red. “I can’t breathe. Theo, I really can’t breathe.” Theo looked up. Lucky backed away, confused by the sudden shouting. “Get that dog out of here,” Theo ordered. I stared at him. “What?” He strode over and kicked the side of Lucky’s crate. The metal rattled, and Lucky yelped. “Get rid of him tomorrow. If he makes Daisy sick again, I’ll have someone dump him in the river.” I dropped to my knees and wrapped my arms around Lucky. “He’s been with me for five years.” Theo’s face remained cold. “So? He’s an animal. If Daisy gets sick, are you going to take responsibility?” I held Lucky tighter. He trembled against me, his warm nose pressed into the crook of my elbow. Theo took Daisy’s hand and led her toward the bedroom. The door closed behind them. I stayed on the floor long after their footsteps faded. “It’s okay, boy,” I whispered, stroking Lucky’s ears. “It’s okay.” I wasn’t sure whether I was comforting him or myself. That night, I checked my savings again. I needed another fifty thousand dollars to buy the kind of small house I wanted—a place with a little yard, a kitchen I could call my own, and enough room for Lucky to run around. I could almost picture it. But until then, I had to protect what mattered. The following morning, I took Lucky to a boarding facility that offered private suites and daily walks. The fees were painful, but it was better than leaving him at the mercy of Theo’s temper. At the entrance, Lucky kept turning back to look at me. “I know,” I whispered, kneeling to kiss his forehead. “I know you don’t want to stay here.” He pressed his head into my palm. “Just a little longer, okay? When I have enough money, we’ll eat all the good things we want. You’ll have a yard of your own. No one will ever threaten you again.” I watched him disappear down the corridor before forcing myself to leave. When I returned to the penthouse, I barely recognized it. The curtains were pink. The sofa was ivory. My favorite vintage lamp had vanished, along with the little wooden side table I’d bought at a flea market years ago. Daisy was in the kitchen, directing Chef Frank. “I don’t want my steak well-done,” she said. “Medium, please. And don’t drown everything in butter.” Frank hesitated. “Miss Quinn, Ms. Hart usually prefers her steak well-done. Mr. Kane specifically asked us to prepare it that way for her.” Daisy gave a dismissive laugh. “Well, I’m the one eating it now. And in this house, my rules are the rules.” I stepped into the kitchen. “It’s fine, Frank. I’ll eat out.” Daisy turned toward me, smiling sweetly. “Don’t be dramatic, Cecily. I’m only trying to make the place feel like home.” I picked up my handbag. “Then enjoy your home.” I walked out before she could respond. Behind me, I heard her mutter to Frank. “She’s just a gold digger. Imagine thinking she actually owns the place.” I kept walking. A gold digger. Perhaps. But even a gold digger could decide she’d had enough. 3 For the next two weeks, I made myself as unobtrusive as possible. Theo seemed thoroughly entertained by his new arrangement. He hired Daisy an expensive art tutor, took her shopping, and brought her to society parties where she could show off the jewelry he’d bought her. I stayed in the pink penthouse and quietly sold what I could. A few watches. A pair of diamond earrings. Two designer handbags. The money accumulated faster than I’d expected. Then I listed one of Theo’s Richard Mille watches for eighty thousand dollars. It sold in five minutes. I stared at the confirmation message, feeling a strange mix of relief and disbelief. Another twenty thousand, and I’d have enough to leave. I was sitting at the kitchen island, checking the transfer details, when Daisy wandered in. “What are you looking at?” I locked my phone. “Nothing.” She narrowed her eyes, then seemed to lose interest. She was wearing one of Theo’s oversized white shirts, the hem falling to mid-thigh. Her hair was tousled, and she held a mug of coffee in both hands. “Theo’s taking me to Chase’s yacht party tonight,” she said. Then she glanced at the window. “Have you ever been on a yacht with him?” I looked up. “No.” “Really? Not once in six years?” I shrugged. “I get seasick.” It wasn’t true. I simply knew better than to ask Theo for things he hadn’t offered. Daisy’s lips curved. “That’s a shame. Yachts are so much fun.” She took a sip of coffee, then looked at the dress hanging in the back of my closet. It was a custom-made gown in shades of blue and violet, with tiny crystals that caught the light like stars. Theo had brought it back from Paris three years ago. I’d kept it because it was beautiful. And because, for a brief moment, I’d thought it meant something that he’d remembered my birthday. Daisy walked toward it. “I want that dress.” I stood. “It’s made to my measurements. It won’t fit you.” “Then I’ll have it altered.” “It’s a couture piece. Altering it could ruin the design.” She turned toward me, her eyes filling with tears. “I just wanted to borrow a dress. Why do you have to be so mean?” I hadn’t even raised my voice. The front door opened before I could answer. Theo came in, smelling of expensive whiskey and cold air. He took one look at Daisy’s face. “What’s wrong?” Daisy lowered her head. “Nothing. I just asked Cecily if I could borrow her dress for tonight, and she said no.” Theo looked at me. “Give it to her.” I stared at him. “It’s custom-made for me. She won’t fit into it.” “Then have it altered.” “That isn’t the point.” His expression cooled. “Don’t make this difficult, Cecily.” For a moment, I almost laughed. The point had never mattered. Not when Daisy wanted my necklace. Not when she wanted my handbag. Not when she wanted my dog gone. And certainly not when she wanted a dress I’d kept as one of the few things in this house that felt like mine. I took the gown from the closet and handed it to Daisy. “Here.” She accepted it with a triumphant smile. An hour later, she emerged wearing the dress. It was too tight across the shoulders and too loose at the waist. The hem dragged on the floor. The original silhouette was ruined. Theo looked her over. “It looks good.” Daisy beamed. “Really?” “Of course.” They left together. I stood in the hallway, watching the elevator doors close. Six years. Six years of smiling, accommodating, and trying to warm myself with whatever scraps of affection Theo happened to toss my way. And I couldn’t even keep one dress. I went into the kitchen, hoping to find something to eat. The refrigerator was packed with Daisy’s favorite desserts, fresh berries, and little containers of gourmet yogurt. The ingredients I’d bought for my usual dinner were gone. So was the steak I’d been saving. I called Chef Frank. “Did you move the food from the lower shelf?” There was a pause. “Ms. Quinn doesn’t like the smell of raw meat in the refrigerator. Mr. Kane told me to throw it out. From now on, I’m only preparing food for her.” I held the phone to my ear for a moment. Then I set it down. No argument. No tears. No angry message to Theo. I simply walked to the bedroom, pulled my suitcase from beneath the bed, and began to pack. 4 Packing took less time than I’d expected. After six years in a penthouse filled with luxury, I discovered that very little of it belonged to me. A few old clothes. My ledger notebook. My bank card. That was almost everything. The jewelry Theo had given me had already been sold, piece by piece. The designer bags I’d loved most had gone long ago. Even the furniture I remembered buying with my own money had disappeared under Daisy’s renovations. I stood before the vanity and studied my reflection. I was still beautiful. My skin was smooth, my features delicate, and my eyes large enough to make people assume I was innocent. But the woman looking back at me seemed lifeless. I had spent six years trying to become the kind of woman Theo Kane might someday choose. I had mistaken endurance for devotion and silence for security. No more. “Cecily Hart,” I whispered. “You’re free.” My savings were enough now. Enough for a little house. Enough for groceries, heating bills, and veterinary care. Enough to eat at Bella’s Kitchen whenever I wanted, without checking the price of every item on the menu. I could order a plate of spicy rigatoni, extra meatballs, and garlic bread. I could finish every bite without worrying about my waistline or whether someone might think I was eating too much. I could live. And I was done with this humiliating performance. Before leaving, I took out the black card Theo had given me six years earlier. It had been the first symbol of my new life, the little piece of plastic that represented everything he believed he could buy. I opened my banking app and transferred twenty thousand dollars back to his primary account. It was the original amount I’d received when I entered our arrangement—the price I’d put on my dignity. Now I was returning it. The confirmation appeared on the screen. Transfer complete. I slipped the card into an envelope and placed it on the vanity beside my notebook. Then I picked up my suitcase and walked out. The pink curtains stirred in the draft from the open window. Daisy’s perfume lingered in the air, cloying and sweet. I felt no regret. The wind outside was cold enough to sting my cheeks, but I had never felt so light. First, I went to collect Lucky from the boarding facility. He nearly knocked me over when he saw me. His tail whipped back and forth, and he shoved his head against my chest, whining with excitement. I knelt and wrapped my arms around him. “Come on, buddy. Mom’s taking you somewhere nice.” He licked my cheek. I laughed. Then I booked the fastest train south to a small river town I’d visited once on a whim. It had quiet streets, old brick houses, and a river that wound through the hills beyond town. I canceled my old phone number and deleted my social media accounts. By the time the train pulled out of Manhattan, I had become just another face in the crowd. A drop of water disappearing into the ocean. At two in the morning, Theo returned from Chase’s yacht party. Daisy had drunk too much and needed to be taken back to campus by his assistant. He was tired, irritable, and more than a little drunk himself. He took off his jacket and called toward the kitchen. “Cecily. Make me some honey water.” Silence. He waited. Then he called again. Nothing. Frowning, he walked into the living room. The lights were off. The kitchen was empty. The counters were clean. The main bedroom had been stripped of my skincare products, toiletries, and clothes. He stopped in the doorway. Something cold slipped through his chest. He went to the walk-in closet. Half the shelves were empty. My clothes were gone. So were the watches and coats he’d discarded over the years, the tie clips he’d tossed into drawers, and the accessories he’d once told me I could do whatever I wanted with. The place looked as though someone had come through and carefully looted it. On the vanity lay his black card and my yellowed ledger. His phone vibrated. A banking notification. Twenty thousand dollars had been transferred into his account, ending in 7788.
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