The bedroom door slammed open, and I walked in to find Trevor standing there, half-dressed, with another woman. The air was still warm from whatever he’d been up to. I didn’t need an explanation. I didn’t want one.
“Joanna, please listen to me. I can explain,” he said, his voice shaking. “Explain what? ” I snapped.
“That you’re wasted? Or some kind of business meeting in a bedroom? ”
He stepped toward me, hands out. “It’s not what it looks like.
Just calm down and let’s talk this through. ”
“I want a divorce. ”
“Don’t make any hasty decisions,” he warned, his tone shifting. “Your father said your inheritance of the Ford Group depends on you having an heir.
How are you going to have a child without me? ”
“You need me,” he added, a smug smile curling on his lips. I looked him straight in the eye. “No, I don’t.
We’re finished. ”
His face twisted with rage. “YOU’RE GOING TO REGRET THIS. You’re going to come crawling back to me,and I’m going to be waiting.
”
I walked out and slammed the door behind me. The next morning, I sat in my office, staring at my phone. I’d made a decision. I wasn’t going to wait for another man to control my future anymore.
I called my assistant, Cullen. “Find me a male escort. ”
“Wait, a male escort? ” he sputtered.
“What? Are you serious? You could have anyone. Why do you need to hire an escort?
”
“I want a child that is completely mine,” I said flatly. By evening, Cullen had lined up a few candidates. I flipped through their profiles in his office, unimpressed. “These guys aren’t my type.
You should know me better than that. ”
“Okay, Ms. Ford,” he said, pushing another photo forward. “Try this one.
His name is Alex. Six foot three, very good looking, no bad habits, and even graduated from a top Ivy League school. He’s exactly what you’re looking for. ”
“All right.
Let’s give him a go. Can you do tonight? ”
“Yes, he’s available. But there’s a slight catch,” Cullen said, hesitating.
“They insist both people wear masks during the process. ”
I shrugged. “That’s fine. ”
That night, nerves buzzed under my skin as I walked into the private suite.
The man was already there, tall and broad-shouldered, his face hidden behind a sleek black mask. Only his eyes were visible—deep, sharp, watching me with an intensity that made my stomach flip. “You happy now? ” I asked, half joking.
“Not yet,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “But keep this up, you might get more. ”
I raised an eyebrow. “Show me what you can do.
I’ll tell you if I like it or not. ”
Afterward, he vanished before dawn. I didn’t ask questionsمرة أخرى. The arrangement worked.
He came when I called, left when I asked, and never demanded more. It was simple. Uncomplicated. Exactly what I needed.
A few weeks Later, Trevor showed up at my apartment, drunk and banging on the door. My new escort was there, and I heard him call out, “Who’s that? ”
“Ex-husband,” I said, not moving. Trevor’s voice roared through the door.
“Joanna, if you don’t come home, I’m throwing out all of your things. ”
“Go ahead,” I yelled back. “I don’t want anything that’s been touched by another woman. Or you.
”
The next morning, a courier delivered a thick envelope to Trevor’s office. Inside was a divorce agreement, already signed by me. I smiled, imagining his face turning red. The weeks rolled on.
I threw myself into work, ignoring the gossip that swirled around me. Trevor kept showing up, demanding attention, but I stopped answering his calls altogether. My focus was one thing: securing the Southern Suburb land for the Ford Group. It was the project that would cement my position as CEO, no matter what my father or stepfamily thought.
At the auction, I walked in, chin high, and stopped dead at the sight of Trevor—with my stepsister, Maddie, on his arm. He grinned at me, all charm and poison. “Ms. Ford, you look absolutely gorgeous today,” he purred.
“Why aren’t you with Mr. Dixon? Oh, wait. I just remembered.
He’s with me. ”
I kept my face stone still. “Whatever. It’s just a guy.
”
The bidding began. Trevor outbid me on everything, laughing each time. He bought Maddie a sapphire necklace worth a hundred thousand dollars, just to needle me. Then came the luxury vintage men’s watch—only five in the world.
I bid three hundred thousand, and Trevor topped it without blinking, handing it to Maddie with a smirk. Then came the main event: development rights for the Southern Suburb land, starting at thirty million dollars. Trevor leaned in. “Come back to me,and I might just let you have it.
”
“Not a chance,” I said. He shrugged, then stood up, addressing the room. “No matter what Joanna Ford bids today, I will match it. ”
I clenched my jaw and bid fifty million.
He matched. Sixty, seventy, a hundred. He matched every time. My heart hammered against my ribs, but I refused to break.
I went to two hundred million, and he finally fell silent, face darkening. “Two hundred million going once, going twice—sold,” the auctioneer called. Then a calm voice spoke from the back of the room. “Mr.
Riley, the president of the Riley Group, here. I believe you’ve just secured yourself a partner, Miss Ford. ”
I turned, surprised. Vincent Riley walked toward me, sharp suit, steady eyes.
He extended his hand. “On behalf of the Riley Group, I’d like to collaborate with you in co-developing this land. Please consider my offer. ”
I shook it.
“The Ford Group would be honored. I accept. ”
Trevor’s face went purple. He tried to slice the deal apart, offering Vincent fifty percent profits if he’d switch sides.
Vincent didn’t even blink. “We will not be collaborating with anyone else, Mr. Dixon. ”
Trevor stormed off, dragging Maddie behind him.
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. A few days Later, I sent Vincent a thank-you note—via a package to my escort service. It was a gift, I told Cullen, to show appreciation for the service Alex had provided. I didn’t question it further.
But then Trevor showed up at my office building the next morning, and he spotted the watch on Vincent’s wrist as they crossed in the lobby. His eyes went wide, then narrow. He stormed into my office. “Joanna, what is your relationship with Mr.
Riley? ”
I kept typing. “I met him yesterday,and I’m here on business. Besides, we’re already divorced.
It’s none of your business. ”
He stared at me, breathing hard, then spun around and left. I heard him mutter, “I must be wrong. ”
But he wasn’t.
That night, my escort arrived—tall, dark, wearing that black mask. Something about his walk, his scent, his voice stuck in my chest. I pulled him close, breathing him in, and whispered,”You just really remind me of someone. ”
“And who would that be?
” he asked softly. “Vincent Riley. ”
A pause. Then a low laugh.
“And if I were? ”
I pulled back, meeting his eyes. “Please. You’re definitely not him.
If you were, I’d cancel our agreement right now. ”
The mask tiltted. “Why? ”
“Because I can’t trust him,” I said flatly.
“Now, remember you’re an escort I’m keeping. Be careful with your client’s privacy. Play nice,and I’ll keep taking care of you. But don’t fall in love with me.
”
He was quiet for a long moment. Then he nodded. “Deal. ”
But something itch ed at me.
I couldn’t shake the feeling his voice was familiar. And then, one night, I decided I’d had enough of the mystery. He lay asleep beside me, breathing slow. I reached over, fingers brushing the edge of his mask.
He stirred, eyes flickering open, but before he could react, I ripped it off. Vincent Riley’s face stared back at me, guilt written all over it. I shot up, rage searing through me. “You.
” My voice came out cold and broken. “Vincent Riley,you were really that desperate for money you’d get a job as an escort? ”
He sat up, reaching for me. “Joanna, wait.
I didn’t mean to trick you. Let me explain. ”
“Explain what? ” I backed away, trembling.
“That you lied to me from the start? That you’ve been in my bed, wearing a mask, pretending to be someone else? I can never trust you again. ”
“Joanna, please—”
“But I want a baby for my inheritance,” I cut him off.
“And that’s the only reason I even kept you around. So if you want to keep your job, we stick to the deal. Nothing more. ”
His face fell, but he nodded slowly.
“Fine. The deal stays. ”
But the truth was already out. And once it was, everything began to unravel.
The next morning, Cullen called, voice tight. “Ms. Ford, there are scandals about you trending online. Photos.
You and a masked man. The headline says the CEO of the Ford Group is keeping a secret male escort, a secret kinky double life. ”
I stared at the screen. Then I called my father’s office.
He answered with a cold, hard voice. “Joanna, you’ve done serious damage to the Ford Group’s reputation. Our stock’s tanking. There’s only one way to turn public opinion around.
”
“What? ”
“Remarry Trevor. Get him to tell the press you’re still devoted to each other, that these rumors are just rumors. ”
I hung up.
My hands shook. I wasn’t going to crawl back to Trevor. Not for anything. Then Vincent walked into my office, unannounced.
His face was calm, but his eyes burned. “I can clear the rumors up. I’m Vincent Riley, CEO of the Riley Group—and I’m Joanna’s boyfriend. ”
My father blinked.
Slowly, a smile spread across his face. “Vincent Riley knows my daughter? ”
Vincent nodded. “The rumors are unfounded.
I’ve been dating Joanna. As for who’s behind them, I can assure you they won’t get off lightly. ”
My father clapped him on the shoulder. “Finally, someone respectable.
I couldn’t be more relieved. ”
I stared at Vincent, throat tight. After my father left, I whispered,”Why did you even try and help me? ”
He met my eyes, voice steady.
“Because I love you. And I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea about you. ”
I felt something crack open inside my chest. But before I could respond, Trevor pushed through the door, face twisted with rage.
He lunged at Vincent. “You backstabbing scumbag! ”
Vincent sidestepped, and Trevor slammed into the wall. I stepped between them.
“Trevor, it’s over. I’m allowed to move on. ”
He staggered up, breathing hard. “She’s my wife!
”
Vincent stepped forward, voice cold as ice. “You’re divorced, Trevor. I’m her man now,and I’ll soon be the father of her kids. Get out of our lives.
”
Trevor threw a punch. Vincent caught his wrist, twisted, and Trevor went down, groaning on the floor. I grabbed Vincent’s arm. “Let’s go.
Now. ”
We left him there. The company’s anniversary party came in two weeks. Vincent proposed we announce our relationship there.
I agreed, heart pounding. I wasn’t sure I was ready. But I was sure of one thing: I wanted him. The night of the party, I walked in on Vincent’s arm, diamond earrings catching tea light glow.
The room buzzed. I saw my father beaming. I saw Maddie glaring across the room, phone in hand. And I saw Trevor sliding toward me through the crowd, a glass of wine in each hand.
“Joanna,” he purred, stepping close. “We need to talk. Alone. ”
Vincent stepped in front of me.
“Back off, Trevor. ”
Trevor ignored him, eyes locked on me. “You know that guy last year—the one who saved you when those thugs attacked you? It wasn’t me.
It was him. ”
My blood went cold. I turned to Vincent. “You…
you were the one who saved me? ”
Vincent’s jaw tightened. “When I found you, I thought you were Trevor’s woman. I didn’t want to interfere.
I didn’t know you’d mistaken him for me until it was too late. ”
I stared at him, tears burning my eyes. “All this time,” I breathed. “I married the wrong man.
I loved you,a stranger I never got to thank, for years. And you let me go. ”
“I’m not letting you go this time,” he said, stepping closer. “I’m not going anywhere.
I can wait. ”
I looked at him, at the man who’d saved me, who’d snuck into my life beneath a mask, who’d risked everything for me. I look ed at the man who’d loved me all along—while I’d been blind, married to a lie, deceived by a man who’d never once been honestistor. I smiled, tears slipping down my cheeks.
“Then prove it. ”
His eyes flickered with heat. “What kind of proof are you looking for? ”
I grabbed his collar and pulled him in, voice low.
“The kind that happens in the bedroom. ”
Weeks passed. The rumors faded. The stock recovered.
And my belly began to swell. One morning, I woke up, stomach turning. I walked into the bathroom,and the test showed two pink lines. I stared at it, hand shaking, heart full.
I walked back into the bedroom where Vincent lay, gold in the morning light. I climbed onto the bed and shook him awake. He blinked, groggy. “Joanna?
What’s wrong? ”
I pushed the test toward his face, grin splitting my cheeks. “You’re going to be a dad. ”
His eyes went wide.
Then they soften ed, and he pulled me into his arms, buried his face in my hair. “I’m enjoying being a mum,” I whispered against his chest. He laughed, voice thick with emotion. “And I’m enjoying being a dad.
Finally. ”
I pressed a kiss to his lips. My future stretched out ahead of me—clear, bright, mine.
