Chapter 21

"Clifford, what's wrong? You seem a million miles away." Yesenia had been sitting in the car for what felt like an eternity while he just sat there smoking. He'd already gone through two cigarettes, and the car was still idling in the parking garage.

Clifford took a final drag, then flicked the butt out the window before turning to look at her.

"How's your foot?"

Yesenia pouted. "I'm surprised a man as busy as you even remembers my foot. It's not like I'm dying."

She was still bitter about the whole incident. She'd hoped to milk it for all it was worth, but the whole thing had just fizzled out. And that mute hadn't said a peep about it.

"I'm not in the mood to coddle you right now. What do you want to eat?" Clifford rubbed his temples, a weary look clouding his features.

Yesenia blinked, surprised. "What's the matter? Is it something at work?"

"Just a minor headache." He finally started the engine and pulled out of the garage.

Yesenia was his secretary in name only, collecting a paycheck for doing nothing. To be honest, she didn't even know what his company did. Even if she wanted to comfort him, she wouldn't know where to start.

So, she stayed quiet.

She pulled out her phone to play a game. It was a popular title called "Dragon's Bloodline”, and she'd poured a small fortune into it to pass the time at work. Just last month, she'd dropped over five million dollars fighting for the top spot on the leaderboard-all on Clifford's card, of course.

He'd given her a supplementary credit card with no practical limit. For anything over ten million, she was supposed to give him a heads-up, but he almost always approved it.

"Hey, Clifford," she said, scrolling through an announcement. "The game is shooting a live-action holiday promotional video, and they're still casting. I think I want to try out for it."

"Mm," he grunted, his eyes fixed on the road.

"Could you pull some strings for me? I mean, who would dare say no to you?"

Yesenia thought to herself. She

loved the game, and being its spokesperson would be a huge opportunity. The other players in players in terr guild already called her the rich girl. If she starred in the promo, everyone would know she was not only rich but beautiful, too.

She couldn't help but smile, imagining the awe and admiration of all the other players.

It was a small request, and Clifford never said no to her.

Many people in their circle couldn't

understand his fascination with Yesenia. The woman had no emotional intelligence, wasn't particularly bright, and had a terrible temper she was spoiled arrogant lazy and vain her flaws were endless. Besides her looks, she had nothing going for her, and there

were plenty of women more

beautiful than her. It was a complete mystery.

Some chalked it up to love—that beyond all the superficialities, Clifford simply loved

Yesenia for who she was, for her supposedly "pure" soul.

But only Yesenia knew the truth. Clifford's affection for her was like walking a tightrope. It looked stable, but a single misstep could send her plunging into the abyss. She never dared to play games with him he could see right through her petty schemes. So, she played her part, staying within the boundaries he set. As long as she didn't push too far, she could act as spoiled as she wanted. She was like a prized pet in a gilded cage-free to fly, as long as she never tried to escape.

Clifford was a man of action. The moment Yesenia mentioned the promotional video, he picked up his phone and called his assistant, telling him to make it happen.