EMILY

There was a loud round of applause as the man before me pulled up the white veil. My lips spread into a wide smile as I stared at him.

Whoever thought I'd be in a wedding dress? Saying my vows to a successful billionaire?

This was goodbye. To the stupid debts my father left me in, to my toxic mother and sister.

I might have to thank that jerk, Justin, for opening my eyes to reality. There was nothing like true love; I should have learned that from my parents. At that moment, I didn't care that the man leaning in to kiss me was a complete stranger or that I had no feelings whatsoever for him. What mattered was that I was about to move from a life of poverty to the best life I could ever think of.

As our lips neared closer, I felt the excitement bubble in me, but the hall suddenly became quiet, and a loud, shrill noise that sounded a lot like my ringtone echoed through the hall.

Before I knew it, I was being pulled from my husband-to-be, a scream leaving my lips.

My eyes shot wide open a second later, and it didn't take long for me to realize that I had been in a fucking dream.

I screamed in frustration, throwing my hands in the air.

"Ah seriously!"

I reached out for the stupid phone that had disrupted my wedding, even though it was a dream.

My frustration was immediately replaced with anger and disdain when I saw the name I used to save the caller. 'A certain woman'

Even though I wanted to do anything but answer the call and ruin the first day of the week, I did otherwise.

"What do you want?" I asked curtly.

She chuckled, and that was enough to send me over the edge.

'I hate this woman. I wish she had never met Dad. I wish they had never had me. Why did they have to give birth to me just to make my life miserable? I will never understand people like them'

"Oh, Emily, darling, is that how to talk to your mother?"

She scoffed, and I could picture her shaking her head. "We didn't train you well."

"Yes, you didn't, and thank you for ruining my day."

She snickered. "Anything for you, darling."

"I just called to thank you for the money."

My brows rose as I sat up in an instant, pulling the bed covers away from my body.

"What money?"

She laughed. A sound so evil and malicious, one that had become something I dreaded hearing because it always meant something bad for me.

"Come back home soon, Emily."

She ended the call before I could react, and I quickly exited the phone app to open my bank app instead.

I froze as blood drained from my face once I confirmed my suspicions.

A big, fat $50 stared back at me, almost as if mocking me.

No. This couldn't be happening. Where was the $7000+ that I had just overnight?

A tear slid down my cheeks as I fell to the bed. I screamed into the soft covers of my bed because that was the only thing I could do to suppress my current emotions.

I just managed to get that money yesterday, and I planned to pay part of the rent with it. But she took it. Was she planning on ruining my life, finally? The debts her husband left in my name before being a coward and running away were not enough; now she was stealing from me.

I just want to kill myself, but she has to die with me.

I don't know for how long I lay on my bed, rethinking my life choices, but the alarm ringtone resounding through the room had me dragging my ass out of bed and getting ready for the most important thing today.

My blind date.

I should not let what has happened keep me from moving forward. This blind date could be the only ticket out of my miserable life.

I pinched my cheeks lightly as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

"Let's go get yourself a man, Emily Raven."

I gently closed the door of the car and turned around to gawk at the huge building.

Damn. I had only ever dreamt of being in a place like CL Hills. All my other dates have been rich men, but this one seemed like he was on another level. CL Hills was only for the wealthiest of the wealthy.

Just as I was about to climb the grand stairs that lead to the main door, my phone beeped with a text. I pulled it out of my Chanel bag—the only real luxury bag I could afford. If I wanted to bag a rich man, I should look presentable too, or at least pretend to be.

There was a text when I opened the phone.

Do you really have to take a day off this time?—it was from a coworker. I sighed and returned my phone to my bag.

Why should I continue to overwork myself for a company that is about to be doomed? I love my job, and it's my only source of income, but I won't spend any extra time for that damned company until they pay my last month's salary.

I forced a smile on my face and began to ascend the stairs.

The pictures of the hotel on the internet didn't do justice to what my eyes were seeing. It was beautiful—no, I had no suitable words to describe it.

I retrieved my phone from my bag to read the text my mystery date had sent the previous night.

<Show this card to the worker in charge,> and a picture of the supposed card was attached to it.

I wouldn't lie; it made me thrilled to find out who this man was. Was he perhaps the son of a president?

"Or a kidnapper." I heard Charlie's disagreeing voice in my head. I shook the thoughts off. Oh, she was really getting to me.

A lady who looked about my age walked up to me. She was dressed smartly in her black corporate trousers and a fancy white top that seemed like the worker's uniform. A polite smile was stamped on her face, but I could see that she was tired of the smile.

I scoffed inwardly. I would do anything to trade working at my current company to be where she was.

"Good evening, ma'am. Do you have a reservation?"

I returned her smile as I nodded. "Yes, I do."

I showed her the card on my phone, and she just nodded, like she had been waiting for me. "This way, please."

She led the way, and I followed behind her.

We got into a capsule elevator where I could virtually see everyone on the floor as it rose. I tried my best not to gawk, but God forbid a poor girl who had never seen this immense amount of wealth gawk when she finally experiences one.

After a minute or two, the elevator stopped moving, and we headed out. Once again, she took the lead, heading down a dimly lit hallway before she finally stopped in front of a door.

She reached out and opened the door. I took that as my lead to walk in. Turning around to say thank you, I watched as she closed the door while I made my way into the room.

It was like an exclusive bar suite, only that just one man was sitting in the lounge.

Did he get this whole place just for the date?

Ah, don't humor yourself, Emily. He's just another wealthy man, flaunting his money.

I took careful steps to where he was seated to avoid tripping and making a fool of myself.

He didn't make a move to lift his gaze from his phone when I pulled out the chair or when I sat.

"Hi," I said, to announce my presence.

'Does he have something plugged in his ears, or is he just another privileged jerk?'

He finally lifted his head, and everything about his face knocked off my breath.