Chapter 3

Hannah had made up her mind. We had to leave immediately. She couldn’t stand another second there.

But finding a place wasn’t easy. After several days of searching, I still hadn’t found anything suitable. Every apartment was either too far from work or too expensive.

Just as I was starting to despair, my phone rang. It was one of the rental agents whose numbers I’d saved.

“Hello, Mr. Carter. I found a private room for five hundred a month. It’s reasonably close to your workplace, too. Would you like to take a look?”

That was fantastic news. Five hundred dollars a month was unbelievably cheap. I agreed without hesitation.

He had another appointment and couldn’t show me around, so he gave me the address and told me where to find the key. I could view it myself.

But when I arrived, I was stunned.

The apartment was gorgeous and fully equipped. Space cost a fortune in New York. If someone had told me the rent was twenty thousand a month, I would have believed it. I figured the agent had tricked me.

But just as I turned to leave, the door closed. The person who shut it was Vanessa!

She wore a fitted business outfit, projecting confidence and maturity. The black stockings on her legs made my pulse jump. She walked toward me with a seductive sway, her eyes fixed on mine.

“What do you think, Ethan? Do you like it? You can stay here as long as you want. I won’t charge you rent.”

She leaned so close she was almost pressed against me. Her warm breath brushed my skin, and my heart hammered.

I was already at a loss. Her words made me even more confused. “What? This apartment… is yours?”

Vanessa smiled. “Surprised? Wondering why I’d squeeze into that shabby shared apartment with my husband when I own a place like this?”

I nodded. It made no sense.

Vanessa sighed, a hint of sadness entering her eyes. “The truth is, my husband has a psychological problem. He needs other people nearby when we make love. Otherwise, he can’t get an erection.”

“It’s gotten worse as he’s grown older. So he found another way to cope. He became obsessed with role-play. He especially likes pretending to be another couple while they’re right there watching!”

“That’s the only way he can feel like a man again.”

I listened, speechless. Was that really a psychological problem, or was he just a creep? No wonder their games were so outrageous. It was unbelievable.

“You said I could keep living here. What exactly did you mean?”

Vanessa’s eyes softened as she slipped her arms around my neck. “Well, lately I’ve discovered I have a little problem of my own. I like other women’s strong, healthy men.”

Her eyes traveled over me hungrily.

“If you agree, you can live here rent-free. And I’ll give you a hundred thousand dollars a month in spending money!”

My heart lurched at the offer. My breathing sped up. A hundred thousand dollars!

But then I pictured Hannah’s sweet smile. I shook my head hard and pulled away. “No. I have a fiancée. I can’t abandon her!”

Vanessa smiled. “I’m not asking you to. You can stay with her. All you have to do is come over whenever I message you. If neither of us says anything, no one will know.”

“And you can use the money for your wedding, can’t you? I want your body. You want my money. We both get what we need.”

I had to admit, Vanessa knew how to negotiate. She’d gone straight for the thing I wanted most.

Hadn’t I come to New York to make enough money to marry Hannah? Now I could make that dream come true with just a little effort.

“Okay. I’ll do it.”

Vanessa lit up. Desire filled her eyes as she eagerly took my hand and led me toward the bedroom.

“Come on. Let me see how strong you are!”

With her coming on to me like that, I couldn’t hold back. I scooped her up and rushed into the room.

At the time, I had no idea that this one reckless decision would nearly destroy my life.