Chapter 452

Everyone’s got the same twenty-four hours, and until I figure out how to play the money game and dodge the risks, rushing in would just get me wrecked faster.

Better play it safe for now, take things slow. Keeping steady is way more important.

Work got pretty crazy in the afternoon. Everything piled up, and I barely had time to take a sip of water.

During a meeting, I noticed my phone buzzing with a text. I glanced at it quickly–it looked like a video.

The video showed some guy flexing his abs, but his face was hidden.

I didn’t want anyone around me to see, so I just glanced at it and quickly turned off the screen.

When a guy’s loaded, there’s never a shortage of women throwing themselves at him.

But when a woman’s got money, guys get even bolder.

I’ve had plenty of so-called handsome guys chasing after me, calling me “big sister” like it’s some kind of turn-on.

Some even send all sorts of suggestive pics and videos in the middle of the night.

But I just ignore every single one of them.

Probably just another guy showing off, desperate for me to notice him.

After the meeting ended and night had fallen, I was sitting in my office, buried in paperwork.

My phone buzzed a few times in a row.

[Vic, why are you leaving me on read?]

“???”

[Just lurking and not commenting? That’s a bit rude, isn’t it?]

When I saw that galaxy icon, it hit me–this was Ryan’s account.

I grabbed my phone and scrolled back up to the video, only to find he’d already unsent it.

A flash of those thick veins standing out beneath his skin, disappearing under those black slacks, flickered through my mind.

For some reason, it felt like déjà vu–just like that scene in the bathroom the other day.

I quickly replied, “Sorry, I didn’t have time to reply earlier. What’s with that video you just sent me?” –Victoria

“Was I being too much?” Ryan shot back almost instantly.

“No, not at all… I was just a bit surprised,” I replied.

“I just finished training. I’ll come find you. Where are you?” Ryan asked.

I glanced out the window. Time had flown by while I was busy–it was almost seven already.

“I’m at the office!” I replied.

“Are you working late tonight?” he asked.

“Nope, you don’t have to come all the way to the office. How about meeting near my place? Dinner’s on me,” I said.

Ryan replied right away: [How about I bring dinner over to your place?]

[Sounds good!] I replied, then quickly wrapped up the rest of my work.

When I got home, Ryan still hadn’t shown up yet, which meant I had just enough time to hop in the shower and slip into my favorite loungewear.

Since I lived alone, I always kept my place super tidy–it’s a habit I’ve had since I was a kid.

And lately, as my mood’s gotten better, I’ve started decorating a bit–buying fresh flowers, and whenever something cute or interesting catches my eye, I just bring it home.

Watching my place slowly turn into my dream home gave me this quiet, happy feeling inside.

Maybe this is what it means to really live.

Truth is, I’ve been wanting a pet for a while now, but work’s just way too hectic. I barely have time for myself, let alone taking care of a little furball. I’d hate to bring one home and end up not giving it the love it deserves.

But I know, once life chills out a bit, I’m definitely getting one–no doubt about it.

I was just putting the flowers in water when the doorbell rang.

I walked over and opened the door–Ryan was standing there with a big bag, and there was that faint, familiar smell of freshly baked bread in the air.

I froze for a moment, guessing Ryan had probably asked his housekeeper to bake my favorite bread for me again.

“Had the housekeeper make all this for us. Come on, let’s eat,” Ryan said, dropping the bag on the table and unpacking everything one by one.

“You really didn’t have to go to all that trouble,” I said softly.

“It’s no trouble at all. We’ve got to eat anyway,” Ryan replied with a grin, his deep eyes roaming over me. “Did you just take a...