Chapter 1

My boyfriend’s mistress had wormed her way into his assistant’s job, hoping to steal the spotlight at the company gala.

Then she heard Manhattan’s four most powerful heirs were coming for one woman. So she went all out preparing tough trivia questions.

Because my boyfriend had told everyone I was barely educated.

When I got there, she looked me up and down with a smug smile.

"Here’s how this is gonna work. My rules. Answer right, you get into the main hall."

"Get one wrong, and you’ll be punished."

My boyfriend immediately stepped in.

"Come on. Don’t make Lauren look bad—she’s running the whole thing. "

“I mean, you barely made it past middle school. You’re definitely going to get some wrong anyway. I’ll make it up to you afterward.”

I froze.

Middle school? Me?

Everyone on my research team had at least a PhD.

And those four heirs had only come because of me.

I mean, I'm the queen of Manhattan's elite. Been bossing those boys around since we were kids.

...

When I show up, Lauren's already sucking up to the four heirs, voice dripping sugar.

"Gentlemen! Welcome! I'm the head planner for tonight's event."

"I know you guys like things spicy, so I set up a little game. This woman has to play. When she fails, she gets punished."

"Trust me, it'll be worth your time."

Grayson Kincaid stands at the front. Sharp jaw. Cold eyes. He gives Lauren the smallest nod, completely uninterested in her.

His gaze sweeps the room. He's looking for someone.

People around us are losing it.

"Oh my God, the four heirs! They're even hotter in person!"

"Lauren actually got them to show up? How?"

Lauren eats it up, then takes a shot at me.

"Some women build careers. Others are just trophy girlfriends."

I catch Grayson's eyes sweeping past me. No recognition.

I left the family four years ago and buried myself in research. Haven't seen any of them since.

Plus, I use makeup to make myself look plain. Nobody looks twice.

Lauren gets completely ignored by the four of them. She spins back to me, pissed.

"You wanted to come so bad, right? Answer the damn question already."

"And stop staring at them like a creep."

Spencer Langley leans against the wall, golden-brown hair falling over one eye. Bored and dangerous. One brow raised.

"So is everyone here? Everyone who's coming is here?"

Lauren switches to her sweet voice instantly.

"Mr. Langley, almost! Just a few more on the way!"

Something in Spencer's face relaxes.

Lauren turns back to me with a pout.

"Vivian, sweetie, everyone here has at least a master's. You barely made it past middle school."

"The only reason you're even here is because you're dating Nathan. So like, don't feel too bad when you bomb this, okay?"

A few people snicker.

Nathan's face goes tight.

"If you had even a fraction of Lauren's drive, I wouldn't be standing here looking like an idiot because of you."

I smile. "Who told you I dropped out in middle school?"

As the youngest tenured professor MIT has ever had, I spend most of my time leading research teams.

And someone just called me unambitious.

Lauren covers her mouth, giggling.

"Vivian, honey, don't front. Nathan says you've never held a real job."

"If you even had a GED, would you really still be unemployed?"

"Anyway." She flicks her wrist. "Stop making everyone wait. Let's go."

I look at Nathan. My voice is flat.

"When we started dating, you said you'd never force me into anything. Remember?"

Nathan's jaw clenches.

"It's a game, Vivian. Why can't you just be cool about this? Lauren would never pull this shit."

People change. The person he protects isn't me anymore.

I push down the sting in my chest.

I smirk.

"You guys have fun. I'm out."

"Nathan! If she walks, everyone else is gonna bail too! Then what happens to my gala?"

Lauren's voice goes shrill.

Nathan blocks my path. His face goes hard.

"The four heirs came for Lauren's event. You're ruining everything. Have you thought about Lauren? About me?"

I look into his eyes. The warmth that used to be there is gone.

He grabs my wrist.

I yank my arm back.

He blinks. Then his jaw sets.

"If you don't play Lauren's game tonight, we're done."

He says it like a weapon he knows will land.

Lauren bounces over to Grayson's group.

"Just so you know, every single time Nathan threatens to break up with her, she folds."

She flips her hair. "God, desperate girls are so pathetic. Women should have standards. Like me. Career first."

I glance at my phone.

"Nathan. Give me one hour. Then you can break up with me all you want."