Alexander Carter, self-made billionaire and CEO of Carter Industries, stood by the bar, swirling his whiskey with an amused smirk. He had seen it all fortune hunters, desperate gold diggers, and self-proclaimed influencers trying to attach themselves to money like leeches. He wasn't easily impressed.
"Alex, you need to loosen up," Daniel Foster, his best friend and business partner, nudged him. "The whole city is here, and you look like you're at a board meeting."
"I'm here for business connections, not drama," Alex muttered, scanning the crowd.
And then, he saw her.
A woman in a red satin dress that hugged her body like a second skin. Her golden-blonde hair cascaded down her back, her lips were painted a dangerous shade of red, and her heels clicked with a confidence that could crush an empire. She was the kind of woman men lost fortunes over-the kind that set fire to common sense.
Tiffany Monroe.
Alex had heard whispers about her-a rising socialite, an Instagram queen, the type who never repeated an outfit and spent more time in private jets than on solid ground. She was dangerous, and yet, when her gaze locked with his, he felt something shift inside him.
"I wouldn't," Daniel warned, following Alex's stare. "That woman is a walking liability."
Alex smirked. "I just want to talk."
"That's how disasters start."
Ignoring his friend's warning, Alex made his way across the room, his eyes locked on Tiffany as if drawn by an invisible force. She met him halfway, tilting her head with an intrigued smile.
"Well, well," she purred. "If it isn't the elusive Alexander Carter. I was starting to think you were a myth."
"Were you hoping I was?" he countered smoothly.
She laughed-a light, tinkling sound that sent a strange thrill down his spine. "Depends. Are you as interesting as your bank account?"
Most men would have taken offense. Alex? He was hooked.
Falling for the Illusion
From that night on, Alex was under Tiffany's spell.
She was wild, unpredictable, and glamorous in a way that made life feel like a movie. She took him to exotic destinations on a whim, introduced him to a world of exclusive parties, and made him feel like a king.
Within weeks, he was spending thousands on designer bags, private chefs, and penthouse suites-anything to see that dazzling smile. He wasn't stupid; he knew Tiffany loved luxury. But he convinced himself that behind the flashy exterior, there was something real.
"I think she's the one," Alex admitted one evening over dinner with Daniel.
Daniel nearly choked on his drink. "The one? Alex, she's literally draining your money like a broken ATM."
Alex chuckled. "Don't be dramatic."
"Dramatic? She made you buy her a yacht because, and I quote, 'my life feels incomplete without a floating mansion'."
"She's just-"
"She's just a gold digger, Alex. And if you marry her, you'll be married to a chicken."
Alex rolled his eyes. "You're being ridiculous."
Daniel sighed, shaking his head. "You're going to regret this."
Alex didn't listen.
Two months later, he proposed with a diamond ring the size of a small country. Tiffany squealed, kissed him senseless, and posted a picture of the ring with the caption: #RichWifeGoals #SpoiledForLife.
It should have been a warning.
Instead, Alex was convinced he had found love.
He had no idea that he had just walked into the greatest disaster of his life.
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