Chapter 1

My coworker Chloe Carter posted a nine-panel video montage on Instagram to show off her wealth, captioned, “The mansion my fiancé bought me.”

The location tag was Crestview Hills, the most exclusive neighborhood in the city.

The comments were full of likes and flattery from our coworkers. I stared at the screen and sneered.

Because I had bought that house just last month. I hadn’t moved in yet because my custom furniture was still being shipped overseas.

But I had no idea how Chloe had gotten inside. I had already changed the door code.

And that dress from my walk-in closet—the one-of-a-kind Paris couture gown my father had given me, worth three million dollars—

Chloe was wearing it.

What sent a chill down my spine, though, was something else.

The bottle of Romanée-Conti in the wine cabinet had been opened. Disposable plastic cups sat beside it.

My father had bought it at an auction in France last year, before he got sick. It was worth six million dollars, and he had told me to save it for my wedding day.

My guess was that Chloe had peeked at the passwords saved on my phone when I got drunk at last week’s department dinner.

She hadn’t just stolen my door code. She had broken into my house, worn my gown, and opened my wine to serve to other people in plastic cups.

But I didn’t expose her on Instagram right away.

The next morning, I walked into the office right on time.

A crowd had gathered around Chloe’s desk.

Emma Brooks was holding Chloe’s hand, practically drooling over her.

“Chloe, that house is incredible! It looked insanely expensive in the video!”

Chloe tossed her hair smugly.

“It’s all right. Just over fifty-four hundred square feet. My fiancé thinks it’s too small. He says we’ll get something bigger after the wedding.”

Nina Hayes chimed in, sounding envious.

“Your fiancé is so generous. That dress last night was designer too, right?”

Chloe straightened her back.

“Of course. Paris couture. The only one in the country. Three million dollars.”

Coffee in hand, I strolled up behind her.

“Chloe, lovely dress. Did it fit?”

She visibly stiffened at the sound of my voice.

She turned around. Panic flashed through her eyes before she forced herself to look composed.

“Sophie Reed, you’ve never even set foot in a designer boutique. You wouldn’t understand if I explained it.”

I smiled.

“You’re right. I don’t understand. There’s just one thing I find strange.”

“How does your one-of-a-kind, three-million-dollar couture gown look exactly like the one missing from my closet?”

The office fell silent.

Everyone’s eyes darted between Chloe and me.

Chloe shot to her feet and jabbed a finger in my face.

“Sophie, have you no shame?”

“You make three thousand dollars a month! How could you afford a three-million-dollar dress?”

“If you’re trying to scam me, at least come up with a better story. Yours must be some cheap knockoff!”

Emma immediately jumped to her defense.

“Exactly, Sophie. Just admit you’re jealous of Chloe. This is pathetic.”

Nina rolled her eyes.

“Chloe’s fiancé is the heir to a publicly traded company. Why would she steal from you? What a joke.”

I looked at Chloe’s self-righteous face without a trace of anger.

I even nodded.

“Fine. Since the house is yours, and so is the dress, I’m sure you won’t mind inviting the whole department over for a team-building party this weekend?”

Chloe froze. Clearly, she hadn’t expected that.

Emma’s eyes lit up, and she immediately joined in.

“Yes, please! Chloe, you only invited a few of your friends last night. Take us there this weekend too!”

Our other coworkers looked at her eagerly.

Backed into a corner, Chloe turned bright red.

She gritted her teeth and forced herself to agree.

“Fine! I’ll host this weekend. Everyone can come over and enjoy my house!”

She shot me a vicious glare.

“Try not to cry from jealousy when you get there, Sophie!”

I took a sip of coffee.

“Don’t worry. I definitely won’t cry.”

I’d be smiling as I watched her destroy herself.