Chapter 3: The Puppy’s True Name

For some reason, the manager broke out in a cold sweat. “S… seven million.”

Honestly, I wasn’t worried at all. Seven million—if I could afford it but didn’t want to pay, Savannah definitely couldn’t. After college, she hadn’t joined the family business, just played the part of the Miller family’s princess. Her allowance was limited. I heard she wanted a million-dollar sports car and had to beg her brother for a month. Unless she won the lottery, there was no way she could buy him—

“Seven million? That’s a steal! Here, I’ll write a check right now.”

Wait, what?

After years in business, I considered myself a sharp operator who never made losing deals. But right now, my pride got the better of me. I said coldly, “Savannah, I saw him first.”

Savannah gave me a weird look. “But you haven’t paid yet, have you?”

She reached out and squeezed the boy’s chest through his shirt. “Wow, feels amazing. Come home with me, and I promise I’ll treat you right.”

Her actions and tone were as sleazy as a creepy old guy at a college bar. Even Mr. Lawrence, that old perv, was shocked. The boy was even worse—scared, he retreated again and again, finally hiding behind me and clutching my arm in panic. “Ms. Ramsey, I don’t want to go with her…”

I watched the scene coldly, the anger inside me building, just waiting for a trigger to blow.

Soon, the trigger came. Savannah said triumphantly, “Why are you hiding? Your Ms. Ramsey can’t afford you. I’m your sugar mama now. Soon you’ll be mine, and at home there’ll be even more—”

Slap!

Savannah’s words stopped cold. She covered her face, staring at me in shock. “You… you dare hit me?”

I shook out my right hand, flexing my tingling palm. Lifting my chin, I looked at Savannah like she was trash. “So what if I hit you? Who do you think you are?”

Savannah and I had never gotten along. The reason was simple: the Whitmore family’s eldest son, whom she’d liked for years, once chased me, but I turned him down. I didn’t know if she was defending Harrison or what, but she was always against me. I usually ignored her, too lazy to stoop to her level. But today she was being ridiculous—saying I couldn’t afford it? Give me a break!

The next second, without thinking, I pulled out my checkbook, scribbled a number, and handed it to the manager. “Seven million. I’m taking him.”

But weirdly, the manager didn’t take it right away. He swallowed nervously, glancing at the boy behind me.

I frowned. “Why are you looking at him? Can’t you make the decision?”

I couldn’t see his face, but the boy must’ve shot the manager a look, because the manager shuddered and immediately accepted the check with both hands, nodding and bowing. “I can decide, I can decide. Dylan Carter is yours for the next five years.”

---

On the way back, the driver was silent up front, the raised partition dividing the car into two worlds. The back seat was quiet, too.

First time I’d ever spent that much money for "fun."

I closed my eyes and exhaled. Ha. Lust really does make you do stupid things.

The city lights flashed by, streaking across the tinted windows. My phone buzzed with work emails I ignored. The silence felt heavy.

Dylan sat upright beside me. Seeing my unhappy face, he cautiously asked, “Ma’am, are you upset?”

I was upset, but not because of him—because of Savannah. She was usually a bit ditzy, but cared about her family’s image and acted the part. Her sudden craziness tonight made me feel there was something else going on, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Annoying.

But there was no reason to take it out on Dylan. I sighed, half-joking, “Yeah, to get you out of there, I nearly went bankrupt. How could I be happy?”

The boy looked stumped, then said something I didn’t expect: “I’m a man. I’ll take care of you someday.”

I was amused and asked, “Oh? How will you support me?”

“Work hard, make money.”

I shook my head. “That might not be enough. I’m expensive to keep.”

Dylan pressed his lips together, bowed his head in thought, his pretty brows furrowing. After a while, as if making a decision, he said seriously, “I heard copper wire is valuable. I can steal bikes to support you.”

I nearly choked on my drink. That was so cute I couldn’t even be mad. Honestly, who could care about the price after that? With him around, life would never be boring.

The boy stared at me blankly, then said shyly, “Ma’am, you’re really beautiful.”

I raised an eyebrow, a little flattered. I remembered when I first took over the company, going out to close deals, eight out of ten CEOs would say, “If you stay with me, the contract can be signed right now,” but it always ended with me slapping them and the deal falling through. Finally, I’d made it. Now it was my turn to covet someone else’s looks.

I reached out and stroked the boy’s smooth chin, feeling a rush of amusement and affection. “So following me isn’t a loss for you. For the sake of all the bike owners in Silver Hollow, I’ll support you. After all, what does ma’am have the most of—”

I leaned close to his ear, my breath making his ears turn red. “Is money.”

---

A high-priced ‘pet’ deserves better than an ordinary cage. Seriously, if I was going to keep someone, I’d at least give him a decent place. I took Dylan back to the downtown loft where I often stayed.

Just now in the car, after I said that, the boy couldn’t resist—he pressed my shoulder and kissed me. I was a bit surprised, but didn’t refuse. It felt good.

When we got home, Dylan’s face was still flushed. At the entrance, he impatiently grabbed my waist, trying to pick up where we’d left off in the car.

But I pressed his forehead and pushed him away. “Don’t rush. Shower first.”

I wasn’t about to do anything with someone who still smelled like a bar fight.

He licked his lips, stained with my lipstick, but didn’t move. His eyes were fixed on my lips, hungry and hesitant. I had to peck his cheek. “Be good, okay?”

Dylan finally smiled, suddenly shy, and quickly walked to the bathroom.

But just as he was about to go in, I called, “Wait, your name—how do you spell it?”