Luxury Isn’t for Homewreckers. Love Isn’t for Cheaters - Chapter 1: Chapter 1

At the annual gala, I was swirling my wine glass, chatting and laughing with the regional executives.
As the music started up, the dance floor began to come alive.
That's when Leo finally made his grand entrance with his little secretary in tow.
I watched him at the main entrance, adjusting the Chaumet brooch on Roxy Sharpe's dress.
His lips curved into the faintest smile, eyes full of affection, clearly pleased with his beautiful work.
Leo always had an eye for detail.
After his adjustments, Roxy's features looked instantly more refined—finally worthy of that haute couture Chanel she was wearing.
In that moment, every last fantasy I’d clung to shattered.
This morning when I saw Leo leaving Chanel, I'd foolishly thought he was picking up the gown for me. My heart had been bursting with happiness. I'd even had my makeup artist create a look to match the gown perfectly.
Right up until the gala started, I kept waiting for him to bring it home.
I'd called him earlier, casually asking if he had anything for me.
He brushed me off with some excuse about being busy, but I caught the sound of a syrupy voice in the background.
"Mr. Hartwell, won't Mrs. Anson be upset?"
"Don't worry about it. She's got enough clothes to start a runway show.."
That's when it hit me—this man wasn't the same anymore.
Roxy tilted her face up at me with that sickeningly sweet smile, those adorable dimples looking strangely familiar.
"Good evening, Mrs. Anson. You look absolutely stunning tonight."
Her compliment made my gaze turn ice-cold as I looked her up and down with calculating eyes.
"Nice dress. Looks just like the Chanel piece I had on reserve."
No more explain,we were all adults here.
A fresh college grad barely a year out of school doesn't drop nearly two hundred dollars on designer wear.
Roxy squirmed under my stare, biting her lip, hands fidgeting nervously as she kept glancing at Leo for help.
Leo met my gaze with his usual unreadable expression.
"Noelle, just relax. Roxy never been to a black-tie event before. She didn’t even own a proper gown."
"I figured since she's been working so hard and shows such initiative, I'd grab her something nice."
I raised an eyebrow and nodded, giving my assistant a subtle signal.
The next second, thirteen impeccably dressed Chanel sales associates walked into the hall in formation, each carrying an identical dress, beaming as they approached Leo.
Leo looked at me, confused.
I crossed my arms, leaning against an pillar with a wicked smile playing on my lips.
"Time to picked up the tab!"
"We've got thirteen executives here tonight, each with their secretary. Every single one of them hardworking and ambitious. Surely you wouldn't play favorites with just your own secretary, would you, Leo?"
Roxy knew I was putting them both on the spot, and the color drained from her face instantly. Her voice cracked with tears.
"Mrs. Anson, please don't embarrass Mr. Hartwell. This is all my fault—I'll return the gown right away."
Oh,like I was the jealous wife barging in on two star-crossed lovers.
"Roxy, right? You're overthinking this. Thirteen dresses is hardly embarrass."
"Leo's used to people doing whatever he wants, no questions asked. Maybe he forgot that handing a woman a dress—especially one like that—says a whole lot more than ‘good job."
"But as his personal secretary, you should have more sense about these things than he does,right?"
Roxy hung her head in panic, apologizing over and over.
Leo had it all—looks, background, career success. Brilliant and accomplished, he'd absolutely a golden boy.
The women who adored him were countless.
For years, he'd maintained his aloofness and independence.
Those who tried to get close to him usually only saw cold, distant eyes.
He used to hold me through countless nights, whispering softly in my ear that I was the only one who mattered.
But now everything had changed.
I could see it in his eyes—the way he looked at another woman with tenderness.
Leo shook his head with a gentle smile, pulling out a black card and handing it to the lead sales associate.
He walked over calmly, slipping his arm around my waist, gazing into my eyes with apparent affection.
Under cover of the music, his smooth voice reached my ear.
"It's just a dress, Noelle. I had no idea you'd take it so seriously. Scaring the poor girl is one thing, but I'd worry you to make yourself sick over this."
His tone was light and playful, as if this were nothing more than a trivial matter, effortlessly steering the conversation away from Roxy.
A cold smile crept across my lips as I wound my fingers around his tie, slowly pulling him closer.
"Roxy has feelings for you. You're too smart not to get that."
“I get it—you don’t care about the price. But whatever this was tonight? Let it be the first and last time.”
The employees around us thought we were just flirting, erupting in enthusiastic cheers.
At this intimate distance, Leo's face flushed red, his usually composed expression showing cracks.
He frowned awkwardly.
"Noelle,stop this. What will the staff think?"
"I'm only Roxy's boss,forever. Don't overthink it."
I let out a soft snort and released his tie.
Publicly humiliating him would’ve been easy. But dragging myself down to her level?
Please. Not worth the dry-cleaning bill.
I let it go. For now.
After all, I had no concrete proof of their inappropriate relationship.
I took his arm and walked toward the stage to give the annual address about this year's outstanding achievements.
The secretaries of the regional directors were all sharp cookies. They gleefully collected their dresses, making sure to parade past Roxy.
"Thanks to Roxy! thank you for tonight. Without your little scandal, we never would’ve gotten to wear something so exclusive."
"To Mr. Hartwell, giving someone a dress is probably like giving candy to a kid. You're not going to get any...dirty ideas about him because of this?"
"Those eyes, those dimples... hmm, they really look like... well, no wonder Mr. Hartwell took a special interest in you."
One after another, their faces full of mockery, their words dripping with warning.
Roxy had probably never been humiliated like this in her entire life. She hung her head lower and lower, utterly mortified.
Then the tears came.
When the crowd finally dispersed, she ran out with red-rimmed eyes.
She never came back, not even when the gala ended.