Annie Moon had everything—until she lost it all. Now she's lonely, broken, and desperate enough to pay a stranger 1.5 million won for one night of companionship.
She laughed softly, shaking her head at his assumption. "And what if I don’t like doing all that stuff? What if I donate my money for charity, invest in businesses or do anything meaningful?” she challenged, fixing him with a piercing look. "I didn't buy you for outings, Grey."
“Then why did you buy me?"
She paused, deep in thought.
"I guess... weirdly, this is my way of being in control?" Annie answered with a question in her tone. "I mean, I've been around so many people who keep me around because of what I can do and give them. At least with this, you're actually honest about wanting to do this for money instead of hiding it."
"And there's something appealing about the simplicity of it," she continued, her voice lowering slightly as if she were admitting something personal. "No games, no lies, no false expectations. Just... a night of companionship with someone who's being paid to be attentive and present."
He studied at her. "So you're lonely."
The words hung in the air, sharp and undeniable. Her expression didn't falter, but the small smile she wore vanished, leaving her face carefully blank. She reached for her wine glass, taking a longer sip this time before answering.
"Everyone is lonely, Grey." She replied, meeting his gaze. "Power and money isolate you. You find that people only see what you can give them.
She cleared her throat. “But we're not going to have some deep emotional conversation, are we? I hired you for companionship, not therapy."
"Okay? What kind of companionship are we talking about here?" he sipped his glass of water.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement, happy that he changed the subject. "Mostly physical," she said without thinking twice, getting her confidence back. "But don’t confuse that with just a casual hookup. I want someone who actually pays attention to me. Someone who really listens when I talk, holds me the right way, and doesn’t act like it’s just a transaction afterward."
"But this is a transaction."
"Everything is a transaction, Grey," she countered smoothly, her voice taking on a harder, more pragmatic edge. "Marriage is a transaction. Dating is a transaction. At least I am honest about the price."
She leaned back, crossing her arms. "I want the intimacy without the emotional entanglement. The boyfriend experience without the messy breakup. You provide the service; I provide the payment."
“For one night?” he asked.
"For one night," she confirmed. "No strings attached, no expectations beyond tonight. After midnight, our agreement ends, and you leave with your money." She leaned forward slightly. "But until then, I expect you to be my lover. My companion." Her eyes held his, challenging him to argue.
There was another pause. "Alright." He got up and walked over to her.
She stayed put as he walked over, watching him with a hungry look. Seated at the kitchen island with her legs crossed, she looked up at him while he stood over her. The vibe changed in an instant; she wasn’t just explaining things anymore—now she was the one in charge. She tilted her chin a bit, giving him a quiet nod to come closer.
He moved closer, offering his hand towards her.
1 like from juren.