The Billionaire's Runaway Canary

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Gideon didn't love me, but he spoiled me rotten. Because of that, I became the most arrogant, untouchable trophy girlfriend in high society. Everyone feared me.

Until his flawless first love returned to the States.

Overnight, I became absolute social trash.

That very night, I was packing my bags to vanish. The front door clicked open. Gideonthe man who was supposed to be the star of Bianca's engagement party right nowstepped into the foyer.

The Herms and Chanel bags I had just shoved into massive black trash bags spilled all over the hardwood floor.

He arched a brow, the air in the foyer growing heavy. "Not a single tear?" he drawled, his voice low and rough. "All that money wasted on you, you heartless little brat."

Chapter 1

"Just one more kiss?"

I turned my head away. My body still ached. Hearing the man in front of me, I gritted my teeth.

"You said 'just one kiss' last time, and look where that got us. No. I'm exhausted."

Gideon let out a low, raspy chuckle, his predatory gaze locking onto me. "Princess, you don't have to move a muscle this time. I'll do all the work."

I held out my arms. "I'm sticky and gross. Carry me to the shower first."

Before the words even left my mouth, Gideon swept me up into his arms. I was too tired to care, burying my face against his chest without moving an inch. But the second we stepped into the bathroom, before he even turned on the water, he pinned my back against the freezing cold tiles.

Sometimes I genuinely couldn't understand how Gideon had this endless supply of energy. I blacked out a few times, only for him to wake me up again. When I finally had zero strength left, Gideon dried my hair and carried me back to bed.

I was half-asleep when his phone started vibrating. He reached over and answered it.

A deliberately hushed female voice came through the line. "Gideon. I'm back."

Gideon glanced back at me. I immediately squeezed my eyes shut, faking sleep. He grabbed his robe and stepped out onto the balcony.

The lingering exhaustion evaporated. I lay perfectly still, tracing the silence between his words. Five minutes later, he came back inside, tossed his phone onto the nightstand, and yanked open his closet.

I peeked through my eyelashes, snatched his phone, and swiped it open. Gideon turned around just in time to catch me red-handed.

I blinked at him, widening my eyes. Then, right before he snatched the phone out of my grip, I checked the caller ID. "Bianca's back?" I asked, keeping my voice deadpan.

Bianca. His first love. The girlfriend he dated all through college, and the flawless untouchable prize his social circle still obsessed over.

His long fingers plucked the phone out of my palm. "Yeah. There's a welcome home party."

I sat up and lobbed a pillow right at his chest. "A welcome home party at midnight. What's the venue, a hotel bed?"

Gideon caught the pillow, raising an eyebrow. "Are you jealous?"

"Not even close. What exactly are we? We aren't even dating. What is there to be jealous of?"

Gideon and I had been trapped in this twisted arrangement for a long time. He never said he loved me, and I never walked around claiming to be his girlfriend. We only stayed together to satisfy each other's physical needs.

Gideon was tying his tie, but his large hand still found the time to grip my waist. "Where are you finding the energy to be mad? Didn't I give you enough just now?"

Seeing him in that tailored suit only pissed me off more. It was just a stupid party. Why the hell was he dressing up? "I'm going too."

Gideon's gaze raked over my face. He paused for a second before nodding. "Fine. Go get dressed."

Chapter 2

"They were basically engaged back then. If Bianca hadn't been exposed as a fake heiress, they would have gotten married. Like his family would ever let a fraud into their ranks. That's the only reason they called it off."

"Gideon isn't the same guy he was in college. He calls the shots now. Of course he's going to marry Bianca."

"I heard Gideon was the one pulling the strings behind the scenes the whole time she was studying abroad."

"If you ask me, the girl he's keeping around right now never even had a title. She's history."

"Bianca grew up as a true socialite in high society. How could you even compare her to that money-grubbing canary he has now?"

By the time Gideon and I walked into the VIP booth at the club, everyone else had already arrived. Mostly his old college friends. People I had never met.

Sitting right in the center was the legendary first love. I had to admit, she was stunning. Long, waist-length hair, radiating this whole effortless, angelic vibe.

When she spotted Gideon, her long eyelashes fluttered. "Gideon?"

The booth fell silent. Everyone snapped their heads toward the doorway.

Gideon's gaze swept over the gossiping crowd, freezing the room. Finally, his dark eyes landed on Bianca.

The tension in the air thickened for a few seconds. Then, the guy sitting next to Bianca scrambled to his feet, emptying the seat for Gideon.

That was when I stepped out from behind his broad back. "Hey everyone. Is there a seat saved for me?"

"Why the hell is she here?"

"Probably begged Gideon to bring her along."

"She's probably terrified her sugar daddy is going to dump her."

"Gideon, who is she?"

Bianca's jaw tightened when she saw me. A second later, a polite smile stretched across her lips as she turned to Gideon.

Gideon didn't say a word.

I smiled sweetly and answered for him. "I'm basically like his little sister. I'm Fallon. I heard you just flew in, Bianca, and figured you could use the company."

Bianca's lips twitched. She looked back at Gideon.

Gideon still didn't speak. He took long strides across the room and dropped onto the leather sofa right next to her.

Bianca's posture visibly relaxed.

There was no space left next to him. Gideon sitting beside her told me everything I needed to know.

I walked over to a single armchair in the corner and sat down, crossing my legs. They started chatting about their old Ivy League days. I tuned the noise out. Pulling out my phone, I stared at the long string of zeroes in my bank account, calculating how many more bags that glass of champagne he just poured her could buy me.

Whatever. I could swallow this. It wasn't worth throwing a drink in that two-faced bitch's face right now. If Gideon cut off my black card and stopped my cash flow, I'd be the one losing out.

Just as I clenched my jaw, a cocktail glass slid right in front of me.

"Fallon, thank you so much for keeping Gideon company while I was gone. For making sure he wasn't lonely." Bianca's smile was flawless.

I smirked. "You're so welcome. It was the least I could do. Plus, I wasn't the one doing all the hard work anyway."

A few guys in the booth who caught the double meaning choked on their drinks. Bianca was the only one not laughing.

Her facial muscles spasmed for a split second. Then she pushed the glass closer to me with sickening sweetness. "Consider this an early toast. Two weeks from now, Gideon and I are officially getting engaged."

Chapter 3

Engaged in two weeks?

His flawless first love gets engaged the second she steps off the plane?

How did I not hear a single damn thing about this?

I looked directly at the man responsible. Gideon's unreadable eyes were already fixed on me. I raised an eyebrow at him in a silent question.

He dipped his chin a fraction. It was true.

Message received.

"Then congratulations to you both."

I knew how to play the game. I tipped my head back to down the drink, but a large hand snatched the glass from my grip and downed the liquid in one shot.

Gideon's jaw tightened, his dark eyes locked onto mine. "Forgot you're allergic to alcohol?"

Bianca immediately pressed a hand to her temple and swayed slightly, leaning toward Gideon's side.

Right as her fingers brushed his arm, he stepped forward. She grabbed empty air.

Gideon strode straight toward the exit without a single backward glance, his broad shoulders rigid.

What the hell was he mad about? I was the one suffocating on a chest full of rage here. But it was the middle of the night.

If he left, how was I supposed to get back? I had no choice but to hurry after him.

I made it to the club doors, but my breathing was still uneven, a sour taste coating my throat.

I spun around and marched right back to the booth. I grabbed the bottle of chilled champagne off the table and splashed it directly all over the Herms dress of the woman who had been gossiping the loudest, then casually poured the remaining half-bottle straight down the collar of the man sitting next to her.

Watching them drip with expensive alcohol, a sharp thrill finally cut through my chest.

The booth erupted into chaos as they shrieked and leaped up. "Fallon, are you out of your freaking mind?!"

I blinked at them. "I've been crazy since day one. Did you guys just meet me?"

"Bianca is back now! How much longer do you think you can keep pulling this crap?!"

Even though I knew my days of riding on Gideon's coattails were numbered, I was going to milk every last second of it. If they were going to come for my throat later anyway, one more incident wasn't going to make a difference.

"Thanks for the heads-up. But right now? You still can't do a damn thing about me."

I hadn't made it far down the hallway before the sound of rushing heels clipped behind me.

I turned around. Bianca was biting her lip, glaring at me like she was ready to go to war.

"Fallon, I ran a background check on you. Gideon picked you up off the street. Without his money, you'd still be digging through dumpsters right now. So tell me, what makes you think you have any right to compete with me for the title of his wife?"

Bianca was actually the adopted daughter of her wealthy family. It used to be a closely guarded secret, until the real heiress was found a few years ago and the scandal exploded. Her family didn't treat her terribly after that. At least they funded her study abroad.

But now that she was back, she needed serious leverage to reclaim her status in high society. Gideon was the ultimate stepping stone.

"Maybe because I'm a 36D?" I shrugged casually. "I don't know what to tell you. But we definitely click perfectly in certain areas."

Bianca stared at me for a long time before letting out a laugh. "You do know how deeply in love Gideon and I used to be, right?

Gideon is just punishing me. A man with his power is bound to have gold diggers throwing themselves at him. I don't blame him for having a little fun."

I had heard the whispers about Bianca whenever his social circle judged me.

They always said Bianca was Gideon's ultimate savior. After she left, Gideon hit rock bottom. He flew overseas countless times, just to catch a glimpse of her from a distance.

Chapter 4

"You listen to the gossip so much you actually believe it?" I laughed dryly. "Nobody in this world is irreplaceable. I'm not trying to be his wife, but if I leave Gideon, my cash flow stops and my safety net disappears."

Bianca bought the act. "How much do you want?" she asked, like a disgraced fake heiress desperately relying on her ex to claw her way back into high society.

"Bianca, if you've got any tricks up your sleeve, use them on Gideon, not me."

A sleek black Maybach glided to a stop right in front of us. The tinted window slowly rolled down.

Seeing Gideon, the stiffness dropped from Bianca's face. "I was just chatting with Fallon about our engagement."

"I'm getting engaged, and you're happy about it?" Gideon slouched in the back seat, his deep voice dangerously unreadable. He was staring dead at me.

I put on a bright, innocent smile. "If there's a payout involved, at least I won't be sad about it. Who says no to free money?"

I batted my eyelashes, feigning excitement. "You promised me that when we finally cut ties, you'd write me a massive check to set me up for life. Right?"

Before I could even finish, Gideon cut me off. "Shut up."

I rolled my eyes. No idea how I pissed him off this time.

I reached for the door handle to slide in next to him, but a manicured hand grabbed it first. "Gideon, it's impossible to get an Uber out here right now. Can you drop me off?"

Gideon kept his eyes locked straight ahead, his silence a tacit yes.

The next second, Bianca brushed right past me and slid into the back seat.

I stood frozen outside the open door. A gust of freezing wind whipped past, and I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, letting out a sharp hiss.

Then came the mocking drawl from inside the luxurious cabin. "Are you getting in, or are you planning to freeze into an ice sculpture out there?"

I glared at the leather interior. "There's no way in hell I'm breathing the same recycled air as her."

Bianca was already comfortably settled into the back seat, practically glowing with victory. Gideon stared at me through the open door, his dark eyes narrowing.

I stood my ground. The engine idled. Gideon didn't say a word to make the driver pull away.

Bianca weighed her options, quickly realizing the standoff was making her look bad. "Why don't I sit up front? I get a little carsick anyway."

She slipped out and moved to the front passenger seat. I finally slid into the back, keeping my distance from Gideon.

I sneakily pulled out my phone and fired off two texts to him.

[ Are you guys actually engaged yet? ]

[ Did you even give her your new number? ]

The second I hit send, Gideon's phone buzzed twice in the quiet cabin. He glanced down at the screen, then shot me a sharp, questioning look.

I ignored him, my thumbs flying across the keyboard.

[ You guys really can't let go of the past, huh? I thought no other woman was allowed in your car. ]

Gideon locked his screen and slowly raised his eyes to meet mine. "The glove compartment in the passenger seat is filled with the imported snacks you like. And that new designer bracelet you've been eyeing."

"Hmm?" Bianca piped up from the front seat. The corners of her lips hooked upward. She immediately leaned forward to pop open the glove box.

Simon, the assistant in the driver's seat, firmly cleared his throat. "Miss Bianca, those are not for you."

Gideon's gaze darkened, fixing entirely on me. "Want them?" he asked, his voice low.

I shifted closer, my hand pressing against his muscular thigh for balance. His large palm instantly clamped over my fingers. Before I could pull away, his other arm snaked around my waist, pulling me flush against his side.

He arched a brow, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

I glared at him, ignoring the heat radiating from his chest. "I'm not eating that. I'll get fat."

Bianca shifted up front, trying to turn her head to see what was happening in the back.

Without missing a beat, Gideon hit the button. The privacy partition slammed up, sealing us off.

Chapter 5

Bianca's face drained of color. After Simon drove the Maybach past the next stoplight, she forced her voice to stay perfectly level. "Gideon, I just remembered I have something to take care of. You can drop me off here."

Simon pulled the car over to the curb. As Bianca pushed her door open, she paused. "Gideon, the university's alumni gala is in a couple of days. Joanne asked if we could go back and visit together."

Gideon checked his schedule with Simon. He had an opening. "Fine," he agreed.

The second Bianca was out of sight, Gideon rubbed his forearm where a fresh row of my teeth marks was indented deep into his skin. "Are you rabid?"

A laugh bubbled up in my throat. I casually wiped my saliva off his arm.

Gideon let out a low scoff. "Happy now?"

"I was never unhappy."

"Your mouth is the only tough thing about you."

I popped my door open, climbed into the front passenger seat, and raided the glove compartment for my imported snacks and the new jewelry box.

"You got what you wanted. Come give me a kiss."

I toyed with the seven-figure diamond necklace in my hands, tilting my chin up. "Not happening!"

Gideon gripped the back of my neck, his heavy thumb swiping aggressively across my red lips. "Heartless little brat."

First thing the next morning, Gideon left for the corporate headquarters.

I locked myself in the walk-in closet, tallying up the massive wall of designer bags I had hoarded over the years. I mentally calculated their resale value. It would definitely be enough to cover a decent lease once I left. But if I wanted to disappear off the grid, the math got tighter.

Besides, I wanted to buy my own place outright. A stable home. Somewhere I wouldn't have to constantly look over my shoulder and run like I used to.

Since my schedule was clear, I told the estate manager I was heading out for the day. I hit the luxury boutiques and maxed out the daily limit on Gideon's Centurion card, piling up even more designer bags. I needed to drain as much plastic as possible while my name was still attached to the account, before he eventually cut me off.

"Wait, isn't that Fallon?"

"Fallon, what are you doing here?"

Talk about a small world. I bumped straight into Bianca and her entourage.

The humiliation from last night's car ride was obviously still fresh. Bianca now viewed me as public enemy number one. Naturally, her little lapdogs weren't going to play nice either.

I handed a limited-edition bag to the sales associate. "Shopping. What else would I be doing in a boutique?"

Brooke stepped forward, obviously trying to play the attack dog for her queen bee. "Bianca already claimed that one. Hand it over."

"On what grounds?" I flicked Gideon's black card onto the glass display counter. "Ring this up."

"Bianca, are you seriously going to let the side piece disrespect you like this?" Brooke hissed. "I'm going to slap that smug look right off her face."

"They aren't even married yet. What side piece?" I stared her down. "Watch your mouth. If you can't, I don't mind teaching you some manners."

"You wouldn't dare touch me! My dad is the CEO of the Jiang Financial Group!" Brooke shrieked.

"Even if your dad was the President of the United States, you're shutting your mouth today," I snapped back.

A spoiled heiress like her had never been talked to like that in her life. She immediately whipped out her phone to whine to daddy. "Dad, someone is harassing me! Send the security team here right now!"

Oh, so we were playing dirty.

A dozen men in slick black suits stepped out from the corners of the boutique.

Brooke's eyes instantly lit up. "That was fast."

I frowned. That was a massive security detail. The men formed a tight wall, slowly closing the distance toward me.

The lead bodyguard bowed slightly. "Miss Fallon. Mr. Gideon gave strict orders. Whatever you need, just say the word."

My heartbeat stuttered. Gideon actually had a private detail shadowing me? They hid perfectly. Or maybe he just planted them to make sure I didn't try anything sketchy to sabotage Bianca behind his back.

"You guys have been tailing me this entire time?" I asked.

"Yes, ma'am," the head of security replied. "Mr. Gideon said we were only to reveal ourselves if you ran into trouble."

Chapter 6

Seeing this, Bianca immediately dropped the act. "So these are Gideon's men. It's all just a big misunderstanding."

Brooke didn't get the memo. "Bianca, why are you backing down? You're Gideon's fiance!"

Before she could finish, Bianca grabbed Brooke's wrist. "Brooke, stop talking." Then, slipping her flawless mask right back on, she turned to me. "Fallon, since we bumped into each other, why don't we shop together?"

Seeing the de-escalation, Gideon's security detail seamlessly melted back into the background.

I stared at Bianca, fighting the urge to gag up my lunch.

"Are you going to follow me everywhere, Miss Bianca? I'm heading to buy Gideon some men's underwear right now. Want to come pick out a pair?"

Brooke's eyes went wide with scandalized horror. "How can you talk about something like that in public?!"

"Did you just get released from a twenty-year stint in a convent?"

"You"

Bianca's face went rigid. "Let's just look around. See if there's anything we need."

Conveniently, there was a high-end lingerie boutique right next door. I walked in, picked out a few lace sets for myself, and grabbed a few pairs of boxer briefs for Gideon while I was at it. Bianca and her lapdog stood frozen outside the entrance, absolutely refusing to step foot inside.

The second I swiped the black card, my phone buzzed with a text.

[ Gideon: ? ]

I ignored the question mark and fired back:

[ Just bumped into your fiance. ]

A second later, he replied:

[ Where? ]

I dropped a location pin. Gideon really was obsessed with protecting his precious ex.

Was he terrified I was going to bully her or something? I walked into another designer boutique to check out their new arrivals, and Bianca followed right behind me