It takes me 22 years to get from a farming village in Westernia to Jesseltown. From there, I learn how to use my assets to win any man's heart.

No man has ever been able to resist my seduction, but that changes when I meet Zack Spencer.

So what? Even the toughest cookie will fall prey to my allure.

I was born in a village on the border of Westernia. Mom was a local, and I never met my dad.

According to Grandma, Mom was a renowned beauty in the area. She was shy and gentle by nature. Dad was a photographer from the mainland. He was handsome and charming.

It was due to his looks and charm that Mom fell for him. They made love, and she became pregnant with me. On their wedding day, Dad disappeared without a trace. He didn't even leave behind a note.

From that day on, Mom became depressed, and her personality changed completely. She channeled all her resentment for Dad onto me. She called me a cursed child and punished me constantly with verbal abuse or beatings.

Later, Mom opened a massage parlor in town, and we lived in the shop. The walls were adorned with pictures of scantily clad women in suggestive poses, although it was supposed to be a massage parlor.

When men walked past, Mom would deliberately lean forward to reveal glimpses of her curves as she called out to customers at the entrance of the shop.

Every night, I could hear noises such as the sound of a bed creaking, women moaning, men's obscene words, and their heavy panting from the other side of the partition.

I had always wanted to escape Mom and that place I despised, so I worked hard at my studies. However, Mom believed that a girl like me didn't need much education. She thought that graduating from high school was enough for me.

On the day of my college entrance exams, Mom deliberately gave me laxatives to prevent me from leaving her like Dad. I ended up doing poorly in two subjects and could only enroll in a local community college in Westernia.

I was furious at Mom's actions, but it was pointless. She spent her days and nights gambling and mingling with men. Mom was too preoccupied to care about my protests.

During my college days, I had to work to cover my tuition. I also studied hard in secret and eventually earned a place at Jesseltown College for my postgraduate studies.

As a poor, powerless, and unloved country bumpkin, I knew my greatest asset to survive in Jesseltown was my extraordinary beauty. My face, skin, chest, hips, legs, and allure were all tools that made it easier for me to survive in this world.

It was while I was leveraging my looks for convenience that I met Zack Spencer.

At the age of 22, I worked as a hostess promoting alcohol in a nightclub in the summer of 2022.

One night, I was helping a drunk but rich scion, Wallace Lance, into his car. He had one arm draped over my shoulder, which was slowly sliding downward. He unhooked my bra through my sheer yellow blouse, smirking playfully as his hand wandered to my chest.

Although he was handsome and I was short on money, I hadn't reached the point of selling my body. I didn't confront him immediately as I knew he was a generous benefactor.

I was about to feign anger and brush his dirty hand away when Zack appeared at that moment. Dressed in a sharp black suit, he wore a stern expression on his handsome face and exuded an air of hostility. He was so tall that I barely reached his shoulder despite being almost five foot six.

Zack strode over and flung Wallace's wandering hand away from my body before shoving him into the car.

"If you cause trouble again after drinking, I'll make sure you won't be able to leave the house next time," he said in a calm yet commanding tone.

Wallace was about to curse him when he rubbed his eyes and saw who it was. He stammered in shock, "Zack, I'll behave. Just don't tell my mom!"

He ordered the driver to start the car and sped off, disappearing into the night.

The street was still busy with traffic, but time seemed to stand still. There was only Zack and me with my loosened bra at that moment.

The neckline of my blouse fell directly at my decollete. The fabric trembled ever so slightly along with the rhythmic rise and fall of the heartbeat within my chest.

Zack looked up and glanced at me, not hiding the disdain in his eyes. I swiftly hooked my bra back in place and gave him a smile.

"What are you looking at? Never seen a beauty before? If you're willing to spend, I'll entertain you too."

Zack's gaze darkened, and he turned to leave. I didn't care about his opinion. I was used to being called a seductress and accused of luring men.

Even my colleagues who were there to sell alcohol looked down on me. But who among us was truly holier than the others? How could they make money if they weren't willing to use their looks?

In the two months since arriving in Jesseltown, I managed to earn a decent amount at the nightclub by using my looks, my ability to entice men, and techniques to make them part with their money.

It was enough to cover my living expenses for an entire semester.

I cherished the opportunity to study at the college now that I had a fresh start in a new place. In addition, the program didn't provide housing to postgraduate students, so everyone had to look for their own accommodations. No one here knew anything about my past.

To my classmates, I was just a beautiful, exotic-looking, and reserved eccentric. However, I was careful to craft my image. I was willing to eat and live modestly, but I would spend some of my earnings on stylish yet alluring clothing, second-hand designer bags, and luxury skincare.

These helped accentuate my charm and allure, which I subtly showcased to the men around me when the opportunity was right. Many male students, including wealthy heirs and sons of high-ranking officials, pursued me, but I rejected them all.

I disliked things that came too easily. Moreover, I detested their arrogance and overconfidence, barely concealing the lust in their eyes.

Of course, I knew what people in Jesseltown were like. Relationships here wouldn't lead anywhere. I would only end up as a fleeting lover in their youth and nothing more than a toy in bed.

The weather in Jesseltown had started to cool by autumn of 2022. Unlike the predictable skies in Westernia, the sky here remained gray and gloomy for a few days without a single drop of rain. It was enough to make me irritated.

Fortunately, the college hosted the annual "Journalism and Communication Academic Forum" this year and invited renowned scholars in the field.

I had been paying attention to the portrayal of women in the media for some time and started research on the topic early.

I completed my thesis on "A Study on the Changing Representation of Women in Television Public Service Advertisements", which earned recognition from my professors. So, I was fortunate enough to be selected to present it at the forum this time.

I hadn't expected that day to be the second time I would meet Zack. That day, he thoroughly humiliated me.

Zack turned out to be the panel judge for the subforum I was presenting at. It was then I learned that his name was Zack Spencer. He was a guest lecturer at our college and the CEO of Zander Group, Jesseltown's most prominent media company.

I vividly remembered that Zack was wearing a black, tailored trench coat and gold-rimmed glasses. He exuded the intelligence of a scholar and the elegance of a noble.

After my presentation, the other judges pointed out areas to improve in my research with polite and encouraging words. They were like mentors giving constructive feedback to a novice.

However, Zack showed me no mercy.

Leaning back in his chair, he fixed his gaze on me and spoke deliberately, "Your topic is cliched, your sample selection lacks representativeness, and your research methods are poorly chosen. Most importantly, can you really study the portrayal of women in the media with your poor personal image?"

Murmurs erupted around us before Zack even finished speaking. Puzzled gazes darted between me and him as I stood on the stage awkwardly.

Others might not understand, but I knew exactly what he meant. It was his preconceived judgment of me after seeing me at the nightclub.

Zack must have thought I was a loose woman steeped in nightlife, selling my smiles and my body. He thought I was destined to dwell in the shadows instead of standing in the academic arena, talking about women's representation with my questionable reputation and personal character.

After receiving such a humiliating critique from Zack, I couldn't shake off my annoyance at his lack of chivalry. Nonetheless, I learned from this bitter experience and revised my thesis carefully. After two months of hard work, I managed to get it accepted by a reputable journal.

I didn't return home during winter break. My supervisor, Joseph Warren, was aware of my family situation and knew that I was funding my studies on my own.

He used his connections to help me secure an internship at a renowned media company. According to him, they pay quite well for their interns.

I hadn't expected that company to be Zander Group. Initially, I thought about skipping the interview as I knew how poorly Zack thought of me. I wouldn't pass the interview, so why bother embarrassing myself?

But then I remembered that the company was enormous. Even if I'd worked here my whole life, I wouldn't run into the CEO often. Plus, the high pay was enticing. In the end, I decided to give it a shot.

To my surprise, the interview went smoothly. I received an offer to work in the journalism department. Unfortunately, I realized things wouldn't be so easy when I reported to work the next day.

The HR staff told me that I was initially going to be an intern journalist in the journalism department. However, she had no idea why a certain Mr. Spencer rejected it during the approval process and reassigned me to intern at the CEO assistants' office.

I thought, "Great, just my luck."

Ultimately, I fell into his trap. I couldn't understand why he had moved me into the CEO assistants' office despite his obvious disdain for me.

I knew he had a bad impression of me, so he would likely try to find ways to make my life difficult. But I wasn't one to back down. Zack might appear to be very proper and indifferent to women, but no man could ever escape the sway of my charm.

Since he insisted on keeping me near him, it could only mean he was attracted to me. Still, I vowed not to let him have his way. As payback for his humiliation, I decided to seduce him and keep him wanting.

On my first day, I wore a sexy outfit. Many men at the office couldn't take their eyes off me. Two of them even asked for my number.

Pleased with the attention, I figured handling Zack would be just as easy.

However, my plan fell through, as I didn't see Zack at all. He didn't appear for five days. One of the other assistants mentioned he was in Elgerland attending an international communications forum.

I finally saw him on the sixth day.

He seemed to have just gotten off a flight as he looked slightly tired. His hair was messier than usual, and there was a faint stubble on his face. Yet his expression appeared distant and composed, radiating a forbidden allure.

Zack called me into his office. I stole a quick glance at myself and admired my waist-length hair as I walked past a mirror. I was dressed in a light blue, fitted dress that accentuated my curves.

Although I had a white blazer on, my chest was teasingly on display. My full hips swayed sensually with every step, like a seductive and lively sprite.