Chapter 5

• "And? What do you think of everything?" he asked me. "I hope you liked it."
• "You went overboard, all of this is...a lot for me," I confessed, gesturing towards the bags and the magnitude of it all for me.
• "Well, today you'll be a sugar baby for me. That's what this 'job' is about, getting gifts for companionship," he said, emphasizing the word with imaginary quotation marks made with his fingers. "I've called one of the best psychologists in the city, Mr. Fausto. You have an appointment on Friday, today is Wednesday. The idea is for you to rest on Thursday, tonight might end very late. I'll come to pick you up with my driver to take you."
• " Wait, do you have a driver? Oh my God " I exclaimed " Thank you for finding a psychologist, Max, and paying for it. I will never tired of thanking you."
• And without him expecting it, I dropped some makeup I had in my hands on the mattress and hugged him, wrapping my arms around his neck, standing on tiptoe and burying my face in his chest.
• That took him by surprise, I knew because his body had become tense, but he soon returned the hug. Making me feel his huge hands on my small back and intimately resting his chin on my shoulder, we stayed like that for a moment.
• A hug could be so comforting in difficult times. It was as if Olympus itself had sent me a shoulder to cry on.
• " Change, and surprise me with your beauty, Ada " he let go of me as if I were fragile and with a final smile, he left the room.
• Ready, I had finished getting ready and it had only taken an hour and a half. I had left my hair loose, as it was straight, unfortunately without movement as much as I liked but never had.
• Looking at myself in the mirror hanging on the wall of my room and that I had found on the street, I observed myself, trying to recognize myself. My face, made up, standing out with simplicity and the dress that exposed the neckline of my breasts. I did not recognize myself, I was looking for Ada and could not find her.
• The night wanted to peek into the city and I could see it from my window. Surely they would be examining and touching my body, dead, if I had committed suicide.
• I took my handbag, which contained my cell phone and the keys to the apartment, and some makeup in case I needed to touch up my face.
• " Oh my goodness."
• Those were the words that came from Max's lips. He looked me up and down, making me feel that all the tenderness from his face had disappeared, replaced by what seemed like a man's desire. I must not forget that Max was thirty"five years old, too old for a nineteen"year"old girl."
• Although truth be told, he looked younger than his age.
• " You look beautiful, Ada Gray " he said, admiringly.
• " No, what you have given me has made me beautiful, Max."
• He took my hand and made me spin, the act made me blush.
• " I will try to bring out your beauty as much as I can. I declare myself a great admirer of yours, my friend " he said, when our faces were finally face to face.
• " Do you really think I'm pretty?"
• In response, he gave me a chaste kiss on the forehead. The gesture took me by surprise.
• " May hell freeze over if I lie " he whispered in my ear, causing a strong shiver to immediately run through my body. I smiled in response " We are ready, right?"
• " More than ready, my friend."
• When we reached the entrance of my building, I stopped in my tracks and he looked at me, with a furrowed brow.
• " You know that I am putting all my trust in you, right? " I asked, somewhat fearful " I am literally leaving with a stranger, to a party surrounded by people I do not know. I also do not know if we are really going to a party and not to an alley."
• I always carried a knife with me everywhere, in case I needed to defend myself from some idiot who decided to harass me. A patriarchal society that does nothing to defend a woman.
• " I swear I do not intend to put you in a risky situation, Ada. You can trust me, I promise not to disappoint you. Although it sounds strange, I am taking you to meet my family. I have never introduced anyone to them."
• An unexpected confession. I raised an eyebrow.
• " Do you really think I'm going to buy that, Max?"
• He put a hand on his chest and raised his chin, with a pleasant smile.
• " Believe it because it's true. I do not usually take women to my parents' house."
• He put a hand on my back and we both left the building. A black truck was waiting for us outside, with the moonlight already illuminating us. The weather was pleasantly warm.
• " And why are you taking a sugar baby to your parents' house?"
• Max opened the back door of the car, helping me get in. From what I could see, someone else was driving and not him.
• " I'll explain it to you now."
• As soon as I got in, he closed the door. A few minutes alone inside the car made me think that the offer to be a sugar baby was very tempting. Perhaps this way I could pay off my university and have a profession to dedicate myself to. The dark car made me feel somewhat uncomfortable, and I couldn't stop breathing in that smell of leather.
• Max walked around the car and got in, as he first said something to the driver that I couldn't hear. He closed the door and looked at me, focusing his attention on me again.
• "Even though it may sound crazy, both my father and my mother have their sugar. They both say they love each other, but sometimes they need to go out with other people, meet new people. Both have told me that having a sugar each has helped them as a couple. So, tonight there will be a special gathering to meet them."
• I didn't know whether to take that as a healthy relationship or something more terrifying.
• "And your parents force you to bring a sugar baby?"
• His expression hardened and he looked away. The car started and began to move.
• "My father insisted so much on this topic that he's driven me crazy. It's horrible to receive phone calls from your parents at three in the morning and have them constantly tell you how fantastic it is to have a relationship like this," he blurted out abruptly. "I'm five years away from being a true sugar daddy, that's why they insist that I try this type of relationships."
• "Can't you just ignore them and that's it?"
• "No, that's why tonight I will make you pass as a sugar baby so they believe I really have this kind of relationship."
• "It seems strange to me that you turn to me and not to your acquaintances."
• He stared at me as if I had said something out of place.
• "And have them cling to me like gum? If I tell them it's just for one night, they will continue to insist on wanting to be one for the rest of their lives. They are capable of ruining me financially, when you get into a circle like this, you must know who to trust. Anyone can tell you they are a sugar daddy and perhaps their intention is to exploit you sexually."
• It was more risky than I thought.
• "But that doesn't explain why me."
• "Favor for favor."
• "That's already clear to me," I rolled my eyes. "But that doesn't guarantee you anything. Maybe I could be the worst gum that sticks to you for the rest of your life."
• He glared at me.
• "I hope you're joking."
• I laughed, but I realized that comment didn't amuse him. Tough crowd that night, gentlemen.
• "I don't want your money, Max. I'm not that kind of person, I accept it just because I see it as a job! Favor for favor," I exclaimed instantly, crossing my arms.
• "Alright, I know, I get it. But you can't deny that being a sugar baby is tempting."
• "Yes, it is," I admitted, picking imaginary lint off my dress with my clumsy fingers.
• He stared into my eyes, cold and took my hand that had recently rested on the car seat.
• "Ada, if tonight one of the gentlemen or ladies offers you this type of relationship. Don't accept it, you don't know who they are and what they want from you. I'd rather be the one to choose a good candidate for you who meets your terms and not theirs. This is not a joke."
• His distant and dry voice made me understand that he was very serious, it made me shudder.
• "I won't do anything to make you angry," I whispered.
• He nodded and looked out the window. I did the same. It was funny to think that, even though we were both wandering in our thoughts, our hands continued to rest on top of each other.
• I decided to text Hardi, my neighbor, to see if everything was going well in my apartment. Due to the strong kick that Max threw against it to enter, the door seemed to be revolving so I had no choice but to have someone watch the apartment until I returned and thus, I could hire someone to fix the lock.
• When I realized it, the car parked in front of a tall and dark gate, which connected two walls of privet. The street lights illuminated their way, making me understand that the terrain was immense and lost at some point on the street.
• After a moment, the gate opened wide and the car entered slowly. I couldn't see many details about the gigantic front garden since the car window was tinted.
• I was feeling somewhat nervous, shy, and not exactly sure what I was getting myself into. The car parked next to others that were already parked.
• "Allow me, I'll help you get out," Max said, as attentive as always.
• He opened the door, walked around the car, and opened mine, while I grabbed my purse in silence.
• "Too quiet. I'm sure you still don't trust me, dear."
• "The term 'dear' is starting to irritate me."
• "I'm glad to know I affect you in some way and that you haven't run away yet," he laughed, offering me his arm to hold onto.
• I smiled at him and we both started walking towards the huge and immaculate mansion that lay before my eyes. I had to keep my mouth from dropping open to hide how impressive it was. The lights now illuminated the garden, the white stone path that led to the entrance with countless white steps (the whole house was that color) and there were so many windows that I lost count instantly.
• I saw Max unlock his phone and send a message to someone. I quickly looked away, not wanting him to think I liked to stick my nose where it didn't belong.
• "I'm letting my parents know to open the door before we reach it, as they are a bit older and might take a while to open it," he explained without me asking.
• "Okay."