THE BLOODY PRICE I PAID FOR LUXURY

THEBLUEPRINTTOSOFTLIFE

CHAPTER 2

THE BLUEPRINT TO SOFT LIFE

There was a huge knock on the door , It made me snap back to reality. I had already spent what seemed like an hour reminiscing about my first night with Solomon. I almost forgot I had something important to tackle, his detective wife!

“I’ve been standing outside for the past 10 minutes, what’s taking you so long? Did Solomon visit again?” Sonia asked with so much impatience

“Oh my days! I’m so sorry I kept you waiting ” I replied as I hurriedly rushed to open the door for Sonia

Sonia was my childhood best friend. We literally grew up together. She was my roommate too. I couldn’t wait to spill the tea to her

“I would have asked if you’ve been sleeping but you don’t look it” she asked curiously

“I wish I was Sonia”!

Sonia sat down on the couch , legs crossed, her eyes locked on me like she was sizing me up for an explanation .

“Solomon’s wife called me, she found out “ I finally managed to spill the tea

“Damn!!! Did she threaten you?” She asked with so much concern

I smirked “Only with delusion”

Sonia laughed , “ So what’s next? You’re gonna ghost him?”

“Why?” I asked walking to the fridge and grabbing a can of sparkling water “Because she’s insecure and her marriage is dead inside?”

Sonia raised her brows, “Damn, cold!”

“Not cold”, I corrected. “Just focused. I didn’t come to University of California to struggle “.

I sat back and took a sip, eyes on the city lights outside my window. I thought about all the things I could lose if I listened to my guilty conscience—my well furnished apartment, my tuition, my new expensive lifestyle everyone now knows me for, my skincare, my sanity, everything!.

“He pays for everything Sonia, my tuition, my weekly shopping spree, my lashes, my therapy. He even cashapped me last night just because I told him I was stressed.”

“So you’re staying?”

I shrugged. “I’m not here for forever. I’m here for the degree, the connections, the life. And if his money gets me there without drowning me in loans and side hustles , I’m not sorry!”

“You know you don’t need him right?” She said slowly, like she was trying not to sound too judgmental. “You’re fine as hell, like instragram explore page fine. You could get with a single rich guy. One who doesn’t come with….. wives, drama, embarrassment.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed the joint from the ashtray on the coffee table, lighting it with the gold lighter Solomon had left behind once. “Not this again”.

“I’m serious “ she said , her voice loud enough to mean it. “You’re a whole baddie in Los Angeles . You could have some tech bro in Brentwood or a billionaire divorced guy in Calabasas falling over themselves for you . You’re acting like this married man is the last trick in the world”.

I exhaled slowly, letting the smoke curl into the air between us. “And if Solomon didn’t pay for this apartment, where do you think we’ll be sleeping after school?”

She blinked

“Or have you forgotten how you almost got kicked out of USC because your parents couldn’t afford to pay for your tuition and Solomon cleared the bills immediately I brought it up?”

“ And the YSL bag you’re flexing on i********: right now “ I added, nodding towards it slouched on the floor like it didn’t cost someone’s rent. “That was a birthday gift from him, through me”.

Sonia gave a small smirk. “Damn!”

“And the trip to Vegas next month?” I leaned forward. “ You think we’ll still go for the trip if I cutt him off like that?” I blurted

I reminded her about most of the things she was benefiting off my relationship with Solomon so she could wave off the idea of me cutting him off.

“Okay, okay, chill, I’m just saying he’s not your only option”. She said in a low tone

I softened, because she wasn’t wrong completely. She was trying to protect me, in her own Sonia way.

“I knew I could find someone else “. I said, rolling another blunt to smoke. “But do you know how exhausting it is? Starting over? Rebuilding the trust, the rhythm, the manipulation. whatever you wanna call it, I’ve already trained this one”.

“Like a sugar daddy puppy”, she said, giggling.

“Exactly! He knows my love language is wire transfers. He doesn’t ask for much. Just someone to make him feel young and wanted. And in return? I get to live the kind of life my dad would never give me”

Sonia was quiet for a moment

“I understand you Anna, I really do, you’re not wrong. Just don’t let this turn into your whole personality”. She said with so much concern

“I won’t, I replied, it’s just a chapter, not the whole story”.

Sonia brought out a bottle of wine from the fridge. Poured it in two wine glasses, gave me one and raised her glass in a toast “Cheers to living soft”

I clinked mine against hers. “And never going back “.

It was quiet for about 30 minutes. Just the city buzzing through our open window and the soft music from my Spotify playlist on low volume.

“An idea just came to my mind” Sonia said breaking the silence

“What if you tell him you want to start working?”

I raised an eyebrow “Working? You want me to ask my sugar daddy for a job?”

“Yes Anna, His company, internship, part-time assistant. I don’t care what the title is, you need a damn badge with your name on it and an HR login.”

I looked at her, “Why do I need to work for him when he already funds me without me stressing my ass in the name of working ?”

“Yes, I know he funds your life but I want you to make it work for you long term. We’re graduating soon and real life is coming”. Sonia replied pinching the air

“And what happens when I decide to end our relationship for good? I get sacked and lose everything? I asked with keen interest

“That’s where the trick is, Sonia continued “If you’re in his office, you’re around other billionaires he partners with, executives, clients, men that are single, wealthy and professionally connected . You network your way into actual careers, high paying ones. And when you finally cut him off? You’re already positioned for your next move”

I paused sipping my drink, my brain already spinning. It was a smart idea. In fact it was kind of genius. I stared at her for a moment. My best friend, my co-conspirator, the only person who really knew how far l’d come from where I started . She wasn’t wrong at all.

“I knew I was on the right track when I made a smart ass like you my best friend “ I said applauding her

Sonia giggled

“I’ll tell him to get the job for the both of us. You know how dumb I can get sometimes. I don’t want to go there and embarrass myself. You’ld be helping me out with some work at the office” I pleaded with her. I needed her to work with me at the company. If not for anything, for her brains

“Of course I will, I’ld also like to network my way to the top before you finally end things with Solomon” Sonia answered

“You really think we can pull this off? I asked her

She leaned in close, her tone more serious this time. “Anna, you already have him wrapped around your finger, Use it. Pretty fades, access lasts! Timing is everything, especially with men who have power. Get in the building before the door closes. We don’t have trust funds or legacy contacts but we have strategy, ambition and a little bit of manipulation”

“You know” I said slowly, “he did mention needing someone to help with social media for his real estate division. He said his team was old-school .”

Sonia eyes lit up. “Boom. That’s your in. And once you’re in…. I’m in!”

“Jesus” I muttered, shaking my head “we’re insane.”

“We’re women in America, she said,raising her glass. “Insane is just part of the job description.”

We clinked glasses and just like that, the next phase of the plan was in motion.