Playing the Gold Digger
948 Words
The moment James left, Sofia sprang into action. For her, tonight was the ultimate gamble. She knew exactly how to break a man like James—a man who had once worshipped the very ground she walked on.
She began her ritual with a rose-scented aromatherapy bath to ensure her skin was silken and fragrant. She chose black lace lingerie draped under a maroon satin slip dress that hugged every curve—curves that used to leave James breathless. Her makeup was bold and sultry. She set the table with aromatic candles, uncorked an expensive vintage, and let low-tempo jazz pulse through the room.
Max called. Sofia scoffed, but her voice instantly melted into honey before she picked up.
"Babe, I'm outside the club. Come on out and keep me company," Max slurred, sounding arrogant and half-drunk.
Sofia rolled her eyes. "Sorry, Max. I can't tonight. I have a splitting headache—probably the stress from the symposium. I need total bed rest."
"A headache? You seemed fine earlier," Max said, his voice laced with suspicion. "You aren't hiding something, are you? Or are you still thinking about that loser, James?"
Sofia let out a light, mocking giggle. "James? Don't be ridiculous, Max. He’s finished. Why would I spare a thought for someone like him when I have you? I really just need to sleep. I’ll see you at the hospital tomorrow morning, okay?"
After a few more sweet lies, Max finally caved. He was a prideful man, but he was no match for Sofia’s sharp, manipulative tongue. She hung up with a sneer.
Right at seven, the loud, sputtery cough of a struggling engine echoed from the front gate. Sofia frowned. She ran to the window, expecting to see the white Rolls-Royce or at least a high-end sedan. Instead, she saw a beat-up blue scooter emitting puffs of gray smoke. On it sat James, wearing a flannel shirt that looked like it had seen better decades.
Sofia was stunned. she opened the door with a look of pure bewilderment. "James? What is this? Where's the luxury car from this afternoon? Where's that giant bodyguard of yours? Why did you show up on this piece of junk?"
James killed the vibrating engine, took off his plastic helmet, and laughed easily. "Oh, that car? I don't own a car, Sofia. This scooter is my only personal possession. Why? Is there a problem?"
Sofia swallowed hard. Doubt began to gnaw at her, but she tried to stay positive. Maybe he’s just trying to be humble, she thought. Testing me.
"No... no, come in. I guess you’re just feeling nostalgic, right?"
They sat at the intimate table she had prepared. Sofia began to weave a web of memories, talking about when they were freshmen.
"Remember, James? We used to study in the library until dawn," Sofia said, pouring wine into his glass. "Our relationship had its ups and downs, but I always knew you had greatness in you. I’m so sorry about yesterday—I was just overwhelmed by Max’s pressure."
James sipped his wine, looking at her with a sweet smile—the exact same look the "old" James used to give her. "I remember, Sofia. I remember our promises to succeed together. You were always my strength when the residency got too heavy."
Seeing his warm response, Sofia felt the bait had been taken. She was certain James was still hers, and all that wealth she saw earlier was her golden ticket.
"James, I’m so happy you’ve finally made it," Sofia said, her eyes shimmering as she leaned in close. "We can start over. With your power at the foundation, we could buy a house downtown. I want a place with a private pool. And oh, I want those limited-edition bags I used to only see through shop windows. I’ve already planned our future, James. We’ll be the ultimate power couple in medicine."
Suddenly, James’s expression shifted. The sweet smile vanished, replaced by a flat, icy stare. He set his wine glass down on the table with a sharp clink.
"Sofia, I think you’ve misunderstood," James said, his voice suddenly heavy. "Everything you saw yesterday—the Rolls-Royce, the suit, even my bodyguard—it was all a loan. I don't own a thing."
Sofia froze. "A loan? What are you talking about?"
"The real owner of the foundation is someone else. I was just hired to use his identity temporarily for the symposium's operations. They needed me to act as the owner so the investors would sign the contracts. Now that the job is done, I’m back to being the James you know."
Sofia’s face went pale, then flushed a deep, angry red. "You’re joking. But you healed that kid! You have power!"
"That was just a medical fluke, Sofia. Maybe the dosage was just right," James shrugged nonchalantly, deliberately playing the pauper. "Even for this dinner, I had to borrow money from a friend. I actually came here hoping you could lend me some cash for my overdue rent. You said you wanted to start over, right? Want to help me pay off my debts?"
Sofia slammed her back against the chair, her breath coming in sharp, angry gasps. Her dreams of luxury bags and a downtown mansion shattered into dust. She looked at James with a gaze that returned to pure, unadulterated contempt. She felt like she had wasted her time and her expensive makeup on a man who was still the same trash he’d always been.
"You really are pathetic, James O'Connell," Sofia hissed.
James merely offered a thin smile, savoring every second of the transformation on her face. The game had only just begun.
- Writer
