Sugar Daddy For Revenge

The Party

The next evening David arrived at the apartment at seven. He wore a black suit and looked very sure of himself.

“Are you ready?” he asked when I opened the door.

I wore a simple dark dress he had sent over earlier. “Yes. I am ready.”

He looked at me for a moment. “You look right for tonight. Remember, we are a married couple in public. Stay close to me.”

“I will,” I said.

We rode in the car to a large hotel in the center of the city. The party was already full of people from the company and other businesses. Lights shone on the high ceiling and music played at a low level.

David took my hand as we walked in. Several people turned to look at us.

A man from the board came up first. “David, I did not know you had married.”

David kept my hand in his. “It was a private decision. This is my wife, Laura.”

I smiled the way we had practiced. “It is nice to meet you.”

More people came over. David introduced me each time as his wife. He kept his hand on my back or held my hand. We looked like a real couple. I could feel eyes on us from every side.

After a while I went to get a glass of water. When I turned around Patricia stood a few steps away. Eren was right behind her.

Patricia smiled in a sharp way. “Look at you. Playing dress-up with a rich man. Does he know what you really are?”

I kept my voice steady. “I am his wife. That is all you need to know.”

Patricia laughed softly. “Wife? Or just a paid helper? Everyone will find out soon enough. You never belonged anywhere.”

Eren stepped closer. “Laura, you do not have to stay with him. Come and talk to me. We can leave right now.”

“I am not going anywhere with you,” I said.

Patricia spoke louder so people nearby could hear. “She used to live off our family. Now she attaches herself to the richest man she can find. Some things never change.”

A few guests turned their heads. I felt heat in my face but I did not look away.

“I left your house with nothing,” I said clearly. “I built my own life after that. You and Eren made your choices. I made mine.”

Patricia’s smile faded a little. “You always thought you were better than you are.”

Eren reached out and tried to take my arm. “Laura, just listen for one minute—”

A hand closed around Eren’s wrist before he could touch me. David stood there. His face was calm but his grip looked strong. He turned Eren’s hand away and held it for a second longer than needed.

“Do not touch my wife,” David said in a low voice.

Eren pulled his arm back. “We were only talking.”

“You were not invited to talk,” David said. “Stay away from her.”

Patricia crossed her arms. “We have a right to be here. This is a public company party.”

David looked at both of them. “You have a right to stay on that side of the room. If you come near Laura again you will leave.”

He put his arm around my waist and guided me back toward the center of the party. People were watching. Some looked surprised. Some whispered.

David stopped in a clear space and turned me to face him. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” I said. “Thank you.”

He kept his arm around me and spoke so only I could hear. “You handled her well. I am proud of that.”

Then he lifted one hand to my face, leaned in, and kissed me in front of everyone.

The room went quiet for a moment. I heard a few soft gasps. When David pulled back he looked straight at the people around us.

“My wife,” he said clearly.

Patricia stood frozen across the room. Eren’s face was dark with anger. Guests started talking again in low voices, but many eyes stayed on us.

David kept his arm around me as we moved through the rest of the party. He introduced me to more people and never left my side. Patricia and Eren stayed near the far wall and did not come closer again.

It was a nice party and everyone was awed by us and some even wanted to be like us.

Later, when the party began to thin, David leaned toward me. “We can leave now if you want.”

“Yes,” I said. “I am ready.”

We walked out to the car. Once we were inside and the door closed, David looked at me.

“You did well tonight,” he said. “They tried to shame you and you did not let them.”

“I was angry,” I said. “But I did not want them to see me break.”

David nodded. “They saw something else instead. They saw you standing with me.”

The car started moving through the night streets. I leaned back in the seat. My mind still replayed the kiss and the looks on Patricia’s and Eren’s faces.

My phone buzzed in my small bag. I took it out and read the new message from an unknown number.

You think a public kiss changes anything? Your old family has papers that can ruin both of you. Enjoy the attention while it lasts.

I stared at the screen. The message was unsigned but the tone was clear.

Someone was not finished. And they claimed they had papers that could hurt David too.