Sugar Daddy For Revenge

Danger

I sat in David’s office and read the message again.

My name was on old company documents from ten years ago. My father had used my identity for deals I never knew about.

David watched me carefully. “We will fix this today. I already have people pulling every record that has your name on it.”

“How can it be fixed so fast?” I asked.

“Because those deals were never legal in the first place,” he said. “My lawyers can file papers this afternoon that separate you from anything your father did. Once that is done the threat becomes weak.”

I let out a slow breath. “Will it really work?”

“Yes,” David said. “I will not let them use you like that again.”

He made two short calls. Within an hour a lawyer arrived with a folder of papers. I signed where they pointed. David signed as well. The lawyer left with the folder and promised the filings would be complete by the end of the day.

David looked at me after the door closed. “It is handled. They can wave those old papers around but they no longer touch you or this company.”

“Thank you,” I said. “I did not expect it to be over so quickly.”

“I do not like loose problems,” he said. “Now we can focus on other things.”

The rest of the morning passed with normal work. At lunchtime David came to my desk.

“Have you eaten?” he asked.

“Not yet,” I said.

“Come with me. There is a quiet place on the top floor. We can talk without people listening.”

I followed him to a small private room with large windows. Food was already set on the table. We sat across from each other.

David poured water into two glasses. “You handled the last few days better than most people would.”

I picked up my glass. “I did not have much choice. I am used to dealing with hard things.”

He studied me. “You should not have to be used to it.”

I looked at the city outside the window. “It is just how my life was.”

David spoke more quietly. “When this year is over you will not have to go back to any of that. The shares will give you real independence.”

“I know,” I said. “That is one of the reasons I agreed.”

He nodded. “There are other reasons too. For both of us.”

I glanced at him and then away. “I suppose there are.”

We ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes. David asked simple questions about what books I liked and how I spent my free time. I asked him about the city when he was younger. The conversation felt easy.

After lunch we went back to work. In the late afternoon David called me into his office again.

“There is a small charity dinner tomorrow night,” he said. “Not as large as the last party. I would like you to come with me.”

“As your wife,” I said.

“Yes. It will help keep the board calm. And I would rather go with you than alone.”

I felt a small warmth in my chest. “I can come.”

David smiled a little. “Good. I will pick you up at seven.”

He walked me to the door of his office but did not open it right away. “Laura. I meant what I said at lunch. You deserve a quieter life than the one you had.”

“I am starting to believe that,” I said.

He held my gaze for a second longer than usual and then opened the door. “I will see you tomorrow evening.”

I went back to my desk and finished the last of the papers. The office grew quiet as people left. David stayed later than most. When I finally packed my bag he was waiting near the elevators.

“I can drive you home,” he said.

“You do not have to,” I answered.

“I know. I want to.”

We rode down together and walked to his car. The drive was mostly silent but not awkward. When we reached my building David turned off the engine.

“Thank you for today,” I said. “For fixing the papers so quickly.”

“You do not need to thank me for that,” he said. “We are in this together now.”

I opened the car door and then paused. “I will be ready at seven tomorrow.”

“I will be here,” David said.

I went upstairs and locked the door. The apartment felt safer than it had the night before. I made a simple dinner and sat by the window for a while.

My phone stayed quiet. No messages from Eren or Patricia. For the first time in days the silence felt peaceful.

I was just getting ready for bed when the doorbell rang.

I looked through the viewer. A man in a dark coat stood outside. I did not know him.

“Who is it?” I asked through the door.

“Delivery for Laura,” he said. “From your father.”

I kept the chain on and opened the door a small c***k. The man held out a thick envelope.

“He said you would want to see this,” the man said. Then he turned and walked away toward the elevators.

I closed the door and locked it again. I stared at the envelope in my hand. I was surprised.

My father had sent me something after all. And he had done it in person through a stranger at night.