The Price Of His Desire

It’s finally the weekend, and I’m packing up everything in my room because we’re leaving the dump we once called home. My niece Aria and I are moving out, and I can’t even describe the relief I feel. We moved in together when I started college. It was the best option at the time since I needed to save for tuition and living expenses. Let’s just say I wasn’t born into money. Aria was the one who found the apartment. The moment I got my acceptance letter, she suggested we live together. I didn’t love the idea of being an hour away from campus, but the rent was cheap and I didn’t have much choice. I’m twenty two now, and she’s turning twenty seven soon. People always get confused when I say she’s my niece. My brother had Aria when he was twenty one, and our parents had me for years years later. So technically, yes, she’s my niece, but in reality she’s always been more like a big sister. Especially after our parents died. Aria and her dad have a messy, complicated relationship. He cut her off years ago when she dropped out of college. She partied a lot back then, made some bad choices, and he gave up on her. But she’s been trying to fix her life ever since. She works as a waitress at this fancy restaurant across the street and has been saving to start her own business and maybe go back to school. Then a few weeks ago, she met someone online. A billionaire. Yeah, I know how that sounds. When she first told me, I laughed right in her face. I thought it was some catfish or scam. But then she showed me pictures and messages, and when I looked him up, he was real. His name was Alfonso De Lisi , owned a billion dollar company. I was still skeptical. They never had a video call, never met in person. I even joked that his pictures could be AI generated. So I dared her to ask him for money, just to see what would happen. Three days later, she screamed so loud from her room I thought she’d won the lottery. He sent her forty thousand dollars. Three days in. After that, everything changed. Gifts started arriving. Money transfers. Designer bags. Jewelry. It was insane. I paid off my school debt. We started eating real food again. It was like the universe had finally decided to give us a break. Then yesterday, he bought her an apartment. Just like that. And now here I am, stuffing the last of my clothes into boxes while a moving truck waits downstairs. Aria’s already seen the place, but I haven’t. I’m dying to know what it looks like. As a real estate and interior design student, I’m ready to soak it all in. A loud horn blared outside. I looked out the window and saw Aria stepping out of a black car, looking radiant and completely in her element. “Hey,” she called out, flashing a grin. “Hey, billionaire’s girl,” I teased, dragging my suitcase to the door. She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Don’t say that.” The movers started loading our boxes into the truck while she gave instructions, all confident and in control. For a second, I just stood there watching her. She looked like she belonged to a different world now. As we drove away, I turned to look out the window. “Goodbye,” I whispered, watching the old building disappear from sight. Relief washed over me. For once, things were finally looking up. The moment we arrived at the new place, I could feel the difference. The air felt cleaner. The buildings looked like they belonged in a movie. My chest tightened with excitement. We stepped into the lobby and my jaw nearly dropped. Marble floors. A chandelier that shimmered like sunlight. Massive glass walls that made the whole place glow. It was like stepping into a dream. Inside the elevator, Aria’s excitement was contagious. “Just wait till you see it,” she said, practically bouncing. When the door opened, she sprinted down the hall. The second she unlocked the door, she spun in a full circle, laughing. “Take a look around, Diana. This is our new home. You see what happens when money’s on your side? Welcome to our new life.” I stepped inside and froze. “This is a penthouse,” I whispered, my voice trembling with disbelief. Aria threw her arms in the air. “Damn right it is. Alfonso did this. That’s my man.” She disappeared into the kitchen, yelling, “We’re opening champagne.” I laughed, still stunned, and followed her. We popped two bottles, spilling bubbles all over the floor, and toasted to our new beginning. The penthouse was massive. Two living rooms, plush furniture, art on every wall, and a kitchen that looked like something out of a cooking show. The balcony opened to a breathtaking city view that made my chest tighten. My room alone was bigger than our entire old apartment. That night, we sat on the floor eating Chinese takeout and sipping wine straight from the bottle. “So,” I said, mouth full, “when are you two finally meeting?” She glanced at me, her smile fading a little. “I don’t know,” she said quietly. “I keep asking, but he says he’s busy. I don’t want to push too hard.” I frowned. “Aria, come on. He can buy you a penthouse but can’t turn on his camera? That’s weird.” She gave me a sharp look. “Don’t, Diana. Just be happy for me, okay? He’s done more for me than anyone ever has.” I didn’t say anything after that. The mood was too good to ruin. We laughed again, poured another glass, and for a moment, I forgot about all the questions in my head. Later that night, I showered and let the hot water wash over me. It felt like every drop carried away a piece of the old life. When I stepped out, I looked around my new room. The soft lighting, the expensive sheets, the quiet hum of the city below it all felt unreal. I slid into bed, sinking into the softest mattress I’d ever felt. For the first time in a long time, I wasn’t scared about tomorrow. But as I closed my eyes, one thought slipped into my mind. No one gives this kind of life for free.