Sugar

The First Meeting

Third Person PoV

“Lia, what’s wrong? You look nervous.” Tiffany asked her maid, who was pressured to become her plus one for the party with a smile on her face. Lia pinched the bridge of her nose while shaking her head no.

“You are hopeless, miss Tiffany. It would be best if you had asked your assistant instead of me. I don’t know what I’m doing. What if I did something to tarnish the good name of Iscariot.” Tiffany waved her hands off as she drove.

“I don’t think you would be the one which tarnishes the family name. It’s probably me since everyone has been keeping an eye on me since the nightclub incident. Bringing you would make me look better. Everyone knows you’re my retainer.” Lia sighed.

“I am no one’s retainer.”

“Tell that to my mother. It was her idea to bring you with me. She said if there’s anyone who knows how to look after me, it’s you.” Lia sighed while checking on herself through the mirror.

“It’s been a while since I wore something like this. I thought now that I’m a maid, I wouldn't wear such things anymore. I was wrong.” Tiffany chuckled.

“Hey- who knows, you might find your soulmate who doesn’t care that you’re working as a maid. But if those people know what’s good for themselves, they shouldn’t look down on you. Not only you’re working as a maid for the Iscariot, but you also graduated top of your class when you took your Ph.D.” Lia gave Tiffany a questionable look.

“Why does that have anything to do with me attending this party?” Tiffany shrugged her shoulder.

“I don’t know. It just feels right to say that out loud. You often forgot that you should be working for me at the company instead of being a maid. You’re more than qualified to work for Iscariot's main branch.” Lia laughed it off. Tiffany didn’t expect Lia, who is known for being stoic, would laugh like so.

“You should be a comedian, miss Tiffany.” Tiffany sighed.

“I was only stating the truth.”

LATER THAT NIGHT,

“What’s wrong?” Lucia massaged her cheek after smiling for almost an hour as Nicole and her father greeted their acquaintances.

“My cheek hurt.” Nicole laughed.

“From all the smiling? This situation means nothing. Normally these people would suddenly talk about marriage and try to take the opportunity to make connections with certain families. Luckily none of these guests even tried to court me. I made it clear that I am not someone who would follow tradition. That’s probably why most of them stay off the topic.” Nicole looks around the hall before leaning forward to her friend.

“A gentleman has been staring at you since you entered the hall. There’s a chance that he’s into you. And he seems like a good-looking gentleman too.” Lucia smiled.

“I’ve noticed him staring too. But he seems to be contemplating whether he should talk to me or not. I don’t know if I should do this. Look- my heart is pounding.” Nicole chuckled.

“Relax. Nothing is happening yet- oh wait, I spoke too soon. That man is coming this way. Pretend that we’re not even hoping for him to come and greet us.” Nicole and Lucia pretend to be in a conversation as a gentleman greets them and introduces himself as Alexander.

“Nice to meet you, Sir Alexander. My name is Nicole, and this is my dear friend, Lucia.” Alexander smiled as he took Lucia’s hand for a kiss. Lucia smiled even though she felt uncomfortable with the man’s gesture.

“Do you mind if I borrow your friend for a while, miss Nicole?” Nicole turned to Lucia, who nodded her head.

“Of course.” Nicole smiled as Alexander offered his hand for Lucia to take. Lucia smiled before placing her hand on Alexander’s hand and going to a more private space by the balcony.

“I’ve been going to countless parties before, but I have never seen you. Are you new to the social scene?” Alexander begins by asking about Lucia’s absence from the previous social gathering.

“Oh- the only reason I’m here tonight was because of Nicole. She invited me to this party because she said it would be boring for her to come here alone since her father would greet all his friends, leaving her to fend for herself. You see, I’m not even supposed to be here. I should accompany my friend.” Alexander smiled.

“Thank you for being honest. Anyway, since this is your first time, what do you think of the party?” Lucia hummed.

“Since it’s my motto, to be honest, the party is boring, but the food is quite a delicacy. I have never tasted food that could make me feel emotion before. Kudos to the chef.” Alexander laughed.

“I agree. The chef did an amazing job tonight. I’m so for being so bold, but are you single? You see- I wouldn’t want someone to come and attack me suddenly.” Lucia chuckled.

“I am single. What about you, sir Alexander.” Alexander smiled.

“Please, call me Alex. And I am married. But my wife- it isn’t very easy at the moment. It’s been a few months since we last met, and I am a man who wants to feel a woman's touch. What I mean is I want someone who would give me their utmost attention. But my wife- she is too busy with work that she neglects her most important duty as a wife.” Lucia watched as Alexander reached out for her hand.

“What do you think of accompanying me for the night, miss Lucia?” Lucia is speechless. She thinks everything happens too fast, and she has no room to think about what to happen next.

“But we just met. Isn’t that too risky? You don’t even know who I am except for my name.” Alexander smiled.

“Why should I be wary of someone as beautiful as you? Even my wife couldn’t compare when it comes to beauty. And my wife was a model before we married to each other.” Alexander takes a step forward with a smile.

“Don’t worry- I won’t make you regret your decision to come with me tonight.” Lucia wants to decline the man’s offer, but she doesn’t know how to say no politely.

“But- but I need to go back to my friend. She is probably waiting for me.” Alexander smiled.

“Aren’t you here being an escort? A young woman like you often comes to parties like this seeking someone to pay for your rent, am I right? I am willing to pay your living expenses. In exchange, come with me to my hotel room.” Alexander begins to feel annoyed because Lucia finds excuses not to go to his room.

In the end, Alexander decided to grab hold of Lucia’s wrist and pulled her out from the balcony, into the hallway, and made their way to his hotel room.

“Don’t be scared- I’m a gentleman after all. I won’t do you any harm. Besides, it would be a waste to hurt a beautiful woman like you. I’ll give you money to spend after we’re done.” Lucia used her weight to pull her wrist from Alexander’s grip, but she was too weak for him.

Lucia thought of asking for help, but everyone seemed to be minding their own business. When she tries to find Nicole, she is nowhere to be seen. Somehow, as he was being dragged towards the nearest elevator, she saw a woman that looked like someone important walking out of a room together with her friends.

Lucia decided to call out for the woman as she tried to save herself, Alexander.

“Hi! I thought you said you would not attend this party. How have you been?” Lucia smiled at the black-haired woman who seemed to read the room.

“Oh! I decided to change my mind and attend in my mother’s name. I’ve been great. What about you?” The woman acts friendly towards Lucia. Alexander, who noticed who the woman was, released his grip from Lucia’s wrist and put on his best smile for the woman.

“Miss Tiffany, it’s a pleasure to meet you. It is a rare opportunity for me to meet someone as important as you.” Tiffany looks at the man and the woman’s bruised wrist back and forth.

“Would it be alright for me to spend the rest of my evening with my dear old friend?” Alexander shakes his head no.

“By all means- I didn’t realize that this woman is acquainted with the future heir of Iscariot.” Tiffany raised an eyebrow.

“This woman?” Alexander kept his head low.

“I mean Lucia. We only met today, and I thought this woman was an escort. No, “ Tiffany raised her hand.

“You’ve said enough. Excuse me.” Tiffany offered her hand for Lucia to take before they walked back towards the hall where the party was. Tiffany noticed that Lucia's hand was shaking from what had just happened.

“My name is Tiffany. Call me Tiff. What’s your name?” Tiffany introduced herself.

“Lucia- call me Lucy.” Tiffany smiled.

“Don’t worry, Lucy. That man will keep his distance now if he knows what is good for him.” Tiffany smiled at Lia, who nodded her head.

“Is this your first time being an escort?” Lucia shakes her head no.

“I’m not supposed to be an escort in the first place. I was stupid and tried to find the simplest way out of trouble. I’m an idiot.” Tiffany smiled.

“I see. Anyway, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Lucia.”

THE NEXT DAY,

“Oh! I felt scared! How long have you been awakened for, miss Tiffany?” Tiffany continues to stare at the walls as Lia walks into her room and opens the curtains.

“I want to meet that woman from yesterday. Is that possible, Lia?” Lia turned to face Tiffany, who looked at her with hopeful looks.

“All we know about her was her name. Do you know how many women out there have the same name? It would be hard for me to find out who she is without anything else.” Tiffany sighed before leaning back in her seat.

“Do you remember the name of the woman she went to after we escorted her back to the hall?” Tiffany’s face lights up.

“Nicole Day. That woman introduces herself as Nicole Day. Find Nicole, and you’ll find Lucia. Do me a favor and find Lucia for me and ask her to have dinner here with me. She was on a mission last night, but it went south after that man showed his real colors. She was terrified.” Lia looks confused.

“Lucia was on a mission? What do you mean, miss Tiffany?” Tiffany smiled.

“That man assumes she is an escort. And Lucia mentioned that it was her first time, and she was stupid. She was searching for a sugar daddy.” Lia realized what her mistress was trying to say.

“Miss Tiffany- are you going to- of course you are.“ Tiffany smiled from ear to ear.

“What? She’s beautiful, and she fits into my collection.” Lia pinched the bridge of her nose while shaking her head.

“Miss Tiffany, you make it sound so heinous. But as usual, It’s not my place to tell you off whenever you’re about to do something idiotic. But promise me that you would treat her like a human being. From the looks of things, Lucia seems like a young woman who has a lot on her plate. It’s easy to spot people like her since I used to be like that.” Tiffany raised an eyebrow.

“You wanted to find a sugar daddy?” Lia didn’t respond.

“So you did try to find one? Why?”

“It’s all in the past. We are talking about Lucia.” Tiffany chuckled.

“Just find her for me. I’ll think of the rest once we meet.” Tiffany stood up from her seat and went to the bathroom while Lia returned outside and made some phone calls. After speaking with someone she trusted to do the deeds well, Lia walked to the kitchen to make breakfast for her mistress.

“I thought you would be going to the office, miss.” Tiffany smiled as she took a seat on the island.

“I have to entertain several of our clients. They choose to talk about our business transactions while playing golf. I think those bastards are trying to test me. They probably thought I don’t know how to swing the club.” Lia smiled as she served Tiffany a cup of coffee before turning her attention back to the stove.

“Lia, a woman will come by this afternoon and ask for money. Tell her that her chance for reconciliation is over since I found a new candidate. Don’t spare her the details. Just tell her that she is no longer part of my collection.” Lia sighed mentally.

“How would you know that woman will come by this afternoon?” Tiffany smiled while stirring her cup of coffee.

“Because it’s the end of the month. That woman will use a lot of money to pay for her husband’s gambling addiction. That woman doesn’t know that I asked Kevin to investigate her background. She told me that she is single, but she has a husband.” Lia seems speechless.

“Oh- don’t be speechless. I need you to tell that woman off. No one has the same sassy attitude as you do, Lia. Of course, that woman would cry a river but don’t be a fool.” Lia placed a plate of hotdogs, bacon, and eggs in front of her mistress.

“Thank you for the food.” Tiffany smiled before she ate while looking through her phone.