Sugar Daddy

Raymond parked the car before he walked in with Grace. The butler and other maids greeted them.

Grace didn't know if to go upstairs and freshen up or stay downstairs with him; it was all new to her, and she didn't want to anger him.

"Go freshen up," Raymond said once he noticed her blank look. She nodded and quickly hurried upstairs while he walked to the wine bar and filled a glass with wine.

At that moment, he received a phone call. "I am listening."

"Boss, news just returned that Adam didn't die. He is in hiding."

"Okay," Raymond sipped the wine; he couldn't blame his men for failing to finish Adam off because he was a tricky man.

"If he is smart, then he will stay in hiding." Then he hung up and stared upstairs. He sat on the couch and took out a cigarette. "Adam can't be the one trailing her," he thought. After all, Adam had no idea about Grace.

-

Grace was done freshening up, and she slipped into a comfortable gown before she picked up her phone, searched for Ken and Steph WeChat ID, and sent a request.

Ken accepted her request immediately before he sent a message.

"That was fast."

[Grace?]

[Yes], she replied. It was her first time having a phone, but she knew how to use it perfectly because she was educated on technology.

[I will add you to the school groups, okay?]

She was happy to finally join the school group. [Grace has a phone] She read Ken's message before she chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Mr. Xu asked as he leaned on the door with both his hands in his trouser pocket.

She jumped down the bed and stood there like a little lamb. "Are you afraid of me?" asked Raymond as he approached her.

"A little"

"Just a little?" He took a step closer to her, and she shook her head in denial. "I am very scared."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know you so well and you suddenly are my..." She didn't have the guts to pronounce the word "what? Boyfriend?"

"Hmm," she nodded. "Then you should have asked me questions rather than asking my driver."

Her lips parted, trying to find the right word to defend herself, but there was none. "Come, we will talk beside the pool."

"The pool?" she questioned. "You didn't get a house tour?" He frowned. What kind of butler did he have?

"There was no time for one."

"Come with me."

She picked up her phone and followed him downstairs. They passed through a back door, and in front of her was a beautiful view. There was a pool at the center, and by the corners were guest seats and tables.

The maids placed some snacks and coffee on the table before they left the couple. Raymond sat, and she stared at him, confused. "Won't he pull a chair for me?" She thought.

"Will you stand?" he asked, and she sighed and sat down. "Did you just sigh?"

"What? Of course not." Grace laughed nervously.

Raymond picked a grape before he sent it to his mouth. "What is it that you wish to know about me?"

His question got her curious; she also wanted to know the type of person he was, but that was not the most important question now.

"How did you get my mother's necklace? Where is she? Did she send you to me?"

He shook his index finger. "Ask questions about me."

This made her frown. "Why can't you tell me about my mom?"

"Because I chose not to, so don't ask."

Seeing that he was getting annoyed, she decided to keep her cool. "I will find out eventually," she thought.

"Umm, how old are you?"

"Twenty-six," he answered, and her eyes widened in shock. "You are eight years older than me."

"Okay, I was wrong last night; your mathematics is good, and?"

"Isn't there a big age gap?"

"If there was, then I would have let you know," was his reply, which didn't make sense to her.

"And besides, can an eighteen- to twenty-year-old boy protect you?"

She shook her head in denial. He gave her a house and all these riches, a boy her age couldn't afford all this.

Well, it was just eight years, and he wasn't old, Grace thought, trying to console herself.

"If I live in such a place, then your mansion must be much more luxurious. What business are you into?"

He never expected her to ask about his line of business. He sipped his coffee before adjusting comfortably to his seat. "Well, I am into business."

"What kind of business?" She was anxiously waiting for his reply.

"The type of business that gives me the type of money no one can count"

Grace didn't understand him, so she did not ask further and instead concentrated on drinking her coffee.

Her phone notified her of a new message, and Raymond stared at her. "So, why did you want me to be your girlfriend?"

"Because I want to protect you." he gave her the same response he had given yesterday. She got nervous, and her palms became sweaty. Protect her from who?

Her phone chimed with a new message again, and she got curious, wondering if she could check her phone now.

 "Will he get mad that I am receiving so many messages?" she thought, with her gaze on the floor.

Raymond tapped his finger on the table before he said, "Why did you suddenly change your mind and accept my offer?"

"It's a noble offer; any girl will jump into it." She lied so abruptly, and he knew she was lying.

Her phone notified her of a new message again. Raymond stood up, and her heart skipped.

He walked to her side and stared at her phone. She clenched her fist below the table as she was so scared.

He crouched and whispered to her, "I have some things to do; see you tomorrow, little lotus." Then he placed a kiss on her cheeks before he strowed out of the pool section.

"Oh my…" She finally let out the breath she had been holding, then touched her cheeks as her face was now warm.

Grace picked up the phone and saw that the multiple messages were from her school group.

[I just saw Grace was added to the group; guess the rumors are true.]

[I can't believe she ran away from home just to be with a man.]

[Slow water runs deeper.]

[And for a moment, I thought Nora was the evil sister, poor Mrs. Chen; she cried her eyes out at the principal's office after school.]

Grace's eyes widened in shock. Why was the entire school talking about her?

"Where are all these rumors coming from?"

[Nora also mentioned that she saw Grace getting into an old man's car.]

[Smart girl, she found herself a sugar daddy. Such a disgrace to the entire school.]

"Why are they all trolling me?" Grace got confused as her eyes became sore with tears. She clenched the phone and thought of throwing it away.