Sugar Daddy

Chapter 4: Sugar Daddy

Eliana Maxine

The three of us walked into Mica’s apartment building without issue. The security guard at the front desk didn’t even blink at us and just gave a lazy nod before going back to his phone. After all the times we’d been here, we were practically invisible to him by now.

Cassie flipped her hair dramatically as we stepped into the elevator. “See? We’re basically VIPs here.”

I let out a short laugh. “Right. Because nothing says VIP like being ignored.”

Gladz smirked beside me. “Still better than being stopped at the entrance every damn time. That’s got to count for something.”

Cassie leaned against the elevator wall with a theatrical sigh. “I mean, at this point, Mica should just give us our own keys.”

I snorted. “Yeah, and you’d abuse that power in record time.”

She gasped, clutching her chest like I’d wounded her. “Excuse you! I am a responsible adult.” Then she paused and grinned. “Okay, yeah, I totally would.”

When the elevator doors opened on Mica’s floor, Cassie immediately took the lead, pressing the doorbell several times, her foot tapping with exaggerated impatience.

I just rolled my eyes and shook my head at her antics.

A few seconds later, the door swung open, and Mica stood there with a grin stretched across her face. “Took you long enough!”

“We got here as fast as we could,” Gladz said as we filed inside. “You’ve been so damn cryptic all day. Spill already.”

But before we could press Mica for details, our attention was instantly caught by a neat pile of designer shopping bags stacked in the corner of her living room.

My brows shot up. That was... unexpected.

Gladz let out a low whistle beside me. “Okay, wow. You really did hit it big, huh?” Gladz gestured toward the bags. “That’s some luxury-level shopping right there.”

Gladz and I flopped onto the couch, while Cassie, ever the one to never hold back, beelined straight to the pile like a bloodhound on a trail.

She whistled low, eyes gleaming with curiosity as she picked up one of the bags and turned it in her hands.

“Dior?” she read aloud, turning to Mica with a look of sheer suspicion. She held the bag up as if it were evidence in a criminal case. “Mica, who did you rob?”

I stifled a laugh, exchanging an amused glance with Gladz. Typical Cassie.

Mica just rolled her eyes. “Relax, I didn’t rob anyone.”

Cassie raised a perfectly arched brow as she peeked inside the bag. “Well, you could’ve fooled me.”

With exaggerated slowness, she reached in and pulled out a sleek, designer purse, gasping dramatically as she held it up to the light.

“Oh my God,” Cassie whispered, her expression pure awe. “Is this real leather?” She turned it over in her hands, running her fingers along the smooth surface before letting out an even louder gasp. “Damn, Mica, at this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if you told us you won the lottery. Or—” she paused for effect, eyes twinkling with mischief, “—my sugar daddy theory isn’t that far off.”

I couldn’t hold back a snort.

Mica groaned. “You guys are ridiculous.”

Cassie ignored her, still admiring the purse like it was a priceless artifact. Then, with a dramatic sigh, she hugged it against her chest and fluttered her lashes.

“It’s okay, babe,” she cooed. “We support your lifestyle. Really, we do.”

Mica’s face scrunched up in irritation before she grabbed the nearest throw pillow and hurled it at Cassie’s head. “Shut up.”

Cassie dodged effortlessly, laughing as she twirled the purse in her hands. “You’re just mad ‘cause I’m right.”

Mica huffed, choosing to ignore her as she disappeared into the kitchen, leaving us even more curious.

Cassie, never one to let things go, turned back to the pile of shopping bags with renewed determination. “Well, if she won’t tell us, I’ll just have to find out myself.”

I leaned toward Gladz and whispered, “Should we be concerned?”

Gladz chuckled. “Honestly? Probably.”

Cassie continued rummaging through the bags, making an exaggerated gasp every time she pulled out something expensive—a perfume set, a silk dress, a pair of heels that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe combined.

My brows drew together.

Mica liked to splurge now and then, but this? This was... next-level extravagant.

When Mica came back, she wasn’t empty-handed. She had a tray of snacks in one hand and a wooden board with neatly arranged fruits and cheese in the other.

She placed them on the coffee table without saying a word, like it was totally normal to be serving us like we were brunching at a five-star hotel.

Gladz and I stared.

The table now held an assortment of cookies, chips, a small bowl of nuts, cheese, fruit slices, and even a bowl of melted chocolate.

I blinked. “Uh... Mica?”

She raised a brow. “What?”

Gladz tilted her head, clearly amused. “Since when do you prepare snacks like this?”

I crossed my arms, giving her a look. “Yeah, you usually just dump a bag of chips on the table and call it a day.”

Mica huffed, mirroring my stance. “I can’t be nice?”

Gladz and I exchanged a glance. Yep, still suspicious.

Mica rolled her eyes. “Oh my God. I just thought I’d put in a little effort, okay?”

Cassie, finally done rummaging through the shopping bags, plopped down beside me. She picked up a strawberry, dipping it slightly into the chocolate, and took a slow, dramatic bite. She moaned in satisfaction, then smirked at Mica. “This is fancy. You sure this isn’t sugar-daddy funded?”

Mica rolled her eyes as she plopped down on the carpeted floor. “If you guys keep being annoying, I’m taking it all back.”

Cassie gasped, clutching her strawberry protectively. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, I would,” Mica said, popping a grape into her mouth.

I reached for a cookie, nibbling at it as I sat cross-legged on the couch. My curiosity was reaching dangerous levels. Mica had been practically off the grid since summer started. She’d been jumping from one gig to another, taking on random part-time jobs, side hustles, anything that could earn her quick cash. Which was ironic, considering her family was actually pretty loaded. But that was Mica. Fiercely independent, money-driven, and always on the lookout for her next big break.

Still... this? This felt different.

Something was definitely up.