Sugar Daddy

The case he’d been working on had turned shit within a matter of hours, and for the past week he’d been in serious negotiations as it came to light the husband couldn’t even afford to pay the pre-nup settlement, and he was in fact bankrupt.

That had created a challenge in itself, but with his team he’d been able to deal with it, and now, after a week, he was ready to just fuck. The only problem was Elizabeth was ill. He’d called her that afternoon as soon as he’d discovered that the entire weekend was free. The moment she picked up the phone, he’d heard her gravelly voice and stuffy nose. Not to mention that she was also vomiting she said, and had to phone in sick as well as not go to any of her classes.

Pacing his apartment floor, he poured himself a drink of whiskey and wondered how she was doing.

This wasn’t what he wanted when he saw her on that website. They’d known each other a matter of weeks, and yet he was already worried about her.

It’s the decent thing to do to make sure she’s okay.

Elizabeth had no one. No family, and he’d not seen any friends check up on her. She was all alone in the world, and he didn’t like that.

Tapping his finger on the edge of his glass, he stared down at his cell phone, seeing no missed calls from her.

Other women had left messages for him to get back in touch. Previous women he’d been with, and didn’t have any interest in continuing anything. There was something different about Elizabeth. From her leaving the rose to never seeming to linger on everything he said. She always was the first to leave the bed after sex, even when he wanted to snuggle.

Tapping his phone, he brought her number up and decided to hell with his own rules. He placed the call and waited for her to answer.

“Hello.” Her voice was scratchy as if she’d just been throwing up before she answered.

“You sound like crap.”

“Thank you. I feel it. I’m really sorry I can’t make it. I’ll call you when I feel better. Okay?”

“Who’s taking care of you?”

“No one. I’m okay, Daniel. Really, I am.”

She disconnected the call. He wasn’t happy, and was done playing by his own rules. He wasn’t a monster, and he cared. There, he’d admitted it.

Just because he didn’t want all the other crap that came in a relationship didn’t make him a monster. He didn’t want women, kids, or commitment, but under no contract did it state that he couldn’t take care of her if he wanted to.

It didn’t matter what rules he’d put in place. He was the one in control, and there wasn’t anything wrong with buying soup for a woman, no matter what she said.

Leaving his apartment, he went straight to his car, climbing inside. On the way over, he called an Italian restaurant that he knew did the best soup in town. Once he made that pit stop, he didn’t find it hard to locate Elizabeth’s apartment. It wasn’t far from the campus. Parking in the only available spot, he grabbed his items and made his way to her.

Someone was already leaving the building, so instead of alerting her that he was here, he slid inside the open door, found the small map, and made his way toward her floor.

Knocking on the door, he waited for her to answer with a smile on his face. When she didn’t answer straight away, he knocked again, and he heard movement from within.

“I’m coming. I’m coming.”

Seconds later, Elizabeth opened the door, and she looked like death warmed over.

“Daniel, I thought I told you I couldn’t tonight.”

“This is not a booty call. I have soup, books, and a movie.”

She frowned, looking at him. “I don’t understand.”

“No one should have to take care of themselves when they’re poorly. Consider me your nurse until you get better. Are you going to let me in?”

She nodded and stepped back.

He walked into her very small apartment, reminding himself exactly how lucky he was. Her place could fit into his penthouse suite four times over it was that small. With the rent she paid, he’d imagined something a lot bigger, a lot better, but nope.

“I’m sorry it’s small. It’s home.” She looked so vulnerable as she pulled her chestnut hair back. Putting the soup and stuff down, he did no more than pick her up, leading toward the bedroom.

Elizabeth released a little gasp, her arms going around his neck as he carried her all the way back to bed.

Carefully, he placed her within the blankets being sure not to hurt her as she lay down on the pillows.

“I’ll be back.”

Daniel grabbed the soup, found a bowl in her kitchen, and began to pour the contents into another, getting a spoon, and making his way back into her bedroom.