“Parvati? Tell me.”
She took a deep breath and then handed me her phone. As I scrolled, she explained.
“These men are looking for a companion, someone they can treat with lavish gifts and have fun with. They’re super wealthy and, I guess, a little lonely. That or they just want to parade around young, pretty women.”
“Me?” I laughed. After I looked through the pictures, I could agree that some of the men were handsome and wealthy. If they offered me money to spend time with them, I wouldn’t say no. But me?
“I’m not some model or whatever.”
“Girl, you are gorgeous! You’ve got bright blue eyes and golden blond hair. And your smile is perfect. Movie star perfect!” We both laughed at her words.
“Why would someone pay just to hang out with me?”
“They don't just hang out with you.” Parvati’s eyes tightened as she looked at me straight on. “They pay to be with you.”
“What?” I guess it made sense given that wealthy men rarely parted with their money unless it was for a good reason, but I was still shocked to my core. “That’s like… prostitution.”
“That’s like… ten thousand dollars.”
“Parvati, it’s not just morally wrong, it’s also illegal.”
She gave me a sigh as she scrolled through the photos. “These guys can pay for anything—including lawyers. It’s discreet, lavish, and completely consensual. Besides, you can easily say you were actually dating, and that he was spoiling you like all good boyfriends do.” Her brow lifted with the final word, and it was like I had no other choice but to at least hear her out.
There was one problem though.
Parvati was definitely my best friend in the world, but she didn’t realize I was still a virgin. If she did know, she wouldn’t have been pushing the sugar daddy idea. I knew she only wanted the best for me and that she was sincerely trying to help, so the least I could do was clue her in.
“I’m a…” I bit my lip in thought just as she looked up at me. “I’m still a virgin.”
Her brow immediately furrowed. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Okay, I see. You don’t have to get defensive.”
“Well, how else am I supposed to act? I’d be selling my body to someone I don’t even know—and for the first time ever. I just don’t know how I feel about that.”
“I completely understand. But, Jourdanne, you’re like, twenty-one years old.” She gave a quick laugh.
“Yeah?” I laughed too as I wrapped my arms around my chest in a tight twist.
“Not even with Jack from senior year?”
I shook my head.
“Wow,” she mumbled, then our eyes met and she started to blush. “Look, isn’t it time that you conquer this milestone of your adult life and look forward to your future? Think about the payoff. Yale is within your grasp. You totally have the right body and the right personality to satisfy—” she paused when I shot her a glare.
“Sorry, sorry. You are perfect for something like this. Be honest with yourself, and think about the adventure and all the fun things you’ll get to do over the summer. You won’t have to come out here and clean tables and serve coffee for dollar tips. You’ll be well on your way to doing the things you always dreamed of.”
I took a deep breath and let her words sink in. She was right about everything. It was time for me to really take a leap and go for something with everything I had rather than sit back and hope someday I would save up enough to make my dreams come true.
“Give me the phone.” I reached my hand out and waved my fingers until she complied.
Parvati was basically shooting confetti out of her fingertips as she handed off the phone. “That’s my girl. Oh look, this one’s handsome.”
“I’m only looking. Don’t get any crazy ideas yet.”
“Since you said it, you might as well know that they pay more for virgins.”
I wasn’t sure if I should have been excited about that or disgusted, but all I could do was mutter a condescending sigh.
“Just promise me that you will keep an open mind. This could be really great for you.”
MATT
I sat on the bed and watched Leandro as he unzipped his suitcase. He had set out a few outfits and other things he would need on his trip to Europe. A trip I wouldn’t be going on.
“I’ll be gone for the week,” he said as he left the room and went into the master bathroom. Our home had four bedrooms, each with their own bathroom. It was mostly for show as Leandro and I rarely had guests stay over. What else would an eccentric billionaire do with his money if not live lavishly?
He came back into the bedroom and put his shampoo and razor into the small toiletries bag, then zipped it shut. “Two days in Paris, then the rest in Milan.”