Three days later

“Are you sure about this?” I ask Shae as we enter the luxury condo on 15 Central Park West. Since we arrived to New York a couple of days ago, everything’s been happening so fast. Shae wouldn’t let me stay at a hotel. She offered me her spare bedroom at her apartment, and for once I didn’t argue. The rates here are high, and I only have a bit of cash after forcing Nat to take some of the money I got for my mother’s ring in case my dad or Holly needed something while I was gone.

“It’s okay, Hannah. I already talked to Cordelia and she’s eager to meet you,” Shae sounds confident.

“I still can’t believe I’m going to do this,” I whisper.

“It’s normal to feel nervous, trust me, I felt the same way, but you’ll realize it’s not as sketchy as your mind is telling you it is.”

“Shae, I’m so glad to see you.” A tall brunette, in a perfectly tailored, pinstripe skirt suit walks into the foyer. Shae leaves my side to meet her half way.

“You didn’t think you’d get rid of me that easily, did you?” Shae hugs her tightly.

“That never crossed my mind.” Turning, she walks toward me, since I’m rooted to the place where I’m standing, unable to act like the composed person I want to appear to be.

“You must be Hannah. It’s so nice to meet you, I’m Cordelia Becker.”

She offers me her hand to shake and when I carelessly squeeze it too hard, I feel like a brute. “Sorry.” I immediately retreat. “Yes, I’m Hannah and it’s nice meeting you, also.”

“Well, Hannah, Shae told me a little bit about your situation. How about you tell me why you want to become a sugar baby.” I cringe a little at her words, no matter how much I’ve told myself this is the only way to help my family, I’m still not sure I can go through it.

“I need money, and from what Shae explained to me, it seems the best way to earn it fast without having to,” I hesitate, “to sleep with men in exchange for it.”

Cordelia turns to look at Shae, her lips show a hint of a smile. “You are right.”

Before I can ask what she meant, she hooks her arm through mine. “Let’s go to my office and get the paperwork started. The sooner the better.”

I take in the fabulous view provided by the floor to ceiling window on the back wall behind Cordelia’s desk.

“Please, sit.” She points to one of the chairs in front of her desk. I take the one on the right while Shae sits on my left.

Cordelia stands on the side of her desk, and mentions, “the Sugar Bowl life is not for everyone. There are some people that think a sugar baby is a synonym for prostitute, which I can assure you, it’s not, but that won’t stop people from judging and you need to be prepared for that. Do you think you’ll be able to handle that?”

“I’ll do whatever it takes for my family,” I answer frankly.

“Even if they’re the first ones to show their disapproval?” Cordelia counters.

I pause but don’t hesitate. “Yes. Even if that happens, I don’t care, as long as they’re okay.”

“Good.” She skirts her desk, taking a seat behind the large wooden piece of furniture. “Because you’re not going to be doing anything wrong. Like I said, people think we’re prostitutes, but they couldn’t be more wrong. A sugar baby is someone who provides whatever her sugar daddy and her agree upon. Some men will want companionship, someone they can take to events, someone to talk to, someone that they can spend a day with, go on trips or buy them gifts without worrying about gold diggers.”

“How does this work exactly?” I blurt out hoping my question doesn’t sound rude.

Cordelia opens her laptop and starts to explain, “Satisfaction Guaranteed is the world’s largest sugar dating site. You’ll fill out your profile, define your terms and explain your arrangement expectations. This allows people to define what they need and want from their relationships without wasting time. Once you do that and add your photo, you become a member and you’ll instantly get connected to the other members.”

“How much does this cost?”

“The membership for sugar babies is free of charge,” Cordelia assures. “The sugar daddies are the ones who pay to become members.”

“Why?” The question leaves my mouth before I can stop it and Shae chuckles.

Cordelia doesn’t seem to mind my questioning when she says, “because they have the money to splurge. So even if they don’t end up being your sugar daddy, they’re covering the cost for the chance to meet you.” She leans forward and smiles. “Hannah, you have to understand these aren’t normal guys that are just looking to hook up with a younger woman. These are powerful men, with high profiles, who value their privacy and we provide it for them.”

“How can I be sure they’re who they say they are?” The idea of having a rich man wanting to date me is so foreign I can’t wrap my mind around it. What if I meet someone who’s not the person they claim to be and I end up dead, in a dumpster?

“We run extensive background checks. This is one of the reasons why men who want to become members, are willing to pay big bucks. They have to fill out more detailed information, and once we corroborate it, they’re accepted. I have a team assigned to constantly monitor the activity on the site. The personal information and interactions from both sugar babies and daddies are protected.”

“We have a forum where you can ask questions or talk to your sugar sisters, we’re always there to support each other,” Shae adds.

“And if you ever need it, there are also sugar daddies who act as mentors. They’ve been a part of this lifestyle for a long time and they usually look for sugar babies that need help when starting,” Cordelia offers with a smile. “Patrick is my mentor. You can borrow him any time you want, if that makes you feel safer.”

I laugh. “Thank you. I know I’m being ridiculous, it’s just that I never imagined all this even existed and to be honest, I’m not sure if I’m a good fit for your site.” Looking down at my fidgeting hands I say, “I’m just a baker from a small town.”

“And I’m a cop’s daughter that barely finished high school before running away,” Cordelia interjects. “It doesn’t matter who you are or why you’re here. All that matters is what you want.”

Feeling more sure after all my questions have been answered, I nod. “Ok, I’m ready to do this. Where do I start.”

“Excellent,” Shae says excitedly. “Here comes the best part.”

Cordelia shakes her head at Shae’s comment.

“Even though you’re free to date and use the site as you please, I do have a set of rules that I always advise my sugar babies to follow. First rule,” her tone is emphasized, “and this is the most important rule of all of them. Be safe. Always. You’re in control of whatever happens between a sugar daddy and the arrangement you want to have. You decide the way and number of times you want to talk, or message before meeting them in person. If you’re meeting them, do it in a public place where you can feel comfortable and if for whatever reason you don’t feel safe, it’s okay to say it and leave.” I nod, giving her my undivided attention.

“Second rule, do not fall in love with your sugar daddy. Guard your emotions. You need to remember that by using Satisfaction Guaranteed, you’re getting yourself into an arrangement as opposed to a relationship and it’s best to protect your emotions from becoming involved. These men are wise, wealthy and generous with the right person, but there’s a reason why they are not committed to a relationship and if they are, it means you’ll never even cross their minds as a long life partner.” I consider her words, the more I learn about this lifestyle the most certain I feel that there’s no way I will fall for any of the men I’ll date. It’s just business.

“Rule number three, be smart with your money. I know in your particular case, you need to earn money fast and you won’t have a problem with this, but just in case, remember that while the funds are plentiful, you need to save as much as you can. Relationships and arrangements end all the time, sometimes without warning, so it wouldn’t be smart to have sugar as your only source of income.”

“I get that, you’re right, it’s not smart and I don’t plan to earn a living this way for long. No offense,” I say.

“None taken. And this brings me to my fourth rule. Be willing to let go. One of the best things about this lifestyle is the opportunities it presents you with. Many stay in the arrangements for the perks and not because they’re happy. Partnerships should be enjoyable for both parties and if not feel free to walk away.”

“Sugar daddies are usually very straight forward about what they want and what they feel, and they expect the same from you,” Shae adds. “Don’t be afraid to tell them if you feel off about your arrangement. You never know, maybe you both can make it work or just be free to seek another POT.”

“POT?” I inquire.

“Potential sugar daddy.” Cordelia clarifies.

“How many sugar daddies are we allowed to have?” I question.

“That will be up to you and the kind of arrangements you have. Some of the girls like to have several at once and they’re all aware of it. Some like to have one or two to focus on at a time. You have to balance your life outside of the sugar bowl. Between all the messaging and dates, it’s easy to get caught up in the sweet life.”

“Got it,” I assure her. For at least the next week I would give this sugar bowl lifestyle a try. After, I would go back to my old life, and my family, knowing I tried.

“Do you have any questions?” Cordelia types something on her laptop as Shae nudges my arm.

“Well, it’s just that I can’t stay here long, and I was wondering how soon would it take for me to start looking for a sugar daddy.”

“I usually follow a protocol, I like girls who are joining my site to be fully aware of what adopting the sugar bowl lifestyle means, but in your case, as soon as you complete your profile you can start looking.” Cordelia stands and walks to the front of her desk, handing me a card. “Here’s my number, if you ever need anything don’t hesitate to call me. I know Shae will help you with anything you might need but just in case, always carry that card with you. It will open a lot of doors, too.”

“Thank you.” I nod and make a mental note to put the card some place where I can’t lose it.

“Then we’re all done here. Shae will take you to meet Ursula. Consider it a welcome treat.”

* * *

“I hate you right now,” I say as I exit Ursula’s chamber of torture.

“Me? Why?” Shae puts on a shocked expression, feigning innocence.

“You know perfectly well why.” I lean closer to her and whisper yell, “she waxed places I didn’t even know were allowed to be waxed.” She bursts out laughing, and I smack her arm. “It’s not funny.”

“Oh yeah it is.” She wipes away a few stray tears. “It’s hilarious in fact. What did you think full Brazilian meant, Hannah?”

“Well, I don’t know, the bikini area? She saw more of me than Danny had in months.” We both go silent at my confession for a minute and then laugh.

“The worst part is done so stop complaining. Now we’ll both go get a blowout and then you’ll be ready to meet your possible date candidates.”

“What? I haven’t even signed up yet,” I remind her.

“I did it for you, and look,” she turns her phone in my direction so I can look at the screen. “You have lots of messages already.”

“Really?” I ask, shocked at the number of messages I’ve received while I was being tortured by Ursula.

“Yep, so now you just have to pick one or two you want to message with and start setting up your dates.”

And so it begins.

* * *

A few hours after we got back to Shae’s apartment I begin scrolling through and reading messages, still shocked at how many I’ve received so fast.

“Okay, I think I’ve got two possible strong candidates,” I tell Shae while I scoop a spoonful of cereal. “One of them is going to be in New York for business and wants to meet up next week, and the other is a local and I’ll arrange a meet up with him the day after tomorrow.”

“That sounds great. I’m glad you’re jumping straight to it.”

“You don’t think it’s too fast?”

“Hell no, as long as they’re upfront about meeting in a public place and you’re comfortable, it’s all good.”

“They sound very...polite, and intelligent.”

“That’s because they’re gentlemen. Most of them anyway. And they’re well educated.”

“Now I’m feeling a little bit intimidated.” I admit.

“Don’t. Just be yourself because ultimately, that’s what will make or break an arrangement. The other stuff you can learn as you go.”

“How do you act when you’re on a date with a super rich guy?”

“Well, for starters, I don’t discuss money with them on the date. Generally that’s something I’ll do when we’re messaging. These men have been around the lifestyle and know how it’s handled. They’ll ask how much of an allowance you’re looking for, how many guys you’re seeing and what are your opinions on sex.”

“Allowance?” I choke up. “This is crazy.”

“Don’t look into every word, or you’ll start to hesitate. The allowance is not always part of the arrangement at the beginning, they just want to know if they’re going to meet your expectations.”

“My expectations? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”

“No, they’re sending you a message because they’re already interested. You just need to show them you’re worth every penny.”

“You sound so confident.”

“That’s because you need to be confident about yourself.”

“What if they don’t like me? What happens then?”

“I doubt that will happen. Like I said, just be yourself and be honest all the time. Look at it as a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, communication is key.”

“I’m a shitty girlfriend,” I laugh. “That’s why I’m single now.”

“Or maybe it’s because you haven’t found the right guy yet,” she counters.

“What if I don’t like them?” I ask, worried I’ll sabotage myself and all this effort will end up being for nothing.

“You are allowed to not like them. I try to find something I have in common with them, something that helps with the connection and whenever I’m with my sugar daddy, I’m totally in love with him. But when I’m without him, he barely crosses my mind.”

“That makes sense.” I finish my cereal and move to wash the dishes.

“Speaking of,” Shae stands and moves to put her plate in the sink, “I have to meet up with someone in an hour. I’ll probably be home late. Are you okay staying here alone?”

I nod, “I’m fine, I’ll just call my dad and see how everything is at home before calling it a night and binge watch some Netflix.”

“Ok good, I’m gonna go get ready, just leave those there.” She points at the dishes. “I’ll do them later when I get back.”

“I don’t mind washing them, it relaxes me.”

“You’re weird, Hannah.” Shae states as she hugs me and walks to her room to get ready.

As I’m about to start with the dishes, Shae’s laptop pings alerting me I received a new message. I move back to the table and open the message.

Hello Hannah, You seem like a pretty interesting woman, just the type I’d love to get to know. I’m a sucker for brown eyes like yours. Read my profile and let me know if you’re interested in meeting me, too. Love, Craig.

I instantly click on his profile and start reading. From his picture, it looks like he’s around his mid-forties. I decide to reply to his message once I call my dad and Nat. And for the first time, I start feeling excited about this whole sugar bowl thing.