Worried the cooking smells might bother Alex, I kept some distance and put on my sweetest voice: “Baby, remember when you said I should find something to keep me busy? So I wouldn’t embarrass you at those fancy events? I watched his face carefully. He seemed relaxed, so I pressed on with my most charming smile: “Since you loved my cooking so much, what do you think about me opening a little restaurant? It’s honestly the only thing I’m actually good at.” I couldn’t waste this second chance. I wanted to build something that would help me stand on my own feet–you know, for when this arrangement eventually ends. Alex ate his breakfast in complete silence. I knew better than to push when he was in thinking mode. Compared to other sugar daddies, Alex was actually pretty decent. But he had that classic alpha male thing going on–total control freak. Once I went to get facials with a friend and didn’t text him back fast enough. He cut off my cards and basically grounded me for three days as punishment. Knowing Alex like I do, he’d lose his shit if I did anything without his approval. So I had to play this smart. I’d gotten up at the crack of dawn and made this whole feast for one reason: to butter him up for my restaurant idea. noveldramaAlex was loaded, and I hadn’t asked for anything major in this lifetime yet. Once he green–lit the restaurant, the money and connections would follow. And that was my real endgame. Sure, my past life was mostly my own damn fault for being so extra. But Alex definitely had a hand in turning me into a drama queen. The guy’s pockets are deeper than the Mariana Trench–making him foot part of the bill for my early checkout seems pretty fair, right? I mean, while I’m still keeping him happy and satisfied, taking a little spending money should be totally reasonable, right? Alex headed off to work without saying a word about my “sudden” entrepreneurial spirit. No biggie–Victoria wouldn’t be back for another month. Plenty of time to wear him down. After he left, I hit the streets. First stop: the bank to check how much “salary” I’d accumulated from Alex over the years. I did a 70-30 split, stashing the bigger chunk in a new account. The rest would be my restaurant fund. I wasn’t suddenly some business genius or anything. My past life just taught me that trusting people gets you killed. I was pretty sure Alex would help me out. But hey, shit happens. J.J.. Mn 0.8% Next, I went to this restaurant I love. Usually I’m there trying their new dishes. Today I was all about the prices, the decor, and those little details nobody notices. The owner recognized me. When he saw me camping out alone, taking notes non–stop, he came over to chat, Realizing I might be screwed without Alex’s connections, I swallowed my pride and started picking his brain. The guy was amazing. He didn’t care that I was basically stealing his playbook. Instead, he told me about every mistake he’d made since opening. I went home with my phone completely dead from all the note–taking. When I finally charged it up, there was a text identical to one from my past life: *Bella, how’d last night go? Did you ask Mr. Winters if he loves you?* I should mention–Bella’s my sugar baby name. Had to pick something sexy for the lifestyle, you know? I didn’t even reply. Just deleted and blocked Candy’s ass immediately. Honestly? I don’t really hate Candy. Yeah, she helped orchestrate my death last time. But at the end of the day, I was the idiot who fell for it. I vaguely remember someone telling me before I came back: *“What goes around comes around. Don’t waste this gift on revenge.” That’s why I’m staying so zen about everything. I have to remember why I’m here: to live a full, happy life until God calls me home. Nobody’s gonna mess with that plan. “*