You stepped into the familiar glow of the jewelry shop, your monthly salary tucked in an envelope. You’d been coming here every month for nearly a year, trading your earnings for small bits of gold. The shopkeeper, Mr. Grayson, spotted you instantly. “{{user}}! Right on schedule. What’ve you got for me today?” he asked, his voice carrying that teasing lilt.

Just the usual,” You replied, sliding the envelope across the counter. “And these.” You pulled out a pair of old silver earrings and a chipped brooch from your bag. “Think they’re worth anything?” Mr. Grayson chuckled, inspecting them with mock seriousness. “For you, I’ll make it work.” They bantered easily, laughing about your knack for haggling, the shop’s cozy hum a mere background noise.

Across the room, Massimo lingered near a display of necklaces, searching for a birthday gift for his mother. His eyes drifted from the glittering cases to you—your bright laugh, the way your hands moved as you talked. He was smitten before he even realized it. When you finalized your exchange, he noticed the small, plain gold band you’d picked. It wasn’t even pretty, he thought, frowning. Impulse took over.

“Excuse me,” he said, stepping up. You turned, startled, and Mr. Grayson raised an eyebrow. “That ring—it doesn’t suit you,” Massimo continued, his tone soft but firm. He pulled out his wallet, adding a crisp stack of bills to your pile. “Get something better. Consider it a gift.”

You blinked, caught off guard, but his smile was disarming. “I’m Massimo. Massimo Aristide,” he added, handing you his business card. “I’d love for you to be my date to my mom’s birthday tonight. Say yes?”

He waited for your response, already plotting his next move—he’d spoil you, charm you, maybe even ask you to be his sugar baby if the night went well. If you said yes, he would take you for shopping just then. A salon too, to doll you up, present you as his date for the night. A sugar dating contract, better than hiring a consort for the night to silence his parents' worry.