NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 58: Sugar Daddy's Gifts
AN: Late today, caught up in some work. Hope you all saved some power stones.
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After a short drive filled with Max's nonstop commentary about how she was a "natural-born race car driver" and should totally be allowed to drive Alex's car (absolutely not), they finally pulled up to the apartment complex.
It was a new complex. Everything was new and shiny with a little lobby, security, and a doorman who actually looked like he wanted to be there.
Alex parked the car in the parking zone.
"Not bad," he said, stepping out of the car. "You two really moved up in the world."
Max stretched, popping her neck. "Damn right we did. No more leaky ceilings. No more neighbors who may or may not have been running a drug cartel."
Caroline sighed. "And no more rats in the walls."
Max snorted. "Speak for yourself. I kinda miss Ratatouille."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Who the hell is Ratatouille?"
Max waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, just a rat that lived in our old place. We had an understanding. I left him crumbs, and he didn't crawl on my face while I slept."
Caroline shuddered. "That is NOT an understanding. That is a nightmare."
Alex chuckled, following them to the elevator. Max pressed the button, and as the doors slid open, she turned to him with a proud smirk.
"Ta-da! Welcome to our humble, well, significantly less shitty abode."
Caroline unlocked the door and the trio walked inside. Max switched on the light.
It was nice. Modern but cozy. Open kitchen, decent-sized living room, a hallway leading to the bedrooms. The furniture was mostly new, except for a few obvious Max-and-Caroline-style touches—like the giant cupcake-shaped bean bag in the corner (definitely Max's idea) or that big penguin with neon eyes.
Alex gave a small nod of approval. "This is a really nice place."
Max threw her arms out. "Right?! We finally have space to exist without stepping on each other's toes."
Caroline, taking off her coat, sighed contently. "It actually feels like a home."
Alex noticed the couch. Large, plush, and currently covered in an obscene amount of throw pillows.
He gestured at it. "You planning on selling pillows or something?"
Caroline huffed. "They make the space feel cozy."
Max rolled her eyes. "They make the space feel like a freaking pillow factory."
Alex smirked, reaching out and shoving a few pillows off the couch. He dropped down, stretching his legs, making himself at home.
Max plopped down beside him, draping herself dramatically across his lap. "Ahhh, yes. This is the life. Rich boyfriend, new apartment, fancy food on the way…" She looked up at him, batting her lashes. "Tell me, Sugar Daddy, do we get housewarming gifts?"
"Ah! Forgot the gifts in the car," Alex said.
"From Tokyo?" Max sat up straight.
"Yup," He gave a nod as he took out the car keys.
The moment Alex held out the car keys, Max's eyes gleamed with pure, unfiltered mischief.
Before he could even react...
SWOOSH!
Max snatched the keys right out of his hand like a damn ninja.
"MAX!"
Too late.
She was already gone.
The front door slammed behind her with a speed that defied all logic.
Caroline blinked, still standing near the kitchen. "Did… did she just...?"
Alex sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yeah. She did."
Caroline folded her arms. "You know she's going to do something stupid, right?"
"Oh, absolutely," Alex muttered.
Caroline sighed. "We should probably go after her."
Alex, already leaning back on the couch, shook his head. "Nope. She made her choice. Let her suffer the consequences."
[Parking Lot]
Max skidded to a stop in front of Alex's car, panting slightly. "Okay, okay, Tokyo goodies, where are you?"
She unlocked the trunk and...
"Holy SHIT."
Seven bags. Seven heavy, fully packed shopping bags filled with whatever the hell Alex had bought for them.
Max stared at them for a second. Then, she cracked her knuckles.
"Alright, let's do this."
She reached in, hooked her arms through all seven bags like a lunatic, and with a deep inhale...
LIFT.
The weight nearly threw her backward. "OH, SWEET BABY JESUS..."
Her knees buckled for a second, but Max Black was not a quitter.
She adjusted her stance, planting her feet like a warrior about to charge into battle.
"COME ON, YOU OVERPRICED CAPITALIST TREASURES..."
She stomped toward the elevator, arms straining, biceps screaming in protest.
[Back in the Apartment]
Alex and Caroline sat in comfortable silence.
Caroline, arms crossed, checked the time. "How long do you think it'll take before she realizes she made a mistake?"
Alex smirked. "She already realized it. She's just too stubborn to stop."
[Elevator]
Max was internally SCREAMING.
'WHY ARE THESE BAGS SO HEAVY?!'
Her arms were jelly. Her shoulders burned. One of the bags was digging into her forearm so hard she was pretty sure it was cutting off circulation.
She stared at the elevator buttons, her breath ragged.
"COME ON, YOU SLOW PIECE OF..."
Ding!
The doors opened.
Max stumbled inside, slamming her back against the wall, heaving.
Some random dude in a business suit stepped in after her, took one look at her struggling, then slowly reached forward and pressed his floor button without a word.
Max side-eyed him. "You see nothing."
The guy nodded. "Got it."
Ding!
The doors opened, and Max staggered out, dragging herself down the hall toward their apartment.
[Back at the Apartment]
Caroline took a sip of her drink. "She should be back any second now."
Alex, completely relaxed on the couch, simply pointed at the door. "Three... two..."
BAM!
The door swung open violently, and there stood Max, sweaty, out of breath, arms trembling—BUT VICTORIOUS.
She stomped inside and, with the strength of a woman on the brink of death, DROPPED all seven bags onto the floor.
THUD.
Max collapsed onto the couch next to Alex, panting like she just ran a marathon. "I. AM. A. GOD."
Caroline stared at her. "You look like you need a hospital."
Max weakly flipped her off.
Alex, without looking up, casually said, "You know, I was going to go grab the bags myself in, like, five minutes."
Max turned her head slowly. "You. What?"
Alex finally glanced at her, completely unbothered. "Yeah. I just figured I'd let you have your little victory first."
Max let out a silent scream.
Caroline smirked. "So, what did you learn?"
Max, still recovering, grumbled, "That pride is a bitch."
Alex chuckled. "Good girl. Now, let's open these up and see what I actually bought."
Max dramatically flopped an arm over her forehead. "Alright, fine. Someone open the damn bags before I die."
Caroline rolled her eyes, kneeling next to the pile. "You're so dramatic."
Alex leaned forward, grabbing the first bag and placing it on the coffee table with a heavy thud. "Let's start with this one."
Max peeked through her fingers. "Why the hell is it so heavy? Did you buy a chunk of Tokyo and stuff it in there?"
Caroline pulled at the bag's opening and peeked inside. Her eyes widened. "Oh… oh, wow."
Max sat up. "What? What is it?"
With a little effort, Alex pulled out a high-grade black box and placed it on the table. The logo on top gleamed under the light.
Max squinted at it. "The hell is that?"
Alex smirked, popping open the box. The second the lid lifted, an intoxicatingly rich, marbled slab of wagyu beef was revealed, perfectly arranged in a chilled, high-quality preservation case.
Max blinked.
Then blinked again.
Then stared at the beef like it had personally offended her.
"…Why is it glowing?" she whispered.
Caroline chuckled. "It's not glowing, Max. It's just… insanely good quality."
Alex smirked. "A5 grade Wagyu. The best of the best."
Max slowly turned her head toward him. "So you're telling me… this is the famous overpriced meat that rich people lose their minds over?"
Caroline, already reminiscing, sighed dreamily. "Max… it's not just 'meat.' It's like… it melts in your mouth. It's buttery, juicy, ridiculously tender… it's like steak, but if steak ascended to god-tier."
Max narrowed her eyes. "You had this when you were rich, didn't you?"
Caroline nodded. "Yup."
Max folded her arms. "Alright, Blondie, level with me. Is this really that good, or are you just hyping it up?"
Caroline's expression turned serious. "Max. The first time I ate wagyu, I cried."
Max snorted. "No, you didn't."
Caroline placed a hand over her heart. "I swear on our cupcake empire, I did."
Max glanced at Alex for confirmation.
Alex smirked. "She's not lying."
Max eyed the beef again. "…Huh. Guess we're eating like royalty now."
Alex chuckled, grabbing the second bag and handing it to Caroline. "That's not all."
Caroline reached in and pulled out neatly folded clothes. She gasped. "Oh, these are beautiful."
Max sat up straight. "Wait, wait, wait. You bought us clothes?" She snatched a piece, holding it up. "Oh damn, this is actually cute."
Caroline examined a soft cashmere sweater. "And expensive."
Alex leaned back. "You girls didn't get much time for shopping, so I thought I'd buy something nice. Hope you like them."
Max grinned. "Like them?" She was holding the red party gown. "I love them."
Next, Alex pulled out the third bag, revealing two sleek new watches and the latest smartphones.
Caroline's jaw dropped. "Alex, this is way too much."
Max, however, grabbed her phone immediately. "Ooooh, my God. It's so shiny."
Caroline sighed. "Max, focus."
Max held the phone up. "I AM focused. Focused on this beauty."
Alex chuckled, already moving to the next bag. "We're not done yet."
Bag four and five revealed a stunning collection of new shoes—heels, boots, and sneakers, all from top designers.
Max whistled. "Okay, I take back everything I said about capitalism. This is heaven."
Caroline picked up a pair of heels and ran her fingers over them. "These are gorgeous."
Bag six contained high-end makeup sets and perfume collections.
Caroline gasped. "Oh, Alex, you did not."
Max picked up a perfume bottle, sniffed it, and immediately made an obscene moaning sound. "Holy shit. This smells like wealth."
Caroline giggled. "It really does."
Finally, Alex grabbed the last bag, setting it in front of them.
Max eyed him suspiciously. "What's in this one?"
Alex simply smirked. "Open it."
Caroline reached in first, pulling out a small velvet box. Her breath hitched as she slowly opened it.
Inside, nestled in the soft velvet, was a delicate diamond bracelet.
Max's jaw dropped. "Oh… wow." She quickly took out the second box and opened it. Well, there it was her very own, first diamond bracelet. She pinched herself just to check if she was awake or dreaming and it hurt. "Ok. I am riding you tonight."
Caroline's eyes shimmered. "Alex, this is… this is too much."
Max rolled her eyes, waving Caroline's protests away. "Shut it, Blondie. Just say thank you like a normal person."
Caroline still looked overwhelmed. "But it's too much—"
"Too much?" Max snorted. "Girl, you know how many years I lived off gas station sandwiches and expired cereal? I say bring on the luxury. Shower me in gifts. Let me be spoiled."
Alex smirked. "That's the plan."
Max turned to him, grinning. "See? He gets it."
Caroline sighed, running her fingers over the delicate bracelet. "I just… I don't know how to accept this."
Alex reached over, gently taking her wrist and fastening the bracelet around it. His fingers brushed against her skin, making her shiver slightly. When he was done, he looked up, locking eyes with her. "Then start learning."
Caroline swallowed. 'Damn it. Why is he like this?'
Max, already wearing hers, held up her wrist and admired the sparkle. "Blondie, stop overthinking and just enjoy it. Look at us. We've got fancy bracelets, designer clothes, new shoes, and we're about to eat twenty-dollar burgers like true high society ladies."
Ding-dong!
Caroline jumped. "Oh! That must be the food."
Max gasped dramatically. "Yes! My body is ready."
Alex shook his head, amused. "I'll get it."
He stood up and made his way to the door. Meanwhile, Max threw herself onto the couch, dramatically flopping across the cushions. "I can't believe this is my life now. A rich boyfriend, expensive gifts, and gourmet food. I'm thriving."
Caroline sat next to her, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
Max smirked. "And yet, you love me."
Alex returned with a large bag of food, the delicious smell of gourmet burgers and chili fries filling the apartment. "Alright, let's eat."
Max sat up instantly. "YES. FEED ME, SUGAR DADDY."
Caroline groaned. "Can you stop calling him that?"
"Nope," Max said, popping a fry into her mouth.
Alex chuckled, setting the food down on the coffee table. "I've accepted it at this point."
Caroline sighed but grabbed her burger, unwrapping it carefully. "At least eat like a civilized person."
Max immediately took a giant, unhinged bite of her burger, sauce dripping down her fingers. She made direct eye contact with Caroline as she chewed obnoxiously.
Caroline sighed. "I regret everything."
Alex, biting into his own burger, smirked. "I don't."
Max grinned, wiping her mouth. "See, Moneybags gets it."
Caroline shook her head but finally allowed herself to relax. As much as she protested, she couldn't deny that this moment—this ridiculous, messy, wonderful moment—felt perfect.
Her eyes drifted to Alex, who was watching her with that knowing smirk.
And for once, she didn't look away.
...
After dinner, Alex leaned back against the couch, stretching his arms. The food was good, the company even better, but it was getting late. He glanced at his watch. "Alright, ladies, I should probably head out."
Max, still lounging with a fry in her mouth, frowned. "What? Already?"
Caroline, who had been sipping her drink, looked up. "It's late, Max. And we do have a bakery to open in the morning."
Max groaned dramatically, flopping onto the couch. "Ughhh, responsibilities."
Alex smirked, standing up and grabbing his jacket. "Not to mention, I have a meeting early tomorrow. Some business stuff I can't push back."
Max narrowed her eyes. "Business stuff?"
Alex shrugged. "Money doesn't make itself."
Max sat up straight. "You're ditching me for money?"
Caroline sighed, standing up to clean up the wrappers. "Max, let him go. He's got work, we've got work, and you'll survive one more night without tormenting him."
Max squinted at Caroline. Then at Alex. Then back at Caroline. Then, without warning...
She launched herself at Alex.
"OH, HELL NO," she declared, wrapping her arms and legs around him like a damn koala. "You're not leaving without my gift. You gave too much to us and there ain't any way, I'm going to let you go just like that."
Alex barely staggered at the impact. He caught her mid-air.
"Wait a minute!" Caroline remembered Max's words. "That riding part? That was a joke, right?"
Max began to kiss Alex... Time was of the essence and Max Black was going to ride her moneybags tonight, even if it was just one single five... Or given his stamina, a twenty-minute ride.
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[AN: I know, some might say this was excessive. But hey, Sugar Daddy got unlimited money. He'll spoil his girls.]🤣😎
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[6 advance chs] + [4 chs of Two and a Half Men] [All chs available for all tiers]
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