Golddigger Goes on a Date for Quick Money and Falls into a Trap – Story of the Day

In the dimly lit room, Samantha was flirting with a man who seemed playful at first. He handcuffed her to his bed, pretending it was a game. But then, he became scary and serious, saying she was trapped. Samantha realized she was in danger and tried to escape but couldn't.

"Let me go, right now!" she cried, rattling the handcuffs.

The man, Eli, laughed. "I don't think so, sweetheart. Now, didn't you say something about getting punished?"

He was on her, pinning her legs down so she wouldn't kick him away. Sam writhed and tried to throw him off, but it was no good...

"You should know," he said, his voice low and menacing as he leaned in close to her, "it's dangerous to go out with strangers and even more dangerous to go home with them."

At that point, Sam couldn't help but think about her friend, Natalie. Earlier that day, she had argued with Natalie about her risky behavior of meeting men for gifts and money. Natalie was worried for her safety, but Samantha didn't want to listen.

"Did you scam another sugar daddy?" Natalie had asked when Sam gave her an expensive-looking gift. She knew Sam could never afford such a present on her own.

"It's from an 'admirer,'" Sam shrugged, not liking the term 'sugar daddy.'

Natalie was concerned, "It's dangerous, Sam! You don't know these men!"

"I need their money," Sam argued. "And I don't want your lecture."

"I'm just worried about you," Natalie said. "I don't—"

Their conversation was interrupted when Sam's phone pinged with a message. It was from a handsome man on a dating app — Eli.

Natalie peeked into Sam's phone. "Who's that?"

Sam grinned. "My next date. He's not that old, and he's handsome!"

"You need to stop, Sam. It's not safe," Natalie warned.

"Jealous?" Sam teased her. "That I get what I want from these men?"

"It's about safety, not jealousy," Natalie argued. "Don't treat yourself like this."

Sam scoffed. "We hustle differently in this city, babe!"

Natalie tried to reason with her again that what she was doing wasn't safe. But ignoring her words, Sam left for her date, and while on her way out of the building, she bumped into Adrian, their neighbor.

"You look stunning in that dress," he commented, his eyes genuinely admiring her.

"Just another date," Sam shrugged. "I'm late—"

"Another one, huh?" Adrian asked hesitantly. "Just remember, Sam, it's love and a real connection that count in a relationship, not just the fancy dates and gifts."

If only he could tell her he…still loved her, despite her turning him down. But Sam could never see that love in Adrian's eyes because she was blinded by greed — Adrian wasn't wealthy. And now, she was annoyed that he was being another Natalie in his life.

"Well, jealousy is nasty, Adrian," she snapped. "You sound just like my roommate. Always so narrow-minded and paranoid, imagining monsters with every swipe to the right."

Adrian was taken aback. He tried to explain that he wasn't jealous, but Sam only listened to herself. She walked away, eager to be with her wealthy date.

At an upscale restaurant, Sam finally met Eli. "You're beautiful," he greeted her as they met, and his low, smooth voice sent a shiver down her spine. Eli was really ticking all the boxes so far — he was handsome, well-dressed, young, a true gentleman, and most importantly, wealthy.

They both sat down, and Eli gestured towards the cocktail waiting for her.

"I took the liberty of ordering for you. I hope you don't mind," he said, his eyes fixed on her as she reached for the glass.

Samantha raised the glass to her lips and took a sip. Eli watched her intently.

"Not worried I might have put something in it, are you?" he teased.

Sam's face fell, and a weird fear gripped her.

But Sam's mood had already shifted. She put the glass down, and right then, her eyes fell on a stain on Eli's shirt. "Did you hurt yourself? That looks like blood," she pointed out suspiciously.

"It's not mine. It's from the girl I brought here before you," Eli joked.

But the remark hit Samantha like a cold splash of water. Her smile vanished, replaced by a look of shock.

"God, I'm kidding, Sam!" Eli burst out laughing. "Relax, it's just a joke. Wow, Sam, you really need to lighten up."

Sam didn't laugh. The evening felt different now, less comfortable.

Meanwhile, Adrian visited Natalie with cake, worried about Sam. "She's not back yet?" he asked. "I visited my mom earlier, and she made this cake. There's no way I can finish it alone, so I thought I'd share it with my favorite neighbors."

"Well, she isn't back yet, so it's just me," Natalie said, sharing her concerns about Sam's dating habits. "She's been living this... sugar-baby lifestyle, and I'm not sure it's safe. She won't even check in with me, so I know she's okay."

Adrian then revealed he'd asked Sam out before but was rejected. "She said I didn't have enough money," he explained.

They both wished Sam would see there's more to life than money and fancy dates.

Back at the restaurant, Eli suggested she and Sam go to his place. "I make great cocktails," he said, trying to recover the evening.

Sam felt unsure, the night's jokes leaving her wary. "I'm not sure," she replied uneasily.

"Just think about it," Eli said, standing up. "I need to use the restroom, and it might take a while to clean this sauce off my shirt."

As he walked away, Sam took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease. Suddenly, her phone buzzed. It was Natalie asking if she was okay. Sam ignored it, annoyed by Natalie's 'mother hen' behavior. She always did this!

Eli returned. "So, what do you say about my place?" he asked, a hint of eagerness in his tone.

Sam made a split-second decision.

"Alright, let's go to your place," she said, "I definitely don't want to go home right now, back to someone who keeps trying to control my life!"

***

Eli's apartment was in a high-rise with a view that overlooked the twinkling city lights. As Sam stepped through the door, she couldn't help but take in the sleek, modern decor.

The walls were adorned with abstract art, and the furniture was minimalist yet luxurious. She forgot all her misgivings as she basked in the stylish display of wealth and sophistication. "Wow, you must be doing well for yourself," she commented as she glanced around the spacious living room.

"Yeah, I've been fortunate in my career," he said as he left to get them drinks.

Sam then tried to text Natalie to boast about Eli but found no signal. "No WiFi here?" she asked him.

"We don't need phones to have fun," Eli said, offering her a drink. "Honestly," he continued in a low, husky voice, "I can think of many ways we can entertain each other without needing an internet connection."

She accepted the drink, her fingers brushing against his. Despite the luxurious surroundings, a nagging unease settled in her stomach. "Maybe I should go home," she said, recalling the lack of WiFi and, hence, connection with the outside world.

Meanwhile, Adrian waited in a dark lobby, determined to talk to Sam when she arrived.

Back at Eli's, they went to the balcony. "Come, let's enjoy the view, Sam. It's one of the best parts of living here and will help you relax," he suggested, leading the way. The city lights stretched before them and looked beautiful. Eli seemed to enjoy the moment. But Sam was still uneasy.

Once their drinks were finished, Eli took her glass from her hand and moved in close. Sam stared up at him. She'd played this game often enough to know what the next move was, and although she'd had misgivings before, she could think of no reason to see this through to the end. Terrible as his jokes might be, Eli had been a perfect gentleman all evening.

"So…" Eli smiled at her. "What do you say we continue the tour of my place? I haven't shown you the bedroom yet."

But once there, he had revealed his true intentions. He had handcuffed Sam and taped her mouth, saying she wasn't his first victim. Now, Sam felt trapped.

"You really thought I was just another rich guy you could take advantage of or trade your body to in exchange for gifts and favors?" he taunted with a smirk. "It's funny, you know. The last girl was so shy… I had to work hard to convince her to come home with me, but you?"

He sat on the edge of the bed, leaning in close to her as he continued. "You were so easy it wasn't even a challenge. She wouldn't talk when I asked her why she did this. She just wouldn't stop crying, I guess. But maybe you'll talk."

Eli reached out and pulled the tape off her mouth.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Sam screamed. "Help! Somebody, help—"

Eli put a hand around her throat, his grip tight enough to prevent her from speaking.

"That doesn't answer my question, Sam," he whispered. "And if you aren't going to answer my questions, then I really don't need to keep you around, do I?" He tightened his grip. "Why the act, Sam?"

"Listen, I'm sorry. Let me go. I—"

"Shh," Eli breathed. "I'm still talking. Listen closely now… Follow my rules, and you get to live. Rule number one is that you never, ever go anywhere with strangers. Never again, okay?"

"Okay, I promise," Sam pleaded breathlessly.

Eli then removed his hand from around her throat, turned his head, and called out: "Natalie, is that enough?"

Natalie entered, her eyes widened in shock at Sam's state. She knew she and Eli had gone too far to teach Sam a lesson about her risky behavior.

"Oh God! I'm sorry, but I was sick worried," she stammered as she helped Eli release Sam from the handcuffs. "You vanish for days sometimes, and I didn't know what else to do. I sent Eli a message on the dating app, and he agreed to help me teach you a lesson. I thought this would be a wake-up call."

Sam was devastated. "You set me up?"

"I-I just wanted to teach you a lesson," Natalie explained.

But Sam ran out of the room, hurt by the betrayal.

Once outside her apartment door, she stood alone and sobbed, feeling vulnerable and betrayed. Adrian, hearing the commotion from his spot in the foyer, quickly approached her.

He rushed to open the door for her, startling her so badly that she screamed. His heart lurched when he saw the state Sam was in. "What's wrong, Sam? Did something happen?"

"They... they tricked me, Adrian. I was so scared," she managed to say between sobs.

Adrian's expression softened. He gently guided her toward the elevator. "Come back to my place. You don't have to be alone right now, and you'll be safe there."

At Adrian's, Sam told him everything that had happened. Adrian suggested, "Maybe Natalie was trying to protect you."

"But it was extreme," Sam said.

"Desperate times sometimes need desperate measures, Sam," Adrian replied, helping her see Natalie's side.

As they talked, Sam realized she'd been wrong. Though Natalie's way was a little extreme, she wanted the best for her. So Sam returned home eventually and told Natalie she would change for the better. The two friends reconciled, and Eli apologized to Sam, too.

It wasn't long before Sam bagged her first proper job! Sam, Eli, Natalie, and Adrian celebrated her new achievement together at a restaurant, and as the night drew to a close, they left with promises to do a get-together soon. Sam and Adrian lingered a moment longer, knowing something special was blooming between them.

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