NEVER NO DOLLAR

Luxury Apartment For The Girlfriend

The next day, Leonidas went beyond simply treating Claire to new clothes—he bought her a luxurious apartment right next to his own building.

Claire stood in the center of the vast living room, wide-eyed as she took in her new surroundings. The apartment was breathtaking. From the marble floors to the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city skyline, every detail radiated elegance. A grand chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the sleek modern furniture. The kitchen was equipped with the latest appliances, and the spacious bedroom had a king-sized bed draped in silk linens. It felt like stepping into the pages of a luxury magazine.

Her initial amazement quickly gave way to hesitation. She turned to Leonidas, her smile slowly fading into unease. “Leo... You didn’t have to go this far,” she said quietly, awkwardness creeping into her voice.

Leonidas, standing casually by the window with his hands in his pockets, raised a brow in confusion. “Why not? I thought you’d be happy,” he said, genuinely surprised by her reaction.

Claire shook her head, crossing her arms. “It’s not that I’m not grateful, but... This feels too much.”

Leonidas frowned, his confusion deepening. “Why? This is also—”

“This is also part of your plan?” Claire interrupted sharply, her tone laced with frustration. “We’re just pretending, Leo. You’ve already given me expensive clothes, picked me up every day in your car, and now you’ve gone and bought me this apartment?” She exhaled deeply, running a hand through her hair. “And on top of that, you’ve sent me so much money. It’s overwhelming.”

Leonidas took a step closer, his expression softening as he tried to reassure her. “Claire, listen. This is all part of the plan—my plan,” he said carefully. “I promise, I’m not crossing any boundaries. I respect you and your space.” His eyes softened, a rare vulnerability flashing through them. “But you have to trust me on this. This is how I’ll destroy Emma.”

Claire bit her lip, still uneasy despite his explanation. “You really think this is necessary? An apartment like this?”

Leonidas gave her a small, reassuring smile. “Yes. It’s all part of making it look real. You need to live the life they expect someone in your role to have. If we’re going to pull this off, everything has to look convincing—even to Emma.”

Claire looked away, still uncertain. “It’s just... hard to accept. It feels like too much.”

Leonidas moved closer, his voice calm but firm. “Claire, I understand how it feels. But this isn’t about spoiling you—it’s about making sure we win.”

For a moment, Claire remained silent, weighing his words. She wasn’t entirely convinced, but something in the way Leonidas spoke—his seriousness, his resolve—made her feel a little more grounded.

“Okay,” she whispered at last, though doubt still lingered in her heart. “Lemme hear your plan.”

Leonidas’s expression shifted into one of focus. “Alright. You already know that Emma’s weakness is her obsession with her image—her reputation is everything to her. She can’t stand being anything less than perfect, admired, and envied.”

He paused briefly, gauging Claire’s reaction. “That’s where you come in. Without trying, you already match her beauty—your natural elegance outshines her makeup and artifice. Now, imagine if you went a step further. If you dressed like her—fancy, luxurious, the epitome of style—you wouldn’t just compete with her... You’d make her feel like she’s playing second fiddle.”

Leonidas’s smile grew sharper. “And the final blow? You’ll be seen as my girlfriend. That’s the one thing Emma would never accept—and definitely couldn’t tolerate.”

Claire remained silent for a moment, the weight of Leonidas’s plan settling over her. Slowly, she began to see the full picture of his scheme.

“So, you want me to become a one step ahead version of her,” Claire murmured, half to herself, as the idea clicked into place.

“Exactly,” Leonidas confirmed, his tone smooth and confident. “But this isn’t just about helping me. This is mutualism, Claire.”

Claire raised a brow, intrigued but guarded. “What do you mean?”

Leonidas stepped closer, watching her closely. “I know you’ve always been interested in modeling.”

Claire’s breath caught, her body freezing at his words. That had been her dream once—a dream she buried long ago, along with the life she lost when her family went bankrupt. She stared at Leonidas, her heart racing. “How... How do you know about that?”

Leonidas hadn’t prepared for that question. The truth was, his insider knowledge came from his system, Never No Dollar, which had fed him every bit of information about Claire’s life and past. But he couldn’t exactly tell her that.

“You know,” Leonidas said casually, breaking the silence, “I’ve been wandering through your page. I had to know more about my partner.”

Claire stopped mid-step, giving him a puzzled look. “My page?”

“Your social media,” Leonidas clarified, his tone light but purposeful. “Even though it’s been dormant since your family’s downfall, you left a lot of hints there. Like your interest in modeling.”

Claire raised a brow, folding her arms as she leaned against the counter. “You could’ve just asked me,” she replied, a playful edge in her voice.

Leonidas smirked and followed her deeper into the apartment.

“So, what else?” Claire asked, tilting her head as she took in the extravagant details of her soon-to-be new home. The apartment screamed opulence, but it also felt like a cage—one gilded in luxury, yes, but still not entirely hers.

Leonidas crossed his arms and stood beside her. “I have a bigger plan for you, Claire. I don’t just want you to play a role—I want you to become someone unforgettable.”

Claire shot him a skeptical glance. “And what does that mean, exactly?”

Leonidas’s eyes gleamed with ambition. “I’m going to make you popular. I want you to become a top model. The kind of woman Emma could never even dream of being.”

Claire stared at him, the enormity of his words sinking in. She let out a small, awkward laugh, shaking her head. “That’s impossible, Leo.”

Leonidas’s confidence didn’t waver for a second. “Why impossible?” he challenged. “I know exactly how to make it happen.”

Claire stopped pacing and turned to face him directly. Her expression became serious, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. “And how, exactly, are you going to turn me into a top model in one month?”

Leonidas exhaled, as if preparing for a grand reveal. Then, with a grin, he spread his arms wide, as if presenting an irresistible opportunity.

“This is how,” he said with a spark of mischief. “Let’s become an influencer couple.”

Claire blinked, caught entirely off guard.

“What?”