MS

So I read a book (Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas) that spurned this on, plus a song that I keep hearing on the radio that wouldn't let me go. There are a lot of clichés in here, but hopefully you guys will enjoy it anyways. Re-uploaded the first chapter to make sure I put the original work's info in that inspired it. One scene and borrowed the start and it proceeded from there. Everything else came from my imagination to fit the characters and their personalities. Certain characters are my own.

A warning of a slow start, but it should start picking up in later chapters. I hope you guys like it and continue with it.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the CCS characters.

Sugar Daddy

Chaper 1: First Manicure

Sugar Daddy: a wealthy older man who gives a young person expensive gifts in return for friendship or intimacy.

The first time Sakura heard the word had been when many of her coworkers had started talking about some of their friends, and their own intimate relationships with some of their clients. It never paid to get involved with your clients though, since it meant that when something broke it off, they either left the establishment or you yourself had to account for any instability in formality.

Sakura just shook her head. She was a normal girl with a good background, from a simple family really. She shook her head at the concept and laughed at some of the escapades she was told. It was almost absurd. She wasn't one to talk about connections, but although she wasn't really part of the family, her mother had been from a very rich family that held a lot of business acumen and could be declared the upper class.

Still, her mother had turned her back on said upper management so that she could marry Sakura's father, who was really just a teacher of archeology in the eyes of society. Her mother was a truly happy woman though and that was enough.

Speaking about her mother, she really did need to call her since it was getting close to a week since she had heard anything from her family. Still, it was kind of surprising when one of the Amamiya's came to the salon and saw her there. She had always tried her best to keep her relations in the dark.

She was just an apprentice, and while Sonomi, her friend Tomoyo's mother had gotten her an in at this particular high-class salon, she just really wanted to be happy with whatever it was that she was doing. Her friend Tomoyo was always stating that she didn't have a vain bone in her body, and that was probably right. She was comfortable with her small one-bedroom apartment, the books she read and the companionship of her friends.

So what if many of her female acquaintances always remarked that she didn't have any boyfriends over or discussed them. She had dated. She saw what was out there. She wasn't much impressed with the other sex and that aforementioned act.

This is why she laughed at the concept of a sugar daddy and how they were truly talked about by her friends at work. The topics also ranged from things as flower arrangements, date debacles, to sexual experiences. The later never seized to have her blush, but it was a liberating experience to be treated as just another one of the girls.

"Sakura," Fei, her boss, a man in his later forties with a slight grey spray of hair on his austere locks. He motioned for her as he closed a door from one of their personal rooms. "Could you bring some white tea to the single-room?"

Sakura nodded as she went to the kitchen with the porcelain china and their processor. She had gotten quite adept to making tea on this job. It was kind of funny really, she had become quite adept to making the beverage when what she wanted to do was get experience in the realm of actually cutting hair.

Well, there was nothing to it. She just had to wait before she was given the chance.

Balancing the tray on her hands, she made sure that everything was in order before knocking on the door and opening it. She walked inside the room and after excusing herself, placed the tray on the table.

Fei asked her to pour as he fussed over the tresses of his current client. Sakura's curiosity always won in the end, as she kept silent over the procedure.

"Could you bring the cup to me?" the very strong, fluent words snapped her out of her watchful stare. Sakura blushed lightly and obeyed. She could tell. This man was just like her great grandfather. He was used to having people obey his orders, expecting them to be carried out without fuss or muss.

He probably was a friend of her great grandfather then, she mused as she came face to face with a man around a decade older than Fei, with brown chocolate eyes that looked directly at you. Sakura had the urge to flinch under his perusal, but tried her hardest to not shy away from it.

Fei gave her a thumbs up from behind the man, very much impressed and delighted to see that his client was satisfied with the drink.

"Not bad," Sakura almost laughed at the comment, but refrained. Still, the slight movement hadn't escaped the man as one of his eyebrows rose as he set the cup back on the saucer and extended it back to her.

"Would you like another cup?" she asked, knowing part of the process before she would be asked to leave the room.

"Sure," that gave Fei pause, but he continued with his job.

"Well Mr. Li," Fei put his cutting scissors down. "Your trim is done."

"You really do always manage to get this mop on my head under control," a boisterous laugh startled Sakura a bit, but she found that it was also heartwarming. Mr. Li may be many things from the looks of his expressions, but he seemed to enjoy little things as well.

"So girl, what do you think?"

It kind of rankled to be called that way, but she was sure he also didn't know her name and therefore could not call her. "I'm Sakura. And I think you have a very healthy mop of hair as how you referred to it."

She saw the wild array of bangs falling into place after being trimmed to frame his face. The lines present on his face spoke of the years that were kindly treating the older man as he grew years older.

"You should see my son's," it was an offhand comment as he turned his neck, popping it at a particular angle and relaxing back in the chair.

It was then that she looked at his hands.

There was something to be said about his hands. They were much like her fathers. She blinked as she saw the uneven nails, unfiled. Without any forethought, she reached for one of his hands, displaying his fingers over her own hand and feeling the texture of the skin. These didn't feel like the hands of a straight businessman. This man seemed to be very much employed in doing things with said hands that went beyond signing mergers and such.

Mr. Li silently allowed her the perusal. Fei just observed from behind, keeping a smile to himself as he saw Sakura go into her mode of operandi. He had to give the girl props. She really knew how to get customers into her chair.

She was that good of a people person.

"Have you ever had a manicure Mr. Li?"

He snorted as she continued turning his hand and observing the lines of his palms and fingers. He could have told her that most of the cuts on said hands which were only minuscule lines that could not tell a story, were from his handling a sword. That would probably startle her.

"No Sakura," he stressed her name. "I'm an old-fashioned man. I don't believe in dolling up my hands and painting my nails like the women in my life."

"Now that's a very sexist viewpoint for this era Mr. Li," his chuckle revealed no ill will.

"I leave that to my daughters," Sakura put that little tidbit away. He hadn't mentioned a wife. That was part of her job as well. She was very glad she had a good memory since it was part of her job to keep things straight for each client.

"Not meant to offend sir," she gave him her usually smile as she let go of his hands. "But I don't just paint nails. From what I can see of your hands, I can tell that you do various things with your hands that require force and it is taking a toll on your skin. But you also seem a man of business and that requires refinement."

Li knew that he was being worked over, but he liked the style of the girl. She looked proficient and sure of herself. "All I'll do is trim your nails to size, cut a few cuticles and apply some oil and lotions that will soften your rough edges," she had the urge to wink at him, but left an impish dimple show just how much fun she was having.

Mr. Li stood, straightening his suit and gave her one last look in total silence. "Fei," her boss was right behind him, his brows raised as he took the cup of tea from his client's hand. "You have a very good worker here."

He motioned for her to go so he could follow her. "But I warn you girl, I'm a very demanding man. I expect the best."

"You won't be disappointed," Sakura stated before she had him on her manicure chair and started her job. It was a silent procedure. She did not have the urge to chat and she had the impression that her client did not have any use for words beyond what was needed.

After placing the last lotion, rubbing it into his hands at every crevice, she leaned backwards, waiting for his reaction. The older man rubbed his own fingers, his hands warm from the whole process.

"Here," she gave him a small gift bag. Inside was a single cream. She supposed it would cut a bit of her check since she would have to replace it, but it didn't bother her in the least. "Keep this by your bed and use it whenever you remember. I promise you, it is the best thing for your hands in their current condition."

"Are you saying my hands are lacking in some way?" His severe look made her laugh. His lips twitched at her reaction. She really had a lot of gumption, this girl.

"No, but they could use some work."

"You are really good at this," he nodded at her, reaching for the bag and excusing himself.

Fei was at her side a half an hour later. "You got yourself another customer," he whispered to her as they greeted other clients to the sounds of hair dryers and chatter.

"He seemed like a very nice man."

"He is," Fei flicked one of her locks away from her ear with a smile. He was like that annoying uncle most of the time that you couldn't help but enjoy. "As long as you aren't on the opposite side of the table at a business deal."

"Then I'm glad I didn't agree to go into business," she parted, shaking her head as one of the clients agreed to have a manicure while she waited for her treatment to finish.

It wasn't that surprising for Mr. Li to agree to continue their manicures the next time he came in. The start of a friendship, albeit a strange one for those looking in, was then born.

MS