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"The first big gift I got was an iPhone 8 - from there I was hooked as a sugar baby"

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Red roses and smartphones seduced a young woman into cheating on her boyfriend
Red roses and smartphones seduced a young woman into cheating on her boyfriend

The usual narrative for these stories almost always begin with a young woman from a small township or village looking to make it in a big city after years of impoverished living.

With the help of her friends who have been living in the city for a while, she transforms from a wallflower to a dazzling diva who's ready to be "blessed".

This story however, is a lot different. Tania is a 25-year-old working class woman who was born in the city.

She grew up wanting for nothing, went on to graduate and soon thereafter find a job as a nurse.

While she wasn't exactly earning mounds of cash, she was able to provide herself a decent life. She also had a boyfriend whom she'd been with for two years. Everything was going just as she planned it to, that is, until she met Michael, her "sugar daddy".

Read their story below.

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Over the years there has been a lot of talk around sugar daddies or "blessers" as we call them in SA. I never really paid attention to it although I do remember thinking how that would never be me. I mean these woman are basically "selling" themselves for nice things.

Besides, my mom and dad raised me right, why would I shame them?

Also I make my own money and even though things aren't always the easiest especially when the month goes on for weeks after I spend my last R100, I was making ends meet perfectly fine. And when I couldn't my boyfriend Charlie would be by my side so I never struggled alone.

All my life I had a taste for the finer things. This is partially because I grew up in a home that provided me with all I needed.

I never knew the struggle a lot of the other kids from my neighborhood knew. Adulting however meant that I was no longer under my dad's wings.

READ MORE: "I made friends with the woman who was dating the guy I was seeing

I now had to curve my champagne and caviar appetite and settle for what me and bae could afford.

I wasn't particularly depressed about this but I did think about how great it would be to be able to spend money without messing up our strict budget.

I often joked about finding a rich men to my friends who always agreed in a chorus. We all loved the finer things in life but didn't want to be a part of the blesser movement that everyone had been judging so much.

While out having dinner with a friend, a tall middle aged (he looked like he was in his late thirties) walked up to our table and asked if he could have my cellphone number. While I don't usually entertain random number requests, this man was something else.

He carried himself with an air of importance and I liked that.

READ MORE: "I arranged a meeting with his side chick to get closure"

I gave him my number, and as he left my friend leaned toward me excitedly and whispered: "I can tell that one is moneyed. Yes my friend, you found your blesser".

I laughed and told her she was crazy.

Over the next few days, Michael, as he introduced himself to me, got in contact with me. He wanted to have lunch. Having always liked things too much for my own good, I agreed to meet with him at a posh restaurant, telling myself it was only lunch and technically not cheating.

When I arrived, Michael was waiting at the front with the biggest bunch of red roses I had ever seen, let alone received. There was no denying how pleased I was at this romantic gesture. During the date he was also the perfect gentleman, making sure I was comfortable and catered to the whole time.

My attraction towards him was building quickly and by the third date I found myself asking him where he saw us going. His answer was surprising and for a moment I was left speechless. He explained to me that he wanted a sugar baby.

READ MORE: Is having a 'side piece' the new dating norm?

I asked what he expected from this sugar baby. He said "I'm a busy man with a lot of money and too little time for a serious relationship. Occasionally I want someone who I can spend time with and hold hands, talk to and do "grown up stuff" with, in exchange for expensive gifts, fine dining and even a cash allowance."

Wow. For a second I wondered whether he was being serious or not and after 30 seconds of silence I knew he was. I asked him for some time to think things over. He obliged.

Of course I told my girls, some of who were all for it (and even a little jealous) while the rest were totally against. In the end, it was my decision to make.

The next day I was called to reception at work to accept a parcel. What was waiting for me downstairs were huge floating balloons and a small box with a card that read "just a little pre-gift for my future sugar baby"

I excitedly opened the box and to my absolutely delight found a brand new iPhone 8. I knew I was hooked now.

READ MORE: 5 dating lessons we can all learn from this secret 'Sugar Baby' website

Explaining my new cellphone to Charlie was easy. I told him my dad got it for me, which wasn't unbelievable since I'd always been a daddies girl. It was such a good excuse that I used it whenever I had an unexplained amount of money or a brand new pricey dress.

He never questions anything.

I've been seeing Michael for nearly a year now and our arrangement is working perfectly. Although I sometimes feel like a terrible person for cheating on my Charlie, my relationship with my sugar daddy is not serious. It's not like we're ever going to get married or anything.

I also struggled with the judgement I got from my friends and sisters but at the end of the day, it's my life.

*Names have been changed

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