That night, I met up with Sasha at a low-key restaurant in LA. We hadn't caught up in a while, and it was nice to just hang out and talk about things that didn't involve the chaos of my personal life. She'd brought her boyfriend, Aaron, along—a guy I'd only met a couple of times. He seemed decent enough, pretty laid-back, with an easygoing vibe that balanced Sasha's more driven personality.
We were sitting at a booth in the back, drinks in hand, and the conversation had been pretty light so far—catching up on life, work, and other random stuff. But as we were finishing up our food, the conversation inevitably turned to Vanessa. I could see it coming from the moment we sat down. After all, Sasha knew about my relationship with her, and I figured she'd want to know how things were going.
"So, how's everything with Vanessa?" Sasha asked, sipping her drink and giving me that knowing look. "You guys still doing okay?"
I shrugged, trying to keep things casual. "Yeah, we're good. It's... you know, a little complicated sometimes, but we're figuring it out."
Aaron, who had been quietly listening up until now, leaned forward, his eyebrows raised. "Vanessa Reed, right? The Vanessa Reed?"
I sighed, already bracing for whatever was coming next. "Yeah, that's her."
Aaron let out a low whistle, shaking his head in disbelief. "Man, that's wild. I've seen her in all those business magazines and stuff. She's like... a powerhouse. How the hell did you meet her?"
I chuckled, trying to deflect. "It's a long story. We've known each other for a while."
Sasha grinned, clearly enjoying watching me squirm. "Come on, Tristan, don't be so modest. You're dating one of the richest women in the country. That's not exactly something people just gloss over."
I rolled my eyes, taking a sip of my drink. "Yeah, well, it's not always as glamorous as it sounds."
Aaron leaned back in his seat, a smirk on his face. "I bet. Still, though, being with someone like Vanessa... that's gotta come with some perks, right? Fancy dinners, crazy vacations... all that billionaire lifestyle stuff."
I shrugged again, not really wanting to get into it. "We don't do a lot of that stuff. Vanessa's more low-key than people realize."
Sasha raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Really? I find that hard to believe. I've seen pictures of her at galas and fundraisers. She's always got that 'I'm too rich to care' look."
I laughed at that, shaking my head. "Yeah, she's got that vibe when she needs to, but most of the time, it's not like that."
Aaron exchanged a glance with Sasha before looking back at me, a smirk still playing on his lips. "You know, there's actually a line of younger dudes out there trying to be her next boy toy."
I blinked, caught off guard by the comment. "Wait, what?"
He shrugged casually, as if it was common knowledge. "Yeah, man. Vanessa Reed? She's got a reputation. Guys are lining up to get with her. I've heard stories about dudes trying to get her attention, hoping to score big. You know, living the dream, dating a billionaire MILF."
Sasha smacked him lightly on the arm, laughing. "Aaron, come on. Don't be a dick."
Aaron grinned, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, no offense to you, Tristan. I'm just saying what I've heard. It's not like I'm in the line or anything."
I chuckled, though there was an uncomfortable knot forming in my stomach. Was that really how people saw me? Some guy who had lucked into dating a rich older woman? A "boy toy" who was living the high life while it lasted?
I shrugged, trying to play it off. "Yeah, well, I'm not really worried about the 'line of dudes.' Vanessa's with me because she wants to be."
Aaron nodded, though the smirk on his face hadn't faded. "Fair enough. I'm just saying, man, she's got options. A lot of them. Guys would kill to be in your position."
Sasha rolled her eyes at her boyfriend's comment but turned her attention back to me. "So, how do you feel about all that? I mean, it's gotta be a little weird dating someone who's that famous, right? Do you ever feel... I don't know, like there's pressure?"
I leaned back in my seat, letting out a slow breath. "Yeah, sometimes. It's hard not to feel like you're constantly being compared to other people. I mean, Vanessa's in a completely different world. She's got all these connections, this insane level of wealth... and I'm just trying to keep up. Sometimes it feels like I don't belong in her world, you know?"
Sasha's expression softened, and she reached across the table to give my hand a reassuring squeeze. "I get that, Tristan. But you wouldn't be with her if she didn't see something special in you. She's with you because you're you. Not because you're some billionaire or whatever."
I smiled, appreciating the support. "Yeah, I know. But it still gets to me sometimes. Like... what if I'm just the 'flavor of the month' or something? What if she decides one day that she wants to be with someone else—someone more like her?"
Aaron shrugged, clearly not picking up on the emotional weight of what I was saying. "I mean, that's always a risk, right? But dude, you've got to enjoy it while it lasts. You're dating a freaking billionaire. Just roll with it."
I forced a laugh, though I didn't really feel like laughing. "Yeah, maybe."
Sasha shot Aaron a look before turning back to me. "Don't listen to him. You've got something real with Vanessa. And yeah, maybe it's not the most traditional relationship, but who cares? You're both happy, right?"
I nodded, though the knot in my stomach hadn't gone away. "Yeah, we are. I just... I don't want to be seen as some accessory, you know? I don't want people thinking I'm with her because of the money or the fame."
Aaron shrugged again, clearly not reading the room. "Well, people are going to think what they think, man. You can't control that. But if I were you, I'd just ride the wave and enjoy the perks while you've got 'em."
Sasha rolled her eyes again, but she smiled at me, clearly trying to offer some comfort. "Don't worry about what other people think, Tristan. You know what's real between you two. That's all that matters."
I nodded, feeling a little better but still unsettled. I knew Sasha was right—what mattered was what Vanessa and I had. But Aaron's comment about the "line of younger dudes" had struck a nerve. The last thing I wanted was to be seen as just another guy trying to ride Vanessa's coattails.
As the night went on and the conversation shifted to other topics, I couldn't help but think about what Aaron had said. Was I just another guy in line? Or was there something more to what Vanessa and I had?
Only time would tell.
Q: Would you stay in this relationship if you were Tristan?