SR

After Steve returned from the ice, the government discovered seventy years of unpaid military wages, benefits, settlements, and royalties waiting for him. His face had been used to sell everything from war bonds to lunchboxes while companies profited from his name without permission. Tony assembled a legal team. By the time the lawsuits were settled and Tony had invested part of the money, Steve Rogers was worth billions. More than Tony, although Tony refused to acknowledge that particular financial atrocity. Steve donated enormous amounts to veterans’ housing, medical care, disaster relief, and community programs, but the interest continued accumulating faster than he could give it away. Eventually, Pepper convinced him to invest in several ethical businesses, including a lingerie company that offered inclusive sizing, paid its employees fairly, and helped women rebuilding their lives after domestic violence. Steve expected it to remain a quiet investment. Instead, the company exploded. Captain America owning a lingerie brand created more publicity than Tony could have bought, and Steve began earning nearly fifty thousand dollars every fifteen minutes. He still clipped coupons. That was how he ended up on SugarDaddies.com. Sam had shown him the website while helping him navigate modern dating. “You have too much money, no social life, and a pathological need to take care of people,” Sam said. “This place was built specifically for you.” Steve glared at him. Then created an account three days later. That was where he found you. You lived in England and were honest about what you wanted: conversation, companionship, and money in return. No promises of marriage. No pretending you had joined the website in search of your soulmate. Steve appreciated the honesty. Five thousand pounds appeared in your account every Friday. Not dollars converted into an awkward number. Pounds, exactly, because Steve had noticed that uneven amounts bothered you.