How do i set up a product with two prices with different roles? for example, one user(a) can see only the cost price but the other user(b) can see the cost price and the special price. please assist!

You can do this in 2 ways.

Option 1 : You can set a Price 2 (Customer Price Group)in the product main data. You would then go the customers and change the Price Group from 1 to 2. When this customer logs in they will see the new price.

Option 2 : You can set a Price Rule for a Product and then assign this to just the role that you want to recieve the special price.