8. Chapter 8
Chapter 8
I. Am. So. Stressed.
My landlord just informed me that she wasn’t renewing my lease because her niece “needs” my apartment. I have to move out by the end of October, which is in exactly twenty-eight days.
Shit.
She did offer to let me move into the apartment her niece currently resides in, which is in the same building, so I headed up to the fifth floor to take a look.
“Here it is,” Clara said, opening the door with a flair.
I was immediately struck by the darkness. Reaching for the light switch, I found that it was already on, and yet blackness stretched as far as the eye could see. Which wasn’t very far because this was literally the smallest apartment I’d ever seen.
The reason for the darkness became apparent. Everything in the entire room was painted black. The floor, the walls, the ceiling, the furniture. Hell, even the refrigerator.
And… I squinted, attempting to decipher the shapes in the corner. Was that the toilet and shower? Also painted a dark ebony? Yep, it sure as hell was.
“W-why is it like… this?” I asked, waving my arm around.
“Genesis went through a goth phase, but she’s tired of it now.”
“So you’re giving her my apartment? Are you at least going to re-paint?”
“No,” Clara said flatly. “It will be leased as-is. You can paint if you want to though.”
“It will cost me a fortune to re-do everything in here. Are you going to pay for it?”
“Sorry, I can’t. Take it or leave it.”
Leave it! my mind screamed. I’d be depressed as hell within a day of living here. It was a single room unit with only one small window, and it was little more than a closet. If my tiny apartment was a shoebox, this was a bar of soap. I’d be living in a black bar of soap.
“I’m assuming there’s a cut in rent since it’s much smaller than my place?”
“Actually, it will be the same,” she informed me without an ounce of apology.
“What? That’s ridiculous, Clara.”
“Take it or leave it,” she repeated, “but I need to know by the end of the week so I can lease it to someone else.”
“Oh, I’m sure people will be lining up down the block to live in the room of gloom,” I retorted, a heavy bite of sarcasm in my tone. Then I puffed out a tired sigh. “I’ll let you know.”
Looking at the apartment had thrown my morning routine off, and I dashed into the Bouvier building ten minutes late. “Shit, sorry,” I rushed out to Anita. “I’ve got housing woes.”
She winced. “That sucks.” Her eyes darted to the switchboard, and she lowered her voice. “Tony called a few minutes ago and wants to see you immediately in his office.”
Panic surged through me. “Crap, do you think I’m getting fired for being late?”
Anita shook her head. “I covered for you. Told him you were in the bathroom.”
Awesome. He probably thinks I have the poops.
“Thanks,” I breathed, stashing my purse in the closet and brushing my hands down the front of my black pantsuit. “Do I look okay?”
“You look great. Go,” she replied, pointing a finger toward the gold elevators.
I was nervous. Tony was a sweetheart, but I’d never been called up to the fiftieth floor before. Was I in some kind of trouble? Inserting my key card into the slot, I pushed the button for the top floor.
Tony Moschella stood as soon as the elevator doors opened and thank god he had a smile on his face. “Lehra, come in and take a seat.”
Forcing my face to look pleasant and not panicked, I sat in the chair across from his desk. “Did I do something wrong?” I blurted, and Tony chuckled.
“Not at all. This is a good thing. At least I hope you’ll think it’s good.” He rounded the desk and leaned his butt against the edge, crossing his arms over his chest. Tony was a good-looking man in a dad kind of way, and he dressed the part of an executive assistant to a tee. His gray suit fit to perfection, and his salt-and-pepper hair was nicely styled.
“Okay, hit me with it.”
“I’m considering retirement.”
My heart sank. “Oh. That makes me sad, Tony. I’d miss seeing you all the time.”
“It’s not imminent, but maybe in a couple years. I called you up here because I wanted to see if you’d be interested in taking my job when I leave.”
If my eyes had popped out of my head and rolled across the floor, I wouldn’t have been surprised. “Me?” I stupidly pointed at myself with both thumbs, even though we were the only two people in the room.
“Yes you, Lehra. The benefits and pay are fantastic, and…” He dropped his voice and glanced at the closed door behind him, Auburn Bouvier’s private office. “Mr. Bouvier can be a difficult man, but recently, he’s been different. Much more pleasant.”
“Hmmm, I’ve noticed that too. He seems looser or something. More smiley.”
“I’ve put together some numbers for you,” Tony said, sliding a folder across the desk.
As soon as I opened it and saw the salary, my eyes were once again at risk of exiting my body. “Holy shit,” I breathed, and Tony chuckled.
“Yes, it’s very impressive. Not quite what I’m making now, but I’ve been here over a decade. I think this would be a good move for you, Lehra. A career and not just a job.”
And with this kind of money, I could afford a place in a nicer building. It wouldn’t happen right away, but eventually, right?
Looking up at him with a gigantic smile on my face, I slapped my palm against my leg. “Sign me up.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. I’ll talk to Bouvier about it, but I’m sure he would agree with me that you’d be the best fit. I wanted to see if you were even interested before I mentioned it to him.”
“I’m so excited about this, Tony,” I said, rising and giving him a big hug. “Thank you for thinking of me.”
He patted my back before I pulled away. “You’ll have to start training with me, the sooner the better. There’s a lot to learn.”
“Of course. Just let me know what I need to do.”
“There is something you can do for me today. I’ve got to look over this stuff the finance department sent up,” he said, tapping a knuckle on the top of an intimidating stack of papers on his desk. “But I’m also supposed to pick up the invitations for the staff Christmas party. Can you go get them for me?”
“Of course,” I said eagerly, and then my face fell when I wondered how I was going to carry boxes of invitations by myself. “I don’t have a car though. I ride the subway to work.”
“Cruz will drive you. Now look, I need you to look over the invitations and make sure everything is correct. They’ve sent me two proofs with Bouvier spelled wrong.” He rolled his eyes. “The last one they sent looked fine, but please check it over thoroughly for any errors before you accept them. Here’s the info.” I took the hot-pink sticky note he held up.
“Okay, I’m an excellent proofreader,” I assured him. “I used to charge three dollars a page to proof papers back in high school. I made a fortune off the football team.”
Tony laughed and patted my shoulder. “Very entrepreneurial of you. I’ll call Cruz and tell him to be waiting at the curb.”
“Hey, Lehra,” Cruz said, waiting beside the car to open the door for me. His dimples popped as his lips turned up at the corners. He really had the best smile.
“Hi, Cruz. Thanks for hauling me around today.”
“It’s my pleasure,” he said, flashing me a wink as I settled in the front seat. Jesus, why is he so damn cute?
I suddenly remembered that I had no idea where the printer was located. Great, Lehra. That would have been important information, don’t ya think?
“Do you happen to have the address?” I asked meekly when Cruz climbed in behind the wheel.
“Got it in the GPS already,” he assured me, pulling away from the curb.
As we drove, I watched the apartment buildings pass by and daydreamed about living in one of them. One day…
“You’re awfully quiet,” Cruz commented, and I turned away from the window I’d been staring out of.
“Sorry. I just found out that I’m losing my apartment at the end of the month. The replacement one the landlord showed me is hideous. Everything in it is painted as black as night. I mean, everything. Walls, floor, ceiling, furniture. It’s so depressing.”
“Can you move to a different building?”
“I’m going to have to try and find something. The new apartment isn’t much bigger than the Bentley. Hey, do you think our boss would let me live in one of his cars?”
Cruz chuckled. “That bad, huh?”
I gave him a flat stare. “It’s a single room, the couch is in the kitchen, and the toilet and shower are less than a step from the bed. I guess I could use the toilet as a nightstand.”
“If you find something, let me know. I can help you move.” He whipped the car into a parking space as soon as another car pulled out. “That’s the place right there,” he said, dipping his head toward a storefront.
“Be back in a jiffy.” I climbed out and walked into the printer’s office with the sticky note held between two fingers.
“How may I help you?” a lady with a stern face asked when I approached the counter.
“I’m supposed to pick up some Christmas party invites for Mr. Bouvier.”
Her chilly demeanor instantly warmed at the mention of his name, and she practically gushed. “Of course. Just let me grab them.”
Five minutes later, I had checked the sample over multiple times, referencing the note to make sure the time and date were correct. The invitations were gorgeous, a deep red with a translucent vellum overlay that was affixed by a tiny white satin bow.
“Is everything satisfactory?” the woman asked, and I went over everything once more before nodding. I didn’t want to screw up my first task from Tony.
“It looks fine. Thank you.”
She smiled and called to the back for someone named Atticus to come and carry the box for me. A man appeared. He was short and plump, with gangly arms that looked like they were made for someone else’s body. I was afraid they were going to snap in two when he lifted the box, but he managed to get it outside and placed safely in the trunk.
Cruz was on the phone when I re-entered the car, and he wrapped up with a, “Sounds good. Thanks,” before placing his phone back in the console.
“Tell me your happy thing,” he prompted as we headed back to work.
My teeth sank into my bottom lip, and I tried to camouflage my smile. “I have something, but I’m not sure if I’m supposed to say anything about it yet.”
“Is it about taking over as Auburn’s PA?”
I blinked in surprise. “How did you know that?”
“Tony mentioned it to me.”
My shoulders shimmied in excitement. “That’s it. I think I’m going to go for it.”
“You should.”
“I hope I can do it. Tony’s job is complicated.”
“You’ll be great,” he said, smiling encouragingly at me and nudging me with his elbow. “You’re very bright, Lehra, and I think you could get along with anyone. Even Auburn Bouvier.”
Warmth spread through me at the simple touch and his sweet sentiment.
We arrived, and Cruz lifted the invitations from the trunk before I could grab them. “I’ll carry these up for you.” He hefted the box on one shoulder, and I watched with rapt attention as the sleeves of his jacket threatened to pop right open as his biceps bulged.
“What’s your happy thing?” I asked once we were in the elevator.
He smiled shyly at the floor and then lifted his eyes to look at me from beneath his dark fringe of lashes. “I got to see you today.”
“Well, I’m sorry you don’t have anything better than that,” I teased, and he laughed.
“Trust me, it’s been the highlight of my day.”
I couldn’t deny the flutter in my belly at those words.
Tony rose as soon as we entered. Cruz set the box on the desk, and I watched nervously as Tony looked over the sample invitation taped on top of it with a speculative eye.
“They’re perfect,” he announced, and I felt the tension drain from my shoulders. “Good job, Lehra.”
Cruz winked before leaving.
“Anything else you need from me?” I asked Tony, and he shook his head as the door behind him opened.
“Lehra, can I see you for a moment?” Auburn Bouvier asked, and my nerves ratcheted up to level one hundred. Did he want to talk to me about the job? Or being late this morning? Shit, it could be anything.
“Of course.”
Tony gave me a bolstering pat between my shoulder blades as I followed our boss into the inner office where he closed the door and gestured for me to sit. He took his high-backed leather chair and folded his hands in front of him on the desk.
“I understand you’re thinking of taking Tony’s position when he leaves.”
“Yes, sir. I would love to.”
Pursing his lips, he nodded. “I think you’ll be a good fit. Where do you live?”
“In Queens.”
Bouvier sat back in his chair and stroked a finger over his lips, his enigmatic blue eyes meeting mine. “That’s too far. I’d like you to move to Manhattan. There’s a one-bedroom available in my building.”
Ummm, do what? I forced a smile onto my face. How to say this delicately…
“That’s really nice, Mr. Bouvier, but I don’t think I could afford an apartment in your building. Not that my salary isn’t great,” I assured him, “but you’re… you know…” A freaking billionaire. I stumbled over my words, feeling like an idiot, but he smiled patiently.
“Tony also requested a raise in pay for you since you’ll be training with him and inevitably taking on new responsibilities in addition to your receptionist duties.”
“Oh, that was very nice of him.”
“Instead of a raise, I’d like to offer you the apartment. When you take over for Tony, your salary will be increased to the one he presented you with earlier today, and you can still keep the apartment. You’re welcome to come by this evening and see if it’s to your liking.”
If it’s to my liking? I wanted to scream. Would you like to hear about the dreary bar of soap I was considering living in this morning?
I knew the building Auburn Bouvier lived in, and it was extravagant and way more than I would ever be able to afford in this lifetime. Free housing would save me thousands in rent every month. This was like a dream come true.
I was pretty sure I looked like a starving catfish, my mouth gaping open and then closing. “I’ll be there,” I said, trying to sound cool and not like I was about to bust at the seams.
Two weeks later, with Cruz’s help, I moved into the nicest place I’d ever lived.
“It’s so spacious,” I gushed, spinning in an ecstatic circle. “Look at these hardwood floors! They’re so shiny, I can almost see my reflection in them. And the windows! They’re so clear.” I flung an arm out to indicate the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“That’s a good thing for windows to be,” Cruz replied with a smirk, obviously amused at my excitement.
“Smartass,” I shot back, giving his shoulder a shove. “I’m going to order us a pizza as a thank you for helping me move.”
“You don’t have to—”
I facepalmed him. “Shut it, Estrada. You’re eating pizza with me.”
When the food arrived, we sat together on my couch and ate like the starving people we were. “I can’t believe this place came furnished,” I said, bouncing my butt on the soft cushions.
“Mine too,” Cruz replied. “It’s cool that we’re neighbors now.”
Bumping him with my shoulder, I smiled up at him. “Thank you for helping me move.”
His responding smile was sweet and made my breath hitch a little. “Anything for you, Lehra.”