Chapter 1
ISABELLA
When I moved to New York, I knew how busy and crowded it was going to be. I wasn’t worried unless I had to be near Times Square, the busiest area in New York in my opinion.
So, I do my best to steer clear of that area, even if it means taking the long way home to avoid going through the crowds of people there.
When I told Grams that I was going to be moving to New York, she started freaking out even though the drive between us wouldn’t be that far away.
She lives in New Jersey. It’s maybe a two-hour drive from Manhattan to her house.
I remember when I first moved here she was so worried I’d get lost in the city despite how many times I’ve visited New York when I still lived with my grandparents and parents.
I’m on the phone with her now and she’s making a big deal about how I just got kicked out of my apartment.
The manager of the building I live in told me he’s evicting everyone since they are rebuilding. So for the past week I’ve just been trying to find a new place or at least a new person to room with.
“You should sue, Bella. They cannot just kick you out of your home,” Gram says, but she doesn’t understand how renting works.
She’s only ever owned since her first ever big purchase was her house. “I wish I could, Gram, but it doesn’t work like that. What am I going to sue him for? He is giving me a month before I have to find a new place.”
“See this is why you should live here with me and find a job nearby. You wouldn’t even have to worry about rent, Bella,” she lectures. “And from what you told me last week it sounds like New York isn’t safe at all. What if someone killed you in that alleyway?”
Grams brings up me moving in with her all the time, but this week, she has brought it up to me at least once a day.
I knew I shouldn’t have told her about the alleyway incident. I don’t want her to worry about me.
Just thinking about what happened, the way the masked man stared at me, with death in his eyes, makes me have nightmares. It’s all I’ve been dreaming about.
“I’m fine. I keep telling you. Right now I’m going to look at an apartment. It’s way nicer than mine and closer to my job so I think this will be better for me.”
“Would you have a roommate?”
“Yes. I'm going to meet him right now. I’m actually almost at the apartment, so I’ll call you after to let you know how it goes, okay?”
“We aren’t done with this conversation, Bella. Call me as soon as you're done,” Gram says.
We say our goodbyes as I walk towards the entrance of the building.
The lobby is nice with black accents and dimmed lights. There is a coffee machine and a doorman along with other small amenities.
It’s hard to believe that this place is cheaper than the building I’m about to get kicked out of.
I walk up to the front desk and the receptionist greets me with a smile. “Hi, I’m meeting with Slade Rykov. He’s on floor seven and apartment number sixteen.”
“Oh yes, Mr. Rykov. He told me he was expecting someone today. What’s your name, honey?” she asks as she holds the desk phone to her ear.
“Isabella Rossi.”
She nods and dials numbers on the phone.
“Hello, Mr. Rykov, I have a guest here to see you. Her name is Isabella Rossi.” She nods.
“Perfect, I will be sending her up.” She puts the phone back on the cradle.
“You can go to the elevator. Press the seventh button and you’ll find his apartment number on that floor. ”
I thank her before leaving her desk. My nerves start to set in as I wait in the elevator, the numbers slowly going up.
I clench my hands and take a deep breath when the elevator stops. I walk out and look at the apartment numbers as I pass by them. When I get to apartment sixteen, I knock and hold my breath as I wait for him.
It’s quiet on the other side of the door and I wonder if anyone is in there but then the door opens.
The first thing I notice about him is his eyes.
They give me deja vu as if I’ve seen his eyes somewhere before. They are like a black void with nothing in them. No emotion, no reaction, nothing.
And then I notice the long scar that starts from his eyebrow and goes down to his cheek.
I don’t stare at his scar for too long because I don’t want to be rude so instead I put on a small smile. “Slade?”
He nods and opens his door wider.
I walk in, my heart beating so hard and fast I feel like it’s going to burst out of my chest. He closes the door behind me as I glance around the apartment. For a guy's apartment, it’s pretty clean.
“Feel free to walk around. If you have any questions let me know,” Slade says, his voice deep and calm with a hint of an accent that I can’t place.
Slade goes to the kitchen and I’m assuming continues what he was doing. He has a black hoodie sitting on the kitchen island, and it seems like he’s trying to get a stain out. He has a bottle of bleach near the sink with paper towels, stained with red.
I admire the kitchen. It has white cabinets and countertops, a stainless steel fridge and high top chairs around the island.
In the living room, there is a big white cloud couch with a black blanket laying on the side.
On the coffee table, he has a few books, some of them have bookmarks in them which makes me assume he reads.
He has a bookshelf next to the window and a couch in the center of the living room. There is a TV mounted to the wall in front of the couch.
Just from seeing the kitchen and the living room, I’d assume that this apartment was more than just two grand to rent out one bedroom. I feel like I should be paying more than five grand.
Slade is still scrubbing and washing his hoodie, and red liquid drips into the sink.
“Hard to get that out?” I ask, and his eyes meet mine.
Slade is a guy that every girl wishes would kidnap her. He has very short hair, close to a buzz cut, long muscular arms that are covered in tattoos, and a sharp jaw that looks like it would cut your finger.
You can tell he goes to the gym and takes care of his body.
“No. Do you need something?” He raises an eyebrow, and I feel butterflies in my stomach.
I shake my head. “No. Everything looks really nice here. Where’s the bedroom?”
He rests the hoodie on the sink and shuts off the tap. I follow him down the hallway, and he opens one of the doors. The empty bedroom has its own closet and enough space for me to fit my books.
“The bathroom, washer and dryer are across the way. But this would be your room.”
This all seems too good to be true.
“How much did you say it was again?”
“About $2500,” he says, crossing his arms, making his arms appear bigger than before.
I try my best to keep eye contact, but it seems like that’s even worse.
Butterflies fill my stomach and chills run down my arms as he stares down at me with those dark intense eyes.
“That’s perfect. Would I have to give you a deposit and how soon could I move in?”
“Just next month's rent since this month is already paid for. You can move in whenever.” He shrugs.
I nod and lick my bottom lip. His eyes go down to my lips before meeting my eyes again. “Okay, I’ll take it,” I say, giving him a small smile.
“Good, then I’ll just get your information and few signatures from you,” he says before walking out of the room. I follow after him. He goes through a drawer in the kitchen and hands a form to me. “While you fill that out, I do want to say there are a few rules and things you should know.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t usually allow people over. I like my privacy. So if you want to invite someone over just ask me first.”
Understandable since it’s not my place. He’s just letting me live here for super cheap.
“I usually come home pretty late. You can order in food or eat anything I bring home. You can grocery shop but I usually do that so if you want me to get anything let me know. I’m not usually strict with anything else.
Just make sure to clean up after yourself, do your dishes, laundry, and keep the place clean.
” His list all seems pretty reasonable to me.
“And lastly, no going in the room down the hall. That’s my room and it’s off limits.
If you need something from me, just knock on my door or text me. Don’t go in there.”
I gulp and nod.
He made it seem like a threat or like he’s hiding something but maybe I’m just being paranoid. I mean I’ve never shared an apartment with a guy. All of my past roommates have been girls.
“Okay that doesn’t sound like a problem. I’ll probably start packing my stuff tonight and hopefully move in by next week.”
He nods. “Do you have my number saved?”
“Yea, I got it.”
“Text me when you’re going to come over again and I’ll give you a key.”
I just hope that having a cheap apartment this nice doesn’t bite me in the ass.