CHAPTER 13
MauricIo texted and said he couldn’t make it today. It’s Saturday. I didn’t want to get out of my bed and come here either, but maintenance works for four hours on Saturday mornings and I’m sitting here with the list and no key to the maintenance shed. Yeah, Mauricio has that, too, and he’s not answering the phone. I text him and still don’t get a response.
I look over the list. I need to fix a small hole in the wall at unit 435-A. The lock on the maintenance shed needs to be repaired, and I have to replace the hinge on the front door for 107-A.
I need some tools. The tools are locked up.
I glance at the clock. It’s 9:16 a.m. I don’t know if Zimyra sleeps in on the weekends since she doesn’t work on Saturdays. I imagine she does after working hard all week, so I opt to send her a text message instead of calling.
Sorry to disturb you so early, but I need the key to the maintenance shed.
She almost calls me back immediately.
“Good morning,” I answered.
“Good morning. You can’t get into the shed?”
“No. Mauricio has the key, and he called out this morning.”
“I’m sure you’ve tried getting ahold of him.”
“I have. There’s no answer.”
“Ugh…okay. Um—just swing by my place and get a key.”
“And where might that be?”
“I’ll text you my address.”
Click .
I sit and wait for a text to come through. When it does moments later, I put it into the GPS. It says it’s a twenty-minute commute, but I’m sure I’ll get there sooner than that. I’m curious to see her side of town.
When I arrive, I find a parking space, shut off the whip, and jog up the stairs to the second floor. I find her apartment, knock on the door, and wait. When I don’t hear any noise, I knock again. This time, I hear footsteps. She opens the door and I’m surprised to see that she’s already dressed for the day, and not in those business suits and pencil skirts she wears to work. She has on ripped black jeans, a cropped, ruffled yellow blouse, and her hair is loose – curls everywhere. I even look down at her feet to see that she has on a pair of slip-in tennis shoes. White ones. I like this version of her. She looks stress-free and well, nice.
“Good morning,” I say, finally finding my voice.
“Good morning, Axel. Come on in. I didn’t think you were going to get here so fast.”
“Yeah. I’m trying to get this work done so I can actually have a weekend.”
“I know. I’m sorry. It came down from corporate for maintenance to work four hours on Saturday because we would have issues that had to wait until Monday, and they thought this was the best way to curb that, so blame the suits with all the money.”
A little boy runs out of the kitchen and grabs her leg while looking at me. I look at the adorable little fellow and then look back up at her.
She has a son?
I didn’t think she had kids. I guess I’m not as good at finding out things about her as I should be.
I ask, “Is this your son?”
“I guess you can say that.” She grins. “No, this is my nephew, Kaden. He’s a little bashful, but once he gets to know somebody, he doesn’t have a shy bone in his body.”
“Hi, Kaden.”
“Kaden, this is Axel. Say, hi, Axel .”
He peeps around her leg and says, “Hi, Assel .”
“Hey there,” I say.
Zimyra strums his curly hair, and says, “You met his mother at the coffee shop. Nykendy.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Hey, what did you think about the coffee, by the way?”
“It was delicious. With my salary, though, I’m not sure if I’ll be there every day.”
“Well, I’ll always have coffee in the lobby. It’s not as good as hers, but it’ll get you through your morning.”
She smiles.
I smile back.
What a night and day difference! I like this version of her. She’s nothing like she is at work. She’s relaxed. Her face even looks brighter, but that could be the yellow blouse bouncing off her caramel skin tone.
“Um…let me go get this key. Come on, Kaden.”
While she walks down a short hallway, I slide my hands into my pocket and check out her crib. She lives in a nice place, but isn’t nicer than Atlantic. And I wonder why she opts to have a two-bedroom unit as a single woman. Whatever the case, it’s neat and decorated beautifully like she had someone come in and design it for her. I know she doesn’t make that kind of money, so how was she able to pull that off?
“Here you go,” she says, coming back with her little nephew right behind her.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I have so many questions I want answers to, but I know this isn’t the time. This woman has many layers, and I plan on peeling them all back every chance I get.
“Uncle Assel , Auntie Myra is taking me to the park.”
A joyful laugh escaped her lips. “I’m sorry. He thinks everybody is his aunt or uncle.”
“That’s cool,” I say, stooping down to Kaden’s level. “You’re going to the park, lil’ man?”
“Yes. Can you come with us?”
Zimyra chuckles softly and says, “Kaden, Axel has to get back to work.”
“Yes, I have to work, but maybe next time, okay?”
“Okay.”
I stand back up tall and say, “Sweet kid.”
“Yes, he is.”
“Anyway, I’ll get out of your hair now so you can start your day.”
“Okay. Have a good weekend, Axel. I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Yep.”
When I get into the car, I call Peter and after he answers, I say, “If she ever decides to get another job, the number of empty apartments will increase substantially.”
“Why do you say that?”
“She’s built a rapport with these people. She knows them. She takes the time to get to know them on a personal level. And get this—she hosts community activities that she pays for out of her own pocket. Next Friday, she’s hosting a paint and sip.”
“That’s phenomenal, but why would she do that?”
“Because she’s that good of a person, Peter. I don’t think there’s nothing she can’t do. In my opinion, she should have a top-level position where she can teach the things she does to other property managers.”
“Maybe that can be an option. Just keep at it for now. If you still feel the same way after this is all said and done, maybe we’ll look into it.”
“Alright. I’m going to get this work done so I can go home and relax.”
I wake up on the sofa. After finishing work at noon, I grabbed a quick lunch then came home and passed out. Now, it’s after seven. I pick up my phone to check my messages when I see a text message from Zimyra. She messaged me at 6:14 p.m.
Hey. How’d it go today?
I message her back:
Everything went well. Came home and crashed. Just waking up.
I place my phone on the coffee table, stand up and stretch. After a quick trip to the bathroom, I walk to the kitchen to get a bottle of water. While I’m chugging, I hear my phone buzz. I walk over and pick it up to see another message from Zimyra:
Zimyra : That’s odd.
Axel : What’s that?
Zimyra : Is that what you typically do on Saturday evenings? Hang out on the sofa like an old man.
I grin. This girl is funny when she’s not at work. I guess we all have different non-work versions of ourselves. Seeing her with her nephew this morning was like looking at and talking to a different person. Without those power suits she wears to work, she’s a chill person. At least that’s what I think.
Axel : Is that your roundabout way of trying to find out how old I am?
Zimyra : I know how old you are, Axel. You filled out an application, remember?
Axel : Right…
Zimyra : I’m just curious why you’re home and not out kicking it
Axel : Because you haven’t asked me out yet.
Zimyra : wow…the audacity
Axel : meaning?
Zimyra : you don’t know if I’m in a relationship
Axel : are you?
She goes dark. The messages were flying back and forth, but as soon as I inquired about her relationship status, she stopped typing.
Axel : your silence is telling.
Zimyra : My bad. I was distracted. I’m out right now.
Axel : that still doesn’t answer my question.
Zimyra : why does it matter if I’m in a relationship or not? I don’t date coworkers, no matter how handsome they are.
Axel : You think I’m handsome?
Zimyra : ugh…leave me alone
Axel : and who said anything about dating?
Zimyra : you just implied that I should ask you out
Axel : and I’m still waiting. Oh, and I never mentioned the word ‘date’.
Zimyra : bye, Axel. I hope you enjoy your evening.
Axel : ask me out, boss lady
Zimyra : stop
Axel : no
Zimyra : yes
Axel : ask me
Zimyra : I’m busy
Axel : you still have your nephew?
Zimyra : no. I told you I’m out.
Axel : then what’s the problem?
Zimyra : You! You’re the problem.
Axel : stop laughing.
Zimyra : how did you know I was laughing?
Axel : I’m good at reading people
Zimyra : even through text messaging?
Axel : yep
Zimyra : Is that right?
Axel : it is…now I would appreciate it if you let me pick you up so you can show me around your city.
Zimyra : . . .
Now she’s typing and erasing. Typing and erasing. I got her going. That’s exactly what I wanted. When my phone rings, I see Boss Lady pop up on the screen. A smile instantly comes to my face. Like all other women, she can’t resist me. The charisma and charm I possess are unmatched. I always get what I want.
Always.
I answer, “Got tired of typing, huh?”
“I’m a straightforward person, Axel. I don’t need to hide behind text messages.”
“Neither do I. It’s convenient.”
“True.” She hums a song. I hear noise in the background – music, people, laughing. She says, “I was trying to tell you I wasn’t home. I’m already out.”
“Out where?”
“I’m at The Promenade. My friend was supposed to meet me out here, but something came up. You’re welcome to join me if you would like. I can show you around the place.”
“That’s what’s up. Text me the address.”
“Oh, just type The Promenade in your GPS. It’ll take you to the front entrance. I’ll be waiting near the big, pink neon sign.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in a few.”
I hang up the phone and rush to the closet. I don’t know why I’m so excited to go out with her. Maybe it’s because I haven’t had a chance to chill and go out since I’ve been down here. I throw on a black fitted cap, a pair of jeans, a dark blue shirt and a pair of black Nikes. I grab my keys and head to the elevators.