Chapter 16
Sixteen
NICO
I am not unused to such places. I’ve visited buildings like this several times, and yet this is the first one I’ve entered with a woman. One who is important to me and as I gaze at the tarnished interior and detect the nauseating scent of human waste, my lip curls in disgust.
It appears that Regina is the queen of chaos and poverty, and that is nothing to be proud of.
This won’t take long.
We enter the apartment after she unlocks five locks with keys that fumble in her fingers, all the time looking over her shoulder.
“Why are you nervous?”
The fact that she is flanked by a small army should put her mind at rest, and she sighs. “Habit, I guess. When I first moved in, there was a guy who lived on the lower floor. He used to follow me up here and ask if he could come in for something to eat.”
My skin prickles with anger. ”Does he still live here?”
My tone is smooth, but my intention is deadly.
“No, he was caught raping a woman in Central Park and got five years. I guess I had a lucky escape when Mr. Pettigrew came out and told him to back off. I was his bitch.”
“His bitch?”
“He was speaking the only language the guy understood. He’s adaptable like that. It’s why he’s the longest-living tenant here.”
“Mr. Pettigrew again.”
“Yes, dear Simon. He’s a godsend really and is more like the father I wish I had. You know, he told me he would put in a word with his son and maybe I could become his new daughter-in-law.”
“His son?” I’m already getting a headache, and she nods, fumbling with the last lock.
“Yes, Edward, who now goes by the name Edwina and plays in the alternative Broadway version of Cabaret. He’s good at it too, but Mr. Pettigrew lives in hope it’s just a phase.”
The door opens, and as we head inside, I nod to Trent. “Wait out there; there’s only room for two of us in here.”
He nods, snapping his fingers at the guards who followed us to take up their positions at every entry and exit point.
“So, this is your business.” I note the endless baskets with shredded paper littered around the room, ribbon trailing on every surface and various boxes of items that she must place in them.
“Yes, this is Basket Case, also known as my empire.”
She glances at her phone and sighs. “I should charge this. I must have at least five orders on there that should be posted today. What can I say, duty calls.”
She heads to a shelf and plugs in her phone and sighs.
“I won’t be long. I’ll change and meet you downstairs.”
“I’ll wait here.”
“But–”
“But what?”
“But this is it. I can’t change in front of you.”
“This is your entire apartment?”
I peer around me and notice there is only one door and thought it led to a bedroom.
“What’s through there?”
“My shower and toilet. There isn’t room for a sink, so I use the small one in the kitchenette that’s well, to your right.”
She blushes and appears so uncomfortable I experience a moment’s sadness for her life. This is her world. In this one room, and yet she appears happy about that.
“Grab a bag and pack what you can.”
“Why?”
“Because we won’t be back until the new year.”
“But my business.”
She appears shocked, and I say patiently, “Regina. You signed a contract to accompany me home as my fiancée for Christmas. It may have escaped your attention, but that is in two days’ time. There is a lot to accomplish before that happens, and returning here isn’t an option.”
“But my business.”
“My men will relocate everything you need into the car. You can pack the remaining orders at my home later. While I catch up on my business, you can do the same. We will make certain they are delivered the very next day, so I fail to see what the problem is.”
Her eyes mist over, and I’m shocked when she brushes a tear away. “I’m sorry, it’s just–” She looks down and I reach out and tilt her chin to face me and she whispers, “You would do that—for me?”
“Yes. We are now a team, Regina. I help you, and you help me. It makes perfect business sense.”
“Of course.” She nods, regret heavy in her eyes. “Business. That’s, um, what this is.”
She pulls away and says with a sigh. “Then turn around while I change. I’ll be ready in the blink of an eye.”
I allow her to call the shots because we don’t have long, and while she fumbles in a cupboard, I turn my attention to her crazy basket business.
I head outside, and Trent smirks. “This is interesting.”
I roll my eyes. “I can think of a better description, but out of respect for Regina and the way she lives, I’ll hold that comment.”
I groan, noting the stains on the red carpet in the hallway that must have been laid centuries ago. “Pack up her apartment. Arrange it. She will not be coming back.”
“Where shall we store her belongings?”
“Take them to my apartment. She can set up in the guest wing.”
Trent nods and speaks into his phone, making the necessary arrangements to move Regina from poverty to luxury in one car journey. I wasn’t kidding either; she won’t be coming back. Her life is with me now until I say otherwise.
I head back inside and note her wearing black leggings paired with an oversized jumper with a snowman on the front as she is pulling on a pair of sheepskin boots.
“I’m nearly ready.”
I groan inside, picturing the faces of the diners at the exclusive restaurant we are heading to for breakfast.
She pulls on a huge padded coat and wraps a scarf around her neck, and as only her eyes peer out, she could be just about anyone.
“I’m ready.”
Her voice mumbles behind the fabric, and she says, “You can help me pack my overnight bag. It shouldn’t take long.”
“No need. My men will do it. We don’t have time.”
“But–”
Her eyes widen, and I shake my head. “They are very discreet. I instructed them to take everything to my apartment. You can unpack there and continue with your work when we finish ours.”
“Can I stop by and tell Mr. Pettigrew? I wrapped a gift for him, and since we won’t be back until the new year, it needs to be gifted today.”
“No.”
The last thing I want is any witnesses, and she gasps, “NO?”
“We will courier it over. You can explain next time you see him.”
“Are you in there, Reggie!”
A loud voice comes through the thin door, and I groan inside.
“He’s here.”
Regina grins and she yells, “Coming, Mr. Pettigrew.”
With a triumphant smirk, she wrenches the scarf off and runs to the door, flinging it open to reveal an old man bent almost double, eyeing the scene with suspicion.
Trent rolls his eyes as the old man barks, “Who are these men, Reggie, are they bothering you?”
“It’s fine, Mr. Pettigrew, they are helping me, well, it’s a long story, but I’ll be away for Christmas, so I want you to have this.”
She pulls a package off the shelf by the door and thrusts it into his arms.
“What’s this?”
“Your Christmas gift. I won’t be around for eggnog on Christmas Eve after all, so you must take it now.”
“Why, where are you going?”
I’m fast losing the will to live and interrupt, “With me. I’m sorry, sir, we really don’t have time to explain. Merry Christmas.”
I grasp Regina’s hand tightly and before she can react, I pull her down the hallway fast, resisting the urge to throw her over my shoulder and drag her out.
The sooner we get out of this building, the better for my sanity, and I only wish I could throw a can of gasoline behind me and light the match and watch the entire rat-infested place burn to the ground.