Chapter 6 Kira
KIRA
“Iheard he’s got Saudi money,” Mina says conspiratorially. She shrugs, pursing her lips at the look Tabby tosses at her. “What? It’s just what I heard.”
“The guy’s not some front for the Saudis,” Tabby says, shaking her head. She sucks at the vape, which makes Mina wrinkle her nose. They don’t fight about it though. They’ve gone through that already and decided to bury it. “And what would the frickin’ Saudis want with our little dump?”
“She’s got a point.” I glance at my phone. Today’s a rare off day for me, but I’m still taking a diner shift overnight. I’ll get a solid seven hours of sleep if I turn in soon. “Did you two meet him?”
“Stellan Corsetti.” Tabby’s eyebrows raise straight to her hairline. “I’ve never seen a man like him in my life.”
“Handsome,” Mina agrees.
“Divine. Sexy. I’d let him eat sushi off my ass.”
“I would too,” Mina says with a sigh. “Too bad I’m past that part of my life.”
“He’s a prick.” I glance away, jaw working.
I haven’t seen Stellan in a few days. Not since he ambushed me after work the other night and offered to give Gem a ride.
At first, I thought he was being a bastard, but now that I’ve replayed the conversation a thousand times in my head, I’m starting to think he was sincere.
Which makes me wonder who the hell this guy is.
“I like him a lot.” Tabby sighs out vape smoke. “I mean, how can you not? He cut my freakin’ rent almost in half.”
My gaze snaps up in alarm. “He did what?”
“Mine too,” Mina agrees. “Same with everyone else in the building. Didn’t you get the notice, Kira?”
My heart does flips. That arrogant piece of police horse droppings.
I open my mouth to tell them that he threatened to double my rent, but the words die in my throat.
I still don’t know who this guy is, but he’s clearly got resources.
What’s he going to do if he hears I’ve been telling people about his threat?
But worse, what if these two go to bat for me?
Tabby definitely would. She’s got a kid and a husband to worry about, but she’s still old-school South Philly. She’d flip out at any whiff of injustice. Mina probably would too, mostly because it’d make good gossip.
I can’t let them do that. Both of them need this enormous break in their rent. It’s a godsend for them, really. I know Tabby struggles almost as much as I do, and Mina’s on a fixed income.
“That’s… amazing,” I say vaguely.
“I know, right? Never heard of a new owner cutting rent before, but god, it’s incredible. Joshy’s already saying we can start thinking about getting a new TV for Christmas. I can’t wait, honestly. That old one sucks.” Tabby laughs, her face lighting up.
“Maybe this new change in owner won’t be so bad,” Mina says, nodding along. “I can’t complain about having some extra money in my pocket.”
“He’ll be great, I’m sure.” I make some vague excuse about needing sleep before I escape back into my apartment.
Confusion settles like a rope around my neck.
What the hell is his game?
Stellan threatens to double my rent just to force me to go out with him while cutting everyone else’s rent in half. It makes no sense at all. How’s this place going to make money for him?
Unless he thinks I’m going to subsidize all their losses.
Which is hilarious and definitely isn’t going to happen.
I try to settle in bed. The blackout curtains help. I put a mask over my face and curl up. But as soon as my eyes close, a thought occurs to me.
Would he cut my rent too if I agreed to dinner?
That’d change our life. Even just a few hundred bucks every month would be enormous. That’d mean fresh food. Less stress. Fewer overnight shifts.
All for a single dinner.
So why can’t I make myself do it?
Every time I imagine myself sitting across from Stellan, a wave of nausea rushes over me.
I don’t know why.
It’s not like he’s hideous.
I mean, the man’s attractive as heck. I can’t pretend like I’m not into him. Physically, I mean. He’s built like a Greek god and sounds like an actor when he talks with that low, rumbling voice of his. There’s an aura about him, dangerous and exciting.
But he’s blackmailing me, and I just can’t abide it.
My stupid, stubborn pride is going to get me killed.
Or at least kicked out of my apartment.
I wake, hours later, to someone knocking. “Whadda heck?” I grumble, pushing myself off the mattress. My hair’s a wild mess and my tank top is practically falling off my shoulder. I’m in a pair of ancient shorts and slippers as I shuffle to the door, thinking it’s just a package.
Only to find him instead.
If I were more awake, I would’ve checked through the peephole first.
Stellan’s leaning against the doorframe.
His sleeves are pushed up, showing off muscular, vein-covered forearms. The sexiest forearms I’ve ever seen in my life.
They’re tattooed in dark ink: a wolf eating the moon, a knife slicing through a flower.
I’m still bleary from sleep and can only stare at him in surprise.
“Did I wake you?” he asks, sounding amused.
“I had the day off.” I rub my face and try to get myself together. I’m very aware of my thin top and my hard nipples. I cross my arms over my chest. “What do you want?”
“I came to see if you wanted to have dinner with me tonight.”
I swallow. And shake my head. “No, thanks.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He holds out an envelope. “This is for you.”
I don’t take it. “What is that?”
“A notice of rent increase. You should take a look.”
“No, thanks. Are we done here?”
“Just because you refuse this piece of paper doesn’t change anything.”
I glare at him and finally snatch the envelope away. At the very least, I can use this in court when I sue his ass.
Which is just a fantasy. Like hell I could afford a lawyer.
“Anything else? Or did you just show up to torture me some more?”
“I came to take you out for a nice meal before you go to work. I could also order something and have it brought here. Or I can hire a private chef—”
“I said, no, thank you.”
He nods like that’s what he expected and turns away. “Have a good shift, Kira.”
I watch him take a few steps. My eyes glance down his legs and linger on his muscular butt. There is something deeply wrong with me.
“Wait a second.” He pauses and looks back. “Why did you cut everyone’s rent?”
Stellan licks his lips. “I didn’t realize you all talked.”
“It’s a close-knit building.”
“Good to know.” He looks away. “I don’t care about this place. The money is meaningless. At their new rates, I’ll break even.”
“Most people want to make a profit on their investment.”
“I didn’t buy this place for money.” He stares at me, letting his meaning linger. “See you soon, Kira.”
I let him go this time.
God, what a bastard. He’s doing a really nice thing for the people in this building. He could leave their rent unchanged if he wanted, but instead he’s giving them all a break, purely because he can.
Meanwhile, he’s trying to ruin my life.
I throw the rent notice into the trash and storm back to bed, livid that this insane rich guy is messing with me so much, but happy for Tabby and Mina and everyone else.
Maybe that’s just my lot in life.
I suffer so other people can prosper.
So long as Gem gets into a good college with a full scholarship, I’ll take all the pain coming to me and then some.