Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Bella
I stood outside JFK with my suitcase and stared at all the cabs lined up, ready to take travelers to their destinations.
“Need a cab, lady?” A man waved me over.
“Yes, I do.” I smiled.
He took my suitcase and carry-on and put them in the trunk while I climbed into the back seat.
“Where to?” he asked.
“101 West 67th Street, please.”
The cab pulled up to the curb as I stared at the enormous building with fifty-six floors. After I paid the driver, he took my luggage from the trunk and set it on the sidewalk.
“Thank you.” I smiled.
A man wearing a uniform ran out and quickly grabbed my suitcase and carry-on.
“Good afternoon.” He smiled.
“Ah, you’re here!” I heard a familiar, perky voice from behind. Turning around, I saw Daisy.
“Daisy.” We hugged.
“Burt, this is Bella Castle, and she’ll be staying in Simon’s penthouse while he’s away.”
Instantly, his brows furrowed. “Does he—”
“Of course, he does.” She grinned. “He’s totally fine with it. Come on. I’ll take you up.” She grabbed my suitcase, and I grabbed my carry-on.
“Is that the cat?” I pointed to the carrier in her other hand.
“Yes.” She held up the carrier. “This is Raine. Spelled with an e. She’s super sweet and loving.”
“How old is she?” I asked as we stepped into the elevator.
“She’s a year old. Simon found her outside his office building one rainy night. That’s why he named her Raine. This keycard is for Simon’s penthouse. All you have to do is slide it in here, and it’ll take you up.”
“What floor is the penthouse on?”
“Fifty-eight. The very top. I hope you’re not afraid of heights.”
“Wow. Uh, no. Thank goodness I’m not.” I laughed.
The elevator door opened, and I stepped out into the sprawling marbled foyer. I almost passed out at the luxury of it. Daisy stepped out, set the cat carrier down, and let Raine out.
“Welcome home, baby. Bella will be taking care of you now. There’s plenty of cat food in the pantry for her.
And her litter box is in the laundry room.
It needs to be changed every single day.
Simon’s rule. Normally, his housekeeper does it, but since he’s gone for three months, she doesn’t come here.
She showed me around the 5,175-square-foot home.
“You can take this guest bedroom.” She set my suitcase down.
“Are you sure your cousin is okay with this?”
“Of course.” She waved her hand. “Don’t forget to water the plants. You do know how to take care of plants, right?”
“Yeah.” I smiled.
“Great.” She hugged me. “I have to run. I’m meeting my fiancé at the florist to pay the final balance for the wedding flowers. If you need anything. Call me. And let’s set up a dinner date!”
After she left, I walked around the penthouse, taking it all in. With an oversized kitchen, living room, dining room, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park, this was the perfect place to live and work for the next couple of months.
I took the elevator down to the lobby and spoke with Burt.
“There will be some boxes being sent here. Could you let me know when they arrive?”
“Of course, Miss Castle. I’ll have them sent right up.”
“Thank you, Burt. And call me Bella.” I placed my hand on his arm.
I went back up to the penthouse and threw myself down on the king-size bed. The bed was twice the size of mine back home. Raine jumped up and started rubbing against me. I ran my hand across her back as the roaring sound of her purr could be heard throughout the room.
“You are one lucky cat to be living this life of luxury.” I smiled.
Two Weeks Later
Life couldn’t be more perfect than it was at this very moment. I’d been in New York for two weeks and already loved it. I could get used to living in this city, but the reality of finances said otherwise. For now, I’d enjoy every minute of the time I had left here.
I spent my days filming content and taking photos all over Manhattan.
From Central Park, tree-lined streets, cozy coffee shops, and anywhere else that captured the feeling of the season.
The city was already transforming into a picture-perfect version of fall.
Leaves were beginning to turn from green to shades of amber, gold, and deep red, scattering across the sidewalks and along the edges of the park.
The coffee shops had taken down their summer displays and swapped them for pumpkins, mums, and chalkboard signs advertising maple lattes and everything pumpkin.
Storefronts were even decorated early this year for fall, as were the stoops of the brownstones.
It made my job ridiculously easy. Tomorrow was October 1st, and the season would go into full swing.
A month ago, I had a steady job and no intention of leaving Massachusetts.
Now, I was wandering around Manhattan with a coffee in one hand and a camera in the other, creating an entire fall campaign for a company I’d barely heard of a few weeks earlier.
This wasn’t where I expected myself to be at twenty-nine.
But then again, nothing in my life had been going according to plan.