Chapter 29
Harmony finished tying her shoes just as her phone lit up with a text message.
Nick: Outside
After taking one last look in the mirror, she grabbed her purse and headed out the front door. The second she stepped outside, her eyes landed on Nick's new car sitting at the curb.
A smile instantly spread across Harmony's face.
She was genuinely proud of him. Over the last several months, Nick had been working his ass off, and it was finally paying off.
Not only had he bought himself a reliable car, but they were also on their way to look at apartments.
Seeing him make progress and build something for himself made her happy.
Still smiling, Harmony walked over and opened the passenger door. The moment she climbed inside, Nick reached over and handed her a bouquet of flowers.
"Awwww, they’re beautiful. Thank you, baby."
"You welcome."
Harmony leaned over and kissed him before settling back in her seat.
"Okay, so where this new place at?"
"Up north."
"Aww shit, look at you. Moving on up."
The drive gave them plenty of time to talk.
Most of the conversation revolved around the apartment, what he liked about it, and how tired he was of staying with his brother.
Eventually, the topic shifted to them living together.
Instead of immediately dismissing the idea like she usually did, Harmony actually gave it some thought.
"Give me another six months, and we can revisit this."
"You serious?" Nick glanced over at her.
"Yeah. I'm serious."
Her answer seemed to have made his day. He reached over, grabbed her hand, and kissed it before turning his attention back to the road.
About thirty minutes later, they pulled up to a high-rise building sitting directly across from the lake. Harmony looked up at the glass structure, impressed.
Together they climbed out and headed inside.
The lobby was just as nice as the exterior, with high ceilings, modern furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the water.
While Nick checked his phone, Harmony took a moment to look around.
Her attention landed on a woman standing near the elevators.
She appeared to be in her mid-thirties and was dressed to the nines. She carried herself with the kind of confidence that couldn't be bought, and Harmony found herself studying her for a second longer than intended.
"There go my realtor right there." Nick pointed in her direction before they headed over.
"Nick, how are you?"
"I'm good. This Harmony… Harmony, this is Ms. Mills.”
“Call me Shonda.”
Ms. Mills and Harmony exchanged greetings before the three of them headed toward the elevator. Once inside, Ms. Mills pressed the button for the tenth floor and began talking about the building, explaining the amenities, parking situation, and what was included in the rent.
A few moments later, they stepped off the elevator and made their way down the hallway. Stopping at the last door on the right, Ms. Mills unlocked the apartment and led them inside.
The unit was nice. The living room was spacious, the kitchen had updated appliances, and the windows offered a clear view of the lake. While Nick walked around looking at everything, Ms. Mills continued the tour, pointing out features and answering questions.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how long have you been doing this?”
"About ten years… I started around your age. What -are you about twenty-two, twenty-three?" Shonda smiled.
"Yup! You like it? Is it hard?”
“I love it, and it’s not hard at all… Why, you interested?”
“I mean, I’m not sure.” Harmony paused before going on.
"Do you own property too?"
"A few."
“Wow! That’s dope, but you don't look like a landlord."
"What do landlords supposed to look like?" Shonda laughed.
"I don't know. Not like you."
"I get that a lot."
By the time they finished touring the apartment, the conversation had drifted far beyond square footage and rent prices. Harmony had learned that Ms. Mills owned rental properties, invested in businesses, and had spent years building a name for herself.
After taking one final look around, the three of them left the unit and headed back toward the elevator. Nick was still talking about the apartment as they rode down, mentioning things he liked and asking a few last-minute questions.
Before the elevator reached the lobby, Ms. Mills reached into her purse and pulled out a business card.
"Here," she said, handing it to Harmony before going on.
"Hit me up if you have any more questions."