41. Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Brynn
T he flight home wasn't too bad. As I wait for my rideshare to pick me up from the airport, I can't help but feel a little homesick. I can't remember a time, even growing up, when I was homesick. I get the notification that the car has arrived, and I double-check the license plate on the vehicle before entering.
The driver verifies the address, and we start heading to my condo. All I could get from Gwen on the phone was that the management company wanted to meet with me as soon as I landed. As the car drives down the busy city streets, I can't help but look at all the buildings.
It really is a concrete jungle; I am definitely not in Cedar Creek anymore. I pay the driver, leaving a generous tip for him and exit the vehicle. I take a deep inhale and almost choke from all the exhaust and smog in the air. Not the fresh air my lungs have been adapting to over the last several days .
I walk into the lobby of my building. It is what drew me in when I looked at the condo. The marble floors, high-end finishes and floor to ceiling glass windows give it an elegant look. I walk to the desk after being greeting by the doorman, "I am here to speak with Mr. Harrison, I was told to find him as soon as I arrived."
"Miss Rutherford, right this way. I was instructed to accompany you to his office right away."
I follow the desk clerk down a hallway, and she gives two quick knocks on a wooden door before opening it and walking through. "Miss Rutherford has arrived, sir."
"Thank you, Allison." Mr. Harrison holds out his hand and I shake it. "Thank you for meeting with me as soon as possible. I understand from your assistant that you were out-of-state dealing with family matters. I am so sorry to be giving you such bad news on your homecoming. You see, there was a fire on your floor. Your neighbor's condo. Luckily, the tenant was not home at the time, but the alarm system and state-of-the-art sprinkler system did their job. By the time the fire department was on scene, the fire was mostly contained."
I nod in understanding, "So what does all this mean for my condo?"
"Well, we have a couple of options. The condo has been deemed a total loss, and we can help you file the necessary paperwork to your insurance company. If you take that option, the repairs will be extensive, and from what I have been told, it will take several months to complete."
"Months?"
"Close to a year is what the insurance company told your neighbor. You may get a different answer, you would need to contact your own insurance adjuster."
"Can I see my condo?"
"Yes, the utilities have been cut off, of course. I would be happy to walk you through." Mr. Harrison stands, and I follow him out the door and to the elevator. "It is pretty bad; I don't want you to be alarmed. Like I said, a total loss."
I take a deep breath and exhale it slowly as the doors to the elevator open. There is caution tape everywhere. My door has been removed, and I can see straight through the condo to the glass windows in the living area. "Holy shit."
"As you can see, there is extensive fire and water damage throughout."
I walk to my bedroom, and it is absolutely awful. Everything is destroyed. Looking at my bed, my beautiful cream duvet is black with soot. My closet door has a crack in it, maybe from an axe. "There is nothing salvageable."
"Unfortunately, no."
I quickly run to my bedside table and pull out my fireproof box that holds anything of importance. When I put my hands on the fireproof case, it seems to be intact. "I hope you really are fireproof," I say under my breath as I put in the security code and open the lid. Everything seems to be dry and free of harm. A quick glance shows my passport, mementos from my childhood and copies of all my ownership papers for the condo.
"Is there anything else you need, Miss Rutherford?" Mr. Harrison asks as he looks around with a grim expression.
"I think this is the only thing that has any value left to it," I say sadly.
"Let me escort you out." We make our way back down to the lobby and I tell Mr. Harrison I will be in touch after I contact my insurance company.
I pull out my phone and call Gwen, she answers after one ring.
"Omg. Are you back?"
"Yes, I just met with the property manager. I need to call my insurance. It's all gone." I start to sniffle; this is not the day to be emotional.
"Meet me at the office and we can decide on a strategy. I will pick up dinner. See you in twenty." With that, Gwen hangs up, and I step outside to hail a taxi. My office is only a few blocks away, but I don't want to carry my duffle down the streets of the city .
When I reach my office, I sigh in relief when I see Gwen is already here and has my favorite Chinese food. "I figured you were starving and maybe going to eat your feelings, too."
"Definitely." I take a seat on the loveseat in my office and dig into the carton of lo mein. "I literally won't have a place to live while repairs are being done."
"You can always stay with me."
"No offense, but your apartment is like a shoebox." I point my chopsticks at her because she knows I am right. "I don't want to find another place to rent, I am going to have to replace everything."
"I am so sorry, Brynn. I know how hard you worked to have that condo." Gwen eats a bite of coconut chicken and ponders. "What if you take some time off and go back to Cedar Creek?"
"What about our clients?"
"What about them? We can move everything virtually for a while if you want. I can handle things from here."
"I can't ask you to do that."
"You aren't asking, it was my idea."
"I don't know."
"Wow. I figured you would shut me down with just the suggestion of going back to Cedar Creek. What happened while you were there?"
I feel my cheeks heat, "A lot." We finish eating our dinner while I fill Gwen in on all the fun I had with Colt, and the healing I did after finally coming clean to my brothers about why I never returned.
"I bet it was hot as fuck when he punched him in the face. I would've loved to see that," Gwen giggles as she eats more Crab Rangoon.
"It was definitely hot. No one has ever stood up like that for me. Although if I had given them a chance, my brothers would have in a heartbeat."
"Speaking of hot, is Blake still single?" Gwen wiggles her eyebrows.
"Gross," I say, gagging while she leans back and laughs.
"Call your insurance company first thing in the morning and let me know what you decide. You can always file the claim and take the payout."
"I have a lot to think about."
"Will you be happy in Cedar Creek?" Gwen asks while she stares me down, making sure I answer her honestly.
"Honestly, I think I could. Now that everything is out in the open and I know Steven can't hurt me. I felt safe there. Safe with Colt," I whisper the last part, but Gwen hears me.
"Do you want to stay with me tonight or do you need me to book you a room?"
"Thank you, but I already got a room down the street. I wasn't sure what was going to happen tonight, so I wanted to be prepared."
"Okiedokie." Gwen stands and starts to clean up our mess from dinner. "I also brought you some double chocolate peanut butter cheesecake. You can take it to the hotel and eat it tonight while you stay up and worry."
I stick out my tongue at her, "You think you know me, huh?"
We laugh as we gather our things and lock up the office. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Get some rest, Brynn."
I wave as Gwen climbs into her cab, and I walk down the street to my hotel. I need a long soak and some sleep.