“I’m Troy. Just moved here yesterday.” He smiled widely, extending his right hand while balancing the box on his other hand and his knee.
She quickly took his hands, thinking how uncomfortable his position was. “Dani. Also just moved here a couple of weeks ago.” When the box almost dropped, she grabbed one side to stabilize it. They end up laughing at their clumsy situation.
It was a short ride, but they manage to chat easily. They walked the hallway until she was standing in front of her door. “This is me.”
“I’m just a few doors away.” Troy pointed to the last door, two doors down the hall. “If you need anything don’t hesitate to knock.” He said as he walked away.
Just in time, Jacky stepped out of the door before she could enter the room. “Who was that?” Jacky gaped at the retreating back of their new neighbor. “Look at that ass.”
Dani ignored her, walked inside their apartment, and went straight to the fridge to get some water. She felt exhausted, hungry, and sweaty.
Jacky started tapping his feet on the marble floor and waited. “That’s Troy, he just moved in yesterday.” She drank her water. “Before you get any ideas. I was just being friendly to our new neighbor.” Not wanting, meeting a man on the elevator to be a big deal.
“Fine.” Jacky retreated to the living room. That was easy, she reflected. Knowing Jacky, that was not the end of it. “There’s breakfast on the table,” Jacky shouted. “Why do you need to run anyway, as if you are not fit enough?”
“I love it. It clears my mind and helps me relieve my stress. It’s also a good exercise. You should come run with me.” She grabbed a coffee and a plate of toast and egg.
“Never,” Jacky said with distaste. There was no way she would mess up her hair and get stinky.
Dani plopped herself on the other side of the sofa as she lifted her feet to relieve them from the strenuous activity it endured. She munched on his toast and shoved a few bites of egg, before sipping on his coffee.
“So…” Jacky started, standing in front of her.
When she just looked at her questioningly. “What happened to your date with Evan?” Jacky inquired with her hands on both sides of her hips.
“Evan and I discussed my job throughout dinner. He’s very friendly, with a good sense of humor. It was strictly professional, but I did have a good time with his company.” She answered honestly but debated if she should tell her more.
Jacky eyed her carefully. “Why do I feel like there is something more that you’re not telling me?”
She finished her food and drank the last drop of her coffee before putting the cup and plate on the center table. “All was doing well until Alexander showed up. Evan informed me that I will be handling one of his accounts.” Stressing on the last part.
“So, what seemed to be the problem? I could see nothing wrong with that.” Jacky felt confused with her friend’s reaction.
She did not know how she could explain to her friend her true situation without her reading more to it than what it was. A mistake that she did not plan to repeat.
“I also learned that he was the one funding my pro bono cases. In a way, I was sure that he had something to do with the firm hiring me for the position.” Voicing out her irritation with her discovery.
“Wait. So, you’re saying Alexander asked Mr. Blake to hire you. Why would he do that?” Jacky said incredulously. Still, she could not find anything wrong with it. “Anyway, what if he funds your cases? Isn’t that what you were looking for? Someone to back you up.”
“I just don’t like the way it was done.” She could not explain it to her friend. The real reason why she could not work with Alexander.
Jacky was certainly making a good point, but she felt she was being manipulated and she did not like it. She was not sure of his motives, but she believed that he did not help her, out of the goodness of his heart.
“Anyway, what’s the big deal? Why are you so worked up about it?” Jacky was starting to get curious and that was not good. If she did not give her a good enough explanation for this, she would start snooping and she would eventually find out the truth.
“I just don’t like it when I’m kept out of the loop. It felt like I was duped in the circumstance of my employment.” She stood up, cleared up the table, and proceeded to the kitchen. She had to get away from Jacky before she found herself saying more than she wanted to.
She took it upon herself to prepare some snacks and clean up the place while Jacky unpacked the remaining boxes, they brought with them. After a few hours, a little frame on the side, a vase on the corner, and a few shuffling of the furniture, the place was finally to her liking. It finally felt like home.
The apartment was located in an upscale part of the city, which was just a few minutes’ drove to work or a subway away. She decided to touch her trust fund that her grandmother left her, to buy this small apartment.
It was a bit pricey, but she believed it was well worth it. She did not hesitate to ask Jacky to stay with her, which Jacky accepted wholeheartedly.
Tired and hungry, they ended up binging on sweets and chips while Jacky insisted on watching a gossip network, which she argued was relevant to her job. “You’ll never know what information you’ll find in them that can be useful later on.”
“I’ll be right back.” She went to her room, leaving Jacky in the living room. She wanted to take a shower after her busy morning.
Checking on her phone on her nightstand, there were several messages from her mom and a missed call from her dad. She never brought her phone when she went for a jog, not wanting a distraction while she was running.
Shaking her head, she prepared herself for her call. “Hi, Dad.” She answered back as soon as she heard his father’s voice on the line.
“Just wanted to remind you about the party this weekend.” Her dad said in his loud voice.
“I have to check on my schedule Dad. You know that I’m just starting at my new job and I have a lot of responsibilities to attend to.” She explained, but if she was being honest, she was wishing that she could skip the party entirely. She did not feel like attending such events even if it was for a good cause.
“I’m sure you can talk to your boss about it.” He said confidently. Meaning the discussion was over and that she should be there no matter what.
“Ok, Dad. I’ll try.” Wanting nothing more, but to end the call.
The call to her mom was quick, just the usual. Her mom would ask her several questions about her condition. Then, her mom would rattle on about her new projects. She was part of a foundation that helped abused women and kids. Something she also had a soft spot in her heart.
Just liked the other times, if her father did not succeed, he usually used her mother to get what he wanted.
“Remember, it would be this Saturday. I will appreciate it if you’ll come.” Her mom said in her very sweet voice.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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