“Looking forward to moving in?” Chris asks, joining me.
“Yeah,” I reply, for the first time actually picturing myself living here. Being here every night. Can I do that?
“So the launch on Friday evening,” Chris says. “The developers wanted to showcase it before signing off. You know, get investors interested in their upcoming projects. It’s also a good opportunity for all the contractors and companies who have worked on the project to network.”
“Yes, Sarah mentioned it.” I pull up, thinking. A launch. Showcasing. Networking.She’llbe here.
“You should come.”
Chris reads my mind, and I turn a smile onto him. “You know, I think I will.” I back up into the open-plan lounge, looking up the back-lit staircase. The detail she’s put into this. It’s incredible.
“Actually,” Chris says, pulling my attention back to him. He smiles, and I know what’s coming. I laugh under my breath and head out the bifold doors onto the terrace. The jacuzzi, the limestone slabs, the sun loungers. All this would be wasted if I didn’t stay here. The view over the docks. I didn’t give that the time of day either. It’s stunning. I feel like my eyes are open for the first time in as long as I can remember.
Chris follows me out, joining me to take in the view. “I noticed you’re... well...” He can’t locate his words, and I find it highly amusing.
“You been looking into me?’ I ask, slipping my hands into my pockets.
He chuckles. It’s awkward as fuck. “We have to check the financial stability of anyone who offers on our properties, of course.”
“Of course,” I murmur.Come on, Chris. Spit it out.
“Well, anyway, it came to my attention that you own... run... have...”
This is getting embarrassing. I cast my eyes over to him. “The Manor,” I say. “It’s called The Manor.”
“Yes. The Manor. And what would one do to become a member of The Manor?”
“One gets endorsed.”
“How?”
“By other members who can vouch for them.”
“Oh. I don’t know any other members.” He frowns at the view, and I smile.
“You know me, Chris,” I say, putting him out of his misery. I’m done playing with him. “And lucky for you, I’m not just a member, by default, of course. I also own it.” I reach into my pocket and pull out a card, handing it to him. “Call Sarah. She’ll fix you up.” The look on his face. Anyone would think I’d just given him a free pass to paradise. Yes, it’s paradise for many. But it certainly won’t be free. Perhaps his commission on this place will cover it. At least, for a while.
He takes the card and I head back inside. “I won’t be too long.”
I lied. I spent over an hour roaming the penthouse, taking in every little detail that I never noticed before. Like I said, open eyes. I drop Cathy home and take her bags into the kitchen, letting her kiss my cheek before I leave. Then I drive to my rental, stopping off at the supermarket on my way.
When I get back, I stand in the middle of the lounge, gazing at the cold, clinical space. It’s unhomely. Because it’s never been a home. Just a crash pad. A complete waste of money, to be honest, but my good intentions were always there when I rented it. Still are. I planned to stay here most nights but... well, it just never seems to happen.
I pull my T-shirt off and dump my bag on the worktop in the kitchen before pulling out a fresh jar of my vice and unscrewing the lid, tossing it on the side and dumping myself on the couch. I flick on the TV and surf the channels until I find something suitably mind-numbing to watch. Then I sigh and slump back as I have my first dip of the day.
I’ve worked my way through half the jar before I know it, and when I glance at my watch, I see it’s only six o’clock. What the fuck am I going to do all night?
Alcohol.
I cast aside my peanut butter and stand, wandering over to the cabinet, assessing each and every bottle. My hands find the side of the wood, bracing there, my body bent over, my eyes laser beams.Alcohol.Alcohol kills time and guilt. But, right now, it’ll also kill this revitalized feeling I’ve got going on.
Knock. Knock.
I straighten quickly.
“Jesse?”
My shoulders drop, my eyes turning slowly onto the door.