The look on her face told me I didn’t want to know the answer to that question.
THE AGENT
CHLOE
Ididn’t know someone’s face was capable of turning crimson red until Dante stepped into the lobby of the next apartment building.
He also managed to show off a rather unique shade of red when we reached The Croft, but I think the current building—The Raven—had them both beat.
I covered my face with my hands as we entered the latest indoor pool area and came face to face with a bubbling bowl of swamp green and brown water.
“That’s it.” Dante hissed at the manager. “Pack up your fucking office and get the hell out. I’ve got it from here.”
“It was blue yesterday, sir, I swear!” the manager pleaded. “We were having a pool party and everything.”
“Bullshit.” He pointed to the door. “Leave. Now.”
I watched him make phone calls to other engineers, and for the rest of the day, we fell into a similar pattern of him cursing at managers and demanding change plans.
I considered tipping off the media to his plans—to get him some much-needed good press—but I held off.
This soon would be performative.
It needed to breathe for a few weeks…
By the time we returned to my place, it was a little after eight, and his Audi was untouched as promised.
“Maybe you should look at my place another time,” I suggested as we walked up my steps. “It’s been a pretty long day for you.”
“It’s just one more,” he said. “I’d like to see…”
I pushed the door open and was suddenly grateful for the imperfections and lack of upkeep.
Things were bad, but compared to what we’d seen today, my place practically looked luxurious.
Dante didn’t look impressed at all, but he followed me upstairs and tapped a few notes on his phone.
I opened my door and looked over my shoulder.
“You kind of have to duck past this first part so your head won’t touch the ceiling, okay?”
“Oh, and if you need to use the bathroom, we share the one out there,” I said. “Not in here.”
He gave me a blank stare.
I let out a sigh before letting him all the way inside.
He stretched out his hands, nearly touching both sides of my place.
“It’s pretty spacious for this part of town,” I said. “Any bigger and I’d have to pay an extra thousand a month.”
“That’s a twin-sized bed.” He pointed at my mattress. “How have you ever had company over with that?”
“Because I haven’t had company at all.” I crossed my arms, feeling my stomach flip. “Not that my sex life is any of your business.”
“I wasn’t referring to sex.” He smiled. “Just company in general, but good to know…”
“I have foldable chairs in the closet.” I tried to change the subject. “Plus my friend’s space is three times this size, so?—”