The Property Brokers by Sandi Lynn
Chapter 8
Bella
As soon as I left the building, I pulled my phone from my purse and called Krystal.
“Hey you. How’s New York.”
“Great so far. I sold that property you emailed me about.”
“Way to go, girl! I knew you would! How much?”
“11.5 cash deal.”
“You just made four hundred and sixty thousand dollars and you’ve only been there a day and a half. I think you need to head over to Fifth Avenue and buy yourself a new designer handbag.”
“I just might.” I laughed.
“Treat yourself, sweetie. I’ll talk to you later. My client just got here. Congrats!”
“Thanks, Krystal. We’ll talk soon.”
I was trying to catch a cab and just as I flagged one down and he pulled up to the curb, some asshole guy flew in front of me and climbed in before I could.
“Sorry, I’m running late.” He slammed the door.
“Asshole!” I shouted and he smiled at me.
Shaking my head, I decided to walk down the street. As I turned the corner, I saw five animal cages lined up outside a pet store. While I was walking by, my eye caught the attention of an all-white cat with deep blue eyes. I stopped as it looked up at me and meowed.
“She’s a beauty, isn’t she?” An older woman asked as she walked over to me.
“She is. Is she a Persian?”
“Yes, and she’s a year old. Her owners relocated out of state and decided they couldn’t take her with them.”
“Oh my gosh. That’s so sad. What’s her name?”
“Duchess.”
I knelt and stuck my finger through the cage and Duchess rubbed her head against it. She started to purr, and I was done for.
“She likes you,” the woman spoke. “She’s up for adoption if you’re interested.”
I shouldn’t. I should. I can’t. I can. I won’t. Damn, I will.
“I’ll take her.”
“Excellent. I’ll just need you to fill out this paperwork.” She handed me a clipboard. “The adoption fee is $100, and we take cash, check or credit card. This is the food she’s on. So, you’re going to want to go into the store and pick up a bag along with all the kitty essentials.”
“Great. I’ll do that as soon as I’m done filling out the papers.”
After filling out the adoption papers, I handed her a one-hundred-dollar bill and then went inside and did some shopping for Duchess. Once I paid for everything, including the fancy cat carrier, I got myself an uber.
“Is that a cat?” the driver asked.
“Yes.”
“Sorry, lady. I don’t allow animals in my SUV.”
“She’s in a carrier for god sakes and we’re not going far.”
“I have rules.”
Glaring at him, I reached into my purse and pulled out a hundred-dollar bill.
“See this?” I flashed it in front of his face. “This is your tip if you let Duchess in your SUV, drive us home and help me carry all this stuff up to my apartment.”
“Fine. I guess I can make an exception.” He took the money from me, and I immediately snatched it out of his hand.
“Not until the job is done.”
As I sat in the back of the SUV, I texted Grant my address.
“250 West Street. Apt. 6C.”
“Look at that. We’re practically neighbors. I’m on Murray Street.”
“Let me guess. You’re in the One Eleven building.”
“I am. I’ll see you tonight. I just got to a listing pitch.”
“Good luck.”
When I arrived home, Duchess explored every inch of the apartment while I set up her litterbox, food, and water. Falling on my couch, she jumped on me and started purring. There was no way I could her leave alone tonight in her new home, so I decided Grant and I would have to order dinner in.
It was seven fifty-five when I heard a knock on the door. I inhaled a sharp breath when I opened it and saw Grant standing there in a dark gray silky dress shirt and black dress pants.
“Hi.” The corners of his mouth curved upward.
“Hey. Come in.” I gestured. “Change of plans.”
“What do you mean?” He stepped inside.
Duchess walked over to investigate him, and I picked her up.
“Grant, meet Duchess. Duchess, this is Grant.” I held her up to him.
“Wow. She’s really furry,” he spoke as he gave her head a scratch.
“I just adopted her this afternoon, and I don’t want to leave her alone her first night here. So, I thought we could just order a pizza or something.”
“Sure. That’s fine,” he spoke as he looked around my space with his hands tucked into his pants pockets. “This is great. Everything is so — white.” He smirked. “I love the arched eight-foot windows and this amazing view of the Hudson,” he said as he stared out the window. “Did you buy it? Because I don’t recall seeing this listed.”
“No. I’m renting. But I did get the seller to agree to sell it to me in six months if I want to buy it, taking the rent payments off the sale price.”
“Seriously?” he let out a chuckle. “Damn. I’ve never heard of a seller doing that before. What do you like on your pizza? I’ll call it in.”
“Ham, mushrooms, green pepper and onion. Good?”
The corners of his mouth curved upward. “Excellent choice.”
I looked away, went to the kitchen, and opened a bottle of wine.
“Can I pour you a glass of wine?”
“Yeah. That’ll be great. Judging by some of the boxes, I’d say you just moved in.”
“I moved in a couple days ago.” I handed him his glass. “I flew in right from Hawaii.”
“I see. Sauvignon Blanc, eh?” He cleared his throat.
That’s what he did when he was nervous. Only he didn’t know I knew. He’d done it the first couple of days after we met in Hawaii.
“I thought you were in California?”
“I was in Hawaii meeting a client.”
“Where at in Hawaii?” he asked.
“The Four Seasons Resort in Maui.”
“Nice.” He cleared his throat.
The doorbell rang and he was saved.
“That must be the pizza,” I said.
“I’ll get it.” He walked over to the door.
I grabbed two plates from the cabinet and smiled when I looked down and saw Duchess eating her food.
“Do you just want me to set it on the table?” Grant asked.
“Yeah. That’s fine.”
I grabbed a couple of napkins and took the plates over to the table.
