𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑙

2: 𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶

♥︎
clara

I admit, it takes a few minutes to register that I'm stood outside of the apartment building that I'll be living in for the next year.

Oh my goodness, I'm really doing this.

It's four hours later (after a really long flight, that I spent most of sleeping) and here I am, stood on the street that I'll walk on to everyday.

Maybe I'll go to the coffee street across the way to watch people (not in a weird way), or to Central Park which is only a five minute walk. Maybe I'll make friends with the neighbours of the flat. Maybe I'll volunteer at the food bank down the road. There are so many possibilities. So many that I'm way too excited to start living here than I should be.

Everything of what I've seen so far is busy. It took a whole hour for what I guessed to be a normal twenty minute in the yellow taxi I got to the building, and people walk past you without a care in the world. I'm probably going to get lost. No, in fact I know that I'll get lost.

That's what maps are for though, so as long as I don't fall in to a ditch and die, I'll be just fine.

I also know that I'll have to somehow work out the subway system if I want to get around easier, but doing that with a suitcase didn't seem quite right to do today. I really don't think that would have worked out very well.

And plus, I really need a nap. Like really.

That is, after I meet my new roommates.

Why I'm in New York in the first place is because of a position in a project that got offered to me by the biggest programming/computing company in the country: Harpers International Software Ltd.
The project is for programmers who have a PhD in computer science, wanting to receive more experience in our field before starting a career. It's super exclusive, and I can't even express how grateful I am that they offered me a place.

I'm pretty good at programming, if do say so myself, but getting in to this project has been a dream of mine for the past five years.

So this is really cool. Like cool cool.

The company provides all of the programmers in the project accommodation in New York, as well as a wage for the job itself. Most of the work I do will be from home, but some days I'll have to go in to the headquarters to check in with my 'manager'.

When I spoke to her just yesterday, Mrs. Jenkins said that one of my three roommates will be there to let me in when I arrive and show me the basics, since they have already done their year of the project. She seemed so desperate to get off the phone, that I didn't think twice to ask her about them. 

I'm also not sure why my new roommates still live in one of the company's buildings, but I'm not one to question them.

I pat down my bag to make everything - including Ellie - is in there, finally making my way to the entrance so I can see my new apartment. Well, not mine - like at all - but you catch my drift.

The door man of the swanky building - with really pretty marble floors and walls - opens the entrance and directs me to the small reception desk where a man behind it sits. I don't think about how he's probably watched me gawking for the last five minutes.

Mrs Jenkins said I need to talk to the reception desk about getting up to my new home, and now I have to face the man who probably thinks I'm a weirdo.

Have I mentioned how crazy this all is?

I had no idea that the building itself would be this cool. It's really beautiful inside, with large chandeliers and perfect pretty plants every where.
Each step of my trainers echos in the lobby, making the man behind the desk look up to meet my eyes.

Jeez, this is intimidating.

"Hi!" I say with a smile, dragging my suitcase behind me. The man behind the desk is of the older generation, with salt and pepper hair, and dressed in this odd red velvet suit. "I'm new to the building and I was told that I need to get directions or something, because I'm not really sure where to go, so if you could please-" I speak, motioning with my hands but cut myself off with a deep breath.

Calm down, Clara.

"Hello Miss, I'm Benny." The man gives his hand out for me to shake, which I do. His hand doesn't feel very nice, but I shake it anyway, just to be polite. "Are you Clara Everly, by any chance? I was informed by the company of your arrival."

"Nice to meet you, Benny, and yep," I let out a breath that blows a strand of hair out of my face, "That's me."

"Great miss, I'll call Mr. Mastalli down to collect you." Benny replies with a strained smile. Is something wrong? Is he having a heart attack or somethings? Because he looks in pain.

"Oh, please, it's Clara." I say when his face returns to normal, I don't want to be rude and say something, though clearly there's a problem here.

"Okay, Clara, just give me a minute." Benny holds up a finger with a small smile and picks up the phone on his desk, speaking to someone on the other side so quietly that I can't hear. The man looks like he's about to cry.

Whilst he does this thing he has going on, I wonder who Mr Mastalli is. One of my new roommates? It must be.

I didn't really think about whether I would be with boys or girls, since it has never mattered to me before, but maybe I should have checked with Mrs. Jenkins - the manager - since all she said about them is that they're nice people and approved by the program before rushing me away.

Oh well, I guess it's too late now.

As I'm then thinking of a dream nap with Ellie, one of the elevator doors opens at the other end of the large foyer. It has someone who looks like a security guard stood outside, with a gun strapped around his body and large protective padding. Jeez.

A man - who is woah, the size of a fricking tower - then starts to stride in our direction. Dressed in an all black suit with no tie and the top buttons just undone, he looks like some James Bond type. The man's hair is shaved in to a short cut, but what's left over is dark brown.

He is so pretty. Woah.

When I notice that I've been fricking staring at him for like five hours, I turn around to face Benny. Yep, he's a safe option. He looks like a grandpa, and I mean that in the nicest way ever. Grandparents are just so cute. Benny doesn't seem like a grandpa though, and not in the good way.

But then Benny stands up and speaks to the man - who I presume is closer - but I refuse to look at. Even Benny looks scared again, or maybe nervous? "Mr Mastalli, this is the new girl roommate of yours." Okay sir, but I have a name-

"I assume she has a name. Use it next time." Mr Mastalli is clearly closer than I realise because his deep, really nice voice is like right next to me and I can see his shiny dress shoes. Wow I can see my face in them, I make a silly face but quickly realise where I am.

"Y-yes, sorry, Sir. Of course." I hear Benny reply.

Maybe I should look up now. Yep I'm going to do that.

Okay, he can't be that intimidating. Woman up Clara. I take a deep breath and place a smile on my face. 

The first thing I see, holy shoot, his eyes- a deep brown - are so beautiful.  "Hi, Mr Mastalli is it? I'm Clara, your new roommate. I think." I say and nearly wince. Imagine if this guy isn't my roommate, I mean I know Benny just said he is but just imagine-

"Hello, Clara." Mr Mastalli's baritone voice shakes through me. He looks at me with a calculated expression, as if trying to figure me out. The tower of a man takes my stuck out hand and lightly shakes it, his large one completely encompassing my small one. It's rough and strong at the end of muscular arms and broad shoulders. This close up, I can see the man has at least a foot and a half on me, and I'm 5 foot.

It's also kind of embarrassing how my face only reaches his abdomen. Is this guy a basketball player or something? Because he should be.

When he speaks again, I'm floored. "And please, call me Vincent."

_____________________
ఌ
hi
ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴏʀ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ
- daisy☺︎︎