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chapter one
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You gazed at the real estate agent in disbelief.
"So, as you can see, it really is a stellar piece of real estate - one you'd be mad to miss out on!" she chimed, oblivious to your shock, in a voice reminiscent of candy floss and toffee apples. "We do have a lot of interested renters, so I must warn you, if you want it, you'll need to be quick."
You blinked at her for a long moment. Surely she couldn't be serious? But you composed yourself quickly.
"I'm sorry, I must be mistaken," you smiled sweetly at the agent - Cindy, her nametag read. "I thought I was here to view the..."
You dug into your handbag - this season's Gucci, thank you very much - and fished out the paper you'd printed containing the viewing details with a perfectly lacquered pink fingernail. "...the 'luxury loft apartment with panoramic views'."
Cindy flashed you a grin, which would have been reassuring, had it not been so wide and forced it seemed she was baring her teeth rather than actually smiling. "Yes, sweetie, that's correct."
You glanced at your surroundings.
Panoramic was right. You felt like you'd hiked Everest just getting up here.
"It's all... one room," you murmured, gazing around at the kitchen-slash-lounge-slash hallway, with only the bedroom and bathroom meriting their own separate spaces. "Where am I supposed to entertain guests? Have soirees? Cocktail parties? I'm supposed to do it all... here?"
You motioned vaguely to the vast empty space in front of you, and Cindy let out a strange sound that almost resembled a laugh, before she caught herself. But you didn't miss the way her eyes travelled over your suit, your perfectly blown out hair, your designer pumps, with a slight look of disdain painting her features.
You bristled at her attention, knowing exactly what she was thinking about the uptown girl who was slumming it in the big city. It made you stand a little straighter, glaring back at her until she spoke again.
"You know, it's very rare that an apartment has an open plan living space like this," Cindy chirruped now with a proud, vindictive smile, clearly expecting you to drop to your knees in gratitude.
Oh god, you panicked, stomach turning to a bundle of nerves as you remembered that this drafty ass apartment was the very top of your budget. What have I gotten myself into?
The bubble of hope that had formed in your chest as you stormed out of your father's office earlier that day was already deflating fast. There was still a tiny part of you that believed a miracle might come along any moment now; and yet, you had spent all afternoon browsing apartments, and you knew this was the best you could get on your current salary.
