What is Love Without Lust?

Joshua Price had always hated flying. He hated the impossible queues; the plastic, cold-smiling attendents; the churning of his stomach when the plane rose and fell. But for this particular flight, all of the negativity of air travel was drowned out by his sheer terror of his destination: New York. 

Joshua was a writer and thinker for a website which was designed for philosophical ponderers, he worked odd jobs on the side to compensate for the pathetic salary the site paid him. However, a magazine based in New York, a prestigious magazine read by only the wise and recognised, had read his entries and offered him a writer's position. The pay was equal to that of lawyers and it offered an escape from his cupboardy flat in East London. How could he say no?

As the plane took off, he remembered all of the movies he had seen set in New York. All he could remember were cheesy romantic comedies, gangster films, and disaster flicks. It was going to be worse than he had originally thought.  

~

The taxi ride through Queens from JFK airport to Manhattan was grim. All Joshua could see were empty, caged playgrounds and hunched hooded figures. The taxi drove past a graveyard which lasted for about five minutes of the journey. He certainly hoped he wouldn't end up there any time soon, but with the amout of crime he had seen in the films and the fact that he couldn't inflict any more pain than a child with his slender frame didn't help his chances. But what he lacked in physcial strength he made up for in his dry wit and quick thinking. He was already coming up with snarky comebacks to every insult he could think of.

'So, you're British?' asked the raspy taxi driver. He eyed Joshua through the rearview mirror. Joshua stared back.

'Correct.' Joshua replied clearly, pronoucing every consonant. The driver snorted.

'You talk so posh. Did ya enjoy tea with the Queen?' The driver cackled to himself. Joshua smirked, he had saw this one online.

'One: it's "poshly"; two: did you enjoy McDonalds with Obama?; and three: I suggest you carry on driving and keep your petty racism to yourself if you don't want me to make a complaint.' the driver's face immediately turned sour and fixed his eyes back on the road. Joshua resisted the temptation to gloat and continued to inspect his surroundings, which was now mostly dominated by billboards. 

~

It didn't take long for the driver to find Joshua's new flat, or rather, apartment. He didn't hesitate in speeding off after almost snatching the money out of his hands. 

Joshua turned around on the sidewalk and looked up at where he would be staying for what he thought would be years. It was small but it looked at least cleaner than his original lair. Joshua picked his very limited belongs which he managed to stuff into two suitcaes, and made his way up the stone stairs. He was only on the first floor so he didn't have far to climb, but when he reached door number three, there was a note pinned onto it. Joshua plucked it off and read it. It said:

Dear Mr. Price,

                         The manager of 'The Rational Thinker' has recently learned of your financial situation after reading our file on you.

Joshua didn't recall sending them anything. He dissmissed the matter and returned to the page.

He came to inspect the apartment which you intend to rent personally...

Again, Joshua never told them where he was staying.

... and he has come to the conclusion that your lodgings are far too unstuitable for a writer of such standards.

Joshua was flattered by the sneaky compliment. 

Mr. Brass has picked out a new apartment for you to stay. It is much closer to the offices and is incredibly more comfortable. The rent will be taken from your paycheck until you can pay it yourself, it is Mr. Bass' wish that you stay there.

Below you will find an address, make your way there and make yourself at home. The key is attached to the back of this letter.

We look forward to being in your company tomorrow morning.

Sincerely, Mr. Bass' secretary, Mrs. Hughe. 

Joshua flipped over the letter and the key was there. It was quite big, silver and sleek. He also studied the address below, if he remembered correctly it was quite near Times Square. He did a double take. It couldn't be. Times Square? Why was Mr. Bass doing this? And how and why on Earth did he create a file on him? What was exactly on there? Joshua imagined various conclusions but scrapped them all thinking them ridiculous.  He hailed another taxi and gave the driver his new address. Slowly, but surely, Joshua headed towards a new life, which unknown to him, was going to open him to horizons he never dreamed of seeing.