Closer - A Connections Sequel [Ongoing]

Twenty one

Valerie P.O.V.

"Fuck!" Carter cursed loudly from his office. I hurried over and popped my head in to see him pacing back and forth with a deep frown, clutching onto his phone.

"Hey, are you okay?" I stepped closer and placed my hands on both his arms soothingly.

"Hey, yeah, yeah I'm fine." He smiled tightly. "They just didn't find anything from the club from the night you were drugged which is really unfortunate."

"Oh," I pouted. "That does really suck. I hope it doesn't happen to any more girls."

"Me too, gorgeous. At least we have reported it so they can be more aware."

"Yeah, it really just shows you can never be too careful." I nodded. "So are you ready to visit some more houses today?" I switched subjects.

A smile spread across his face. "Yes, of course."

"Then let's get going." I beamed, taking his hand.

We met with the real estate agent Charlie once more, who led us through a few open homes and showed us some of the places on offer.

On the third house visit is when I was pleasantly surprised for the first time. It was a beautiful two story home, open concept and very spacious with a modernised touch to the classic feel. It didn't feel so minimalist or bare that it felt like a museum, but it was also modern enough so that it was sleek. A perfect balance of cosiness and style.

The humble abode resided in a gated community area, which was perfect for us as we required the extra privacy. The driveway and front footpath was also a lengthy ways from the curb side. The lawn was nice and green with a few neatly groomed shrubs, flowerbeds and a small structural fountain. There was a three-car garage, two that were visible from the front, and one hidden in the back. Upon entering through the large wooden door, I noticed the high ceiling, which gave the space a bigger and airy feeling. Pendant lights hung from above a mirror and credenza in the entrance foyer, before the house tapered off into different areas of living.

It contained an entrance door from the garage to the left, and behind a little nook was the staircase. To the right was a small living room or sitting room as some might say. Past the foyer and also on the right, was a guest vanity bathroom, two small empty rooms that could be studies or storage, and further down was the second living room, kitchen and dining area which was in a large interconnected space.

I ran my hands over the gorgeous marble countertops, the cabinets and over to the stainless steel refrigerator. Everything was so glossy and smooth, perfectly curated in a blend of matching color tones.

"It's beautiful," I murmured.

Carter nodded in agreement as he ran his eyes over the entire area, inspecting it within his own mind. From the living room, the house opened up into a patio in the backyard where there was a beautifully landscaped garden and a large green lawn. The best part however, was the jellybean shaped pool, spa and entertaining area that contained a gazebo with a fire pit and barbecue. From the backyard you could make your way around the side of the house towards the garage where the gym was also located nearby.

There was this feeling I instantly felt when I saw everything. I felt like my breath was taken away. Everything so far, was perfect. I could imagine it all. My future with Carter in this place.

After touring the entirety of the lower floor, we re-entered and headed up the staircase. It was a five- bedroom place with two ensuites and a full bathroom.

The master was a huge room with a balcony looking out at the garden and huge automatic blackout curtains. That was awesome. The ensuite bathroom was equally as beautifully finished as the kitchen, including a large rainfall shower, spacious tub and double basin sinks. The closet was also quite spacious with pre-arranged shelving and racks. I could see that we may need to do a bit of readjusting there, however, overall I loved it. And so did Carter. There was another second bedroom that too contained it's own ensuite but was smaller and less grand than the master. Lastly, there were two other regular bedrooms with a main bathroom.