My fingers knotted into fists and the grin on my face spread wide from cheek to cheek. Moulton was behind me and this new world was building itself around me. I couldn’t wait to explore it.
Chapter Twenty
The building was historical and the curve of its front came to a point at the street. More like points, it was amazing. I stood outside it, taking in the swarms of people around me in movement, gazing up at the place that would be my home and I couldn’t see the roof in the least. I’d always been able to see it. In Moulton one saw roofs.
“Mr. Jude’s penthouse is located at the top in the curve. You’ll like that,” Williams said as he walked up behind me carrying my luggage. “Come with me.”
I tore my eyes from the structure and like a child hurried behind him inside. Williams had to punch in a code to get us further than that. A man in a suit was standing at the door and Williams introduced me: “this is Miss Samantha Knox. She will be living in Mr. Jude’s penthouse.” The man nodded and stepped back for us to go forward. Once we got to the bank of elevators I was thankful that Williams wasn’t leaving. I couldn’t figure this out alone. My hands were shaking, from excitement or fear, which one I wasn’t sure. The unknown was all around me.
We stopped on the eleventh floor and the doors opened. A long hallway led to a set of double doors and Williams looked to me. “You should have the code to the keyless entry in your instructions miss.”
Oh. Yes I did.
Quickly I got out the paper that Jamie had printed for me and scanned to the bottom. The numbers 382650 were waiting there for me. I located and looked at the door’s keypad and then I asked William’s a question.
“I just put this number in here?”
“Yes miss,” was his response.
So I did. Punched it carefully.
Like magic the lock slid away with a click and I opened the door for the first time. The view was instantaneous. Forgetting to walk inside I stood there and took it all in. What I could see from the doorway. The entryway alone was bigger than my house in Moulton, maybe double.
“Would you like to go in?” Williams asked me.
I snapped out of my daze and stepped inside so he could follow and set my bag down.
“This is where I leave you mam. If you have any questions just call Felicity. She’s a real pro at her job.”
I wanted to ask William’s to stay. He was the only person I knew in this city of over eight million people, not counting tourists and whatnot, though I couldn’t restrain the driver. He had a job, other people to pick up.
“Thank you so much Williams. You’ve been great.”
He nodded, turned and left me. Closing the double doors behind him. I moved to lock them, but the slide on its own, made its familiar click. I realized it did that internally.
Turning back to my new home I began to smile, then laughed until I cried. This was real, I was here, experiencing this and it had all happened in a week. I left my suitcase where Williams had placed it and walked over to the full-length windows. Floor to ceiling, a first for me. They lined what looked like a living room area and I tell you the view was amazing. I wanted to sleep right here. Wake up to this view every morning.
If my sisters could see this they would pass out. Bessy would lose her mind. If I had a camera I would take photos and send them home every week. But that was something I never saved up for. I guess they cost lots of dollars.
There was a list on the counter in the kitchen for me. I made my way through into the next room and found an all white kitchen, with equally beautiful views. The only color in the kitchen was the black marble counters and the amber light fixtures on the ceiling. There was a fresh arrangement of flowers sitting in the middle of the island. Beside it was a sheet of paper. I walked over and picked it up, finding what Felicity had promised. Everything I needed to know. Beside it was an envelope. I found a black American Express card with my name embossed across it. There was a stack of one hundred dollar bills that weren’t Monopoly money. I dropped both of them directly back onto the counter like they were on fire or something. Then I went back to my note. Surely there was an explanation.
I knew I’d have a card, but my name was on this one, and the cash was without reason. I quickly read her letter, looking up only briefly, to see what she was talking about. I glanced toward the white swinging door that led to another section. I figured the first door on the right was meant to be my room.
The money was mine. My first weeks pay. I picked it up and counted the hundred dollar bills because the man was paying me in cash. I found that odd, but I didn’t argue. I assumed I would be responsible for my taxes. Since he wasn’t cutting them out. I’d need to ask Felicity about that. I had no idea how that worked.
The card was for the needs of the penthouse. It was in my name to make it easier for me to use in the stores. They could also keep a better record on what I spent for the place. That made sense to me. I wouldn’t go on any wild sprees. Didn’t want to party down in the penthouse.
Once I was sure I knew everything I should do today, I slowly walked towards the door, to enter the room that was mine.
“Holy, mother of pearl!”
Again, it was all white. With the exception of a tan chair and ottoman sleekly sitting in the corner. Some paintings with a charcoal grey were hanging perfectly centered on the wall. The blanket on the corner of the bed was the same color as the paintings. Other than that it was all very white, the views from the three windows overlooking the busy city. This was a different side of the building from the one I had previously viewed. I stood taking in everything below me, as if that world couldn’t touch me.
The note said there was a grocery store two blocks west of here. I would go and find that next. Felicity had listed a few local deli’s and bakery’s she thought I’d enjoy. I appreciated her help.
There was also a library in this very building and a spa for tenants and guests. I wanted to go find them both. They had a basketball court, of which I had no interest, though it was nice to know they had one. I headed back down the hall to the entry onto the balcony. Felicity said there were plants to water outside the penthouse.
As I stepped into the open it wasn’t like the balcony of a penthouse in New York City. It was similar to an English garden. There were plants and flowers everywhere. Lounging furniture that looked so comfortable one could sleep on it like a bed. The only way you would know it wasn’t a garden was to walk over to the edge and look at the view below you. It was like having the best of both worlds. I didn’t know why Hale would ever leave, for it was all I’d dreamed about.