Chapter 1
Elena
New state.
New job.
A new place to finally call home.
Dragging my suitcase across the polished lobby floor along with the overstuffed backpack threatening to slide off my shoulder; I stopped at the reception desk.
A close friend had recommended this apartment after mentioning the owner was looking for a tenant. The rent had eaten almost half of my savings, but the moment I walked through the front doors, I knew it was worth every cent.
The building wasn’t luxurious in the five-star-hotel kind of way.
It felt... lived in.
Warm.
Elegant.
The kind of apartment Jennifer Lopez would live in during thePapimusic video-minus the flashy grills and backup dancers. Which, coincidentally, happens to be one of my favourite songs.
The reception area featured a sleek marble counter streaked with black and gold veins that shimmered beneath the hanging lights. The apartment building itself was only five levels with four units on each floor.
Thankfully, it had elevators.
Thank you, Jesus.
I’m not lazy by any means, but four flights of stairs is my limit-especially after carrying luggage all day.
While I admired the intricate metalwork winding around the staircase, a gentle tap on my shoulder pulled me from my thoughts.
I turned to find a smiling woman in what looked like her mid-forties dressed in a burgundy uniform. Her name tag readCeline.
“Hi. You must be Elena, our new tenant.”
“That obvious?” I laughed. “Yep, that’s me.”
“It’s lovely to finally meet you.”
“The pleasure’s mine. Is the owner around? I’d love to thank her personally.”
“I’m afraid she’s out today,” Celine replied apologetically. “But I’ll let her know you stopped by.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem at all.” She clasped her hands together. “Now, would you like me to show you around before you settle in? Or would you rather head to your apartment first?”
I hadn’t expected such a warm welcome.
Somehow, the knot of anxiety sitting in my chest since leaving home loosened just a little.
“I’d love the tour, if you’re not too busy.”
“Pfft.” She waved me off. “Sweetheart, you’re hardly a bother. I’d much rather spend time with you than deal with another one of Adrina’s daily complaints.”
I couldn’t help laughing.
“I probably shouldn’t laugh...”
“Oh, please.” She rolled her warm brown eyes dramatically. “I’d laugh too.”
She gestured toward the reception desk.
“Leave your bags here. Antonio will bring them up while we walk.”
I hesitated for only a second before setting them neatly beside the counter.
Whoever Antonio was, I hoped he didn’t mind heavy luggage.
Celine led me through a hallway beside the reception.
It opened into a surprisingly spacious gym.
Rows of modern equipment lined one wall while floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city.
I wasn’t much of a gym person.
Running was about the only exercise I willingly subjected myself to, so the treadmills would probably become my best friends.
“This is our gym,” Celine explained. “Residents have twenty-four-hour access. We also allow outside members, but only during designated hours.”
“Is it usually busy?”
“Most of the time.” She grinned mischievously. “Although after midnight, it empties out.”
She leaned closer.
“But if you’re looking for eye candy...”
I blinked.
“...come before midnight.”
Heat instantly rushed to my face.
“Oh, God, no.”
She burst into laughter.
“After midnight it is, then.”
“So shy.”
“Just a little.”
The pool came next.
It was beautiful.
Crystal-clear water reflected the afternoon sun while lounge chairs lined the surrounding deck.
Celine went over the usual rules until she reached one that made my heart sink.
“No bikinis or swimsuits, no entry.”
Well...
There goes my interest.
Swimming had never been my thing anyway, but there was no chance I was voluntarily walking around half-dressed in front of strangers.
“I probably won’t be using the pool much.”
“Oh?” Celine tilted her head.
“I’m not much of a swimmer.”
“That’s a shame.” She smiled knowingly. “You’d definitely turn a few heads.”
I nearly choked.
“I highly doubt that.”
She stopped walking altogether.
“What? You don’t think you’re beautiful?”
I shifted awkwardly.
“I think I look... normal.”
And I meant it.
I had big brown eyes, long lashes that people constantly assumed were fake, shoulder-length dark curls and skin permanently kissed by the sun.
At five foot six, I was annoyingly skinny thanks to a metabolism that never seemed to slow down.
No dramatic curves.
No model figure.
Just... me.
“Elena.”
Celine folded her arms.
“Being beautiful and knowing you’re beautiful aren’t the same thing.”
I looked at her.
She wasn’t joking.
“You are beautiful.”
There wasn’t much I could say to that.
So I smiled.
“Thank you.”
Back in the lobby, Celine pointed toward the elevators.
“These two are always operating. If they ever give you trouble, let Antonio know. He’s our handyman.”
“And you’re the one who keeps everything running?”
She laughed.
“I do the paperwork. Antonio does the heavy lifting.”
“Sounds like a good partnership.”
“It usually is.”
As the elevator doors opened, we stepped inside.
“Oh, before I forget,” Celine said, pressing the button for the fifth floor. “All mail comes through reception first. I’ll place yours in the mailbox beside your apartment.”
“I doubt I’ll be getting much mail.”
“You never know.”
The elevator climbed smoothly.
Mirror panels reflected us from every angle.
I quickly tucked a loose curl behind my ear, silently thanking the mirrors for giving me a chance to look halfway presentable before starting work tomorrow.
The doors chimed open.
Fifth floor.
Celine led the way.
We turned left.
Then another left.
And I walked straight into someone.
“Oh my gosh!”
Strong hands steadied me before I could lose my balance.
“I’m so sorry.”
“It’s alright.”
The voice alone should’ve been illegal.
Deep.
Smooth.
Dangerously calm.
I looked up.
And promptly forgot how to breathe.
He was easily six-foot-three, dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit that somehow looked effortless. Dark hair fell carelessly across his forehead as though it had been styled to look messy without actually being messy.
His eyes caught me completely off guard.
Green.
With faint blue flecks that shifted beneath the hallway lights.
Sharp jaw.
Broad shoulders.
Lips that looked permanently caught between amusement and confidence.
God had definitely shown off with this one.
“Don’t worry,” he said, his lips curving into a smile. “Pleasure’s all mine.”
“Celine?” he greeted.
She stepped forward with a grin.
“Damien. Perfect timing.”
She turned toward me.
“Elena, this is Damien. One of our tenants.”
Of course he lived here.
Naturally.
Because apparently the universe thought I needed another reason to embarrass myself.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Damien.”
“Just Damien.”
His smile widened ever so slightly.
“I’ll see you around, Elena.”
Something flickered across his expression before he continued toward the elevators.
Curiosity?
Recognition?
I couldn’t quite place it.
As he rounded the corner, I glanced back.
At the exact same moment...
He looked back too.
Our eyes met.
We both snapped our heads away so quickly it would’ve put professional athletes to shame.
My cheeks burned.
Again.
Celine only smiled to herself before unlocking the second apartment on the left.
She pushed the door open.
Sunlight spilled through the windows.
Warm wooden floors.
Soft cream walls.
A small balcony overlooking the city.
Home.
At least...
I hoped it would be.
