Rented

A loud knock on the door shook the tiny apartment, accompanied by the deep rumble of a familiar voice.

"This stupid, cramped place won't let me live my life," I muttered, rolling my eyes as I heard that one word I dreaded.

“Ruth!"

This time, his voice startled me.

"I'm coming!" I called out, hastily wiping nonexistent dust off my pants and rushing barefoot to the door.

"Hi!" I greeted breathlessly, grinning like an idiot as if I had just finished running a marathon.

"When will I get the rent, Ruth?" His stormy grey eyes bore into me, practically seething with anger.

"I, uh..." My words trailed off, feeling the weight of his gaze. I silently began examining him, captivated despite myself. His long lashes, curly brown hair, perfectly pointed nose, soft pink lips, and sharp jawline. It seemed like God took extra care in creating this infuriating man.

"Ruth, stop staring at my face and answer me!" He snapped, breaking my reverie.

Startled, I snapped out of my daze. Mental slap to the face.

"Aramis... I... I'm trying my best. I really am," I pleaded with my eyes, hoping he would show a shred of mercy. But fate had other plans. His eyes, already filled with anger, now unleashed a storm of thunder, making me shiver involuntarily.

"Do you think I have time for your kitty chit-chat? You utter two words about your world falling apart, and suddenly I'm supposed to give you all the time in the universe?" His voice, even when calm, felt like ice on my skin.

"No, that's not what I meant," I stammered, my heart pounding.

“Then what did you mean? You want me to kick you out of here? You're not doing me any favors with that loud music of yours."

“Aramis, please give me some time. I promise I'll pay you back as soon as I can," I implored, my voice quivering.

Skepticism creased his thick eyebrows, and he ran a hand over his stubble, deep in thought.

“One condition," he finally said, raising a finger in front of my face.

“Yes?" I breathed a flood of relief.

“You won't shake the whole building with that wrecking monster," he said, a bored expression on his face.

“What?" Confusion clouded my mind.

“Your music," he replied, his tone flat.

“WHAT!? No, no, no, Aramis! You don't understand. Music is my therapy. Without it, I'm a wreck. And I'm pretty sure that within twenty-four hours, you'd find my lifeless body on the ground. Then what will you do?"

“Ruth..."

“Who will pay the rent?"

“Ruth..."

“Who will water the plants? Who will tell my parents I'm dead? And who will finish my assignments?"

“Ruth!"

“What!?" I panted furiously, on the verge of a panic attack. How could he take away something so precious from me?

“Breathe," he said, rolling his eyes.

I took deep breaths, counting to three.

“All good?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

I nodded.

“What's the verdict?" he asked, his smugness evident.

This son of a gun. He knows I'm helpless and is taking full advantage of it.

“Fine. But after that, I can do what I want, right?"

“Yes. After that," he confirmed.

"Deal." I extended my hand, hoping he would shake it.

He stared at me, then at my hand, and back at me.

“Deal." Even his hand felt as cold as his voice.

Where did this man come from? Narnia, perhaps?

Finally, I shut the door and released the breath I had been holding.

“Finally, thank God. That twat is gone."

* * *

"Did the dog bark at you again?" Melissa, my coworker, asked as she wiped the tables clean of any spilled coffee.

“There's something strange about him," I replied, my gaze fixed on her as I restocked croissants.

“Strange?" she questioned, her curiosity piqued.

“Yes," I said, lost in thought.

“In what way?"

“The way he looks at me and his touch."

“You touched Aramis Rutherford!? Ruth!? He let you touch him!?" Melissa's eyes widened, and she whispered loudly.

“Yes? Why? Is it a crime?" I rolled my eyes and walked over to the overflowing sink to wash the dishes.

“I mean, no, of course not. But I never thought a guy like him would allow anyone to get close to him."

Her words lingered in my mind, raising countless questions.

“Maybe I'm overthinking, Mel," I huffed, frustration evident in my voice.

She paused, glancing up from counting the money at the cashier.

“But I promise you, I will figure out what's bothering me so much."

“You've been living in his apartment for over a year now, and you've never mentioned him like this before," she raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

“I know, but when we shook hands to make the deal, his touch... it was ice-cold," I explained, a shiver running down my spine at the memory.

Suddenly, the air grew still, and Melissa stared at me with her big brown eyes, her maroon lips forming a straight line. Then, without warning, she burst into laughter, as if I had just cracked a hilarious joke.

“Oh my God, Ruth. Are you trying to tell me he's a vampire? Is Aramis Rutherford the Edward Cullen of the 21st century?" She laughed so hard that tears formed in her eyes, clutching her stomach.

“Mel, please, just... shut up," I groaned in exasperation.

“Oh God... I... I can't help it. You're really funny, Ruth. What are you doing in university? You should be a stand-up comedian," she managed to say between fits of laughter.

“I'm leaving, Melissa. I don't know why I even brought this up," I muttered irritably, grabbing my bag from the staff room locker.

“Goodbye, Ruth. See you tomorrow," she said, a wide smile still on her face as she finished up her final duties.

“Bye, Mel," I replied, my frustration lingering as I pushed open the glass door, determined to find answers on my own.