A Dangerous Arrangement

I stare at the apartment building right in front of me, a suitcase at my side and a bag slung over my shoulder. New York will be a new start. I promised myself that, after everything I’ve been through.

The moment I cross the threshold, chaos erupts in the hallway.

"Tell that arrogant man I will not ever sell this land to him! Not now, not ever! Now get out of my building, you scumbag!" An elderly woman, maybe in her seventies, screams at a sharply dressed man. Her voice crackles with frustration, and I can almost see the tension radiating off her. She looks exhausted, her frail frame shaking with every word.

"Please, it will only take a moment of your time to talk to him," a man who looks to be in his late twenties pleads, his tone dripping with insincerity.

"I said get out! I already told you that I don't want to and will not sell anything to him!" Her voice, fierce yet shaky, resonates through the hallway. The suited man tries to talk again, but I can’t just stand by and watch this unfold.

“Hey!” I interject, stepping closer. “I suggest you leave now. Can't you see you're giving her an awful lot of stress? If she faints, you’re going to have to answer for it.” I’m surprised by my own boldness, but the image of this frail woman collapsing is enough to fuel my fire.

The man opens his mouth to retort, but I cut him off. “I said leave, you dumbfuck! Before I break your bones!”

His expression shifts from annoyance to resignation. He lets out a sigh, turning to walk away. I watch him go, satisfied, then turn my attention back to the woman. She doesn’t look too good.

“Are you alright, ma’am?” I ask, concern lacing my voice.

“Thank you for what you did,” she replies, her voice softer now. “The man has been bugging me for days. He just can't seem to grasp the meaning of 'no.' I swear I spoke with every language saying it. He just doesn’t get it.” Her eyes flicker with a mix of exhaustion and gratitude.

“Whoa. Calm down there,” I say gently. “I don’t think it’s advisable for you to stress yourself out like this. Where’s your room? I’ll help you there. You should take a rest.” I take her arm, ready to support her.

The grandma’s eyes soften, and she smiles at me. “Oh dear, it’s rare to find a good girl like you. But I can take care of myself. I’m just tired of that man pestering me. I’m fine, truly. But thank you for your concern. You should go on with whatever you’re doing.” Her gaze shifts to my suitcase. “Are you looking for a place to stay?”

“Yeah,” I reply, rubbing the back of my neck, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

“That’s great! I have a spare room upstairs. You could take it. Come, I’ll show you!” Her excitement is palpable, and I can’t help but feel a warmth toward her.

I glance at the room she leads me to, a space so beautiful that doubts start to creep in. “Umm…”

“It’s Nancy, dear. Nancy Willis.”

“Mrs. Willis—” I begin, but she interrupts.

“No, just call me Nancy, dear,” she insists, her smile wide and inviting.

“You have another room here, Nancy? I think I can’t afford this one. It’s just too… grand.” I struggle to find the right words. “And I’m sure the price is the same. I just got out of... the academy, and I don’t have much money to spend.” My eyes scan the space, imagining what it would be like to live here.

“It’s fine, dear. You can have this place. You can pay me however much you want. You can stay here. It’s my way of thanking you for rescuing me.”

“I can’t,” I shake my head. “This is just too much. I just did what I had to do.”

“Young lady, if you don’t take this place, I’d be sad and hurt, and it’s not good for my heart. I’m sure you don’t want to be the one who takes me to the hospital, do you?” She places her hands on her waist, scolding me playfully. I can’t help but chuckle; I had guilt-tripped that man earlier, but here I am, being guilt-tripped myself.

“Oh, okay. I’ll take it. I’ll take it,” I finally concede, sighing. “Thank you, Mrs. Willis—I mean Nancy.” I can’t help but smile back at her.

She takes my hand firmly. “Avery. Avery White. Thank you for having me, Nancy. The room is beautiful.”

“You can stay here as long as you want, dear,” she assures me, and I feel a sense of relief wash over me.

“If I may ask, who was that guy earlier? You said he’s been pestering you for days. Is there a reason why?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.

“Yes,” she sighs, her expression growing serious. “His boss sent him here to talk to me about selling this entire place, this land. I’ve said no a million times, but they just can’t seem to accept my refusal. So he’s come here almost every day, trying to wear me down.”

“If there’s anything I can do to help you, Nancy, please let me know. I’d be happy to assist,” I offer, feeling a strange sense of protectiveness toward her.

She smiles warmly and squeezes my hand. “Thank you, dear. Your kindness is a rare treasure.”

Once everything is settled, I head to the bathroom for a long overdue shower. I feel like I’ve rolled in mud; no, that’s an understatement. I smell like sweat and desperation, a scent I’ve grown too familiar with during my time at the academy. The thought of waking up at dawn, running laps, and doing push-ups feels like a distant nightmare now. I’m glad I graduated, but the weight of those memories lingers.

After drying my hair, I collapse onto my bed, and the comforter envelops me like a warm hug. The exhaustion washes over me, and I drift into a deep sleep.

When I turn to my right and catch sight of the clock, panic surges through me. It’s already 10 a.m.? How did I sleep that long? This is what happens when you’re used to early mornings. I shower quickly and change into a fresh outfit. I’m determined to find a job today. University isn’t cheap, and I’ll need money to survive. Maybe I should consider taking two jobs until college starts.

As I near the exit, the familiar sound of shouting halts me. No doubt it’s Nancy again.

“What are you doing?” I ask, my eyes narrowing as I stride forward.

It’s the suited man from yesterday, accompanied by another man in a suit. I step in front of Nancy instinctively, ready to shield her. The first man lets out a huge sigh, rolling his eyes, clearly annoyed.

“I asked you—” he begins, but his companion interrupts.

“Stay out of this, little girl. This is not your place to interrupt.”

Little girl? I scoff at the condescension. “Just because you’re huge doesn’t make me a little girl. And FYI, you’re stressing an old lady out. No offense, Nancy.”

“None taken, dear,” she replies calmly, though I can see the worry in her eyes.

I fixate on the suited man. “And you, I can’t believe you brought a bodyguard. Afraid I might break your bones? It was just a threat, but if you don’t leave this poor lady alone, I might just follow through.”

“Miss, like I said, this is not your place to—”

Nancy cuts him off, her voice steady. “No, you two leave my building. How many times have I said no to you? You can never take this place. Tell that to your boss.”

I smirk, feeling emboldened by her words. “You heard her. Now, go.” I push them toward the door, but the bodyguard grabs my arm with a grip like iron.

“Let go of me!” I shout, frustration boiling over. My left arm—the one I nearly broke in training—struggles against his hold.

“Just let her go!” Nancy shouts from behind me, her voice laced with fear.

But the bodyguard tightens his grip, and I feel my pulse quicken. I can’t let this slide. In a swift movement, I punch him square in the face. He staggers back, blood trickling from his nose.

“Oh dear,” I hear Nancy whisper, horrified.

The other man lunges for me, but I grab his arm and twist it behind his back, pushing him against the wall. “What did I say, huh?” I hiss, my grip unyielding.

Suddenly, a deep voice booms from behind us. “What’s going on here?!”

I turn to see a man standing in the doorway, exuding authority and power. He’s devilishly handsome, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m in way over my head.