Chapter 1
“So, miss Winters what do you think about this apartment?”
I was looking out of the big window into the massive building right in front of the one I was in and forgot to pay attention to the owner behind me. The flat was in an alright condition. Although, it was in a problematic neighbourhood but as for now this was all I could afford. It was already quite cheap but unfortunately not cheap enough.
“Mister Castello, I want to ask you something”, I looked at him and went on with my talking, “is there a reason for this huge building across this really clingy street to block any tiny string of sunlight from this one? It’s really dark in here and as for all I noticed there are two doors missing. A bedroom without a door in this kind of neighbourhood is a little inappropriate, don’t you think?” I definitely needed to buy one later on, because it was safer to sleep with closed doors.
“I see”, he looked very disappointed, “unfortunately there is no other flat I have to show you and...“, I didn’t let him finish he just waisted his breath, for me this was just a pretext to sway the price in my favour. “I know there have been a lot of people you showed this place and your wife explained the urgency to get rid of this place on the phone to me. How about I give you 35 thousand for it?”
Mister Castello looked like l slapped him and I almost regretted my offer because it obviously was unrealistic.
“Miss Winters, there is no way for me to sell it for that offer, that’s fifthy percent less than we decided we wanted for it, my wife would divorce me if she found out. There is no way.”
“Sadly, we must call this off then.”
I kept my pockerface on. I was about to leave when he stopped me in my tracks by saying:
“Okey , miss Winters. Please wait, I really want to sell this place already. How about we meet in the middle by 50 thousand but that’s really my last offer.”
Slowly turning around I pretended to think about it. For dramatics reasons I took a deep breath before I answered him
“Alright. Deal.”
“Okey”, he obviously was not happy about the deal, I felt so guilty towards him so I looked away and pretended to see something interesting out of the window. I didn’t think he would get laid tonight. And I had to admit there was nothing wrong with this place expect it’s being a little dark. This place might wasn’t somewhere you want to see your children grow up but since I prefered to be alone that wouldn’t become such a problem.
Mister Castello brought me the keys and I promised to give him the payment in cash as soon as everything was legitimized lawfully. This was all that was left of what my father left me after his dead, since then I was looking for a place to settle. I guess I found it now. I signed the contract and we made appointments for all legal procedures.
~
A Month later.
Thirty days had passed and I still was unemployed. The worst part was that my resources were all almost completely spend, all I was eating for weeks now was spaghetti with ketch up and I could not take it anylonger.
I did my make up, fixed my hair and put on a blazer, my favourite blouse and a skirt. I had a job interview in one and a half hours. After I failed succeeding getting an office job at the bank near the city, I called a number I found on an add in the local news paper. It was a job at a restaurant called “At Henry’s”. The owner apparently needed an assistant for cashoffice matters. At this point I would have even been glad to become a waitress.
I put on some black heels and took a lager clutch with me.
When I left the flat and the building floor I was greeted by wind which seemed to be gently stroking my face and my hair. Before I took off into the direction of the busstop my feet automatically carried me to the sunlight blocking palace across the alley. It looked so misplaced in this neighborhood. It was massive and looked like an ancient building. I took it in, wondering how the inside might looked, how it would have been decorated.
“Beautiful”, that would be the only appropriate word to describe this massive piece of art.
“That it is, little lady”
I jumped, in my state of trance I didn’t realize this old man was standing so close to me, it was like he appeared out of nowhere.
“Oh no, Miss, I was not trying to scare you but you were looking at my house for a very long time now. I taught I might as well could start a conversation. It’s really lonely living in there when my son is working all night. I’m so sorry.”
The man seemed like an adorable, warm person who just was looking for a good chat, who was I not to grand him his wish, I taught to myself and answered him.
“Sir, there’s no need to apologize. You just surprised me that’s all. If someone should be apologizing it would be me for gawking at your property.”
I gave him a weak smile and he returned it with a big one, showing me his healthy teeth. It was heartwarming. He, then, reached out his hand and waited for me to shake it. I shook it in a firm grip.
“My name is Alexandria Winters, feel free to call me Alexa, Mister...“, I waited for him to finish my open question.
“It’s Sherman Coleman, my dear. But you just call me Sherman.”
We released our hands and I smiled again, this time I tried to make it look more friendly but I knew that it propably just looked afflicted.
Since my father died there weren’t really many reasons to be happy about anymore, I was just letting life pass me by, moving from town to town like a normade. There wasn’t much to laugh or to smile about passing my way lately so my mouth wasn’t much used to it.
“So, Mist...Sherman isn’t it risky to have this kind of architectural masterpiece here in this street? I mean I wonder how often people must have tried to break in and rob you.”
He gave me a look, which confused me.
“Again thank you. This is the work of my son. He is... he used to be an architect. To answer your question: no, not for me Alexa. My son is
... Never mind. I’m more concerned about your safety. You shouldn’t be living here alone it’s just not save for a young and beautiful lady. I hope you close your doors at night.” Indeed I did, considering I had only one door in the flat to begin with, two if you count the door to the bathroom.
He looked into my eyes, the concern was written all over his face, it surprised me. How could he have so much consideration for someone he just met?
“Well, I already bought it. I mean the apartment, so there’s no way for me to leave this place for awhile. I invested my entire money on it, so”, I pulled up my shoulders, almost questioningly-“Also, I just found out that I have a very nice neighbour.”
When I finished my last sentence his eyes softened and he granted me a caring smile.
“Yes, my dear that you have. You can always come to us if you need any kind of help.”
While saying that he gave me a soft tap on my arm.
“We will be here for you. Don’t be a stranger.”
When he tapped my arm I looked at his very expansive watch, which told me that it was time for me to go to the busstop.
“Thank you very much Mister Coleman. I will let you know when I’ll be needing to take your offer. I have to leave now or else I won’t make it to my job interview. Have a nice day. It was pleasant to meet you.”
We shook hands again and we both turned to leave when I just realized something. I turned back to Sherman who was by now only facing me with his back but I had to get this question off of my chest.
“Mister Coleman”, he turned back facing me, “how do you know I live alone?”
His eyes bore into mine. Finally he said;
“Tegan has his eyes on you. Be careful, Alexa.”
With that he left.
