Tempted

Moving was never something I wanted to do, but when it came down to my parents forcing me to marry someone I didn’t love. I had no other choice. My older sister did as she was told and married the man my family picked out for her. She was miserable I have up the man she truly loved to do as my parents asked of her. There was no way I would ever feel this way. When I told my parents I just wouldn’t do it. They took everything from me and kicked me to the curb.

I grew up in a rich and famous lifestyle. My family ran a law firm and was connected to some of the richest family’s around the world. I never wanted for anything. I also never knew what it was like to be a family. My parents never really treated my sister and I like they truly cared. Until our senior year of college when they wanted us to marry out of business instead of love. It connected the family’s and made more money. Money was all they ever cared about. We were treated badly, in fact, we had everything we had ever wanted and more. The only problem was all we had was each other. My sister and I basically raised ourselves. Until the day came when it was time for us to return the favor. My sister did as she was told and I was kicked to the curb. Even my sister stopped talking to me. I waited out by the street for my cab to show. Taking one last look at the house I grew up in. Thank god I had the sense to get a job and save a ton of money my parents knew nothing about.

My cab in Chicago pulled up in front of this huge building that looked practically brand new. I didn’t think I had the right address as I paid upfront for a condo that wasn’t very expensive. I found it on a limb and paid for it all upfront. I looked back at the cab driver. “Are you sure this is the right address I have you?” He nodded his head at me and left. I walked up to the man at the door. He asked my name and when I have it to him he stepped aside and greeted me. Alright then, I said to myself. My condo was on the tenth floor. I made my way to the office to pick up my keys and sign a few things. The woman looked up at me and I sighed. “Hello, my name is Juliet Rodes.” The woman smiled and pulled out some papers.

“I need you to sign these and I’ll hand over your keys.”

“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful or anything, but this place seems very fancy for the price I paid.” The woman smiled again.

“The price was dropped when we only had a few units to fill.” I smiled at her and got my keys. My mouth fell open when I walked into my new home. The place was huge and it was only a one-bedroom. Everything what state of the art down to the fixtures in the bathrooms. I had dark hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances. I also noticed a balcony. That was one reason why I wanted this place. Even after buying this place I still had enough money to furnish it and keep myself together for at least six months. I Had a degree in editing and I had already sent out my Resume to a few companies here in the city. Tonight I would have to sleep on the floor, but in the morning I would go shopping and decorate my new home. I sat down on the floor in the empty living room and just smiled to myself. I was glad I had finally gotten out of there and it was time to start my new life as my own.

The next morning sucked as I pulled myself off the hard floor and headed towards the bathroom for a much-needed hot shower. Once I was done I pulled my hair up in a ponytail got dressed and left to wave down a cab to start furniture shopping. It took me all day until I was satisfied with my choices. Then I headed out to the store to grab supplies and groceries. Even though my day was tiring. I still held a smile on my face. My furniture wouldn’t be here for at least three days but I took comfort in paying extra to have my bed deliver tonight. I pulled back up in front of my building and wondered how the hell I was going to get all these bags up to my apartment.

When the cab driver opened up the trunk the doorman came over with a cart. I was so grateful as the doorman load the car up and follow me up to my apartment. He placed my bags at my door and left. Well, that’s a nice service. I ended up ordering out Chinese food and put all my necessities away including my groceries. My queen size bed was delivered right on time and set up in my bedroom. Once my food showed up. I climbed into my bed, pulled out my phone, and found a show on Netflix.

It’s been a little over a week since I moved in and my place was looking pretty good. It still needed some finishing touches, but I decided that would have to wait until I was working. One thing I didn’t care too much for, about this building was we had to carry out our trash. That was unless to lived on the top floors. The top three floors were like the penthouses of the building. The entire floor was one home and apparently, some really rich people lived up there.

The only sort of, kind of friend that I made was Willie the doorman. I would sit sometimes with him and we would talk for hours. Willie was around forty-five and had lived in the city all his life. He was a very outgoing person once you got him talking. I always like to bring him a cup of coffee in the morning. Willy would always tell me all the gossip going around our building. There was actually a lot of drama in the building and I really hadn’t taken the time to get to know any of my neighbors. With everything Willy had told me I didn’t really think I wanted to.

One rainy day I had two bags of trash staring at me sitting by the front door. It really was a bitch to drag the bags down to the first floor and take them out to the side of the building in the Ally to the dumpsters. I dragged my ass off the couch and grabbed my keys and the bags and headed down to the dumpsters. I open the door and walked out into the pouring rain. I walked across the ally and as I was dumping my trash. I heard a car pull in. I turned in time to see a limo parked. I slowed my walk being nosy and watched as a man and woman got out the side and the driver covered them with an umbrella. I stopped as the man turned his head and our eyes met.

My heart started to beat fast. I have never seen a man so attractive in my life. At least not one that made me feel the way he did. He had jet black hair that was at least two to three inches long. The kind of hair you just want to run your fingers through. His eyes were what made me stop in the first place. Piercing crystal blue eyes that seem to look right through your soul. He had a dark-colored goatee and his skin was sunkissed. He looked at me for a moment until he and the woman disappear behind a side door.

I realize I must’ve looked like an asshole standing there in the rain-catching God only knows what kind of cold. I ran back to the door and unlocked it with my keys. I stood there dripping wet. The man must be one of the residences on the top floor. I would try and get whatever information I could out of Willy.

I ended up landing two job interviews for the following week. Monday morning I made Willy a cup of coffee and headed down to him. “Morning Juliet,” Willy said with a huge grin on his face.

“What has you smiling today?” I handed him his coffee.

“Someone asked about you.” I took a seat on the concrete flower bed next to him and then gave him a confused look.

“Who the hell would ask about me?” Willy just looked at me like I was nuts.

“Girl please, you know you’re beautiful, if I didn’t know my husband was gay I would never bring him around you.” I giggled.

“Stop Willy, your making me blush.”

“Come on with all that curly blond hair and them dimples. Someone was going to notice you real fast.”

“So tell me Willy, who asked about me?” I asked sipping my coffee.

“Mr. Nolan James.” I just looked at Willy.

“Am I supposed to know who that is?” Willy looked at me for a moment.

“I’ll give you a pass this time considering you’re new to the city. Nolan James is the owner of this building and many more in the city. He owns his own real estate company and is a billionaire. He also lives on the top floor of this building. Everyone that lives in the city knows who Nolan James is.” I just shook my head and laugh.

“And what did this billionaire want to know about me?”

“He wanted to know about the new girl with the dimples.” I crossed my arms.

“If he owns this place he could have checked that out for himself.” Willy just shrugged his shoulders. “What did you tell him?” Willy smiled and looked away. “Willy?” I hissed out.

“Nothing, I just told him your name and said that you were really sweet.” I just shook my head.

“Wait, what does this man look like?” Willy smiled again.

“He is gorgeous. Black hair, blue eyes.” As I listened to Willy describing Nolan. I knew it was the man that I saw in the alley. I shook my head again.

“He was the man I saw in the ally yesterday. I was actually going to ask you about him. He had a woman with him.” Willy rolled his eyes. “What?” I asked.

“That’s Miss Kimberly Lake, his fiancé and a real bitch if you asked me, but you didn’t hear that from me.” I giggled some. I wondered why he would ask about me? I wasn’t anyone special.