6

Ella

I was glad I’d snagged the job at the club because that meant I could kick my roommates out. Now that I no longer needed their help paying rent, I could dream about the new venture that was about to happen for the complex. Apparently, someone was buying out the entire building and renovating them into luxury apartments. They would repaint and knock out some walls. They’d install a jet bath tub and add terraces to all the bigger suites. My one-bedroom studio would be fused with the room next door to make a massive two-bedroom two-bathroom home with a marvelous view, and the best part was I would be able to afford to buy it.

I would have my perfect home, and I wouldn’t even have to move to purchase it.

Yeah, it would require me to find a temporary living space for a few months, but I could figure that out later. Right then, all I wanted to focus on was the fact that my last roommate left for good at four this morning. Right then, all I wanted to focus on was the fact that I could sing in my shower without bothering someone.

Right then, all I wanted to focus on were all the beautiful things I’d fill my new home with.

I would have to get new furniture, that much was for certain. The ratty furniture we were using was stuff I found on the street and cleaned. My roommates had been slobs, and I was definitely not spending money for furniture they’d smoke and spill their shit on. I was excited to go walk around and price furniture today. I’d get lots of color palettes going until I knew exactly how this new owner was going to remodel, then I’d start saving up my paychecks to replace everything at once.

With the remodel taking a few months, I’d be able to save up enough money to completely furnish my home while still staying in a cheap extended stay hotel. I could walk to the club and save on cab fare, eat at the diner across the road to save money on food. I could implement lots of tactics I’d learned over the years to save money just so I could have what I wanted.

And I would have it all within the year.

Suddenly, there was a knock on my door. I quickly pulled some clothes on while I continued to towel-dry my hair. Whoever it was would simply have to suffer seeing me without makeup or a bra. I wasn’t expecting company, so they would have to take me as-is.

But, the moment I opened the door, all I wanted to do was slam it back shut.

The man from the club-- Mr. Dobson-- was standing at my door. He looked just as shocked as I was as his eyes roamed my body, and I couldn’t help but notice the fact that they stopped briefly at my chest. I took my towel and put it up in front of my body, suddenly embarrassed at how I looked. What the hell was he doing here? How the fuck did he know where I lived?

Did he follow me from the club that night?

“Miss Ella,” he said. “I didn’t realize you lived in this complex.”

“You didn’t?” I asked.

“I’m uh… I’m coming around to all the tenants that have expressed interest in purchasing their condos after they’ve been renovated,” he said.

Wait, he was the one buying out the building?

“You’re the one renovating the building?” I asked.

“Would it be alright if I came in? I’ve got some paperwork I’ll need you to sign in order for your intent to be documented. I’ve also got prices and possible layouts and color schemes, if you’re interested.”

He held all the information I needed in order to make this transition smooth, but I didn’t want to let him into my apartment. The man tried to get me to fuck him in some secret room above my club, and now he was trying to get into my apartment with some information I wasn’t even sure was true.

“How do I know you’re not lying to me?” I asked.

“I’m Foster Dobson,” he said. “I’m the owner of-”

“Dobson R.E.D.,” I said.

“I would really enjoy coming in and talking you through all the updates we’re going to be doing in the coming months,” he said.

“I’m sure you would enjoy stepping through this door,” I said.

He pulled out a folder and handed it to me. I looked through the papers in it and it held exactly what he said it would: pricing, schematics, possible layouts of bedrooms and bathrooms. There were color tags and places for me to fill in things, then at the very end there was a place to sign.

“One of the things we’re trying to execute for tenants that want to purchase their condo once we’re finished is giving them some input into how their new place will look,” he said.

“Seems fair enough.”

“You’ll get to pick out a few things, like basic layouts and the colors of your walls. That’s what we’ll be discussing today, if you still have an intent to purchase. Nothing will be executed until you give a down payment of some sort, but this is just to solidify everything, so I can get it ordered.”

Everything checked out, but I was still hesitant to let him in. I didn’t trust him, but I was getting a closer look at him in the light. He was much taller than I remembered him being and his eyes sparkled with hints of yellow in the lighting of the hallway. His jawline was sharp-- prominent. I could sharpen a knife on that thing if he continued to flap his jowls the way he was.

And his arms. They were thick with muscles. He had on no suit coat and his shirt was rolled up, exposing the veins protruding from his skin. I wanted to dip my tongue down onto them and run it all the way up his arm. But, I knew I’d been staring too long because when I drug my gaze back up to his eyes, I no longer saw the stoic professional standing at my door.

He had that cocky ass smirk on his face.

“If you let me in, I promise you won’t regret it.”

I groaned, but stepped aside so he could come in. I could see his eyes clocking everything in the apartment before he looked at the couch, and he stopped in his tracks. It was a disgusting couch, I had to admit, but it was all I was willing to invest in with my disgusting roommates.

“I plan on getting all new furniture,” I said. “You know, fresh start and all.”

“Maybe I could help you break it in sometime,” he said, winking.

“No, Mr. Dobson. I think not.” Even as I said it, my skin crawled with his voice. It had low tones that reverberated across the entire room, but as it hit my ears it melted over my skin like heated caramel. His sun-kissed skin sparkled in the light streaming through the grimy window I had in the corner. Even in the dank darkness of my apartment, he was stunning.

And I felt my breasts harden again as I threw my towel over my shoulders to cover myself.

“Depending on the layout and everything you choose, that will designate the price. If you want to take a look through everything in that folder and start filling it out, I’m just going to walk around a bit.”

“And why would you need to walk around?” I asked.

“I haven’t seen any of the rooms in this place yet. It’ll give me a blueprint of what they all look like now,” he said.

Sounded fair enough. He began slowly walking around, taking in my home while I filled everything out. I picked out the wall colors I enjoyed and the crown molding I thought was the prettiest. I chose the biggest blueprint for the new condo and definitely wrapped a big ass circle around the jet tub I wanted. I jotted down a few notes-- ideas he could maybe take into consideration for the rest of the apartments.

“Those are good ideas,” he said into my ear.

I jumped and looked over at him. He was hovering above me and I wanted to shove him away. What the hell was he doing? I thought he was supposed to be walking around! But his cologne smelled of citrus and musk and his body was hot against mine. I could feel his hand settling down onto the back of the chair while his eyes darted over what I wrote, and I couldn’t help but breathe heavily onto his cheek as I studied the profile of his face.

I bet the scruff he was already growing back would feel wonderful between my legs.

“Enjoying the view, Miss Ella?” he asked.

He turned his face slowly towards me and I could feel his breath pulsing on my lips. In the dark that night at the club, he was nothing but a sleazy man trying to get in my pants. He moved too quickly, spoke with way too much cocky confidence, and simply expected me to fall to my knees because he had money.

But now, as my eyes studied his face, I saw him in a different light. His cockiness enraged me, but he was no longer assuming anything. Flirting, yes. Getting close? Definitely. But, he wasn’t assuming.

And that was refreshing.

“I think I’m done.” I picked up the papers in my hand as I tried to keep my trembling body at bay. I cleared my throat and turned my gaze back down to the table just as his hand brushed against mine. I felt a surge of electricity rush up my arm while he gathered the papers from between my fingers, and in that moment, I had a thought of weakness.

I thought about turning my head and crashing my lips into his.

“Wonderful. I will take all of this into consideration,” he said. He reared up and headed for the door and I felt my stomach sink a bit. It was only a little while ago that I had wanted him to go away, and now I suddenly wanted him to stay.

What the hell was wrong with me?

“Miss Ella?” he asked.

“Yes, Mr. Dobson?”

“I was wondering if you’d allow me to take you to lunch. You know, to make up for last night.”

“You want to take me to lunch?” I asked.

“I was rude to you. I didn’t treat you with the respect you deserved, and I assumed things of you I shouldn’t have. I was hoping you’d allow me to make it up to you.”

Gone was the cocky attitude, and in its place was a respectable man whose eyes seemed to communicate a sort of sorrow. Even with him standing all the way at the front door, he still seemed to be looming. His stout shoulders pulled taut while he waited for my response, and his eyes raked over my body as I slowly stood to my feet.

My answer shocked even myself as it poured from my lips.

“Lunch sounds wonderful. I’m looking forward to it.”