“The guy’s not some front for the Saudis,” Tabby says, shaking her head. She sucks at the vape, which makes Mina wrinkle her nose. They don’t fight about it though. They’ve gone through that already and decided to bury it. “And what would the frickin’ Saudis want with our little dump?”
“She’s got a point.” I glance at my phone. Today’s a rare off day for me, but I’m still taking a diner shift overnight. I’ll get a solid seven hours of sleep if I turn in soon. “Did you two meet him?”
“Stellan Corsetti.” Tabby’s eyebrows raise straight to her hairline. “I’ve never seen a man like him in my life.”
“Handsome,” Mina agrees.
“Divine. Sexy. I’d let him eat sushi off my ass.”
“I would too,” Mina says with a sigh. “Too bad I’m past that part of my life.”
“He’s a prick.” I glance away, jaw working. I haven’t seen Stellan in a few days. Not since he ambushed me after work the other night and offered to give Gem a ride. At first, I thought he was being a bastard, but now that I’ve replayed the conversation a thousand times in my head, I’m starting to think he was sincere.
Which makes me wonder who the hell this guy is.
“I like him a lot.” Tabby sighs out vape smoke. “I mean, how can you not? He cut my freakin’ rent almost in half.”
My gaze snaps up in alarm. “He did what?”
“Mine too,” Mina agrees. “Same with everyone else in the building. Didn’t you get the notice, Kira?”
My heart does flips. That arrogant piece of police horse droppings. I open my mouth to tell them that he threatened to double my rent, but the words die in my throat. I still don’t know who this guy is, but he’s clearly got resources. What’s he going to do if he hears I’ve been telling people about his threat?
But worse, what if these two go to bat for me?
Tabby definitely would. She’s got a kid and a husband to worry about, but she’s still old-school South Philly. She’d flip out at any whiff of injustice. Mina probably would too, mostly because it’d make good gossip.
I can’t let them do that. Both of them need this enormous break in their rent. It’s a godsend for them, really. I know Tabby struggles almost as much as I do, and Mina’s on a fixed income.
“That’s… amazing,” I say vaguely.
“I know, right? Never heard of a new owner cutting rent before, but god, it’s incredible. Joshy’s already saying we can start thinking about getting a new TV for Christmas. I can’t wait, honestly. That old one sucks.” Tabby laughs, her face lighting up.
“Maybe this new change in owner won’t be so bad,” Mina says, nodding along. “I can’t complain about having some extra money in my pocket.”
“He’ll be great, I’m sure.” I make some vague excuse about needing sleep before I escape back into my apartment.
Confusion settles like a rope around my neck.
What the hell is his game?
Stellan threatens to double my rent just to force me to go out with him while cutting everyone else’s rent in half. It makes no sense at all. How’s this place going to make money for him?
Unless he thinks I’m going to subsidize all their losses.
Which is hilarious and definitely isn’t going to happen.
I try to settle in bed. The blackout curtains help. I put a mask over my face and curl up. But as soon as my eyes close, a thought occurs to me.
Would he cut my rent too if I agreed to dinner?
That’d change our life. Even just a few hundred bucks every month would be enormous. That’d mean fresh food. Less stress. Fewer overnight shifts.
All for a single dinner.
So why can’t I make myself do it?
Every time I imagine myself sitting across from Stellan, a wave of nausea rushes over me.
