The building looked massive from the outside. Two doors meant I had half the floor as my temporary accommodation. Which begged the question as to how rich Rhett really was. I knew he had money. Apparently it was more like a shit ton of money, judging by the amount that it would take to own a spare apartment in a building like this.
I was careful not to touch anything on my way to the front door. The paint they used probably cost more than my salary for the entire year. After I entered the code three times with the same negative result, I swore loudly. There were only so many ways you could enter a birth date and I had tried them all.
Sighing, I went to the other door, knocking. Rhett did say that I could go to the other apartment if I had any issues. I heard footsteps and the door opened.
And why the hell was I looking at Rhett?
I blinked, willing him to go away. It didn’t work and I tried closing my eyes for a few seconds, then opening them again. He was still there. “You are still there,” I blurted out.
“I am. Are you feeling alright? You look confused.”
“You live here?”
“I own the building.”
Stupid me, of course he did.
“I can’t figure out the door code. It’s not working.”
I was so confused. Maybe I was already asleep and this was one of my fantasies. I had one in particular that included Rhett and a midnight visit. Maybe I had fallen asleep in my car. I pinched my arm but it hurt too much to be a dream.
He smirked and ushered me back to my door. Not letting go of my arm, he entered the code and the green light came on immediately. “Did you enter the code followed by the pound key?” he asked.
I threw up my hands and put some distance between us. I was afraid I would kick him in his shin. And that was the nicest of my thoughts. “You never told me about a pound key.”
“Sorry, I thought I did.”
“Clearly, you didn’t.” I pushed the door open and turned back around, remembering that I had at least some manners left. “Thanks for opening the door.”
“No problem.”
He put a foot in the door and stopped me from closing it. “If you need anything else just come over.”
All that came out of my mouth was, “Huh?”
“You should get some sleep,” he—not very helpfully—suggested.
“That’s what I’d been trying to do all along if only I hadn’t been detoured by the cyborg door that didn’t open with a normal key.”
I dropped my bag and turned back, pushing the door open wider to give my hands room to flap around in front of Rhett. “Not once did you mention that you would be right next door.”
“What difference does it make?”
Gah, I gave up. “None at all, Rhett. See you tomorrow.”
I stepped inside the apartment and closed the door.
If I didn’t need the money so badly, this would be the moment I would walk away. But his offer was generous to say the least. Maybe I could work something out with Cassie.
I just had to stay away from any shared apartment walls and I’d be good. I don’t think I’d survive hearing Rhett and his fiancée. With that thought, I called Oma and Freddie, at the same time kicking off my shoes and skirt and face planting into the bed. I told them about my day and Rhett living next door, hoping for some sympathy but Freddie declared I just made her day before she started cackling and Oma told me I should be thankful he put me up in such a nice apartment.
“Now get some sleep. And don’t worry about us, we have everything under control,” Oma reassured me. “Gute nacht, Schatz.”
Oma’s parting words made tears pool in my eyes. God, how I missed them already. “Gute nacht, Oma.” We hung up and after I flung the phone across the bed, I pulled the covers over my head and promptly passed out.
