“For this two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with secure building access and a basement carpark, the price guide is set between $550,000 to $600,000.”
I nod, thinking it over for a brief moment. The apartment is in a sought-after suburb, and with all the new developments underway, the property market in this area is only going to rise in the coming years. It’s a no-brainer. This place is perfect for me.
After scanning the room one last time, I glance back at Max, who’s waiting patiently for my response.
“I want to put in an offer,” I finally say.
“Of course, Mr Grant. I thought you’d like this one, which is why I saved the best for last,” he says with a low chuckle. “Let’s head back to my office, and we can go over your offer and any other questions you might have.”
I give another small nod and smile. “Okay, great. I’m all ears.”
I gently knock on Jason’s office door, eager to share the news about my apartment hunt.
The moment I left the agency, I drove straight to his restaurant, filled with a renewed sense of joy and excitement I hadn’t felt in such a long time. The meeting with Max went smoothly, and in the end, I submitted an offer of $575,000—a price that’s nearly at the top of my budget.
Max plans to speak with the owner at the end of the business day, and hopefully we’ll have some good news by the start of next week.Hopefully.
After a short minute, I hear Jason’s voice calling me in from the other side. I quietly open the door to find him seated behind his desk—and Mila perched at the edge beside him with her back towards me.
They both turn their attention to me, their expressions mirroring each other in surprise, and somehow, I’ve never felt more awkward and uneasy, like I’m intruding in their private moment.
“Oh, I didn’t know you had a visitor,” I blurt out, almost mumbling over my words. “I’ll just come back later when you’re not too busy.” I gesture towards the door with my thumb, ready to make a quick dash.
Mila lets out an exasperated sigh and slowly rises to her feet, adjusting her pink blazer as she does. “It’s okay, I was just about to leave. He’s all yours,” she says, glancing back at Jason. She leans down for a kiss, and I quickly avert my gaze to the ceiling. They’ve been dating for months now, and it still feels strange to see my best friend with my ex-sister-in-law.
I was completely blindsided by their relationship—shocked, even—especially since I’d never seen them interact or so muchas glance in each other’s direction when I was still married to Mila’s sister. But I guess after spending nearly a year babysitting Jason’s son, somewhere along the way, feelings had developed between the two.
It doesn’t bother me that they’re together. Jason is one of the most trustworthy men I know—honest, steady, a far better man than I ever was. If there’s anyone I trust to love Mila and take good care of her, it’s him.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t be late,” Mila says as she straightens to her full height.“For you, never.” Jason replies, as he suddenly pulls her back down for one last kiss. “I love you,” he whispers to her.
“Love you too. Bye.”
Mila strolls towards the door but pauses when she reaches my side. We lock eyes, and I brace myself for her infamous eye-roll or her usual look of disgust, but what she does instead completely catches me by surprise.
“I’m sorry to hear about the baby,” she says, her voice sincere, though her gaze remains guarded. “No one deserves something like that. Not even you.”
I swallow, my throat tightening at her unexpected kind words. Even though I know it probably doesn’t mean much to her, it means a lot to me, and I’ll be damned if I ruin this moment.
“Thank you, Mila. It means a lot to hear that.”
She gives a curt nod and, without another word, saunters out of the room. Once the door clicks shut behind me, I finally release the breath I hadn’t even realised I was holding.
Jason’s deep laugh snaps me out of my daze, and I flick my eyes towards him.
“What’s so funny?” I ask, one brow arched in curiosity.
“I’ve just never seen a grown arse, thirty-five-year-old man get so nervous and anxious around a pint-sized twenty-five-year-old woman.”
I can’t help but chuckle at how ridiculous that does sounds. “Well, if you ever meet someone who hates your guts so much she could kill you with a single glare, I’m sure you’d feel the same way too.”
“Can’t argue with you there, brother. Women can be terrifying sometimes. Anyway, what can I do for you?” he says as he leans back, elbows on the armrests, fingertips pressed together to form a triangle, looking every bit the badarse boss he is.
I walk over to his desk and sink into the chair opposite him.
“I just came from the real estate agency, actually.”
“Oh, yeah? How did that go?”
