Her smile fell then. “Oh?” She glanced at me under the brim of her hat, then averted her gaze again, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“After the Fourth,” Hendrix added, his gaze flitting from me to her.
“Sounds like fun,” she responded flatly. “Anyway, I should probably head up to my new place. Thanks for helping with my stuff, Hen.” She looked at me again. “Thanks for helping earlier.”
It was a small gesture, but it was something other than ire. So, I responded in kind. “To answer your question from earlier, I’m here because you are.”
Her lips parted. “What?”
“On that note.” Hendrix stretched his arms above his head. “I’ll just take your stuff to your place, Albany.” Then he excused himself without another word, leaving us alone in the lobby.
Once I heard the soft click of the door, I cleared my throat and hefted my bag on my shoulder. “I can walk you to your apartment. Give you a short tour of the facilities.”
Nodding, Albany said, “Okay.”
As we headed toward her new condo, I gave her a quick rundown of building services, explaining everything from concierge hours to common areas and community amenities. The building was equipped with a fitness center, an indoor pool, a rooftop deck, two multipurpose rooms, a mail room, and even a coworking space for remote workers. Each unit boasted high-end finishes, including modern kitchens with high-end smart appliances, hardwood floors throughout, and bathrooms with spa-like fixtures. Parking was a commodity in the city, so Granny had purchased the secured lot next door and offered valet parking during certain hours of the day.
“I’m sure Grady introduced himself to you before you entered the building,” I said as we neared her fifth-floor apartment. “He’s head of security, and his team works twenty-four-seven. If you have questions or concerns, he’s the one you need to talk to.”
“Yeah, he mentioned it, gave me his card, along with the access codes for the common areas.” She stopped in front of her unit. “He also gave me instructions on setting up the smart lock.”
“Good. He stayed late because I told him you were coming.”
She let out a dramatic sigh. “Fine, I was wrong for that. I’ll apologize to him.”
“Only him?”
“I’m sorry,” she grumbled, unlocking the door with the key I’d given her earlier.
“Thanks.”
Albany walked into the apartment and I followed behind her, flicking the light on. The apartment was one of the few fully furnished options in the building. Granny had kept it for important clients or consultants who were in town for a longer period of time.
“Wow.” Albany did a three-sixty turn in the middle of the living room. “I can’t believe this.”
“We call it the J Model,” I explained.
She grinned. “After Granny Joyce.”
“You got it.” I set my bag down on the couch.
Albany walked into the kitchen, inspecting the cabinets, the refrigerator, and dishwasher. She ran a hand over the granite countertop before she turned the faucet on then off. Seconds later, she ventured into the dining room, before making her way to the second bedroom.
She smoothed a hand over the wall. “I have an office again,” she murmured. “But I need …”
She carried on a whole conversation about supplies, computer monitors, and a special chair for her desk. With herself. It was almost like she forgot I was there. And that was okay with me. I just liked to watch her.
Finally, she turned to me. “Can I contact the concierge for a maintenance request?”
“Yes, they’ll coordinate it for you. They can also assist with reservations, manage deliveries, and recommend restaurants. We even have someone on staff that will run short errands for residents. Colby Thomas is the lead concierge. He usually handles the move-in service, but he had an emergency. When he gets back, I’ll introduce you.”
She tilted her head, surveying me. “How do you know so much about this?”
The question caught me off guard a little, but I replied, “I worked here before I went to work at Batchelor Corp.”
Nodding, she set her purse down on the desk. “You were the concierge?”
“Only part-time,” I told her.
