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“Good morning,” I say.
“Are you ready to find a place to live?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Good. We’re meeting the realtor at the first building. The buildings are all within a block of each other. I thought we could walk.”
“Sure, it’s a nice morning.” He takes my hand, and we make our way down Wall Street toward Broad Street.
“Don’t you live near here?” I ask.
“Yup, the apartments we’re going to look at are close to mine.”
“I can’t afford to live by you,” I blurt out. Now I’m anxious.
“The apartments the realtor is showing us are sub-lets. They’ll be in your price range, don’t worry.” He gives me a reassuring smile.
“Okay, lead on.”
We turn down Broad Street heading straight toward his apartment building.
“You’re not taking me to your building?” I ask horrified.
He chuckles. “No, I wouldn’t do that to you. It’s the building before, here on the right.” He stops in front of Fifteen Broad Street. A woman is waiting near the entrance and waves at us. She must be the realtor. She comes scurrying over as fast as her high heels will allow.
She’s an older woman, maybe in her late fifties. Short and stocky with short dark brown hair, she’s dressed business casual with the exception of those crazy high heels. I don’t know how she can walk in those things.
Chase makes introductions. “Olivia Barrett, this is Madelyn Gold, my realtor.”
“Nice to meet you,” I murmur.
“A pleasure, Ms. Barrett.” She shakes my hand firmly then Chase’s. “Good morning, Mr. Remington. This is the first of three listings I’d like to show you.” She turns her attention back to me. “Ms. Barrett, this is Downtown by Philippe Stark at Fifteen Broad Street. Please follow me.”
Madelyn takes us through a stark white lobby where a giant crystal chandelier in the center of the room hangs from floor to ceiling. It must be ten feet round! She guides us toward the elevators and presses the up button. Once the elevators open, she presses the eighth floor and up we go.
The doors open, and she ushers us out and walks down the hall to a door, puts the key in and opens it. “After you,” she insists, and we go in. “Downtown by Philippe Stark at Fifteen Broad Street is one of Philippe Starck’s greatest designs,” she recites. She is selling this apartment like crazy. She has the listing in her hand and is reading off a card. “This beautiful loft-like apartment, features southern views, eleven foot beamed high ceilings, four inch wide maple floors, and stainless steel kitchen appliances. The spacious, fourteen hundred plus square foot unit offers a large interior bedroom suite plus a home office, or second bedroom with its own bath, private entrance and custom closet. In addition to two full baths, there is also a Bosch washer and dryer. The apartment has white-glove amenities including business and fitness centers, a yoga/ballet studio, swimming and reflecting pools, bowling alley, basketball court, theater, sports lounge, recreation and ch
ildren’s rooms, and a five thousand square foot roof park.”
It’s not too big, which is nice. I’m not crazy about the long and narrow galley kitchen. It’s also in the center of the apartment so there are no windows, and I wouldn’t be able to look out at guests if I were cooking. I’m not thrilled. “What do you think?” Chase asks.
“I don’t know,” I reply. “I’m not sure I like the kitchen. It’s too cramped.”
“I agree, let’s go and see the other apartments.” I nod as he turns to Madelyn. “She’s not thrilled, let’s go see the other two.”
“Sure, I understand,” Madelyn says with a smile. We head back out the door we came in. She locks the door behind us, and we get back in the elevator.
Once downstairs and out the lobby entrance, she leads us down the block a little further. We’re getting closer to Chase’s apartment. Madelyn stops in front of Twenty Five Broad Street. “Ms Barrett, this is The Exchange, one of my favorite apartments. Let’s head upstairs, shall we?” I follow behind her, Chase in tow.
She directs us through the lobby to an elevator all by itself off to the side. Once inside, she hits a button that says PH. It’s the only button in the elevator! I can’t afford a penthouse! Chase hasn’t let go of my hand, and I glance at him. He see’s my anxiety and gives my hand a soft squeeze along with a reassuring smile.
We arrive to the top floor and Madelyn leads us out of the elevator. She heads over to a door and unlocks it. We follow her in. As we enter, she starts to read the listing verbatim from a pamphlet in her hand.
“Truly unique and special, this sunny and quiet thirteen hundred square foot two bedroom, two and a half bathroom penthouse features additional fourteen hundred plus square feet of private outdoor terrace, accessible by both the living room and master bedroom, and twelve foot ceilings . . .” I stop listening to Madelyn as she drones on. I’m wandering around the living area as she is reading her script. Holy shit, this place must cost a fortune! The place is huge, and that’s an understatement. I don’t want or need all this room.
I wander over to the door that leads to the outside terrace and stare out. I feel rather than see Chase behind me. He places his hands around my waist, pulling me close. “Well, what do you think?”
“I think it’s too expensive,” I murmur almost under my breath.
