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"No seriously. You can use it until you get your money transfer and a new cell."
I stared at him, shocked that he was being so generous.
"That's really nice of you, but you don't have to," I said, a surge of gratitude going through me. He was gorgeous, and he was nice. And he was asking me to go out with him. That was a date, right? Or, at least, a sympathy invite.
"I know I don't have to, but I want to. I have a weakness for damsels in distress. They bring out the hero in me." He grinned, giving me a brilliant smile.
"I wouldn't want to deny a man the chance to be a hero," I said. "How could I resist?"
"Resistance is futile."
Just then, the elevator jerked back into action and we ascended past the twelfth floor.
"Oh, thank God," I said and closed my eyes. "I might just make that meeting after all."
"Thank the elevator gods," he said with a chuckle. "Usually, this takes a lot longer. You're blessed."
"I am." I smiled at him, feeling like I just might make it through the day after all.
"I'm serious about the cell and that drink and meal. Considering you lost all your earthly goods, it's the least I can do."
"It might take a couple of days to pay you back."
He shrugged. "When you get some money, I want that pencil. I must have that pencil!"
I smiled and held it up. "It's yours – once I get some money."
"Look. Come up to the apartment and I'll give you the cell."
"Okay," I said finally and only because I really needed a cell phone.
We went up to the top floor of the building. We left the elevator and there was only one apartment on the floor. Josh opened the door and pointed inside.
"Come on in," he said. "I'll get you that cell."
"Holy cow, is this your apartment?"
"No," he said and waved a hand. "The company owns it. I just have access because I know the owner of the company."
We went inside and I stood in awe. The apartment was amazing. Floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides, looking out onto the Manhattan skyline. High-end furniture and decorations. It was worth millions, even to my unsophisticated eye for real estate.
I watched as he went to a drawer in the most amazing kitchen I had ever seen in my life – huge, with chef-level appliances. Now, my father had a great income from his position as a governor and the business he owned before he went into politics, but this – this was wealth above and beyond anything I had ever seen up close.
"Aren't you intimidated being in this place?" I said, walking around, running my hand over the marble fireplace hearth. I stood at the window and looked out over the city. "It's fantastic."
"The view is good," he said. He came over to where I stood and handed me an iPhone.
"This is a burner phone?"
"Not really, but it's an old model. It's been factory reset and I put a new SIM card inside so it should work. You can use it until you replace the one that was stolen. The phone number's in the contacts under This Phone. I put my contact info in as well so you can text me when you're ready to go for that drink and dinner."
"Thanks," I said and held it up appreciatively. "This is a godsend. I can phone my landlord and get back into my apartment. At least I won't be homeless until Monday night."
"Seriously," he said and looked at me from under a frown. "I know it's crazy, and I just met you, but if you need money, I could probably help you out." He went to the kitchen once more and opened a leather wallet. "I have a couple hundred that should keep you afloat until Monday."
He came over to me and held out a couple of hundred-dollar bills.
I glanced
