AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She sucked in a surprised breath. Surely this young man wasn’t really making a pass at her.
Suddenly, a door opened behind the desk and a woman emerged, moving quickly and efficiently to greet Anne and begin her check-in process. Anne noticed Antonio gaze was locked on the woman, watching every move she made.
“Hi Rayna.” He gave an awkward wave. “Nice weather today. I like your new shoes.”
Rayna was quickly engrossed in her work, typing Anne’s information into the computer, oblivious to Antonio’s words. He backed away and returned to the door, glancing over his shoulder, disappointment written all over his face. But evidently Rayna couldn’t read it.
She continued to process Anne’s paperwork, scanning Anne’s license and credit card before handing her a key card.
“Your room’s on the tenth floor, with a window on the front of the building,” explained Rayna. “It’s one of our nicest efficiency suites.”
“Thanks so much, Rayna. You’ve been so nice. In fact, everyone has been very nice. Antonio was especially nice. Do you usually work at the same time?”
“Hmmm?” asked Rayna with her eyes glued to her computer.
“Antonio,” she repeated. “I asked if you usually work together. I mean, do you both work on the same time schedule?”
“Antonio?” Rayna looked up and blinked in confusion.
“Yes. You know, Antonio—that incredibly handsome guard at the door. He was so nice and so nice-looking. If only I were your age, I’d be really interested in him. But you probably already have a relationship with someone, right?”
Rayna stared at Antonio as if she’d never seen him before. “I don’t have a relationship. I had a relationship, but that was six months ago. You know, men are such pigs.”
“I know. That’s why I was so surprised at what a nice young man Antonio is. I just wanted you to know, so you could pass it on to the management.”
“The management,” muttered Rayna, tilting her head as Antonio opened the door and helped an elderly man maneuver a large box over to the elevator. She turned back to Anne. “Yes, I’ll certainly tell the management about… Antonio.”
“You know, if you ever need someone to talk to, my door’s always open.” Anne winked.
“Thanks, Anne. I just might take you up on that offer.”
Anne ferried her way up the elevator to her room. Once inside with her bags, she moved quickly to the window and opened the blinds. She peered down at the street, slightly off of a main drag but busy nonetheless. Directly across the street was a beautiful ornate building with “The Economist” carved into it. The street sounds were muffled, but she could still see the teaming traffic on the main street and marveled once again at the hectic pace of the city. Turning from the window, she surveyed her small apartment. The floors were all wood—well it looked like wood, but it was probably a high-end laminate—with nice area rugs. There was a small kitchen area near the door separated from the living area by a bar and three stools. Every surface in the cooking area was gleaming—stainless steel, glass tile, and granite.
Walking through a door she discovered a small but beautiful bathroom with a marble shower, dark wood vanity topped with granite, and modern fixtures. Another door led to a large walk-in closet, complete with shelves, drawers and hanging racks. Back in the living area, the bed was covered with a fluffy, white, down comforter and throw pillows in a plethora of colors and textures. Bookshelves housed a few classics, decorative pieces and a flat screen TV. Situated by the window on a beautiful oriental rug were two chairs and a small loveseat anchored by a round, tufted ottoman.
Anne used the next hour to unpack her suitcases and check out the kitchen. The cooking area was supplied with basic pots and pans. She found all the necessary basics in the pantry for cooking, and the refrigerator was stocked with eggs, low-fat milk, various cheeses, vanilla Greek yogurt, and blueberries. She realized Katie must have had the groceries purchased specifically for her, recalling some seemingly casual phone conversations discussing her food preferences.
These kinds of things would soon be her responsibility, and Anne suddenly worried whether she
could fill those efficient shoes. Her job at the travel agency had required attention to detail, and her clients relied on her to arrange every facet of their travel. She was accustomed to working out problems and planning for contingencies, but she really didn’t know anything about New York. Could she really manage all the issues she’d be facing in a city that was so foreign to all she knew? A simple grocery-shopping trip would be an adventure in this city. She began to pace and fret, when her cell phone suddenly rang out with the rock riff that signaled Charlie’s call.
“Hi sweetie.” Anne smiled as she spoke.
“Hey Mom. Are you in your apartment? I want to hear all about it. Emily said you hadn’t called since the airport.”
“Yikes! I forgot to call her back. She’ll probably be ticked, but I’ll call her when we hang up. Yep, I’m here, and it’s actually great. I think Katie lives in the same building, but she probably doesn’t know I’m here yet.”
“What does it look like?”
“It’s small but beautiful. Nicely decorated. Tenth floor. There’s a front door guy—like a guard—so I feel pretty safe. His name is Antonio, and he’s very polite.”
“He sounds handsome and mysterious. Perhaps you can introduce us.”
“You seem to think my sole purpose here in New York is to find a boyfriend for you.”
“Really, Mom, what else could be more important?”
“I’m afraid matchmaking may be the only thing I can accomplish here.” Suddenly exhausted, Anne dropped onto the couch. “I don’t know why I thought I could work here in the city, or work for a big company, or work for someone important. I think I’m going to freak out just trying to use the subway.”
