Bought By The Billionaire novel Chapter 16

Ross drops Richard back at the office, then helps me pack my small number of possessions into the car—a few clothes and personal items, my steam-driven laptop, and my books. None of the furniture is mine, and I wouldn’t want it in my lovely new apartment anyway. When we return to the apartment block, with Ross staggering slightly under the weight of a cardboard box full of books, the concierge gives me a key. I notice that he is wearing a fresh shirt and is now sitting upright and alert at his desk.

“You’ve given me the wrong one,” I say. “This is for 127A. Mine is 47A.”

“That’s the one Mr Haswell said I was to give you.”

“Oh. Right.” Puzzled, I take the lift to the twelfth floor, Ross following me.

The twelfth-floor apartment is amazing. High above the city, the gorgeous park view is below, but now the view opens far over buildings old and new, across the river, and out to the hills beyond. There are three bedrooms, a huge lounge and dining area overlooking those stunning vistas in three directions, and a bathroom to die for with all polished glass and chrome fittings as well as a Jacuzzi.

I am torn between a broad grin and embarrassment.

“Where do you want this?” asks Ross, still weighed down under his load.

“Umm … I’m not sure. Anywhere, Ross. Just put it down.” I don’t know quite what to do next. “I can’t stay here. I can’t possibly afford it.”

Ross looks at me with a slightly pitying expression. “You’re working for Mr Haswell?”

“Er, yes …”

“So, he pays your wages? He knows how much you earn?”

“Yes.”

“And he’s your landlord, so he sets the rent …”

“Err ... yes ...”

“And he told the concierge to give you this key?”

“Yes.”

“So this is the apartment you’re getting. And you can afford it. Now, where do you want this stuff?”

He’s right, of course. What else can I say? I look around my new glorious apartment. Where to put things?

“Just put them down anywhere, Ross.” I need to decide how to lay things out, and it’s not as though there is any furniture yet.

I spend the rest of the day arranging my things as best I can with no furniture. I am just deciding that I should go out to shop for a bed, a table and chairs, and some other essentials when the door intercom buzzes. “Yes?”

“Hello, Elizabeth. It’s me, Richard.”

He’s here! “Oh, come on up. It’s wonderful in here!”