four.

“You’re really doing this?” Just because she was least likely to judge me didn’t mean she wasn’t likely to question me.

I stared at the building as I parked my old beat-up minivan. It was a gorgeous building and newly built that I could still smell the fresh paint as I opened my door. There was this small space that was ready to be leased and I wanted to take it. Ideally, the plan was to buy a small space- a shop, or whatever- and renovate it into the bookstore slash café of my dreams.

The thing was, my dream was to become a successful writer. For years, I’ve strived to create novel after novel and prayed really hard that one of them would get published. I’ve been on numerous writing sites, posting all of my stuff and hoping that they would get noticed by a publishing company. But after years of having my drafts rejected and barely having any reads on the sites that I was on, I realized it was time to push through my next dream.

A bookstore slash café.

“Well, no matter how hard I try, maybe writing isn’t for me.”

Noah snorted. “So you’ll be a keeper of books, the next best thing?”

I winked at her, grinning. “Maybe I’ll become a character inspiration for a writer, who knows?”

Noah rolled her eyes and followed me to the building. The only reason why Noah knew was because she was the one who came across the building first and told me about it. I’ve mentioned to her a couple of times that I wanted to have my own bookstore one day and she randomly dropped about the building while we were having dinner.

We looked around, eyeing the space. It wasn’t big and spacious and dandy but seemed like the perfect size. I could just shove up bookshelves in the corner, put a restroom at the side, a counter in the middle, and have tables all around. It would be perfect and simple and minimal. Precisely how I liked things.

“Where’s the landlord?” I asked, turning around to face Noah with a big smile. She looked at me weirdly and I knew it was because this was probably the first time that she had seen me excited over something.

Just as the question left my lips, a perky girl popped in the room. She was dressed in a colourful array of clothes. She was wearing a canary yellow pencil skirt and an apple green loose top. Her pink hair looked striking and she tied it in a messy bun on top of her head and her orange lipstick and yellow heels seemed to tie up her outfit together.

It looked weird at first glance but it was a little insane how she seemed to pull it off. “Hi! Zoey McKenzie?”

I moved forward, raising a hand, and flashing her a polite smile. “That would be me. Are you the owner of the building?”

“Leslie James.” She introduced herself, offering a hand for me to shake and I did. She had this bright smile on her face and albeit the crazy outfit she was wearing and the striking pink hair, her blue eyes were kind and gentle. Maybe the outrageous outfit was a front to hide how insanely pretty she really was if you looked closely. “But no, I’m not the owner of the building. My brother is. He just made me supervisor.”

“So are you the one we’re meant to talk to?” Noah asked beside me, eyeing Leslie. I knew my roommate and Leslie was exactly her type when it came to women. I wondered if Leslie batted in the same team Noah did.

Leslie shook her head, still smiling at us. “I’m the one that tells you all about the building if you’re interested to know more. If you’re looking to rent it, then you need to discuss things with my brother. All the documents that need to be signed can be personally attended by him.”

“How much is the rent?” I asked, still eyeing the place. I could already imagine where I want everything to be and how it’ll look.

“Four thousand dollars a month if we do the usual calculations but I think my brother could be generous if he likes the tenant,” Leslie informed me, still smiling as politely as ever.

Beside me, Noah cringed at the price set on our table. She turned to me and said quietly, “You sure you’ll go for this?”

The average base salary of a pharmaceutical sales representative was nearly sixty-five thousand dollars with twenty thousand dollars as additional compensation. I’ve been a sales representative for nearly three years and came in second to Brooke when it came to sales. I never lived in luxury and opted for what I deemed as comfortable so I had enough money in my account to use as capital for a business that may or may not flourish.

What was important was that chance that we took to try and make our dreams come true.

“How am I meant to talk to your brother?”

Leslie eyed, her eyes trailing from my face down to my legs and then back up. She still had the pleasant smile on her face but I knew she was assessing me. “What are you thinking of running?”

“A café bookstore,” I replied timidly. I didn’t want to explain to a stranger what I planned to run, that is, considering she’s not even supposed to be the one I’m meant to talk to. “I have the money. I can pay a year’s rent if that’s what you’re thinking about.”

She let out a small laugh but shook her head. “You misjudge me, Zoey. I’m just trying to assess if my brother could give you a discount. Like I said, he’s generous if he likes the tenant.”

It was my turn to eye Leslie. I’ve always been observant of those around me but I never bothered to assess the woman since she came in. I had my first impression on her. Perky and seemed to have this bright clouds surrounding her in all forms and colours, she seemed to be a force to reckon with. But sometimes, people had the tendency to put on the right colour so no one could see the one inside.

“If that’s the case, I’m ready to meet him.”

There’s a glint of excitement in Leslie’s eyes as she pulled out her phone and pressed a name to call. She held up one hand and then left the room. Noah nudged me. “I don’t think passing a resignation letter is a good call. As much as I hate to sound like Brooke, it’s still better to have a secure job, Zo.”

Ignoring her statement, I tried to think of the perfect paint to use for the walls. “You should ask her out on a date.”

Noah choked. “What?”

“You’re this brooding, weird bisexual that sometimes reminds me of Raven in Teen Titans and that girl is so bright and alight with colours. You’ll be the perfect match.”

Noah made a face and rolled her eyes. “This is so you. You change the topic to something that makes the other uncomfortable so you don’t get questioned about your decisions.”

Ah, at least she has lived long enough with me to know that. Leslie came back, looking as chirpy as ever. Her easy nature reminded me of a golden retriever, outgoing and reliable. “You can wait for him at our office. He’s already on his way.”

Noah and I followed her in the elevator and Leslie pressed the button that would lead us to the third floor. “It’s a good thing that my brother isn’t busy today. You caught him in perfect timing.”

She led us to their office and Noah and I stared in amazement at the vast place. The outside of the building looked absolutely bland with its cement-coloured paint and simple exteriors. Their office, on the other hand, looked like Google’s office. I haven’t been there but I’ve seen pictures and this office looked as if it copied it.

“Welcome to our headquarters,” Leslie said, grinning brightly at us as she motioned for us to come in. “You can sit wherever you want.”

Noah literally made herself comfortable and crashed into one of the bean bags set in the middle, grabbed a controller and started playing a game. I hissed at her, “Noah!”

But Leslie placed a hand on my arm and shook her head. “That’s the whole idea of the design. I wanted to make sure that the place is comfortable enough for everyone to relax. Seems like she’s lured right into my trap.”

With that, Leslie grabbed another controller and without even talking, the two of them started playing Call of Duty. I sighed and looked around the place, feeling like a sore thumb striking out. The place had a nice vibe and ambiance and to be honest, I was kind of tem pted to laze on one of the hammocks as I waited.

But this was going to be a place where I was meant to work in and this was the office of my soon-to-be landlord. I didn’t want to cross the imaginary line, especially when I haven’t signed the papers and we haven’t agreed on anything.

For a while, I hovered in the background, watching Leslie and Noah play. They seemed to have clicked unconsciously, cussing at each other as if they’ve known each other since childhood. But I caught Noah sneaking glances at Leslie and caught her purposely losing so Leslie could win. She did it subtly but I had eagle eyes and there wasn’t anything I couldn’t observe.

The door opened and closed with a soft clicked. “I didn’t order couches and chairs abroad for a tenant to stand in the middle of the room while she waits for me.”

Leslie snorted on the couch. “I told her to make herself comfortable but she didn’t listen.”

“She has an issue with following instructions when it’s against her principles.”

“Noah!” I scolded but my roommate barely glanced at me and had the audacity to bump fists with Leslie.

Behind me, the landlord cleared his throat so I had to face him. I felt shy because of the comment he made but the moment that I got a look at him, my eyes widened in surprise. His blue gaze was familiar, the straight nose, and dimpled chin. Recognition flashed in spectral blue and his lips twitched into a grin, eyes crinkling at the side and an eye-smile appearing.

“It’s you,” he said and I literally could feel my knees wobble. Any second longer, I might crumple to the ground due to shock. He was the last person I expected to see. Hell, when I first met him, I didn’t know who he was so imagine the shock I felt when I saw his face on TV and learned who the guy really was.

“Holy shit.” It was Noah and I could just imagine her wide hazel eyes as she stared at the man in front of me, the one who happened to be the owner of the building I wanted to rent in. “You’re Mason James!”

Shit.