8

Then I dusted myself off, slipped into a towel, and dried my hair. I made my way to my closet to pick out something to wear. I settled on a short black skirt with a long-sleeved white blouse, and black tights. I put on some red lipstick and straightened my jet black hair, and left one button undone so that a little more skin was on display, since Boss had said that men like Donte thought with their dick. Looking sexy would play to my advantage.

I didn’t really enjoy wearing ultra-revealing outfits because I had a huge scar on my leg, a mark from my past I was really insecure about, which was why I always wore tights to cover it if I was wearing a skirt. Otherwise, I’d just wear trousers.

I stared at myself in the mirror, deliberating over how I looked. I smoothed my hands over my ass, trying out several different poses in the mirror to see how I looked from every angle. I was a really indecisive woman, and it took me forever to be satisfied with how I looked before I left home.

“I look good!” I said finally, biting my lip in frustration. I put my hands on my hips and took several deep breaths in and out, desperately trying to regain my confidence.

“Here goes nothing…” I murmured. “I should try my best to start off fresh. I’ve dumped my toxic boyfriend and left shit behind…now, it’s time to tackle the Russian Mafia. And now, I’m no longer Maya Bradshaw. From here on out, I’ll be Sapphire Myers.”

Sapphire Myers was the new name my boss had assigned to me, paired with an educational history of me studying Computer Science at a prestigious university. About a month ago, he’d put me on an intense course to learn Python programming and coding back to front, so I would be ready for the job as a software developer at Indigo Limited.

I let out a sigh. I’d done what I needed to do, and now all that was left was to start this job.

And I was so fucking ready for it.

I made my way out of my apartment, and then turned to lock the door. Before I could open the app to call for an Uber, two women began walking toward me, smiles on their faces. The first woman was wearing a green midi dress, she was curvy, and she had rose-gold dyed hair. The other woman was black with beautiful braids, and she was wearing a red t-shirt paired with black jeans.

“Hey girl.” One smiled.

“Hey,” I replied, rubbing my neck sheepishly.

“Are you our new neighbor?” said the curvy one, her hands on her hips.

“Yeah, I am,” I admitted.

“Girl, you’re gorgeous!”

I let out a giggle. It was really rare for me to get called gorgeous, especially by two women I didn’t even know. It made me feel warm inside, a feeling that I was unfamiliar of because I’d spent most of my life growing up without friends.

“Thank you.” I grinned. “You both look gorgeous!”

They smiled at me in response, and I was actually enjoying their company. I wanted to make more of an effort to get to know these girls, because God knows, I could really do with a few friends here to make my stay in Manhattan bearable.

“My name is Sapphire, what about you both?” I said.

“I’m Maisie,” said the curvy woman.

“And I’m Millie,” said the one with the red top on.

“Where are you moving in from?” Maisie asked.

“Washington,” I explained. “My apartment is so pretty.”

“Welcome to Manhattan, girl.” Maisie grinned.

“You know what they say about New York, the city that never sleeps,” Millie added.

I chuckled in response. “Yeah, I’m sure I’ll have lots of fun here.”

“We’ll be here if you wanna party, or if you just want to come round and watch N*****x.” Maisie shrugged.

“I’ll take you up on that.” I smiled.

“Judging by the way you’re dressed,” said Millie, “you have a job already?”

“Yeah, I start as a software developer at Indigo Limited today,” I admitted.

“Indigo fucking Limited?” Millie repeated, mind-blown.

“Why, is there something wrong?” I asked awkwardly, scratching my arm.

Millie let out a giggle.

“No, just that the CEO of that place is an absolute babe!” Maisie said coyly, her cheeks flushing bright pink as she bit her lip.