Neighbors or Not?

"What?" Dylan asked, wishing his voice never vibrated that way.

"It's me… Ariel" She said again, this time trying her possible best to remain calm.

"What's with the jacket?" He asked.

"I spilled coffee on my shirt" She answered.

"So, you…" Dylan's voice trailed off as he slowly moved to his desk. He sat on his chair and looked up at her.

"Were you trying to put me into trouble or what, tell me" He yapped.

Chloe eyes blinked a hundred times out of confusion. She sighed silently and shook her head. "Sir, I don't understand what you're talking about"

"I should have fired you right now and right here, but since I already declared you are my secretary in front of my younger sister, I guess it means you'll be working for me, but please don't be annoying. I hate annoying people" He spoke with spite.

"Okay. Okay, sir" She replied fast.

"Start work tomorrow"

"What?"

"You heard me. Or, can you possibly work with me while smelling like instant coffee? Why didn't my sense of smell just go instead"

"Sir?"

"Leave and start work tomorrow, period!"

"As you wish sir" She nodded.

"An email will be sent to you concerning my schedule for the week. Go through it to know what you're supposed to do"

"Okay sir"

Dylan nodded and she turned before leaving the office. He heaved in relief immediately she was out.

*

Chloe alighted from the taxi and entered the hospital. After talking to the nurse at the counter, she went to Ariel's ward.

The instant her eyes met with the unconscious Ariel on the bed, Chloe eyes turned misty. She sniffled and sat close to her.

"Hey" Chloe whispered, holding her hand.

"Wake up already, okay? I'm already having it tough. I'm sure you must be caring about Clover right now, but don't! That jerk doesn't deserve you at all. He hasn't even called once" She was still talking when her phone started ringing.

"Hold on, Ariel" She said and accepted the call. It was actually the landlady, and Chloe wondered what she wanted. She scoffed silently when she realized the landlady might really need – Her rent.

"Hello, Mrs. Pumpkin. I apologize for not paying the rent, but can you give me more time. I'm cashless and-

"Come home now! Its urgent!" Mrs. Pumpkin voice interrupted her and the call was hung.

"Huh? What's going on? Ariel, I'll talk to you later but now, I need to go" Chloe said and rushed out of the room.

*

Chloe ran to the apartment, and she met all her neighbors downstairs with their properties and belongings. She stared confused. She finally saw the landlady talking to some men in suit, and she ran to her.

"Mrs Pumpkin. What's… What's going on?" Chloe panted.

"This building is ready to be demolished"

"What! I don't understand. What…what do you mean?"

"Didn't I ask you to move out?"

"But you said the end of the week and this isn't the end…yet"

"That's not my business, young lady. Go up there, pack out your things and leave. And oh, pay your rent before your departure. Don't think I'll forget about that" Mrs. Pumpkin said and Chloe rolled her eyes.

An hour later, Chloe was down with her things. She later went to Mrs. Pumpkin, whom she transferred the rent too.

"Where do I go from here now?" Chloe sighed, looking very sorrowful. She went through an online app and saw an apartment who was giving just 2 months of free living.

"Wow. So, I can say for 2 months without paying. But after that month, I'll have to pay? Well, at least, It's better than standing here with no place to go" She sighed.

She scrolled down and when she saw the price of the rent, she squealed unknowingly. Many had to even turn to her.

"Sorry" She muttered.

Chloe faced her phone and scowled. "Oh wow. Just look at the rent. I won't have the money for that. Or probably, should I just go and stay there for the 2 months? Maybe, I would find a place cheaper and then, leave secretly? It's better" She thought and called the agent.

"Hi, I'm interested" She said with a fake smile, immediately the call was accepted.

*

"Here, you have it. Your apartment" The agent said and opened the door.

Chloe eyes widened open when she saw how big and complex the apartment was.

"And your keys" He handed a bunch of them to her.

"Thank you" She smiled.

"And you do know this room is a special room, right?" He asked.

"What?" She asked.

"I mean you don't have to pay rent for 2 months"

"Yeah, I saw that online"

"I hope you like here"

"Sure" She smiled.

"Okay then. See you later, and I'll call you when necessary" He said and left.

She only nodded.

"Damn!" Chloe whispered, as she looked around the room. "Well, let start packing in" She thought and raised her sleeves up.

HOURS LATER*

Chloe dropped herself down on the sofa and inhaled deeply. She was feeling weak and hungry.

"I wonder if there's anything I can eat" She whispered and got up. She went into the bathroom and took a shower and finally changed into something simple, leaving her hair down.

*

Chloe was already coming back from the eatery where she bought something to eat. She walked to her door and shook her key into the keyhole.

She was still turning it in there when she started hearing beeping sounds close to her. She turned her face to the right hand side to see her neighbor typing his code to open his door.

"He looks familiar" She thought and looked away.

"Wait" She muttered with raised eyebrows. She slowly turned her head and at that moment, her gaze fell on her boss who had even glanced at her.

She opened her mouth and eyes wide and quickly turned the knob and jumped in.

"Wait…What…What the hell is that man doing here?!" She thought, squeezing her thumping chest.