Chapter 3

30th floor, 10 West End Avenue.

One of New York’s most prestigious luxury condominiums, where the lowest-priced unit cost no less than two million dollars. Jerome was among the lucky few who could afford one, a two-bedroom condo with half of its walls made of glass, offering a sweeping view of Manhattan’s skyline.

The interior was minimal, with little in the way of decoration. The living area featured a long white sectional sofa that contrasted beautifully with the sleek, dark brown hardwood floor. In front of the sofa lay a plain, square ash-gray carpet, atop which sat two small, round glass center tables. To the left of the living area, a 60-inch LED TV rested on a white marble console table.

"Jerome! Hurry! Get over here!" Justin’s voice called out from the couch, where he lounged comfortably while watching TV. Justin was not only Jerome’s close friend but also his teammate, renting one of the condo’s spare rooms.

Jerome stepped out of his bedroom, freshly showered, dressed in his usual loungewear, a plain white T-shirt, black Nike shorts, and slippers.

"What is it? Did you break one of my records again?" he teased, still toweling off his damp hair, assuming Justin was caught up in a video game.

"Bro, you have to see this!" Justin motioned toward the TV with a tilt of his chin.

The screen showed a gossip segment claiming that Jerome was romantically linked to Hollywood star Priasa Diaz. Paparazzi photos flashed on the screen, the shots of the two famous celebrities deep in cheerful conversation which was taken at the birthday party of another famous NBA player in a Los Angeles club.

"Looks like you’ve got another hot issue coming your way," Justin teased. "But seriously, how gorgeous is Priasa Diaz in person? Maybe you could invite her to one of our games sometime. She’s actually on my list of dream girlfriends! Come on, I know blondes aren’t really your type, so help a friend out."

Jerome tossed his towel at him. “It’s way too early in the day to be feeding on gossip!”

He wasn’t the least bit affected by what he had just seen. He was used to having his name linked to women he’d been spotted with, or sometimes, to women he hadn’t even met in person. Being not in a relationship yet was the very reason the media constantly paired him with different women, as if the world were impatient for him to settle down.

Beautiful, sophisticated, and high-society women were a common sight at the events and gatherings he attended, but very few ever caught his attention. Unlike most men, he wasn’t particularly drawn to women who dressed extravagantly or wore heavy layers of makeup. For him, beauty had to be seen in its natural state before it could truly be called beautiful. He also found himself more drawn to women who dressed elegantly yet conservatively.

But the truth was, having a girlfriend wasn’t even on his mind. His career in basketball were his top priorities in life. As he often said in interviews, he was willing to sacrifice almost anything for the game.

Still, as a normal man, he wasn’t immune to noticing a woman’s beauty or feeling a rare spark of interest. But for now, that was all it would ever be, there were no plans to pursue anyone.

"What’s this, bro?" he asked with furrowed brows as he wandered into the kitchen.

He lifted the coffee brewer…empty. Searching the table and even peeking into the microwave for any leftover breakfast, he found nothing.

"You’re unbelievable. When I’m the one cooking breakfast, I always make sure you’re included. Now you can’t even leave me a cup of coffee?" he complained, shaking his head as he opened the refrigerator in search of something else to eat.

A deep sigh escaped him when his eyes landed on the pile of dirty dishes stacked in the sink.

He walked over to his friend with a glass of fresh milk in hand, and dropped onto the couch while shaking his head in disappointment. "Hey, get up! It’s your turn to clean the place today. There’s a mountain of dishes in the sink. Start washing before The Texans and Patriots game starts."

"Oh shit! I almost forget that!" Justin jumped to his feet, suddenly remembering their favorite football team was playing. He grabbed the remote, ready to switch the channel but the news suddenly switched to a segment about Jessica Lopez’s upcoming book release.

"Whoa! Don’t tell me you’re one of those guys dreaming about Jessica Lopez?" Justin blurted out. "Bro, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the kind of woman you’re after. Of course you’d go for someone who’s not just beautiful, but smart just like you. But you know what? If she ever became your girlfriend, the internet and the media would explode.”

Jerome ignored his friend’s comment, keeping his attention fixed on the screen. He owned every book Jessica Lopez had ever written. His admiration for the famous author ran deep, not just for her beauty, but for her exceptional talent in writing. He had been eagerly waiting for news of her next release, so hearing the announcement now brought a genuine smile to his face.

Aside from NBA and other sports legends, Jessica Lopez was the one person he dreamed of meeting in person.

                                                                                *****

Sandra let her eyes wander over the luxurious, opulent condominium she now stood in. Everything was complete with high-end furnishings. The pristine white paint gave the place a spotless feel. Even the kitchen was beautiful. Two spacious bedrooms. And from the glass walls, a breathtaking view of the city stretched out before her.

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked, uncertain whether her tone carried complaint or curiosity.

"You’re going to live here," Jessica replied, swallowing hard, clearly nervous about how her friend would react

Sandra let out a short laugh. “You really think you can get me to live in a place like this?” she asked sarcastically.

"Please, just this once... try to understand my situation, Sandra," Jessica pleaded. "I know you don’t like anything that comes with my life now, but you’re here in New York, close to me. I want to be able to visit you regularly. I also know that you’re going to hate all those cameras that are always following me around. Well, this building has extremely tight security. No one gets in or even lurks around here. This is the only place where I can visit you quietly. So… come on, pleaseee… just say yes!"

"Fine, I’ll give it a try but you have to promise I won’t get dragged into those cameras tailing you," Sandra said.

Jessica’s face lit up instantly. "Promise! Now, hurry up, unpack your things, and let’s go grocery shopping. You’re cooking becuase that’s what I miss most about you!" she beamed from ear to ear.

"Flatterer! Wait, grocery shopping…with you? What if you get swarmed?"

"I’m a writer, not a pop star. It’s usually just the paparazzi who follow me around, and once in a while someone asks for an autograph. You’re overthinking it. Anyway, no buts, you’re cooking for me!" Jessica insisted with playful persistence.

Jessica wrapped her arms around Sandra, still unable to believe that after all this time, they would be close again. She had waited so long for this moment…for the chance to draw near to the elusive friend she had missed for years.