I’m not going to retell the tale of my one-night stand from hell. My boss doesn’t need to know about that. I shorten the story to only include the important details. “My wallet and phone were stolen. They were recovered this morning in midtown. My money was gone and my phone’s screen didn’t survive.”
“What a horrible introduction to New York.” Her voice is sympathetic. “If you need anything, let me know. I can advance you some money against your first paycheck if that helps and I have an old phone in my desk in the office. You’re welcome to use it if you need to.”
I’m touched that she’s so willing to help me out. “Thank you for the offer, but I have some savings and I’ll stop on my way home to get a new phone.”
“Don’t let that one bad experience taint you, Piper. This is an amazing city. I know you won’t regret moving here.”
I hope she’s right. I bet everything on this move and the last thing I want is to crawl back to my parents’ home in Denver to listen to a chorus of I-told-you-so from my dad.
***
“You’re 4B?” A woman’s voice cuts through the silence of the corridor. “I’m 4A.”
I turn to look at my neighbor. I rented this apartment because it’s cheap. I wanted to live closer to the gallery but I couldn’t afford anything within a twenty-block radius. I may have splurged on a cab to get me there today, but I walked home.
It took almost two hours but it gave me a much clearer picture of the city including the inside of a smartphone store and a police station where I filed a report. The officer on duty at the front desk told me that the chances of catching the jerk that robbed me are slim to none. I thanked him for his time and then stepped back onto the sidewalk of the city I’m now calling home.
Tomorrow I’ll purchase a metro card so I can ride the subway to work and save my feet for shorter trips to the bodega and the vintage bookstore down the street.
“I’m Piper.” I extend my hand to her even though it’s sweaty and clammy from my hike back here. “It’s good to meet you.”
“I’m Jo.” Her long brown hair bounces around her shoulders. “Welcome to the building.”
She’s older than me by at least two decades. I can tell by the subtle lines around her eyes and the few strands of gray hair that frame her face.
“Do you live alone?”
My eyebrows dart up at her question. I’ve already been lured into feeling safe by one criminal in the past twenty-four hours, I don’t want to willingly walk into another situation where I’ll end up losing not only money but my pride.
She giggles. “That was forward of me, wasn’t it? I was just asking because I live alone and sometimes it’s good for us singles to watch out for each other. Do you know what I mean?”
I relax my shoulders. “I’ll keep an eye out for you if you do the same for me.”
“You’ve got yourself a deal, Piper.” She holds out her hand in a fist.
I bump mine against it. “It’s a deal, Jo.”
Chapter 6
Griffin
I stalk down the corridor in the courthouse toward the open elevator. I’ve already called out once for the people onboard to hold it, but they don’t fucking care. Everyone is in a rush to get somewhere in this town and they don’t give a shit who they piss off to get there.
Today it’s me. As I near the elevator the doors slide shut.
I don’t bother reaching in to hold them open because I don’t want to ride down with those inconsiderate assholes.
I’ll wait for another bunch in the next car and I’ll take the trip to the ground floor with them.
“Griffin?”
I don’t turn around because I recognize the voice of the person calling my name.
“Griffin? I know it’s you.”
Of course she knows it’s me. I fucked her two months ago, and once a few weeks before that. I really have to start following my rule of no sex with colleagues.
I hear the click-clack of her sky-high heels as she closes the distance between us. I need the elevator to haul ass back up here now.