Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Liam

T he train screeched to a stop, and we spilled out onto the platform, Bradley marching ahead like he owned the place, and Liam and I trailing behind. The humidity slapped us the second we left the air-conditioned car, that late-summer New York City heat bearing down on us like a thick, sweaty blanket. I loosened my tie, shooting a glance at Liam, who was doing the same, his white dress shirt already sticking to his back.

Bradley was talking—well, bragging, really—about his new job. “Associate partner,” he said for what felt like the hundredth time, his voice full of the kind of confidence that only someone who hasn’t yet started the job can muster. “They wanted someone with my experience, my connections. You know how it is.”

“Must be nice,” I said, mostly to be polite, but also because it was Bradley, and any hint of sarcasm would just fly over his head, anyway. I glanced at Liam, catching the faintest smirk on his face. He said nothing, but I knew he was thinking the same thing I was—Bradley talked a big game, and we both knew he loved embellishing. Associate partner? I’d bet half my paycheck he was a glorified intern.

We walked the three blocks in the heat, dodging tourists and office workers alike, until finally, we turned the corner onto Jackson Avenue and saw it. The building.

And it was... beautiful.

“You’re kidding,” Liam muttered, stopping in his tracks. We all did, really, taking a second to take it in. It was one of those new, modern high-rises, the kind you usually see further uptown or somewhere in Manhattan proper, not here in Long Island City. Sleek glass walls, sharp lines, and from what I could tell, it was angled just so to overlook the East River and the whole Manhattan skyline. I could already picture it—waking up to that view, coming home to it after work.

Bradley grinned, a smug look on his face. “Told you it was a find,” he said, as if he’d somehow designed it himself. “Hell of a lot cheaper than anything in Midtown, too.”

Liam gave him a skeptical look. “A three-bedroom this close to Manhattan, with views like that, and at this price?” He shook his head. “It’s gotta be a scam.”

“It’s not a scam.” Bradley rolled his eyes, the irritation in his voice as thick as the heat hanging in the air. “Some of us just have an eye for opportunity.”

I resisted the urge to laugh. Liam wasn’t wrong—everything about this felt a little too good to be true. Nevertheless, it was hard not to be at least a little excited. I’d lived in a crappy Airbnb since I first arrived in the city, and the thought of having plenty of space—an actual bedroom that didn’t double as a kitchen or a closet—was a dream I’d almost forgotten.

We walked up to the building, and this older guy behind the desk gave us a look that clearly said we didn’t belong. He raised a single eyebrow and looked Bradley up and down, then me, then Liam.

“Who are you here to see?” He barked in a thick Russian accent.

Bradley opened his mouth, probably to pull some line about “business opportunities,” but Liam jumped in first. “We have an appointment to see an apartment,” he said, all professional-like, probably trying to match the guy’s tone.

The doorman grunted, picking up a phone from the desk and dialed with slow, deliberate presses of each button. He muttered something into the receiver, his eyes never leaving us, and finally, after a moment, he hung up.

“Vanessa will be right with you,” he said, his face giving nothing away.

We stood there in silence, the three of us suddenly a little out of our element. It almost felt like we were kids pretending to be adults.

I shifted from one foot to the other, trying to shake off the awkward silence and the doorman’s laser-focused stare. The guy resembled a stone carving, with his face locked in a permanent scowl that made me feel about three inches tall. Figured I’d try some small talk and break the ice.

“So… uh, been working here long?” I asked, giving him my best friendly smile.

The doorman’s scowl deepened, if that was even possible. He didn’t say a word. Just stared at me with these dark, unimpressed eyes like he was silently willing me to drop dead on the spot. Liam stifled a laugh behind me, and even Bradley looked like he was struggling not to roll his eyes.

Just as I was about to back off and let the silence swallow me whole, the elevator at the far end of the lobby dinged open, and out came… well, there’s no other way to put it—out came a force of nature.

She strutted across the marble floor like she owned the whole damn building. Cherry-red hair, bright and wavy, practically glowing under the harsh lobby lights, paired with heels that made her seem about six inches taller than she probably was. Her jacket was this wild, patchwork of colors that I couldn’t tell if I loved or hated, but it was impossible to look away from. And her smile? It was like she was on the cover of a magazine, beaming straight at us.

“Gentlemen!” she said, voice thick with an accent I could barely understand. Bronx, maybe? New York for sure. Whatever it was, every word came out as a burst of energy, and I had to pay attention to catch it all. “I’m Vanessa Martinez, but you can call me Vanessa. Or Nessa. Or whatever else you want, honey.” She flashed an enormous smile, her gaze sweeping over each of us like she was sizing us up for a new suit. Or maybe like we were the last three men on earth, and she was picking which one she’d take home. I swear, I’d never felt more like a piece of meat in my life.

She took Bradley’s hand first, giving it a firm shake, then did the same for Liam, her eyes twinkling as she held onto his hand for a second too long. Finally, she turned to me, her fingers warm and her nails just the right amount of sharp as they dug into my palm.

“Well, well, look at you three,” she said, the words rolling off her tongue like honey dripping down a spoon. She turned back to the doorman. “Dimitri, you see these boys? I found the building’s newest tenants. I can just tell by looking at them.”

Dimitri grunted something I couldn’t understand, though he didn’t look half as pissy as he had a second ago. His mouth even twitched—if you squinted, it could almost pass for a smile.

Vanessa spun on her heel and shot us a look over her shoulder, crooking her finger. “Come on, gentlemen, follow me. We’re going to make sure you get the grand tour.”

We trailed after her like ducklings, crossing the lobby under the disapproving gaze of the marble statues lining the walls. Once we were all in the elevator, she hit the button for the tenth floor, then spun around, her perfume filling the tight space in an instant. It was strong and sweet. Vanilla, perhaps? I knew little about perfumes, but this one seemed to vibrate off of her.

She looked over at Bradley. “So, you boys work in the city?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Bradley replied with that same smug tone he always used when he was trying to sound more important than he was. “Associate partner at Bronson and Bronson Law Firm.”

Vanessa’s eyebrows shot up, and she let out this delighted laugh that made the walls vibrate. “Ooooh, we got ourselves a lawyer, huh? You’re gonna love this place then. Got a lot of hotshots just like you living here. You’ll fit right in, honey.”

Bradley beamed like a proud puppy, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from snickering. Vanessa turned her attention to Liam next, and her expression softened, eyes narrowing like she was trying to figure him out. “And what about you, sweetie?”

Liam cleared his throat, looking slightly uncomfortable under her gaze. “I, uh, work for a tech startup. Crypto currency.”

She leaned in, her gaze playful. “Crypto, huh? So you wanna be a billionaire.” She gave him a wink. “They say billionaires make the best lovers, you know.”

Liam’s cheeks went red, and I could practically feel Bradley’s smirk from across the elevator.

Then she turned to me, her gaze sharp as she scanned my face. “And you, handsome? What’s your story?”

“Project manager,” I said quickly, shifting under her gaze. “Just started, actually.”

She gave me a look that was somewhere between pity and amusement. “Oh, honey, bless your heart. That sounds boring as hell. Well, at least you’re cute.”

Liam shot me a look, his eyebrows raised, and I grinned back at him. Vanessa was… a lot. But somehow, I already knew she was going to make life around here pretty damn interesting.

The elevator doors slid open on the tenth floor, and Vanessa strutted out, her heels clicking against the polished tile floors with each step. She led us down a pristine hallway, lined with elegant sconces and fresh paint that looked like it was still drying. The air even smelled expensive up here, with hints of fresh flowers, and maybe… was that lavender?

“Alright, boys, you’re in for a treat,” Vanessa said, throwing a mischievous smile over her shoulder. “Corner unit, which means you get all the perks. Including a balcony. You’ll be able to watch the sunrise over the city with a cup of coffee… or whatever else you like to start your day.” She winked, her cherry-red hair catching the hallway lights as she turned back to the door.

We followed her like moths to a flame, our eyes locked on the brass 10B plaque on the door she was unlocking. She threw it open with a flourish, stepping inside and swinging her arms wide. “Welcome to your new home, boys!” Her voice echoed through the empty apartment, bouncing off sleek hardwood floors and high, pristine ceilings.

We stepped in, and my mouth dropped open. The place was massive, with an open floor plan that let you see straight from the entryway to the floor-to-ceiling windows at the far end of the living room. The view was insane—Manhattan skyline stretching out like a postcard in the late summer sun.

Vanessa walked ahead of us, her heels tapping against the hardwood as she started the grand tour. “So, we’ve got three bedrooms, all with a view, two full bathrooms with marble counters, and a kitchen that’s going to make you boys feel like five-star chefs. Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, wine fridge—you name it, it’s got it.”

Liam let out a low whistle, shaking his head in disbelief. “This place looks like something out of a movie.”

“Good eye, sweetie,” Vanessa said, patting his arm as she sauntered past him. “We get a lot of high-profile folks in here. Models, actors, the occasional social media influencer. Everyone loves the vibes.”

I trailed behind, my eyes darting from the stunning views to the recessed lighting that made the whole place glow. The kitchen caught my attention right away, gleaming under a row of pendant lights. There was an island big enough to host a dinner party and a gas range that looked like it had never been touched.

“Jack, honey, don’t tell me you’re the cook of the bunch,” Vanessa teased, following my gaze. She leaned in close, her perfume filling the surrounding air. “I could just see you whipping up something delicious in here. Maybe you’ll invite me over sometime?”

My face burned, and I stammered something unintelligible, which only made her laugh as she brushed past me to show off the rest of the apartment.

We moved to the living room, where Bradley was practically glued to the windows, his eyes wide as he took in the view. “Look at this, guys,” he said, as if we hadn’t noticed. “We’d have the best view of the entire city right here.”

“You boys deserve the best,” Vanessa said, sidling up to Bradley with a sly smile. “Imagine having a glass of wine out here in the evening, city lights twinkling, maybe a few friends over…” She turned to the window, her hands on her hips, like she was imagining herself in the scene. “A view like this changes everything.”

Finally, she took us down the hallway to the bedrooms. Each one was spacious, with enormous windows that let in all the natural light you could want. The master even had its own bathroom with a rainfall shower and a double sink. Liam looked like he was mentally moving in already, his fingers brushing over the marble counter as if he couldn’t quite believe it was real.

We reconvened in the living room, where Vanessa stood, hands on her hips, looking at us with that bright, expectant smile. “So, boys,” she said, tilting her head. “What do you think? Because I think you’d be perfect neighbors. You look like the type that knows how to keep things… lively.”

We all eyed each other, like we couldn’t believe this was actually happening. This place was perfect. More than perfect. And somehow, it was actually affordable. Liam’s eyes were practically sparkling, Bradley was nodding so hard I thought his head might fall off, and as for me? I could already see myself cooking in that kitchen, watching the city lights blink on at night.

“Yeah,” I said, the word coming out before I could even think. “We want it. Absolutely.”

Bradley and Liam echoed my response, and Vanessa’s smile grew even wider. She clapped her hands together, a victorious gleam in her eye.

“Fabulous!” she crowed. “I’ll have the paperwork sent over this afternoon, and you boys will be moved in before you know it. Trust me, you’re going to love it here.”