Chapter 3

I raceover to Ebony when I see her waiting for me outside Kingsgate Property Lettings. She stands out a mile with her blonde highlights and rich red jumpsuit. Her arms are open wide when I reach her, grabbing me in a bear hug like it's been years.

"Whoa," she says as she finally pulls away. "Jesus, Ella, you look like the CEO of a multinational corporation, not a girl after an apartment."

I laugh, because hardly. I've got a blouse and pencil skirt on with my fitted jacket, sure. And ok, some classic black court heels. But I've still got my eyeliner in catflicks and plum berry lipstick on. I still look like I'm straight out of a goth movie, even if my hair is up tight in a bun. Quite a transformation from last night – helped most definitely by the comfy king size bed and the hotel's kickass breakfast this morning. Nobody would guess I'm still wearing yesterday's dirty panties under my smart attire. Nobody other than tonight's client, that is.

"I want to make sure I impress them," I say to Eb. "These apartments are posh as fuck. They could turn me down."

She looks at me reassuringly, like I'm a nervous kid about to head into an exam.

"You don't need to impress Kingsgate. They need to impress you. It's them who are going to be caning the rental income from your bank account, not the other way around."

"Maybe, but my employment history isn't all that impressive, and neither is my credit score."

She shrugs. "So? You're paying a hefty deposit, with an employer reference from The Agency. They've stated they'll be a professional guarantor as well, right? No problemo. You're a PR Superstar now, remember that."

Orla from The Agency is the superstar for even offering it. They really do look after their entertainers. I've handed over my past few months bank statements to Kingsgate, looking pretty damn healthy, but my credit history would never cut it. I hope Kingsgate turn a blind eye to my rating.

I smooth my skirt down for the umpteenth time. I know that Ebony is right, but a big part of me still doesn't quite believe it. I've taken to reading motivational books every chance I get, trying to soak in the messages from the pages. Believe in yourself. Positive mental attitude. Train your focus and follow your dreams. And yeah, they've been working, but this is so important I can't help the nerves. The portfolio of apartments Kingsgate will be showing me today is out of this world. Maybe I shouldn't have been so bold in my choices, since a standard two bed place would do just fine.

Hmm, maybe the motivational books had a part to play in my viewing selection… Dream big.

Ebony checks her watch. "Want to head on in? You'll feel way better when the viewings start. Trust me, babe, they'll be showing off classy kitchen islands, and bigging up luxurious carpets and panoramic views, not judging your life history."

"I hope so."

She gestures to the door. "Let's do it, then. Ten minutes early is no big deal."

"Yeah," I say, and paste on a smile. "Let's do it."

I clutch my handbag, making sure I'm showing off the luxury leather as we step up to the reception desk. They have Kingsgate in a big gold logo on the wall.

"I'm here for Richard Jacobs," I tell the receptionist. "I have viewings today."

My nerves ease off when she smiles back like I'm a valued client, not just a wannabe.

"I'll go get him for you. Ella Edwards, yes?"

"Yes, that's right."

Eb smirks at me as the receptionist walks away. "See. You look like a millionaire. You fit in just fine."

I giggle. "I'm hardly a millionaire."

"Not yet, but give it time."

I don't have the chance to answer before a tall, suited guy – maybe mid-thirties – paces over to shake my hand. He's got a tweed jacket on, high class to match this place, but that doesn't faze me once his hand takes mine. If anything, that just makes something click – a realisation that snaps straight into my head. I'm no longer fazed by extravagance, or class, or received pronunciation. The filthy proposals I've accepted have seen to that. I've fucked plenty of stately, rich clients now, and the way Richard swallows as he looks me up and down reignites my confidence. He wants me. I can see it in his eyes.

"Ella," he says. "I'm so pleased to meet you."

"You, too," I reply, and he moves his attention to Ebony, offering her his hand.

"Ebony," she says. "Ella's friend."

"Friend," he repeats, with a grin. "Excellent. I can't wait to show you our properties. Let me just go and get the car, I'll meet you out front."

Eb giggles once he's out of earshot.

"Can't wait to show you his properties. Yeah, I'll bet. I think he'd prefer showing you his cock, somehow."

"Yeah," I say, "I saw it a mile off."

"The way his mouth watered and he swallowed? The way his eyes went straight to your tits? The way he gave his neck a little shake, because he was getting hot under the collar?"

"Yep, all of the above," I say as we step back outside.

"Bet your ass he's got a semi on right now."

"Shh!" I elbow her in the side as a black, Range Rover Sport pulls up.

I say a thank you as I slip into the back seat with Eb. I notice Richard's eyes catching mine in the rearview mirror every chance they get.

"Five apartments to see," he says. "Any initial preferences?"

Straight off, I want to say the one in Belgravia, by Josh and Tiff. Not just because of its location, but because it looked so lovely when I reviewed the listings AGAIN this morning, but I shouldn't do that. I shouldn't take that one. We'd be neighbours. I'd be able to wave at Josh from my bloody apartment. The very thought makes me feel like a crazy stalker.

"I'm in your hands," I say to Richard, immediately regretting my choice of words. "I'm sure they'll all be amazing," I quickly add.

"I'm sure they will be. We are very careful when it comes to property selection."

And very careful when it comes to tenants, probably. I get a niggle down deep. Just a wormy little squirm.

"You like the one in Belgravia, don't you?" Ebony announces, and fuck, I wish I hadn't sent the link over to her so many times. She gives me a nudge in the arm as she carries on. "It'll be a very convenient location for you, won't it?"

I could swat her one, seriously.

"Do you work in Belgravia?" Richard asks.

"I work around the city," I reply. "But I have friends in Belgravia."

"Friends, yeah," Ebony whispers, and she's as bad as Tiff. Josh has been telling me that the two of them are so keen on us getting together that they're browsing hats for the wedding. He's been getting it nonstop, apparently.

"I have friends in Belgravia, too," Richard says. "I go there a lot. Maybe we'll end up bumping into each other, if you take it."

His words are clearly pointed. In his mind, he's already fucking me. Yeah, Dick has got more than a semi on right now. I smile back at his grinning reflection.

"So, which of the apartments would you recommend, if the choice was yours?"

"Belgravia, of course." He laughs. "No, honestly. Joking aside, it's quite a spectacular one, and reasonably priced for its location."

He isn't joking. That apartment tops the list on cost as well as location. I've seen some incredible pictures of it, on the seventh floor of a very flash block. It has courtyard gardens around it, and floor to ceiling windows that look out onto the city. It has two awesome huge bedrooms – perfect for Mum and Dad to visit. Mum would go crazy for the state-of-the-art kitchen. She'd likely get more use out of it than I would. I'm more of a microwave kind of girl.

But who knows? Anything can change, can't it? Recent events have proved that. Maybe I'll be cooking up Michelin level main courses in a few months' time.

Ah, that leads to my next question for Richard.

"All of these places say currently available on your website. How soon does currently actually mean? Are we talking a few weeks before I could move in?"

"That depends. Three of them are empty and fully refurbished, so currently available on those means as soon as the paperwork is completed and the deposit funds are in our account. We'd just need to take some final pictures and get the landlord's approval. Those could take about a week, if we sprinted it. The others may take a few weeks longer."

"Great, when could we get the process started if I chose one?"

"How quickly can you sign your name? I can get Rebecca to draw the paperwork up as soon as you decide. I believe you've already handed over your employer reference and bank statements?"

"Yes," I tell him as we pull away from traffic lights.

I sent over the reference as soon as I made the bookings, hoping Kingsgate wouldn't dig much deeper. If they looked up my current postcode on Streetview, they'd probably turn me down in a flash.

"In that case, we'd do everything we could to get you in there as quickly as possible, especially if time is a factor."

"Thank you."

If only he knew how much…

We check out the first two, in Wharton Road and Halesbury Avenue on the North Side, and they are cool places. Plush, but compact. One comes furnished, which would be a bonus, but it's just not me. It's just too beige. The other is great, but it isn't going to be available for another six weeks once a new kitchen install has been completed. It's nice, but no. I need sooner. Onto the next one. Finns Lane. Available immediately. A sweet, Victorian apartment on the ground floor, with doors that open out into a mini garden. The bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe to die for, but Ebony doesn't look as impressed as me when we leave. She pulls me aside as Richard goes on ahead to the car.

"This is quite far out from the city centre. A fair bit of travelling for proposals."

I shrug. "True, but hardly a big deal. It's a good price, too."

"Maybe. Are you much of a gardener?"

"No, not really."

"More of a city skyline girl?"

I laugh. "Yeah. I do love a view of the city."

"That's a no to this place, then."

"Seriously?"

"Hell yeah, seriously. Go for one that makes your heart sing."

It feels crazy to turn down a place so lovely. I'd have fainted at the prospect just a few months ago.

The next place is in Parkvale, and it's ok, but not nearly so nice as the others. The current tenant's stuff in there makes it obvious it's a lot smaller, and the guest bedroom is barely big enough for a double bed. Mum and Dad would be cramped in there, even though it's stylish.

"Not convinced?" Richard asks, and I shake my head.

"No, not quite, sorry."

"No need to be sorry. Onto the main event, and then feel free to make your call."

I know from his grin that he's been saving the best until last, and oh, fuck it. I also know my heart is all in when the two towers of Belgravia appear in view. They are glorious, like they're carved from mirrored glass. The pictures on the website could never have done this place justice… especially not the interior. The west tower feels like a five-star hotel when we head inside the entrance foyer and step into the elevator. The whole place looks crafted from hand polished marble. No wonder the service charge is so high. My heart is pounding when we reach the seventh floor and Richard leads us along the hall to the apartment.

My mouth drops open when he opens the door with a ta-da! because the place is an open plan dream. Seriously. The deep grey electric blinds are open wide at the far end of the lounge area, showing the wonder of the world outside. I'm almost mute as Richard gives us a tour, showing off everything from the gloss black kitchen counters, through to the glory of the slate walled bathroom, with its newly fitted cascade shower.

"Shall I give you some time?" he says, knowing full well this place has captured me whole.

With that, he leaves us to it, closing the front door behind him, and I rest my elbows on the kitchen island, still transfixed by the windows and the magnificent view across the city.

"I can hear it," Eb says, stepping up close.

"Hear what?"

"Your heart, singing." She grins. "This is deffo the one for you, Ells. The others don't even come close."

She's not wrong. But I don't want to say it out loud.

"Yeah, but this is over fifteen hundred a month more than the others," I say instead.

"Pah, whatever. You could earn that in twenty minutes with the right client. You're earning a hefty chunk tonight, aren't you? Stop playing yourself down. You're a hardcorer, Ella. Hardcorers earn big."

"I'm not a hardcorer just yet. I'm a newbie."

"A newbie who is fast becoming a hardcorer." She goes over to the window and points to the block on the other side of the gardens. "A newbie who could be living right next to other hardcorers, too."

My heart jumps.

"That's where they live? Tiff and Josh? Right there?"

"Yup."

"That's close. Real close."

"Just a dash across the gardens. Perfect for late-night visits."

"That isn't part of my decision making," I say, despite the thrill. "I'm doing this for me, not for anyone else."

She tips her head. "I know that, babe, it's just an added bonus. But honestly." She twirls around with her arms out, heels spinning easy on the light oak floor. "This place is standout, Belgravia or not. Be honest with yourself. This is the one you want, isn't it?"

I get a lump in my throat at the thought. I can't believe it. Even the prospect…

The thought of waking up in this place every morning. Showering in the luxury bathroom. Drinking coffee by the window as the sun rises over the cityscape. The thought of my parents visiting, and seeing how far I've come.

I try to cough down my emotion, but Ebony spots it. She pulls me in for another hug, and that's it. The tears spill along with my words.

"I never thought I'd amount to anything, you know? I always thought it would be Connor. I figured I was nothing, just supporting him, like he was the one destined for the high life. But it's me who's standing here, with a place like this I could live in, not him. I just can't believe it's me."

"And you deserve it," Eb says, looking me in the eyes. "Take it, Ella, live your dreams."

Live your dreams. Straight from the motivational books.

Fuck it, why not listen?

"You going to take it?" Eb asks, and I nod.

"Yeah." I laugh. "If they'll let me have it, that is."

She laughs back. "Oh, they'll let you have it, don't you worry. Richard would probably give it you for free, he wants to bump into you so bad."

"Stop it!"

I take another look at the sprawling cityscape through the windows. I'd move into this place right now, without so much as a bed or a towel or anything, just to be in here, it's so beautiful.

"Let him know," Ebony says, gesturing to the front door. "He's out there waiting. Tell him you want this one."

I take a breath. "Ok. I will."

Richard is on his phone when I step out to meet him, leaving the door ajar behind me. He puts it straight in his pocket.

"This is the one I want, please," I say. "It's perfect. It's amazing."

He puts his hand on my shoulder. "I'm glad we've been able to find you the perfect location, I know how much it can mean when a property jumps out like that, destined to be our home."

Home. What a word for this place.

"I'll get Rebecca right on it," he says. "We'll sign off the paperwork when we're back at the office, if you like? When do you want the tenancy to start?"

"Today," I laugh, thinking he'll laugh back but he doesn't. He tips his head from side to side. "Hmm. That might be a bit ambitious, but we could probably sign off mid next week. Get the weekend out of the way."

"Really? Next week? You're the best. Honestly."

He grins as though I've given him a prize, and takes his phone back out. "Let me get on to Rebecca. Head down to the car when you're ready."

"Thanks."

I wait until he's at the elevator before I dash back into the apartment with my hands in the air. I do a happy dance in the kitchen as Eb cheers for me, spinning around like I'm a ballerina.

"It's going to be mine!" I squeal. "Next week!"

Her mouth opens, and she glances around at the empty brilliance. "Jesus, Ells, that's great, but what the fuck do you have to put in here? You've got no furniture in the shared house, have you? Nothing you'd want to bring?"

I'm grinning like a clown. "Nope. Not a thing. I have sweet fuck all."

She clasps her hands together. "Hell yeah then, babe. Blank canvas. We'd better go shopping!"

"I can't. I have a proposal this evening. Thank God for the pleasure of shopping online."

"Damnit, Ells, you're such a workaholic." She raises an eyebrow. "Or a whore-aholic."

"What can I say?" I smirk. "I love my job, and I have a whole apartment to furnish. I'll happily be a whore-aholic to get this place just how I want it."

"Alright, let's get down to Richard," Eb says. "Online shopping will have to do for now. Maybe we can browse together while we're waiting for him to sort the tenancy."

"Sure, just one more thing I have to do."

"What's that?"

I drag her through to the bedroom with me, and she's laughing before I'm down on the floor, doubled up as I do a snow angel on the thick plush charcoal grey carpet.

"Thought I'd check it out," I say, then roll onto my side and laugh along with her. "I don't need any furniture, after all. This carpet is comfy enough to be a bed."

"You're something special, you know that?"

I catch my breath and stare up at the ceiling, and the host of sunken LED lights with eight billion settings.

Yeah, I better had be something special, clocking up every five-star review I can muster. This new lifestyle doesn't come cheap. So, best off starting on a high tonight.

"Let's get down to Richard," I say. "I've got a new client at eight who wants me in filthy, wet panties. Good job we've been marching around apartments, on a bright sunny day."

"Nice." She helps me to my feet. "Make sure you don't say that in front of Richard, or he'll be asking for those dirty panties as a deposit."

I raise my eyebrows. "You've been checking out Dick's dick through the viewings?"

She gives me a wink. "Sure have. That's my job, baby."

I take her hand when we reach the elevator, giving it a squeeze when we step inside.

Yeah, it is her job, and she's crazy good at it.

Back at Kingsgate we wait for ever for Richard. We can see him in his office, on the phone, and I just know he's talking about me. Lives in a shithole. Bad credit score. I feel like I'm doomed.

"It's ok," Eb says, "he's probably talking to his wife, explaining he's gonna be late because he has new images in his mental spank bank to ponder."

I take a breath, barely registering her attempt to reassure me. She's scrolling through furniture websites and trying to wow me with suggestions as the minutes tick by, but I'm too edgy to care right now.

My panties will be sweaty as fuck given my stress at watching Richard. He's finished with the phone and is now sitting at his desk, doing something at his PC.

My heart has sunk so low. Fuck how I hate my past life.

"Here he comes." Eb nudges me.

Richard is coming over, some papers in his hand. He's smiling. Dare I hope? I say a little prayer anyway.

"Just need three signatures," he says, handing me the papers and a pen.

Oh my God. I stare at my copy of the tenancy agreement as though it's a graduation certificate. And in a way, I guess it is.

"All yours," Richard says. "I'll call as soon as you can collect the keys."

I can't thank him enough, and can't thank Eb enough for coming along for the ride. I'm squeezing her arm again as we walk down the street to the tube station.

"Welcome to Belgravia, Holly," she says.

"Thanks. What a shocker."

"Hardly. I knew it from day one." She clears her throat. "And on that note… what's the latest on you and the pierced Adonis?"

I get a huge flutter of butterflies at her words.

"We've lined up a date on Friday night. He's booked a restaurant in Kensington."

"There you go, picking up a Belgravia apartment and a Belgravia superstar in the same week? Life's a winner."

"Yeah, it sure is."

I only pray it stays that way. Life can be bliss, but heartache can be hiding like a bitch behind any corner. I know that only too well.

I shunt those thoughts aside. The past is over now. Connor is gone, and Belgravia is coming. In the interim, I've got clients to focus on. Friday might just be a few nights away, but they are going to be busy ones. Ebony is right. I am a whore-aholic.

"Ever been used in front of a window?" I ask her, changing the subject. "I've got exhibitionism on the cards tomorrow."

"Yeah. Many times. It's pretty hot actually, being spotted by people outside, especially when they stop and watch you getting used."

"Yeah. Sounds pretty hot."

She gives me another elbow nudge as we get on the tube.

"Call it practice. With windows like your new ones, Josh will be fucking you in front of them every chance he gets."

I burn up at that, because the thought of Josh fucking me in front of those Belgravia windows gives me flutters. But it's not just that I burn up at. It's the inevitable announcement before it. What do I say to him on date number one? How do I drop the news my apartment viewings have led me to the other side of the courtyard from his?

It has to be in person, because I'm not just dropping that as a casual one liner on messenger. Howdy, neighbour!

"I mean it, Eb," I say when we reach her tube station. "Don't go blabbing about my new place to Tiff before I've told Josh, ok? I need to break the news myself."

"Don't worry," she says, and pulls me in for a hug. "My lips are sealed. I'll leave that pleasure all to you."

I'm not sure how much of a pleasure it'll be to sound like a stalker when Josh hears my news, but I'll give it my best shot.

In the meantime, I've got some director level panty play, and a whole night of glass pane action ahead before I can think about Josh doing me in front of one.

New sofa money, here I come.