Page 13 of Besties
“Please. You were always there when I needed you, and you’ve never once asked me for anything in return. Let me do this for you.”
It went against everything I believed, but what choice did I really have? Better to try to pay Richie back, after I paid Mom back. Oh, God. The knot in my stomach appeared again at the realization that I was going to be twenty-nine soon and I still needed Mommy to bail me out.
Could this get any more fucked up?
I probably shouldn’t have asked that question, because the universe loves a good challenge.
Chapter4
“What do you think?”
It was a nice apartment. No, it was a stunning apartment. This had been the fifth one on our list. The unit they’d set up for display was incredible. Two bedrooms, two baths. The kitchen had gleaming stainless steel appliances, with a marble-topped breakfast nook that had very kitschy-looking wrought iron chairs. The dark hardwood floors in the living room gleamed under track lighting, and the walls were painted in a deep red. An enormous sapphire-blue sofa sat in the center of the room, flanked by a hexagonal glass-topped table on either end. A wide-screen television was mounted to the wall, giving you a perfect view from any chair in the place. What I liked best was the bedroom. The California king bed dominated it, with ivory-colored linen and pillows. And then there was the walk-in closet, which was easily the size of the bedroom in my old place.
“This is nice.” But way outside my range. Even if I could afford the $2,500 a month rent, there was no way I’d be able to swing five grand to put down a deposit and last month’s rent.
Richie gestured toward the door. “There’s a balcony off the living room where you could sit out there and sip coffee while you’re working. Sheila, the lady I spoke with, said we couldn’t appreciate it unless we saw it at night. There are lights up and down the river that causes the water to shimmer and glow.”
I could picture myself living here and being damned happy about it. But I had no job, no prospects for a job, and definitely no money.
“I can’t afford this.” I hated how defeated I sounded.
“You could if you had a good job.”
“Yeah, and those are just going to fall out of the sky.”
Richie smiled as he reached into his pocket and fished out a card he handed me.
I took it and had to shake my head. “What’s this?”
“My company is looking for a director of sales. I want you to take the job.”
My gaze shifted from the card to his face, then back to the card. “You’re not serious.”
“I am. We need someone who is organized and can get stuff done.” He stepped closer. “You can do this job, and I think you know it.”
No way. And still….
“If I took it—and I’m not saying I will—it’s a little startup. I wouldn’t make enough money to rent this place.”
A brilliant smile split Richie’s face. “Okay, so you haven’t been keeping up with what I’ve been doing, have you?”
“Only what you tell me.”
“Oh, Max….” He chuckled as he patted my cheek. “We have so much to discuss. We’ll talk at dinner while I try to get you to take the job, but first…. Do you want this apartment?”
I let my gaze wander. God, this place was gorgeous. Way better than where Jesse and I lived. “I’d have to ask my mom for money, and I’m not really keen on that.”
“Okay, how about this. You take the job and I’ll front you the money for the first month’s rent and security deposit. You can call it a signing bonus if you’d like.”
There was no way Richie could afford this. Was there?
“Come on, dinner awaits.”
He took my elbow and led me toward the door. As we opened it, a young lady was standing there, dressed stylishly in a black pantsuit.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen. I’m Sheila Dunworthy, the rental manager here.”
“Sheila!” Richie’s smile was wide and affable. “It’s good to meet you in person. I’m Richie Ryland.”
