Page 259 of Steeling Her
“These three doors are for storage, so you can do what you like with them. No mould because the renovations are brand new, and there are certificates and surveys on the property that guarantees that it’s liveable, which I will hand over to you.” She smiles.
We walk back upstairs to continue the tour.
“This is the kitchen. It’s a smart kitchen, so there is a lot of technology in here. The entire house is a smart home, so you pretty much control everything from your phone. Switch on lights, preheat the oven, turn on the heat or air conditioning, etcetera. Two ovens, one grill, and two microwaves; one is located in the walk-in pantry. Again, for more storage. You have an electric stove on this island here. The island is made of rare white Italian marble. You have a sink and a side hose with a steamer next to it for cooking. The kitchen overlooks the back garden with an amazing view of the LA skyline.” Carrie walks me out to the sliding doors to allow me to be greeted with a spectacular view of the city’s skyscrapers.
“Amazing sunrises and sunsets can be viewed from here. You have your own fire pit to keep guests warm and another seating area just back there to watch the view. We, of course, have an infinity pool with a screen that comes up from the floor so you have have pool movie nights. The hot tub is over here. The barbecue area is sheltered. The house comes with its own gardener and housekeeper too.
“There is a small guest house over here with its own kitchen facilities, very similar to the kitchen in the main house; it’s only a bit smaller, with two guest rooms and a living room space.” I am in complete awe of this place. It’s a little overwhelming. This is everything I have wished for in a home. As I go deeper into the house, the boxes start to check themselves off.
“I know it’s part of your job to show me everywhere, but can we cut it back a little?” I ask after checking the time. I can’t be late for training today or I’ll be benched. Coach will make sure to follow through on those threats.
“Sure, I know you’re busy.” She nods, understanding that my time is a little valuable.
“Can I just see the master bedroom and the living room?” I ask to cut to the chase. I can already envision what the other rooms will look like; big, bright, and luxurious. I don’t mind not seeing the rest of the house, I just need to see the main areas; the rooms I will occupy most of my time in.
“Sure. Follow me.” We walk around the corner to see the spacious and comfortable living room. Very homey and welcoming. I know none of the furniture will be there, but I can still envision the stuff I want in this house. I can see a large TV mounted on the wall with a two large corner couches that join to make a giant U shape. This is the difference between here and the other ones I have seen. I couldn’t envision myself in any of the others but I can here.
For some strange reason, I can be here in this house.
“Happy?” she asks as I finish admiring the house. Everything is very basic here, but I know you can tailor it to fit your style. Guy styles are very laid back and minimalistic; mine is no different. I like it that way. It’s easier to keep.
“Yeah,” I mutter as I look up at the chandelier above me and think to myself,Carter would love that.
“Okay, I’ll take you up the the master bedroom then. Follow me. I know you’re short for time today and viewing this last minute before training, I don’t want to be the reason why you’re late.” She giggles as we race back to the foyer and go up one of the two staircases to get to the master bedroom. We walk to the right hand side of the gallery overlooking the entrance, down mute-colored walls that’ll lead to the first door on the left, facing the view of the backyard. She pushes the door open and walks through to get into another room. This time, the room is dark grey with a hint of blue and white.
Black oak furnishing make up the room, and even though it’s dark, there’s still a bright feel to it. There’s sense of comfort and belonging, much like what I’ve experienced with the rest of the house.
I love it.
I smile to the surrounding decor that I know I will get the chance to do myself and see the floor-to-ceiling windows that allow access to a balcony overlooking the beauty of the city. I could only imagine the sunset and sunrises that I will get to see.
“Carter would love this,” I whisper to myself. A lump in my throat gathers at the thought of not seeing or hearing from her in a while. It pains me to not hear her sweet voice. I long for her to say my name.
The haze of the buildings in the distance contrasts with the bright colors of the sky.
I crane my neck around to face the California king bed and begin to see her laying there, sleeping deep in the covers.
I haven’t heard from her since the impromptu call I made after my dads visited. I panicked and couldn’t wait to hear from her. I was also worried about what was said and how she was doing.Was she upset?
The silence is killing me inside, starting with my heart. It’s eating me alive, and I can feel it feasting on me.
“Nick?” I’m pulled out of my thoughts as I stare at the mesmerizing view. I can picture her with me in the house.Our home.I can picture us cuddling on the balcony seeing the sun setting. I can picture our family running around the house with the amount of space, not without a few things being knocked over.
“I think I’ve found it.” I smile and turn on my heel to face her watching me carefully with two hands clasped together in front of her face with wide eyes.
“You’re messing with me, right?” She gasps. I shake my head from side to side to let her know I’m 100 percent serious. She grins and bounces up and down. “Finally!” she screams with laughter which makes me smile.
“You did good,” I congratulate her on her commission. People have to make their money, but she stuck with me after a lot of no’s and uncertainty. She had a lot of patience for me and my determined vision. “I like it.” She smiles with two thumbs up. “I love it.” I nod in appreciation for the decor one final time.
“I will have all the paper work ready for you when it becomes available on the market. All you have to do is come into the office and sign on the dotted line after your lawyer has read through it. ” She claps. “I’m so happy for you! It really is an amazing home!” She looks around the room that’s stunningly decorated to my taste. It’s like they knew I’d be coming to see the house. “Ugh, I wish I could afford this house—”
“I would have fought you for it, Carrie, and you know it. I’m a professional competitor. I wouldn’t hold back and you know that,” I joke but I would have doubled the offer if I saw someone else making any kind of moves on the place.
“I know.” She rolls her eyes as we walk down the hallway to get back to the foyer. “It still doesn’t mean I wouldn’t put up a good fight though!” she teases. “Now, you don’t need to worry about this any further, I have it all handled,” she begins but we get interrupted by the two owners who had greeted us at the foyer.
“What’s the asking price?” I inquire before we leave.
“They are requesting twenty-five point five million for this one.” She winces a little, knowing she couldn’t afford it. Not many people can. I’m just incredibly privileged to work in this profession and get paid a lot for it. I take it in, even if it’s a little over the budget, but I think I will settle for it with ease.
