10 Chapter 10 Penthouse Viewing

Observing Hera's lingering confusion, Cindy stepped in to introduce Victor. "He is a retired military General and was the previous president's closest friend. Currently, he serves as an advisor to the current president. Victor tends to stay out of the limelight, so his name is more recognized than his face."

With realization dawning upon her, Hera bowed slightly in apology. "I apologize for my ignorance, sir."

Victor waved his hands dismissively. "It's alright, I'm not one for formality. As you've heard, I was part of the military, so I'm used to being around rough and stinky men," he chuckled. "Just call me Grandpa; it suits my age."

Hera chuckled a little. Despite Victor's intimidating appearance, his friendly demeanor put her at ease. She nodded with a bright smile and said, "I understand, Grandpa Victor."

Hearing Hera's soft, warm voice call him "grandpa," Victor's mood lightened up, and he let out another hearty laugh.

Seeing this moment unfold in front of her, Cindy looked incredulously at Hera, as if she were discovering a new continent.

Who would have thought Victor Ainsley could be so easy to get along with? Not only did he look intimidating, he was intimidating in every sense! He exuded an aura of authority and had a notoriously short temper. He rarely showed a friendly face to anyone, let alone smiled or laughed, yet here he was, doing just that ever since he laid eyes on Hera.

"Are you here to visit a relative?" He asked.

"No, I am here to check a place."

"Are you moving here?"

"I'm still not sure. I'm here to check out the place and see if it's still available," Hera replied, engaging in a comfortable conversation with Victor.

It was only at that moment that Cindy recalled her original reason for coming down - not to handle the situation with the scoundrel, but to welcome someone important. She glanced at Hera, remembering that she had introduced herself as Hera, the individual she was supposed to escort upstairs. She overlooked the small detail because Hera used 'Hera Ainsley' instead of 'Hera Avery'. 

She slapped her forehead in realization, surprising both Hera and Victor with her sudden movement. "Right! Why don't we head to the penthouse then?" she suggested, eager to return to the original purpose of their meeting.

Victor didn't seem surprised and waved his hand as Cindy bid farewell to Hera. "Invite me to your housewarming then!" he exclaimed with a warm smile.

He then strolled back to the man who had been observing Hera's every move with keen interest. Of course, he had overheard their brief conversation, so he was aware that Hera would soon be a resident in their building.

Cindy gestured for Hera to enter the elevator first, maintaining a respectful and professional demeanor. After Hera flashed Victor a sweet smile same as the one she would give her own grandfather, she stepped into the elevator. Cindy then pressed the button for the 12th floor, where the penthouse was located.

Alfonse stood anxiously in front of the penthouse elevator, eagerly awaiting Cindy and Hera's arrival. However, more than 20 minutes had passed since Cindy went downstairs to escort Hera up, and they had yet to return. Concern gnawed at him as he feared something might have happened to Hera on her way to the building.

'I shouldn't have let her go alone. She's still not familiar with this place,' Alfonse reproached himself as he continued to wait, his worry growing with each passing moment.

In a minute, the elevator doors parted, revealing Hera standing inside. Alfonse's eyes immediately scanned her, ensuring she was unharmed before he released a sigh of relief.

Cindy spoke up first. "Apologies for the delay. We encountered a situation downstairs, which caused the delay."

Alfonse was about to inquire about the delay, but Hera spoke first. "Let's head in and see my new home," she said with a sweet smile. Instantly, Alfonse forgot his question and nodded eagerly, ready to show her around.

As Hera stepped onto the wide corridor with its marbled white floor, she was greeted by an extravagant dark green carpet adorned with intricate royal designs in gold thread. Expensive crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling at regular intervals, casting a luxurious glow. Roman pillars flanked the corridor, with the sturdy wall on the right contrasting with the floor-to-ceiling glass window on the left, the glass window offering a breathtaking view of an English garden below, complete with a stunning fountain centerpiece.

Hera hadn't even reached the penthouse door, yet she was already captivated by the intricate details outside, eagerly anticipating what lay within. Alfonse couldn't help but smile at her excitement, glad to see her so thrilled.

After a brief walk, Hera found herself standing before a set of mahogany double doors with a sleek, modern English design in black. The traditional door knobs had been replaced by wide metal handles. Cindy then produced a black card from her breast pocket and placed it atop the blinking smart lock on the metal door.

After two beeps, the door unlocked, and Cindy pushed it open with both hands, gesturing for Hera to step inside first.

As Hera stepped inside, she noticed a white shoe cabinet to her right adorned with white and pink roses in a crystal vase, alongside an elegant painting. Beyond that, the spacious room unfolded, boasting floor-to-ceiling windows that flooded the space with natural light. Adjacent to the living area stood an ivory grand piano, beneath a magnificent crystal chandelier that shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight.

A few feet away to the right stood the living room, featuring a large white sofa adorned with gold and cream cushions, facing a wall-mounted 50-60 inch flat-screen TV. On the left side, a curved staircase led to the second floor, while further left revealed a majestic ivory dining table with seating for twelve. Adjacent to the dining area, a spacious kitchen awaited, fully equipped with high-end appliances including a double-door refrigerator reminiscent of those found in 5-star hotels, a sizable pantry, and every culinary gadget imaginable for those who delight in cooking.

Further inside, there was a guest room complete with an attached bathroom, a separate area designated for laundry facilities, and various other utility spaces.

Cindy guided Hera to the second floor, where she showcased three additional spacious guest rooms, each boasting its own bathroom and ample wardrobe space. These rooms were situated on the right side of the building, while the master bedroom occupied the left side. The master bedroom itself was akin to the size of two guest rooms, featuring a generously sized bathroom complete with a jacuzzi, a vast wardrobe area equivalent to another room, and a spacious bedroom section with its own seating area. Additionally, there was an entertainment room situated on the second floor for leisure and relaxation.

The interior design throughout the entire space exuded a Modern Roman English aesthetic, exquisitely blending elegance, purity, and warmth.

Hera was thoroughly impressed with the entire residence, and Cindy's meticulous explanations—from the inspiration behind the interior design to the use of the finest quality materials and state-of-the-art equipment—only enhanced her admiration for the place.

Cindy asked nervously, "Did you like the place?"

Hera nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely! I do have a few ideas for some simple changes though. Since there is already a beautiful palette of white, gold, and cream, I'd like to introduce touches of black and grey to enhance the elegance further. And for the entertainment room, I'd love to have a complete gaming setup—top-of-the-line gaming PC, PS5, Nintendo, and all the essentials." She glanced between Cindy and Alfonse, awaiting their response.

Then, Hera had a change of heart. "Actually, scratch that. Let's just focus on transforming the entertainment room into a gaming paradise. I'd like to personally select the rest of the items myself."

'Where's the fun if I don't buy it myself?'

Cindy made a mental note of all Hera's requests and nodded in agreement. With Hera's relatively modest change requests, Cindy estimated the time needed for the renovations. "It looks like we'll need about 14 days to repaint, replace any faulty lights, perform maintenance on the equipment, and thoroughly test everything to ensure it's in perfect condition."

"Fourteen days? Can't you speed it up?" Hera questioned, knowing that Cindy was likely providing a conservative estimate.

"Ten days, that's the fastest we can manage if we hire more workers and I pull all the strings for the materials. We'll only use the finest quality, nothing harmful to health. With organic paint, there won't be any need to air out the place before moving in. How does that sound?" Cindy proposed, negotiating the timeline.

"Ten days it is," Hera nodded in satisfaction. "Now, let's talk about the rent. How will it work?"

Cindy looked at Alfonse in confusion. "The Green Dragon Manor is one of Avery's properties. Why are you paying?"

Just as Hera took out her phone, she abruptly stopped after hearing Cindy. "This is part of the Avery's Consortium?!"

Cindy nodded in affirmation. Hera looked wide-eyed at Alfonse, waiting for him to answer. Alfonse could only smile and nod.

For a moment, Hera's composure was thrown out of the window. "Well, since it's still part of the Avery's properties, it is only right for me to set a good example and pay for what I use. Either way, it will still come back to me. By doing this, the people managing the accounts will not have a hard time," Hera explained, clearing her throat.

Cindy looked to Alfonse for guidance, unsure of how to respond. Alfonse simply nodded in agreement with Hera. He understood Hera's stubbornness once she set her mind to something, and he saw the logic in her decision. After all, there was nothing inherently wrong with her reasoning.