Home Again (pt 2)

"It's close to work, just as you requested," Andrew replied.

A driver stepped out from the black car and walked around to the other side, opening a door for Lillian to get in.

"Ah, it's okay. I can just ride in the truck," Lillian was hesitant about sitting in such a small space with the CEO.

Andrew tried to gauge her reaction then spoke to the driver, "Have a car and driver prepared for my fiancée by tomorrow. I think a van should be spacious enough."

Lillian processed what Andrew had just said and turned to him. "No no no. I don't need a van, or a driver. This car is great, thank you for letting me ride today." She quickly hopped in the backseat and put her seatbelt on.

Andrew gave the driver a subtle nod, then climbed into the opposite side of the car. An armrest in the middle separated the two of them as they made their way through the city, her old home bidding them farewell. After about 30minutes, they were in downtown, driving along a street of luxury shops and tall glass buildings. The driver drove a few blocks further until they reached the edge of the downtown part of the city, where many expensive modern apartment buildings were placed. He took a turn into an underground garage and parked in a reserved spot, close to the elevators and stairs.

Ooh, looks like I'll be getting a cool modern apartment after all. This is so exciting! I would've never been able to afford a place in this part of the city, even if I got a job in the marketing department.

The driver came around and opened her door again. Lillian shyly thanked the man, as for a second time that day he'd shown her more care than she had needed. He then went back to the other side to let Andrew out and stood aside.

"Follow me," Andrew guided Lillian to the elevator. The mover followed close behind with her boxes stacked on a wheeled push cart.

They entered the elevator and Andrew inserted a key, before pressing a button at the top of the numbers labeled 'P'.

P? As in Penthouse?!

Lillian's eyebrows lifted and her eyes went wide when she noticed the elevator kept ascending and ascending to higher floors.

Seriously?! I know the Geldan family is rich, but it's definitely too much to give me a penthouse all to myself. Aren't they usually huge? That's going to be too much space. Maybe I can throw parties to liven it up, so I don't get lonely.

As she was going through her thoughts, they arrived at Level P. The doors opened, and to her surprise they were already in the apartment. It was just as she had expected of such a modern looking building. Sleek countertops in the kitchen, 360 floor to ceiling glass windows with a view of the city, metal and glass stairs that lead to a second floor.

The apartment was fully furnished as well in white and black tones. It looked a bit cold, just like the CEO. She was grateful they had provided furniture for her, but the place looked like a bachelor pad more than anything.

Andrew walked ahead and put his jacket on a chair, then motioned Lillian to follow him up the modern looking stairs. When they got to the second floor, there was a hallway with 4 doors.

He opened the one of the doors and lead her inside a large bedroom. The sheets on the bed were a feminine floral pink, and some flowers were sitting in a vase on the bedside table. A fuzzy pink rug laid on the floor in front of the bed underneath a low gold and white table. It looked completely out of place in the otherwise monochrome Penthouse apartment.

"This will be your room. If you don't like the style, you're welcome to change it. My sister got a bit carried away with the pink." Andrew picked up a pink pen with a fluffy pink ball on the end of it that matched the rest of the pink stationary on the desk in the corner of the room, and gave it a quizzical look before putting it back down.

"Take your time unpacking and settling in. If you need anything, I'll be in my office at the end of the hall."

"Your office? Do you mean you'll be living here too?" Lillian hesitantly asked as she started to realize the situation she was in.

"This is my apartment. Of course I'll be living here." He matter of factly replied, then made his way out the room.

"Of course I'll be living here," Lillian muttered to herself. "What!" She exclaimed, the buried herself into one of the pillows on the bed.

Her face stuffed in a pillow, she continued to exclaim to herself, the sounds muffled by the soft fluff. "Lillian, you idiot! Of course they didn't get you a personal penthouse. You just said you wanted to move out, and that's all he put in that bloody contract. A freaking 'place to stay'! That could mean anything, how did I not catch that!? Now I have to live with that man!"

She suddenly got up from her new bed when interrupted by a knock at the door. The mover dropped off her boxes then went on his way.

Resigned to her fate, she began unpacking her belongings. She opened a door, hoping to find a closet, but instead found a sparkling bathroom with a large walk in shower and a deep white bath tub. She stared in awe for a moment, then went to try the other door connected to her room. This one did lead to a closet, but was it really a closet? She couldn't believe her eyes, when the room filled with a center median full of drawers and walls lined with racks for hanging clothes was bigger than the childhood bedroom she had just left behind. There was even enough space for a small pink sofa situated on the far side of the room.

The clothes she unpacked did not even fill up a tenth of the room, making the space feel cold and hollow at best.

It's alright, maybe you'll get used to it... Eventually.

Lillian reassured herself as she opened up her last box. She took out her little penguin friend and laid on the wide bed, hugging the plushie tight.

Let's think of the positives, Lillian. It's close to work, heck I might even be able to walk there when the weather's nice. The bed is huge, you can stretch out every morning as you experience and live this lavish life. I bet this bed could even fit 5 people in it... Bed.

She quickly turned her head to the room door and was relieved to find a lock on the doorknob. She got up and clicked it in place before going back to sit on the bed.

"There, better safe than sorry. You never know what could happen when living alone with a man."