The beige building is gigantic and made out of glass and brick. It sticks out like a sore thumb. It looks freshly built and there’re construction workers remodeling the building. It sits in between two other buildings that look historical.

People dipped in designer clothes from head to toe bounce in and out of the building.

There’s no way in heck I can afford something like this. A lanky, tall guy sporting a crimson uniform opens my door and helps me out.

“Hey, Mr. Underwood. It’s good to see you,” the guy says with a smile.

“Jimmy, I need you to take good care of Gia. She’s our new resident,” Gunner says. His smile is so bright it can light up the dark sky.

“Right. Will do. Your bags, ma’am?” he asks.

Gunner grabs my trash bag from the bed of the truck and shoves it in Jimmy’s hand. Jimmy scrunches up his pointy nose and stares at us like we are aliens from another planet. Guess he isn’t used to seeing common folk carrying trash bags around.

I follow Gunner through the brightly lit lobby, and we halt at a set of double elevator doors. He taps the up button as I rock on my heels as we wait for the doors to open.

“You’re shacking up with me until I have a unit available in one of my buildings.”

“So we’re like roomies?”

“Only Mondays through Thursdays.”

“Why?” I’m all for having the weekends to myself—at least I can let my hair down, be myself without freaking him out.

The doors whistle open, and we step inside. Gunner hits the button for the forty-seventh floor and the doors ding closed. “Driving home to Bedford is a pain in my ass, so I crash here on workdays,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. “Your rent is free.”

“Um, no. I’m not living here for free.”

I sigh. “Yes, you will.”

“I’ll pay you something.”

I’m not depending on him to keep his word. For all I know he might get mad at me and toss my poor butt out on the street like I’m moldy Chinese food. I don’t trust men, especially Gunner. I wouldn’t trust him with a butter knife. Not because he has done anything to me, but because he has a lot of power. If he wants to, he can rape or beat me and get away with it.

“I have more money than I need. Your little money isn’t gonna break me, Rainbow.”

“Well, I’m still paying you.” I exhale. “My current rent is around a thousand a month.”

“Hundred bucks.” He folds his arms over his hard chest.

“Deal.”

“Do you always have to have the last word on everything?”

“It depends on the topic,” I say.