“Sorry,” I repeat, using my most civil tone. “I can’t help you. But I’m sure you can find another parking spot somewhere.”

I turn on my heel and stroll back into the building, not sparing the man a second glance. Guess he should’ve thought about paying it forward with kindness before he started asking for favors. What goes around always comes around, buddy.

“What took you so long?” Tegan accuses the moment I drop the last box on top of all the others.

“Nothing, honey, we’re good to go,” I say, pushing the button to the third floor.

The ride takes forever, and when the doors finally open, I place a big box in the middle to keep them from closing. Without wasting time, Tegan and I begin hauling boxes out of the elevator and into my new office. I only need to move everything inside today; I’ll come back tomorrow alone to sort and organize. I’ll also have to put together the new furniture, which came in suspiciously tiny packages that promise an assembling hell.

We’re halfway through the moving when an Indian woman clad in all black—jeans, sweatshirt, beanie—with combat boots to match comes up the stairs, panting. She can’t be much older than Tegan; twenty-three to twenty-five, tops, would be my guess.

“Oh, that’s why the elevator isn’t working,” she says.

“Hi, sorry,” I reply. “I’m trying to make it as quick a job as possible.”

See? I’m already disrupting the building’s services as it is. I couldn’t have possibly kept the elevator locked any longer to move the truck.

And why am I still thinking about that man and his problems?

I’m not. He couldn’t be further from my thoughts.

“You must be our new neighbor,” she says, extending a hand. “I’m Indira. Nice to meet you.”

I shake her hand. “Vivian Hessington. Nice to meet you, too. This is my daughter, Tegan.”

Tegan gives Indira that cool, indifferent nod that all teenagers seem to have perfected.

“You gals need help?” Indira offers.

“No, thank you, I wouldn’t want to trouble you.”

“No trouble at all,” Indira assures me. “I only came in on a Saturday because I forgot my phone charger last night. I’ll grab it real quick and be back in a sec,” she adds, and then disappears through the wide metal and glass doors opposite to my office.

Two minutes later, she joins Tegan and me in moving boxes, chairs, and filing cabinets.

“Seems like today is the official move-in day for half the building, uh?” Indira says between runs.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Another guy down in the lobby is hauling in a bunch of boxes. He was waiting for the elevator, too, I think.”