A week passed by and the two friends hardly met Alexander. It seemed as if he too was avoiding them. Eva went out with Maxwell twice and a sweet friendship started to blossom between them. Alyssa on the other hand stayed locked up in the apartment with nowhere to go. She accepted the job termination email that Maxwell had sent her and made no effort to look for another opportunity elsewhere. Strangely Nicholas did not bother her at all. Obviously, he got what he wanted and left her to lick her wounds!
It was Saturday evening and Eva returned from her duty, looking cheerful and pleased with herself. “Guess what? I’ve bought a one-bedroom apartment for myself. I’m moving in tomorrow,” she announced to her friend who sat with her jaws dropped to the floor.
“Why did you use up the inheritance money, Eva? We were managing fine here, weren’t we?” Eva shook her head slowly and before she could say a word Alyssa understood why she did it.
“That makes two of us then. I’ll move in with you. I can sleep in the living room but I need to get out of here,” said Alyssa while Eva looked at her friend with surprise.
“It isn’t as posh as this one, Alyssa. The neighborhood also isn’t good enough for you. I don’t think you would be able to live there. I’m broke now and don’t have the means to furnish the house. I’ll do it slowly, so there aren’t any amenities or anything,” she shrugged but Alyssa wasn’t deterred.
“I can do without them but I need my freedom. I’m going crazy staying locked up like this. I need to go as far away from Alexander as possible.” Eva sighed and nodded at her friend who soon rushed ahead to start packing. It seemed Alexander was doomed to be all alone after all! They packed up and by the next morning were ready to leave. The packers and movers company they arranged to do the job arrived on time and picked up their stuff while they followed the vehicle in their respective cars.
Alyssa followed Eva’s car all the way to the low-middle-class locality in the Bronx neighborhood where her apartment was located. Being a lazy Sunday, everyone around gawked at Alyssa’s Ferrari with awe. “I’m sorry, the apartment doesn’t have parking for two. We have to talk to the owner about renting any nearby garage for your car,” said Eva apologetically. “Till then you can use my parking space since your car is expensive. I’ll use the open guest parking.”
“Thanks, Eva.” With the parking problem solved they went up to the third floor 600 sq. feet apartment to inspect. “It’s kind of cute. The kitchen seems to be freshly renovated. These appliances are all new and so is the refrigerator,” said Alyssa inspecting the kitchen. They went to the bedroom and checked out the double bed and the built-in closet.
“We only would need living room furniture but that can be bought later when I get a job,” said Alyssa.
“Do you like it?” asked Eva. Having lived at Alyssa’s apartment nearly all her growing up years, this meant the world to her. She wanted Alyssa to like her apartment and share it with her. Over the years, living together with one another had made them inseparable, almost like siblings.
“I love it. We will share the bed, the room, everything,” said Alyssa excitedly while Eva smiled with relief. The packers and movers delivered their stuff and left and the rest of the time, they just arranged their new home. Alyssa loved the place because of the distance from her brother’s apartment. She would be able to live in peace here.
After a hectic day, they were too exhausted and hungry with nothing at home to cook.
“I’m totally broke. Maybe we can have some milk and cereal for dinner,” suggested Eva.
“What? No way. I packed all the grocery and food items we had at my apartment and brought them here. It’s all in the refrigerator and pantry. Didn’t you notice?” asked Alyssa while Eva grinned happily.
“Great that would suffice till I get my next month’s pay,” said Eva.
“I have money in my account. I’ll pitch in, don’t worry,” said Alyssa but Eva shook her head.
“No Alyssa. I won’t accept your dad’s money. If you get a job, you can pitch in from your own salary,” said Eva.
“I understand. Maxwell has cleared my three weeks’ pay and we can use that to survive,” she offered. Eva nodded and the two friends sighed knowing that they had difficult times ahead of them.
They sat down sprawled over a rug on the floor of the living room when the doorbell rang. Alyssa looked at Eva quizzically wondering who could it be. “Did you give your new address to anyone?” she asked, looking at Eva worriedly.
“No, I haven’t. I wonder who it could be,” she said, getting up to open the door. To her immense surprise there stood Maxwell at her doorstep with food packets in his hands. Eva gaped at him, wondering how exactly he knew where she moved into. Alyssa got up nervously seeing her ex-boss right in front of her. Did Nicholas accompany him?
“Hello, how are you doing, Eva? I thought you would be too tired to make dinner. So I brought some food over,” he said with a smile. Eva moved away to allow him inside.
“Thanks, Max but how did you know where I live? I don’t remember telling you,” she asked looking lost. Maxwell looked ill at ease and glanced at a curious Alyssa briefly.
“Nicholas told me actually,” he admitted, making both their jaws drop with shock.
“What? How the hell does Nicholas know about this place?” demanded Alyssa angrily. Was this some kind of a joke? She hadn’t met or seen Nicholas for a week ever since that night when he betrayed her trust. She thought that was the last time she would deal with the man. She hadn’t even stepped out of her apartment, then how did Nicholas know about her whereabouts?
“I think you should ask him instead,” said Maxwell while Eva took the food packets from him and placed them on the floor in front of the rug where they would eat. She then went into the kitchen to get the plates and cutlery.
“I’m not interested in talking to him, thanks,” grumbled Alyssa while Maxwell shrugged.
“Why have you moved out? Is it because of Nicholas or your brother?” asked Maxwell curiously.
“Neither. I moved out because I want my freedom. I want to work wherever I want to instead of having my stepdad’s business dumped on me,” she said in defiance. Maxwell nodded and sat down on the rug. Alyssa noticed that although he was so successful, he was humble and good-natured, unlike her brother. He was in fact perfect for her friend who refused to acknowledge it. God knew what she ever saw in her arrogant brother!
“You could give your stepdad’s business a try. Why judge it before even trying? You can always leave if you don’t enjoy handling it,” suggested Maxwell but Alyssa shook her head vigorously.
“No, I hate him as well as his business. Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out. Can you give me a work experience certificate?” she asked with a sigh, thinking about the task that lay ahead of her. She would have to look for a job all over again.
“I will give you that but I have a better idea. A friend of mine needs a PA with a finance background, Would you be interested?” asked Maxwell but Alyssa was immediately on her guard.
“Friend? Who? Nicholas?” she asked Maxwell who chuckled without answering her.
Eva came out and handed them their plates. They served the food and ate hungrily nearly after a whole day having skipped their lunch earlier. Maxwell cleverly diverted Alyssa’s mind away from the topic of discussion and instead started narrating his experience about the first day he shifted out of his parents’ house. He gave them tips on how to save up, and how to fix themselves quick meals before and after work.
The food was delicious but then everything tasted heavenly on an empty stomach. Maxwell was very down-to-earth and helped clear their dinner as well. Alyssa noted his interest in Eva and decided to talk to her friend to give Maxwell a chance. They sipped the wine Maxwell brought to celebrate their first day in Eva’s new apartment. Eva seemed impressed by his thoughtfulness and thanked him again and again. She didn’t have many people in her life who cared about her. However, Alyssa noted that she was rather sad than happy in her new surroundings as if she had left her heart back somewhere. Her forced laughter and stressed face broke her heart knowing that her heart wanted Alexander here rather than Maxwell.
Maxwell got up to leave but stopped at the door as if remembering something important. “Alyssa, if you want the job, you can come down to my office tomorrow at 8 o’clock in the morning. The pay is four times what you used to get at my company. Think about it,” he said while Alyssa looked at him with disbelief. He left without waiting for her reply, closing the door shut after him.
“What job was he talking about? The pay is too good, Alyssa. Please take it up,” said Eva clasping her hands earnestly.