Page 17 of Tainted

“I can’t afford your other complexes.”

“I can put you on the waiting list,” Nolan offered.

There he was again, but his tattooed hands were empty this time. I noticed he wasn’t wearing a navy blue polo or name tag.

“No,Nolan. I need an apartment. The one you told me on the phone was available.”

“Chill, shorty.”

“Don’t tell me to chill, and I’m not your shorty!” My hand went up, stopping anything coming out of his mouth. “You said there was a unit available and took down my information. Now you’re telling me no units are available.”

My eyebrow hiked, being firm and direct. Mom always said people would get over on you if you let them. I wasn’t alwaysdirect and outspoken, but moving around and constantly being the new girl toughened me up.

“Like I said, I took a bunch of calls this morning. None of them were fromNova.”

“Where’s the manager?” I asked, fed up talking to him and getting nowhere.

Mr. Tattooed hands emerged again. “What’s the problem?”

“You might want to order a physical on your employee. Apparently, he has amnesia. He told me a unit was available and took down my information, but now it’s vanished.”

He nodded, walking to the back with a box and returning without it. When he approached the counter, Nolan happily slid down, allowing him to take over.

“What’s your name again?” he asked.

“Nova. Do I need to spell it out?”

The mockery in my tone made his eyes brim with irritation.

“What’s the last four digits of your number?”

“5934.”

Mr. Manager pointed at the paper, and they shared a look.

“Either you don’t know your name, or you called another complex,” he scowled.

Knowing my name should’ve been at the top of the list at twenty-one, but when you’ve gone through so many aliases, you cling to the small pieces of yourself you have left. That had to be the explanation for such a rookie mistake.

“Zara,” I muttered, quickly explaining, “I don’t like the name Zara. I usually go by Nova.”

“What was that?” Mr. Manager asked, wearing a sarcastic smile that looked good on him.

“Don’t be rude,” I countered.

“Like you were to my employee?”

“I’m sorry, Nolan.”

“We don’t have the two-bedroom unit anymore, but I have a one-bedroom. That shouldn’t be a problem since you’re inneed.” Mr. Manager’s explanation made my nostrils flare, but I wasn’t in the position to complain.

“I’ll take it.” Nolan grabbed a stack of papers, but Mr. Manager interjected.

“I’ll handle it. I need to make sure everything checks out.”

“Now I’m a scammer because of a simple mix-up?”

“Just making sure you are who you say you are. Right this way.”

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