Page 11 of I Am Sin

I shake the thoughts out of my head. I remove the pink bedspread, fold it up, and store it in the linen closet. I’ll order a new comforter in some neutral color, but for now, I take a brown fleece blanket out of the closet and put it over the bed. I wish I had something black, but brown will have to do for now.

Everything else is in order. I even have shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste in the bathroom for guests.

Now I just have to wait until he gets here. I don’t have his number, so I can’t call him. I don’t want to call him anyway.

He’s so difficult to talk to.

I stand in the doorway and take a look around the room. At the oak nightstand, the driftwood lamp, the tall dresser, the walk-in closet.

It’s not perfect, but it will do.

Especially considering that Dragon is staying here for free. If he were staying with any other friend, he’d have a couch to sleep on at best.

Then I glance at the door.

It only has an indoor lock, which I think is fine for him.

But I’ll have a key lock on my own door by the end of the day. Anyone can open an indoor lock with one of those little tools, and it’s not that I don’t trust Dragon. I don’t think he’s a rapist or a murderer. I wouldn’t allow him to stay here if I did.

But the fact is that I don’t know him, so I’ll be cautious.

I head back to the kitchen and grab my phone from the counter to call maintenance for my building.

“Maintenance,” a voice says.

“Hi, this is Diana Steel in the penthouse. I’d like someone to come up today and install a key lock—no, make that a digital lock—on my bedroom door.”

“Of course, Ms. Steel. I can have someone there by two p.m.”

“Perfect. Thank you.”

I end the call and?—

My intercom buzzes.

Can’t be Dragon already. It’s barely past nine a.m.

“Yes?” I say into the intercom.

“Morning, Diana. It’s me.”

His husky, low voice sends a shiver through me. I steady myself and lean into the intercom. “You’re early.”

“I can come back later if you want.”

“No, it’s okay.” I clear my throat. “Come on up.” I push the button to open the door.

Good thing I was up early and got his room ready.

I suppose the next thing is to call security and let them know I’ll have someone else living here. He’ll need a key that will work for my place and the front entrance.

I sigh.

I hope this isn’t a big mistake.

The only reason I offered him my apartment in the first place was because he insinuated that I wouldn’t want to be associating with the likes of him. Because I’ve been constantly scrutinized because of the privilege I was born into, I immediately went on the defensive and assumed he was calling me an uppity bitch. So, to prove that I wasn’t, I did the “logical” thing and opened my home up to a complete stranger.

Well,almostcomplete stranger.

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