Page 2 of My Ruthless Neighbor

Her eyes land on my purple beret before sliding down to my hip-length brown hair that’s untied. Her scrutiny doesn’t stop there. She regards my turtle neck yellow short sleeves top and dark purple high-waisted trousers with contempt.

Slinging my multicolored backpack higher up my shoulder, I tilt my chin, silently bating her to say something about my bright outfit or the huge yellow sunglasses I am donning.

Mrs. Bowers is the type of person who dresses in dull and boring colors and likes to pull her gray hair in a bun so tight it could make you wince. And whenever she sees me, she has this judgy look on her wrinkly face that makes me want to howl.

I mean, dude. What’s your problem? I don’t give you sidelong glances for your choice of clothes. Why judge me for mine? Yes, I admit, I love wearing bright colors. So what? That doesn’t give you the right to look down on me.

She is clever enough to keep her mouth shut and only express her distaste through her eyes. I can’t say anything for the judgy looks, but if she were to pass a rude comment, she might as well be ready for a war. I never make snarky remarks about others so I expect the same courtesy in return.

When she stares at my black and white mismatched boots for a second too long, I cross my stance. “They’re cool, right?” I grin mockingly.

My landlord clears her throat, her eyes jumping up to mine. “I’ve been meaning to get a hold of you.”

“You did?” My eyes widen. “Oh, is this about the leak in the apartment? I told you about the black mold the other day—”

She sniffs, her neck craning a bit to stare at me. I am tall. I am almost 5’9” and my heels make me taller.

“We… can discuss that later. I wanted to remind you that you’re late.”

I frown. “I’m sorry?”

“It’s the second day of the month, Summer. I wanted to remind you that you have to pay your rent.” She folds her arms across her chest. “In case you forgot.”

Ah. The not-so-subtle threat. She owns more than half the apartments in this building. And she is very particular about her dates. She personally reminds you that your rent is overdue and doesn’t let you breathe until you’ve paid it. She will send you texts, call you and sometimes even post notes on your door if you fail to respond to her.

Mrs. Bowers doesn’t bat an eye before kicking someone out. No matter how much desperate you are, she doesn’t see reason. I have been living here for almost three years now. I make sure to pay the rent before any other bills.

“Of course, of course. How can I forget?”You won’t let me. “I am actually heading for a job interview. I’ll wire the money by the end of the day, kay?” I smile and turn on my heels and take the elevator down to leave.

I have zero ideas about how I am going to manage the rent. I lost my waitressing gig two weeks ago. I am surviving because I work at a resort on weekends where I have to swim in a mermaid costume for hours.

I hardly have couple hundred bucks in my bank account. Each day is a struggle. I need to get this job if I don’t want to be homeless!

???

I park my old Honda civic two blocks away and walk to the office building.

I take a moment and stare at the huge glass building. My yellow-tinted sunglasses do a shitty job of protecting my eyes from the sun.

KIM Advertising.

I hesitate for a moment after reading the name. My best friend, Raleigh works here. And he has no freaking idea I am here for a job interview. Yep. I am about to step inside this gigantic, architectural masterpiece.

KIM Advertising is one of the biggest advertising agencies in LA. And I am not sure what I am doing here. Well, I am here for a job interview. But the twist is, I don’t have the qualifications or the degree required to work here.

I was just eighteen when Raleigh and I left the foster home together. He went on to study and wanted me to do the same. I tried, but I realized that I wasn’t great at it. I wasn’t sharp like him. I lacked the drive he always possessed. He wanted to conquer the world. And he worked harder day and night to achieve it.

I dropped out of college and began working odd jobs to support myself.

Raleigh always encouraged me that I would find my calling one day. That I wouldn’t feel so lost. My foster brother may not be my twin but we sure as fuck were attuned to each other. He sensed that having no goal, and no passion really disturbed me.

Now he is practically on the top, working at KIM Advertising, living in a great apartment and I am still at the same stage where I started all those years ago. I am twenty-seven years old and it sucks to admit that I still haven’t found the purpose in my life.

I sometimes eat ramen for dinner and to be honest… I have no complaints that life is treating me so hard.

Raleigh doesn’t voice it but I know he aches when he visits my studio apartment. He once tried helping me financially, but that ended up with me not talking to him for a week.

I am an independent woman. I am in this situation because of me. SoIam going to be the one supporting myself. Yes, life is tough, but I don’t whine about it. Instead, I find reasons to smile and laugh. Because however my current circumstances may be, it is far better than the hell Raleigh and I were in.

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