Page 1 of Boyfriend Maintenance

Chapter 1

Emmy

I’ve livedand breathed New York City my whole life. The hustle and bustle of the only city I’ve ever known is calming. Sounds of sirens, impatient drivers honking, constant pings of crosswalk lights, and chatter from the masses of people that fill the sidewalks. All of these harmonize into the symphony of a city that sings to my New Yorker heart. Even the city smell is enough to make me smile on a bad day. The fragrances of different foods wafting from the street vendors and coffee shops on every city block feed my city soul. The car exhaust and body odor are no match for the smell of the wet concrete during a rain-shower though. As much as I love the city life with the city streets that never sleep, it can cause sensory overload.

Thankfully I have the mobile Digibot game in my pocket. This game. I swear, my life would be so freaking boring if I didn’t have it. Living in good old New York City is a Digibot Go player’s dream. The more populated an area is, the more Digibot Go activity can be found. As a Digibot handler, I’m able to catch and train over two hundred Digibots within the game world. There are rewards for every step taken. The game has led people to experience new places around the world by catching special Digibots and placing Digistops throughout the most popular places on the planet. Lucky for me, if I walk to work, I hit nine stops. It’s all about the Digiballs, people.

After snagging a high-powered Digibot right outside my building, I slide my phone back into my purse. Ah, the perks of living in such a big, luxurious apartment building. Thirty-four floors high, 425 Madison offers a bazillion different amenities. Being the home of a Digistop, isn’t on their website, but I sure as heck consider it a top selling point. The second I set foot into the 425 Madison building, the high-energy city fades away behind me.

“Good evening, Miss King,” Thomas, the doorman, says with a smile. He backs up and reaches to get the door to let me into the building.

“It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it?” I smile at him.

“Just like you, Miss King.”

I blush as I walk through the open door. He’s a sweet man and I always look forward to seeing him each day, no matter whether I’m coming or going.

A light, Zen-like music plays overhead. It’s so faint I can hear the click of my heels as I walk through the modern Art Deco lobby. 425 Madison exudes an unsurpassed level of swankiness.

Too bad I can’t afford to own one of the units in this beautiful oasis of luxury.

No, I’m not a squatter. I am a paying resident, it’s just that I pay my roommate Becca, who is also my best friend. She pays the rent on our chic little two-bedroom on the fourteenth floor. I cover our utilities.

Becca is what you would call a trust-fund kid. Her parents are old money, and her trust fund won’t dry up any time soon. If it weren’t for her, I’d be living in a studio apartment somewhere in Queens.

Speaking of my best friend, I spot her as she steps off the elevator. I raise my hand in greeting when she takes a sharp turn away from the front of the building. She’s heading toward the leasing office.

Huh.She pays all her bills via online banking, so I’m not sure why she would need to visit the back office. As I get closer to the elevators, she’s still in my line of sight. That's when I realize something looks off about her. My best friend, a five-foot-seven beach-blonde socialite who’d rather wear jeans and a trendy top than the latest, fresh-off-the-runway fashion, looks downright suspicious right now. Like she’s up to no good. I catch her looking over her shoulder more than once; I come to a halt when I spot her leaning up against the wall before turning again, passing up the leasing office.

What the heck is she up to?

Curiosity gets the best of me as I follow her down the hall. In addition to the leasing office, the maintenance office and service elevator are also down this corridor. This is where the waitstaff and other employees access the building’s rooftop lounge. I’m grateful the granite flooring has switched over to plush carpeting which silences the clacking of my heels in my stealth pursuit of Becca.

Copying her same position moments ago, I lean against the wall and listen.

“Oh, wow. It’s so big.”

My eyes go wide at what I hear come out of her mouth. A deep, male chuckle follows.

“I can’t wait to get my hands on it.”

What the heck?

“The balls just fit so perfectly in my hand.”

I slap my palm over my mouth to trap the giggle about to bubble out of me. What in the world is she doing? I hear rustling, someone brushes up against the wall. Then the man she is with grunts. And to my surprise, another male voice chuckles in response.

There’s two of them?

“Watch it, this cost me enough. I better get my money’s worth, boys.”

Oh, shit.Why would she need to meet these guys in secret, in the back of the building?

At the risk of catching my best friend in a secret lover’s rendezvous, I slowly backtrack down the hall. Once I get a clear view of the lobby, I hightail it into an elevator. A couple minutes later, I’m unlocking my apartment door. I’m not even four steps in the apartment when I realize the living room has been reorganized. I’m totally alright with the new setup, but Becca normally talks to me before rearranging. Once I’m in my room, I kick off my heels and toss my purse on the dresser.

Sitting down on my bed, I dig my hose-covered toes into the soft, plush carpet and let out a relaxing sigh. I consider changing my clothes, but we have dinner plans tonight. Just then the front door opens, and I hear Becca barking directions. She’s rather bossy tonight. I wonder if the boys downstairs didn’t do it for her.

It’s time to sort this out. Stepping into the doorway of my room, I see her standing in the entryway as two men push a massive … thing wrapped in what looks like plastic wrap into our apartment.

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