Page 4 of Drawn to You
“I bet you did,” he says with a chuckle. “But not to worry. Since we’ll be living together for a while, and we’ll have the same schedule, I’ll drive you.”
Living together. It isn’t what it sounds, but my heart becomes frantic again.
Andrew’s is a silver BMW, looking sharp and elite. Although in my opinion, he needs a larger car for his build.
I follow his car out of the parking lot and onto Hollywood Blvd. After driving on the busy street for a few minutes, we turn to a residential area, and then I find us on narrow uphill streets. I recall Dana saying his brother lived in Hollywood Hills. One thing funny about the houses is you only see garage doors on the road instead of front entrances, which makes the residences look private. Moreover, most of the properties are gated. I don’t see a single person on the street, and the traffic is also light. Andrew pulls into a steep driveway, and I follow. After parking in the space next to the driveway, I get out of my truck.
“Do you have any luggage?”
“Yes,” I say as I unlock the storage box in the back and pull out my suitcase.
“That’s all?” Andrew looks amused. “You don’t plan to stay, do you?”
That’s true. At least I didn’t before today. “I wasn’t sure whether you would hire me for good. I could go back home to pick up more stuff later.”
He nods. “Makes sense. But as for now, I don’t plan to fire you anytime soon. You did a magnificent job this afternoon.”
I smile. “Thanks.”
He insists on taking the suitcase for me, and we enter the house from his garage.
As soon as I’m inside the living room, my mouth drops to the floor. What a spectacular view from the glass door! The lawn that spreads in front of it isn’t huge, but it’s green and trimmed, and it merges into the city view beyond.
“Wow,” I say. “This is spectacular!”
“I know. The view was the main reason I bought the house,” he says. “A client who lived on the block told me about it a year ago. I came to take a look, not serious about it because of the price. But the moment I stepped into the house and looked out from where you are, I knew I had to have it.”
He opens the glass door, and we step outside. Greeted by the smell of newly cut grass and the cool evening breeze, I smile and sniff deeply. “Mmm, I love it.”
We have a large yard back home too, but our house is at the bottom of the valley and without such fantastic views. Being here makes me feel I’m above the world.
“That’s downtown LA,” Andrew says, nodding at the high-rises in the distance facing us. And he pointed toward the opposite direction. “And that’s the sign.”
I follow the direction of his finger and gasp as soon as I see the famous Hollywood sign. “I need a picture, please!” I squeal as I take out my phone from my pocket and hand it to him.
He chuckles as he snaps a photo of me.
While the lawn takes most of the space in the yard, there’re a few flower beds and a rose garden on the sides. And there’s even a Jacuzzi on the edge of the lawn. I imagine how good it must feel soaking in the hot tub while admiring the scenery below.
I must be staring at the tub for too long because Andrew asks me, “Would you like to use the hot tub?”
“Yes,” I say. “But not now.”
“You may use it anytime,” he says with a smile. “And don’t worry about privacy because the trees are pretty dense around the yard.”
I nod and follow him back to the house.
Andrew leads me into a room right next to his bedroom. I expected a small guestroom, but it’s spacious, and it opens to the rose garden. There’s even a little patio where I can sit and relax.
“You have your own bathroom,” he says. “But only a shower, no tub. You could use the one in my room if you wish to have a bath.”
“Thanks,” I say. “The shower is good enough.”
I wait for him to say something about the rent. I don’t expect it to be free. But he says nothing, so I ask, “Do I …err, pay my rent separately, or are you going to deduct it from my pay?”
He looks at me, amused. “What’re you talking about? I won’t charge you rent! You’re my guest.”
“Are you sure?” I say. This is too good to be true. The place must cost a fortune. I already don’t want to move out.
