Page 53 of Keeper
I appreciated the gesture, but I would’ve felt better about it had she not tied it to the job she wanted me to take.
“Thank you,” I muttered.
“Here. You’ll need these to get in.” She fished a set of keys from her purse. “And you have my address written down just in case, right?”
“Yep. In my phone and on a piece of paper in my wallet.”
“Great.”
Marta waited with me until my car arrived a few minutes later.
“The driver’s outside,” she said, giving me a quick hug. “Mwah.Love you, babe. Get your rest.”
“Love you, too. Have fun tonight.”
***
I breathed a sigh of relief when the cab dropped me off right outside Marta’s. After last night’s debacle, it was nice to get home safe and sound without any wacky hijinx.
I made my way up to the seventh floor and slid my key into the lock, but the deadbolt was already unlatched. Surprised, I twisted the knob and gave the door a push. It swung open.
Did we leave the door unlocked this whole time?
But no—the lights in the apartment were on, and I distinctly remembered Marta turning those off.
I stepped in cautiously, my heart racing in my chest.
“Hello?” I called out meekly. “Anyone here?”
After a dreadful silence, the “eternally shut door” opened, and out stepped “the Bitch” with a big moving box cradled in her arms.
“Oh, hey,” she said. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.” She patted the cardboard box. “I’m just grabbing the last of my things and I’ll be out of your hair.”
She didn’t look anything like I’d imagined—which was the stereotypical lazy, slobby roommate. Instead, her outfit was neatly put together and she was pretty and bright-eyed.
“Not a problem,” I said. “I’m Ainsley, by the way.”
She smiled and set the box down so we could shake hands. “Hi, Ainsley. I’m Julie.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
“Yeah, you too.” When she spoke again, it was practically in a whisper. “Where’s Marta?”
“She’s going out to the clubs. I’m being a party pooper and staying in. I’m still tired from last night, honestly.”
“Ah, yes. Of course.” She sagely nodded her head as if she’d heard that story a thousand times. “Marta parties hard.”
“I’ll say,” I said with a laugh.
Julie laughed, too—but her laugh tapered into a long and tired sigh. She snagged her lip between her teeth, staring at me as if something were bothering her.
I tilted my head at her. “What is it?”
“Sorry.” She chuckled. “It’s none of my business, really, but I have to ask: are you Marta’s new assistant?”
“Oh—no,” I stammered. I didn’t knowwhatwent down between these two, but it didn’t sound good, and I didn’t want this girl to think I was brought here to be her replacement. “We were friends in high school. I’m just visiting.”
“Ohhh, okay.” The concern vanished from her eye. “Because if you were her new assistant, I’d feel like it was my duty to warn you.” She picked her box back up and headed for the door. “Don’t tell her I said that, by the way. Or, hell,dotell her.Honestly, I don’t care anymore.” She nodded at the door, her hands full. “Would you mind?”
