Page 115 of Hale Damage
“It’s where employees can live in the apartment building behind the office. It’s a pretty new program.”
Antonio mumbles, “Yeah, it’s been around a whole thirty seconds.”
I elbow him in the ribs.
Mindy hums. “That’s a really cool concept, but I’m sure that building is out of my budget.”
I continue with my little white lie. “That’s the thing… executive-level employees get a steep discount. Kind of a perk. You know, like having Ambrosia’s coffee shop on our level at the office.”
“Oh, okay then.” She still doesn’t sound convinced. “What’s the price for a one-bedroom?”
Scrambling for an answer, I say, “Five hundred a month.”
“Are you freaking serious?” she screeches so loudly I have to pull the phone away from my ear. “That’s less than what I’m paying for a studio apartment, which, by the way,stilldoesn’t have hot water.” I can hear the exasperation in her voice.
Her fucking landlord needs to be shot.
“Okay, well, there’s a unit available now. We have great security and plenty of hot water in the building. If you’d like, I’ll send Antonio to pick you up and you can come look at it this evening.”
She pauses for a moment. “The weather is supposed to get bad soon.”
Looking up at the shitty apartment, I cringe at the thought of her staying in this place for another night, so I reply with, “Just pack a bag,and you can stay in the apartment tonight. Kind of like a trial run. It’s fully furnished. If you don’t like it, no big deal.”
“You’re sure it’s only five hundred a month?” she asks skeptically.
“Ms. Espinoza,” I say in a scolding tone. “I’m the head of the Employee Housing Program. Of course I’m sure.”
“And you’re positive Antonio doesn’t mind coming to get me? I don’t want to be a bother,” she asks, though I can hear a hint of excitement in her voice now.
“He doesn’t mind. I’ll tell him to head over now.”
My driver mimes writing and mouths, “Address.”
I give him a grateful nod because I’d overlooked the fact that I’m not supposed to know that info off the top of my head. “If you’ll give me your address, I’ll pass it on.”
After she relays the address we’re currently sitting in front of, she thanks me and hangs up. Antonio immediately pushes me until I’m tilted with my face against the side window.
“What the hell are you doing?” I snap as he peers down toward my ass.
“Just looking to see if your pants are on fire.”
“Shut up,” I grump, swatting his hand away and straightening. “She’s an employee who needs a little bit of help. That’s all.”
“So what’s the plan here? You going to tell her you went all stalkery on her?”
I give him a deadpan look and ignore the stalker comment. “I can catch a cab back to the other side of town and make sure the apartment is ready. You wait around here a little bit and then pick her up. I think I’ll put her in the apartment beside yours.”
“Ah, just below yours.” He lifts a dark brow. “Don’t those units start at two grand?”
A muscle tics in my jaw as I wave a hand at Mindy’s shabby building where two long-haired sketchy looking dudes are now lingering out front. “Do you see this, Antonio? What the fuck else was I supposed to do?”
His mouth twitches into a smile behind his beard. “Not saying you didn’t do the right thing. I’m just interested in knowing where this savior complex part of you came from.”
I open the car door and a gust of frigid wind swoops into the car. Glaring at Antonio, I inform him, “I don’t have a savior complex,” before getting out and closing the door.
I repeat that mantra to myself over and over during the next few days when Mindy giddily accepts the apartment terms and moves in at a pro-rated amount for the rest of the month. Antonio offered to help her move, and he said everything she owned fit in the back of my SUV. He also fixed her car, which she revealed was her mother’s. Luckily, it only needed a new battery, which he changed out for her. So see? He’s the one with the savior complex—not me.
As for Mindy, she’s more relaxed and happy at work, and a happy employee is a good employee, right? That’s what I’m telling myself. Even when I fuck my fist every night knowing she’s directly below me.
