Chapter 1 _ Cold Showers
My apartment's bathroom is the best part of my apartment. It is cool, well equipped with florescent bulbs, white tiles, hand showers, a very wide jacuzzi, a huge mirror and a big water heater.
There are a bunch of other items and equipment in it, but the size of these few ones, were what made mine unique and solely comfortable.
The interior of the rest of the apartment, is made of blue wallpapers and coverings. I craved blue, not just because it gave a cool feel, but because it made me understand that the daily hustle and bustle of work and projects, ceases the moment I set foot in my cool welcoming apartment.
Today I decided to just relax and take it easy on myself, but I knew this was impossible, even if I kept my phone on airplane mode, my laptop would keep notifying me of countless emails I needed to attend to.
Life is much easier when you are poor, in some sense. But easiness doesn't take away responsibility. Instead, it makes it even heavier in the head of the man who is indigent.
"Gosh, I haven't even emailed or called Mum, since I got here." I thought. I removed my phone from flight mode and made it rest on the WC.
I was still in the bathroom jacuzzi when this thought came. Too many of my friends feel I am a weird person. I keep a book in every corner of my apartment. My bathroom had two books; one on top of the WC and the another beside my Jacuzzi.
Not that I'm a nerd or something, or maybe I used to be. I just fancy the sight of books around my apartment. It reminds me of how I got to where I was today.
My hand shower caught my eyes as I laid on my Jacuzzi. I picked it up and put it on. My hair was red. I bet you haven't seen a billionaire with a hair lately. My eyes were dark brown, and my skin was flabby.
Mother used to say when I was younger, I had a white starched. Nanny that wouldn't let even a grain of sand stick to my body.
I reached for my buzzing Samsung phone on top of the WC. It was hard to get by just stretching, so I stood from the jacuzzi and got hold of my phone. A little water splashed my water proof book cover, but I didn't care much.
"Finley!!!," Mum yells as I answered the call.
"It's been six hours since you left Texas and you didn't deem it wise to call back to let us know your back at your apartment in New York?" She cried.
"What's worst is your phone has been switched off. Did you put your phone on airplane mode again?" She asked sternly.
"Take it easy Mum, am sorry, you know I was on an airplane few a hours ago. I forgot to take it off airplane mode." I apologized.
"A staff at the airport called me and your Dad. He said you and Ashley flew economic class! Why is that?"
"Oh, Ashley was curious to know what it was like to be on economic class, so I bought a new ticket." I tried not to lie but I ended up lying.
The whole economic class thing was my idea.
"Where's your sister now!" mother asked.
"Who?" I ask naively.
"Don't play dumb Finley, have you any sister aside Ashley?"
I heaved a sigh.
"She's gone back to college." I replied.
"Okay, Dad's sending you too hugs." She says and the phone line dies off.
My bathroom was getting hot and uncomfortable. I put on the a/c, took my white towel and exit the bathroom. I tried to dry my face with the towel as I approached my bed. I was naked and very comfortable in it. I mean boy, who wouldn't.
I made my way carefully to the kitchen and then to my refrigerator.
"Geez, Finn!" She exclaimed.
"Hello!!, Who's there!" I yell in a confused manner. My alarm didn't trigger so I knew it wasn't a potential threat.
I turned around to see my sister sitting on the couch in a red gown. I was startled a little. Quickly, I tied the towel on my face around my waist and brushed my bushy red hair backwards with my palm.
"Your hair looks prettier when it's sleek." Ashley compliments.
"Thanks" I say.
"How the hell did you get in here Ame?" I say sternly.
"You forget all too soon big bro. I think your reading too much these days." She smirk.
"I think you didn't hear my question well." I tried to frown, but Ashley has a weird way of making things go right.
She gave me a puppy face and my frown reduced.
"You gave me your apartment keys back in the plane and you said if I ever needed a place to go to, I could come stay with her you." She explained.
"But I meant down the road Ame." I Frowned again.
"Down the road?" She raised her brow and ran a finger on her blonde hair.
"You just resumed school your freshman year in Harvard and your at my apartment. What the hells the problem." I yelled.
Ashley begins to curl her blonde hair into ringlets.
"You know I've got work to do today." I lied
"Okay" she says absent-mindedly.
"Fine, am supposed to meet up with the real estate managers at West village today, but I rescheduled that meeting just so I can have peace of mind today." I confessed.
"Okay" she muttered again.
"Please all am saying is I'd really like you to book a first class flight back to school and your free to come see me when your done with the semester." I entreated.
"Did Mum find out?" She raised her brow and gave an Inquisitive look.
"Hell yes." I exclaimed.
"I told you there's no way she wasn't going to find out." She chuckled.
"I guess that's one of the consequence of bearing a famous last name." I gave a sad smile.
"Okay Finn, I'd be gone now." She bite her lip and straighten her pink gown.
"Your place is really nice you know. I wonder why Dad and Mum won't let me stay off campus in school on my own just like you." She made a puppy dog face.
I pet and caress her a little before showing her to the door.
"You know I'm twenty seven, and you are eighteen." I smiled dryly.
"Nineteen!" She corrected.
"Oh, my bad." I squeezed the door knob and the door opened.
I pulled my phone from my trouser and made a call to Hugo_ my Butler.
In less than twenty minutes, Hugo drove into my driveway, with a black SUV, to pick up Ashley.
"No one's got a better brother than mine in the universe." No one! She yelled.
"You know Ashley," I said as I took her hand.
"My Real Estate Business would have thrived more than it is today, if I had a chance to school at Harvard like you." I smiled.
"Your trying to bribe me." she chuckled. Your running late already.
"Take her to the airport Hugo," I gestured at Hugo.
"Understood sir" he exclaimed.
Ashley gave me a kiss on my cheek as she made her way to the SUV.
"Give me a call when you get there." I whispered.
"Sure I would." She smiled passionately and bade me farewell.
My phone buzzed. I slide it out from my pocket and I discovered it was Blake, my best friend that resided in one of my Estate on Hudson Square.
It was a WhatsApp text message.
Yo!, Trust you good and all.
10:00 a.m
Your phone has been switched off and your presence online is rather annoying. / 10:03 a.m
I know your always as busy as a bee, but man, you've got to take a break this weekend and have a good drink with me this Saturday. Am going to be at Sweetness palace and suites. 10:05 a.m
PS: you've got no choice. Make sure you get your ass out here. 10:09
I smirk and placed my phone back in my pocket.