“Thank you,” I paused, realizing I didn’t even know his name. “I’m sorry, I don’t believe I got your name.”
He looked like he might chuckle, but instead he replied “Williams. Miss, you can call me Williams.”
That was an odd first name. I then returned his smile. “Thank you Williams. You’ve made my arrival here very easy and welcoming.”
“My pleasure, miss.”
I liked Williams. He would do well in Moulton. Not that he’d ever want to leave the excitement of New York for Moulton, but still, I could see him there. He was a helpful, nice and considerate man and I didn’t at all feel like the big city would murder or rape me, which a lot of small town people often do.
I climbed inside and picked up the water bottle that was shaped in an odd square. The ice cold plastic felt good after a walk in the heat and I opened it and took a long drink. I didn’t reach for a mint, instead watching out the window as Williams got into the driver’s seat and we began to move. The airport parking lot was new and amazing with hundreds of people bustling about and I wondered if anyone famous was close without me noticing.
“It’s a thirty minute drive in the traffic. This time of the day it is. I’ll have you to the penthouse as soon as I can and I apologize for the delay.”
“Okay,” I replied. “Lordy, you’re precious. I ain’t special in the least.” I was happy to be able to just sit back and take it all in in gulps. The streets were what you’d expect, busy and pulsing with life. It was almost fifteen minutes before we went through a tunnel, emerging into what I imagined New York City would look like.
We were actually here. This was it. I had arrived.
My fingers knotted into fists and the grin on my face spread wide from cheek to cheek. Moulton was behind me and this new world was building itself around me. I couldn’t wait to explore it.
Chapter Twenty
The building was historical and the curve of its front came to a point at the street. More like points, it was amazing. I stood outside it, taking in the swarms of people around me in movement, gazing up at the place that would be my home and I couldn’t see the roof in the least. I’d always been able to see it. In Moulton one saw roofs.
“Mr. Jude’s penthouse is located at the top in the curve. You’ll like that,” Williams said as he walked up behind me carrying my luggage. “Come with me.”
I tore my eyes from the structure and like a child hurried behind him inside. Williams had to punch in a code to get us further than that. A man in a suit was standing at the door and Williams introduced me: “this is Miss Samantha Knox. She will be living in Mr. Jude’s penthouse.” The man nodded and stepped back for us to go forward. Once we got to the bank of elevators I was thankful that Williams wasn’t leaving. I couldn’t figure this out alone. My hands were shaking, from excitement or fear, which one I wasn’t sure. The unknown was all around me.
We stopped on the eleventh floor and the doors opened. A long hallway led to a set of double doors and Williams looked to me. “You should have the code to the keyless entry in your instructions miss.”
Oh. Yes I did.
Quickly I got out the paper that Jamie had printed for me and scanned to the bottom. The numbers 382650 were waiting there for me. I located and looked at the door’s keypad and then I asked William’s a question.
“I just put this number in here?”
“Yes miss,” was his response.
So I did. Punched it carefully.
Like magic the lock slid away with a click and I opened the door for the first time. The view was instantaneous. Forgetting to walk inside I stood there and took it all in. What I could see from the doorway. The entryway alone was bigger than my house in Moulton, maybe double.
“Would you like to go in?” Williams asked me.
I snapped out of my daze and stepped inside so he could follow and set my bag down.
“This is where I leave you mam. If you have any questions just call Felicity. She’s a real pro at her job.”
I wanted to ask William’s to stay. He was the only person I knew in this city of over eight million people, not counting tourists and whatnot, though I couldn’t restrain the driver. He had a job, other people to pick up.
“Thank you so much Williams. You’ve been great.”
He nodded, turned and left me. Closing the double doors behind him. I moved to lock them, but the slide on its own, made its familiar click. I realized it did that internally.
Turning back to my new home I began to smile, then laughed until I cried. This was real, I was here, experiencing this and it had all happened in a week. I left my suitcase where Williams had placed it and walked over to the full-length windows. Floor to ceiling, a first for me. They lined what looked like a living room area and I tell you the view was amazing. I wanted to sleep right here. Wake up to this view every morning.
If my sisters could see this they would pass out. Bessy would lose her mind. If I had a camera I would take photos and send them home every week. But that was something I never saved up for. I guess they cost lots of dollars.
There was a list on the counter in the kitchen for me. I made my way through into the next room and found an all white kitchen, with equally beautiful views. The only color in the kitchen was the black marble counters and the amber light fixtures on the ceiling. There was a fresh arrangement of flowers sitting in the middle of the island. Beside it was a sheet of paper. I walked over and picked it up, finding what Felicity had promised. Everything I needed to know. Beside it was an envelope. I found a black American Express card with my name embossed across it. There was a stack of one hundred dollar bills that weren’t Monopoly money. I dropped both of them directly back onto the counter like they were on fire or something. Then I went back to my note. Surely there was an explanation.