Pulled to the Dark (The Siriena Series) by Julia P. Lynde Read Free Book Online Page B

inside and held the door for me. I followed her into the apartment.
    It was amazing. We entered a small foyer then stepped into a large, furnished and tastefully decorated living room. Everywhere was rich woodwork. They gave me a full tour. It was about twice the size of my apartment and must cost about six times as much to rent.
    "Is this your apartment?" I asked Petra. "Why are you showing me this?"
    "No," she said. "It's not my apartment. I have the top floor, two floors up. This apartment is yours."

Relocation
    I stared at her.
    "I couldn't possibly afford this apartment," I told her. "You know that."
    " Renea owns this building," Petra told me. "This is a perquisite of working for her. It's not one we normally share with new employees. But as you said to me, you feel you a re finally where you belong. Andrea and I agree with you. This apartment's rent is identical to your current rent."
    I looked around, stunned. Then I turned and looked at her suspiciously.
    "You're wondering who you have to sleep with."
    I cracked a smile. "Something like that. When something is too good to be true, it usually is. Is Renea Impressions really a cover for the mob or something?"
    She laughed. "No. We're the good guys."
    Andrea said, "Would you like the pros and cons?" I nodded. "Pros first. It's a stunning apartment."
    "Yes."
    Petra said, "You would be able to ride to and from work with me or Karen when our schedules mesh. She's just down the hall. There are eight other Renea Impressions employees living in the top four floors, so if you make other friends at work, some of them are here, too."
    Andrea said, "The building is wired with a corporate-grade internet . There is a solid firewall for the building and each apartment is heavily wired. This apartment has a wireless network, but you are free to disconnect it and use your own equipment, if you prefer."
    Petra said, "Your monthly rent would remain a constant percentage of your salary before any of the special bonuses. If you get a raise, rent will go up. If you receive sufficient raises, rent will stop when you are paying market rates. That would be some time from now."
    "You may retain any of the furnishings you wish or replace them with your own," said Andrea. "The building allows cats. Limit two, and no dogs."
    Petra said quietly. "And you would be safe. Which is the main reason you're going to accept."
    "Now the cons," said Andrea. She looked at Petra. "I can't think of any."
    "She'd have to move. Some people hate that."
    "And if she quits Renea Impressions, she'd have to move. She couldn't afford the apartment."
    I looked between the two of them. "Does Renea know you're offering a, what? Six-thousand-dollar apartment?"
    "Not quite that much," said Petra.
    "To a secretary?"
    "Assistant," said Petra. "And yes, she does. I would have arrived at your apartment this morning ahead of Andrea, but it took me some time to reach Renea for permission. As soon as I told her the situation, she told me I was stupid to even wonder what the answer would be. But I felt I should ask first."
    "You woke her up?"
    "Yes, and she would have been angry if I hadn't."
    "I have a lease," I said.
    "You won't when I get done with them," Petra said.
    I wandered around the apartment for a minute. There was no carpet. The floors were beautiful hardwood except for tile in the two bathrooms. There were oriental rugs under the living room set, most of the master bedroom, and the dining room table. The master bathroom had a huge shower and a whirlpool tub. The second bedroom was furnished as an office. I wandered into the kitchen and it was fully equipped. The kitchen itself was amazing.
    I wandered back out to the living room where Petra and Andrea were waiting for me.
    "Are you going to make us order you to take it?" Andrea asked.
    "Thank you," I said. "I was so scared. When can I move in?"
    "Immediately after breakfast," Petra said cheerfully. "Breakfast this morning is two floors above us. Shall we?"
    We took