"Get out! I do not want to see you beg for the hundredth time and be taken advantage of. I already gave you three months to pay all your dues but I've had enough!" A high-pitched voice resonated all through the insides of the dimly lit corridor where Evie was standing completely immobile, and it was unfortunately because of her.

"This is not a charity place. I have children to feed and bills to pay." Linda made sure everyone living on the 6th landing heard all her rants and sentiments.

As expected, people started to go out of their apartments and started eavesdropping on the heated talk between Linda and Evie, but it was Linda doing most of the talking. The lady was obviously not happy by the look of her face and the protruding veins in her forehead that were becoming more and more visible by the second.

Their neighbors were obviously enjoying an unsolicited free show which entirely focused on Linda's shaking tonsils.

"Auntie Linda, please do consider my situation. You know I am struggling as of the moment but I am trying my best on fishing a job. Just this last time." Evie said while gripping the straps of her century-old backpack which was her favorite by the by.

Instead of receiving a last dose of mercy, the lady reacted the total opposite.

"Oh please! You've been saying that to me for the past few months. You're lucky I knew your mother and that was the only reason why I have been cutting you some slack for the past years. If it weren't for your lovely mother, I would've kicked you out last year!" Evie tried her best to not roll her eyes because as much as how Auntie Linda was being mean, she was her only chance at sleeping that night with a roof above her head in that unfortunate time. But sleeping at the train station could be another option if things do not go well with Linda, it still has a roof plus a bench and free newspapers that were issued last year. Those might not give her timely informations anymore but it would totally come in handy as a blanket.

How she knew this, she'd rather not say...

Linda noticed the grin that was trying to escape Evie's face and it made the not so old lady angrier. "Don't show your face here in my apartment ever again!" The cranky Linda slammed the door to her face. So much for begging, she thought.

When hope was nowhere near her side, Evie started picking up her things that were scattered on the floor while some of her old neighbors (she figured it was the right term to use since she had been kicked out from her apartment and does not live in the building anymore) gone back to their own places. She was so nice to them back then but not even one of her old neighbors tried to help her or loan her some money.

"Stupid Jason. I knew I shouldn't have given you those pizzas." She mumbled while going down the stairs.

If only Will was still there, her subconscious said.

Gone were the days when she would go to the apartment next to hers and Will would order a lot of tacos while having a movie marathon. Ever since Will moved to his hometown, she has been a loner and well, more alone now.

Yup, she thought she's pathetic and she's also messed up due to the fact that from that moment, she was probably going to end up like those homeless, destitute people outside the train station begging for money and food.

Good thing she had an ATM card with 50 dollars that would probably last her for a week if she only ate like twice or once a day and sleep on the streets. What an amazing life she had!

Evie started walking towards the train station while arduously carrying her heavy stuff but the heavy part was not quite yet registering into her mind as she was more worried about what to do with her life now. Have you ever noticed when you're walking down the sidewalk and you pass by a person who is looking at nowhere and probably drowning with their thoughts? Yes, she was just like that plus the humongous baggages in both hands.

She obviously cannot go back to her father's house because he still despised her and she hated him more. The feeling was mutual, she knew. Going to a friend's house was also not an option, not that she did not have any friends, but since all her not so many friends lived in California. She also cannot go back to her old work place because she recently got fired. So you see how complicated her situation was. She's got nowhere else to go except for the mighty savior for broke people also known as the train station insert 20th century opening theme song.

After the unending amble, she finally arrived at the train station. It was like a breath of fresh air the moment she settled down her baggages on the floor.

It was already past nine in the evening. The cold breeze was starting to sift into her gray hoodie. People were coming and hastily boarding the train. Exhaustion was evident on their faces but they are clearly more excited to go back to their family, their home.

A sudden thought appeared in Evie's mind. She sat on the bleachers and grabbed a few of the old newspapers and transformed it into a makeshift blanket to keep herself warm. On a normal day, she would have been embarrassed to lay down on the steel cold bench but she was worn-out and her body was finally starting to feel the effects of carrying luggages for a mile.

She laid there and took a one last glimpse on the multitude of people.

Just when she was about to drift off to sleep, she noticed a black and white picture of a man holding a plaque in the front page of the newspaper she was tightly holding into. After so many years, she still recognized the handsome figure printed on the front page of the New York Herald. She screamed inside her mind when it finally dawned on her that it was her Uncle Paul! Well her not so Uncle Paul, more like an Aunt actually; he prefers guys.

He was a popular photographer who had been given several awards like The Premiere International Travel Awards and The National Newspaper Award. He was also a hired photographer during magazine shoots like Vogue, Harper's. He was a big time and pretty generous too.

Evie felt like all her cells were awoken by the new hope of getting a nice hot bath at the end of this chilly day. It was a good thing that she still remembered his place after a few years of not seeing him personally.

She just hoped that her Uncle would still lend her a hand and let her sleep in his home for the mean time after she instantly vanished and cut all her ties with him.

***

Evie ardently pressed the doorbell of her Uncle Paul's huge gate and a person spoke through the intercom.

"Good evening, may I ask who this is please?" This was probably the guard, she thought.

"Good evening, this is Evie Grimson, I am actually a relative of Paul Wilner. Can you please tell him that his niece is looking for him?"

"Okay ma'am, just a second." After the speakers went off, she had the time to observe the surrounding houses and she realized that all those places were far above average. There was even a mansion atop the hill with a huge teepee and mini golf course. These people were crazy rich while there she was, a homeless, jobless and broke person standing outside her Uncle's large gate, waiting for him to open his doors for her so that she can sleep on a bed for the night. If only she can rob one of those houses and not go to jail, life would have been so much easier, she thought.

A ferrari passed by with a couple of teenagers singing to a rock music and blowing some cigarettes at anyone on the streets while laughing like some high-drunkard-good-for-nothing teenagers. She was willing to bet with all the stuff that she was left with that those teenagers were smoking weed.

That was why she hated rich people, most of them were self-entitled asshats who do not care about their future and kept on wasting their parents' money on drugs and drag race with their expensive race cars that probably cost her salary in her whole life.

Don't get her wrong, she's not classifying every rich every person into that asshat stereotype because she surely knew a lot of wealthy people who were the kindest people she'd met. She herself was born into a rich family. Her mother was a stockholder in a lot of prominent companies in the States while her father was a big time lawyer too.

She was born with a silver spoon. Maids and butlers were on their beck and call. Sadly, her mother died due to cardiac arrest and she had a brother, in the past tense. She lost both of them. It was still a sensitive topic for her. A pot which was too hot to touch.

All her life she had been pampered until she decided to cut all her ties with her father and move to New York where she can start as an average person. Away from all the expectations from her relatives and his father's hatred. Desperation compelled her to go drastic measures that even she was not aware that she can.

Just when she was about to drown into her own thoughts, the guard spoke again saying that she can come in and her Uncle's expecting her in the guest room.

It was still too dark to completely appreciate the estate but the moment the huge gate opened, it revealed a three-story house with modern emblems and geometric exterior designs. The house was like straight out from a forbes magazine with all the pine trees lining towards a dancing fountain and bonsai trees arranged along the brick pathway. Her eyes feasted on the large infinity pool and canopies near the house but the thing that most caught her attention was the garage with rotating platforms and the array of expensive cars displayed.

Evie was amazed, no wait, she was in awe with the bachelor's mansion and the garden and the million dollars worth of real estate.

Although she grew up in a nice and big house, this was just beyond next level. Maybe because her parents were never really into maintaining designs and painting and were more into the amount of money in their bank accounts. Typical old, boring and rich family.

The moment Evie entered the large front door, she was again awestruck with the immense beauty of the interior design of the house. Evie swiftly eyed the whole place. She saw a lot of tear shaped chandelier that actually looked like diamond raindrops descending from the top. Of course there were modern paintings and a rare chinese vase that had probably been around for six centuries. The chairs were strategically placed around a round table to accentuate the fireplace. Under the suede sofas was a large carpet with tribal pattern from Malaysia that was personally made by the Orang Asli weavers.

Damn, being a photographer with a lot of awards definitely pays well, Evie thought.

She continued admiring the intricate design of the room when a tall man wearing a tiger fur robe sauntered the room holding a glass of Chardonnay.

"Well, well, well. Look who showed up! My oh so beautiful niece who did not even call her Uncle to ask if he's still alive." Paul forthrightly said while he padded his way towards the sofa. She stood gazing up at his tall, lithe figure. "About that Un-" she began talking but her Uncle cut her off.

"Before we talk about anything, why won't you sit first, dear?" He said and gestured for Evie to sit.

When Evie's already sitting comfortably on the quaint sofa, her Uncle handed her the glass of wine. As a show of respect, she immediately grabbed the glass. She was having trouble looking straight into his intimidating eyes.

She cleared her throat.

"Go on. Talk" Paul urged.

Evie swallowed the big lump on her throat. "As I was saying Uncle, about the disappearing act I pulled a couple of years ago, it was because after mom died, I got totally depressed and even had to go under therapy. I thought that I should not bring any trouble to you since you were also hurting back then for losing your only sister. I am really deeply sorry Uncle Paul," Evie said whole-heartedly, feeling a slight pang of pain the moment she mentioned her mom.

Paul stared at her for a while. It made her palm sweat even with the blasting air condition inside the room. The glass almost slipped from her shaking hands. Her uncle's eyes could burn an entire village from his intense gaze.

"Well, that is fair but I would have wanted you to visit me. I have been so lonely for the past years in my big house. I have ten rooms here but no one else sleeps here other than the house-helps and me." Her Uncle said dramatically. The tension suddenly disappeared like a bubble. His muslin robe swaying as he grabbed the bottle of wine.

Evie suddenly broke free from her nervous state. "Wait, you still don't have a partner Uncle?"

He looked at her like she was asking the stupidest question ever. "Were you not listening to me dear? Would I have been ranting here if I have someone now?" Paul said while rolling his eyes.

"Okay, easy tiger. But seriously Uncle, how come you still don't have anyone until now?" Evie was obviously curious as to why her uncle was still single given that he had a lot of money to support his future family, he had a stable career. Plus the fact that he was really gorgeous. Thank God for her grandparents' good genes. He actually looked like Chris Evans but a more feminine version.

"Hey it's not my fault if all the boys who tried to court me are all douchebags."

"Really? I think the guys are not the problem, it's your super high standards. You probably have a higher standard for men compared to Kendall Jenner, you know." Evie said while laughing.

"You did not call me for years niece and yet the first thing you do is judge my standards? You really are something lah." He stood and gestured her to do the same.

"I was just kidding Uncle. Half kidding because it's true, you really have a high standard." Evie laughed when she remembered all those times she spent spying with her uncle during blind dates to see whether the guy could pass the initial 'not-creepy-look' to judge if Paul was gonna ditch him or not.

"I actually liked someone before. He is an executive manager at a hotel I stayed in Morocco last summer. We really had fun together but turns out he is a smoker. I got turned off and ditched him." He said nonchalantly.

We spent the next hour talking about his failed love life and all his travel experiences when a person interrupted our talk, probably the cook, and told Uncle that the dinner was ready.

"Okay, thank you chef."

Evie looked at him in confusion. "You haven't eaten yet uncle?" It was almost past 10.

Paul laughed. "It's you who haven't eaten." Evie stared at him with disbelief in her eyes. How would he know?

Paul, as if reading the expression on Evie's face, said, "Luggages, stressed face, coming here unannounced at late night after leaving everyone from your past. That obviously means one thing. You've been into a tight situation and you probably haven't had time to eat some food yet."

The mention of food automatically made her stomach growl in hunger.

Paul chuckled.

"Well, you're not exactly wrong." Evie laughed.

Gladly, her generous Uncle was nice enough to offer her one of the guest rooms. The dinner was brought to her room and she told him all that's happened to her ever since she moved to New York to start a new life and also the time that she quit her job to pursue her passion for writing but ended up getting fired and homeless. She's also welcomed to stay for as long as she wanted because clearly, money was not an issue for her Uncle Paul.

Later that night, she laid on her queen sized bed and silk pajamas with a belly full of Italian cuisine.

She thought bad luck would reign the entire day but it looked like fate had not been totally bad to her so far.

She can finally start anew, again. Hopefully, it was going to be better this time.