Emily POV
This place is my biggest dreame…
I come from an ordinary family, an ordinary life, and a place like this, so luxurious and beautiful, that you only see in movies or in your dreams.... It makes me feel dizzy, because I would really die to live in a place like this, so beautiful and dazzling.
But I must remember who I am, and that this house is way beyond my means. It's a nice dream, but now I have to wake up.
"I assume then that's the bathroom." I point to the other door inside the room and Nathan responds in the affirmative.
"That's right, you count with independent bathroom, own parking in the basement of the building, washer and dryer services in the hatches next to the kitchen and of course an excellent location" He tries to explain me briefly and concretely for the first time the whole concept of the offer, but in doing so I notice him uncomfortable. "Sorry if I'm not very good at promoting the place, it's the first time I do it."
"It's okay, the place promotes itself" I smile at him in a friendly way, trying to remove from his shoulders all the tension he was expressing in his posture however Nathan doesn't respond to my gesture and instead I see him run his hand over his hair, looking nervous: "Is something the matter?"
He lifts his chin and looks at me with obvious distress. I could easily deduce that it was the distress that overwhelmed him, as that was the only thing I had been seeing on Lana's face for the past week.
"Nothing bad" He assures me, wiping the worried look he was wearing from his face. He leans against the door frame, folds his arms across his chest, and looking adorable, he asks me: "Why don't you tell me a little about yourself, Emily? How old are you? Why are you looking for a new place? Where is your family? Do you study? Do you work?"
He starts to assault me with questions, and I look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"It's necessary information, for the lease." He answers wrinkling his nose and I nod my head, pretending to understand the reasons why he was acting so strange, but I preferred to think that what he was looking for was to flirt with me and not legal information.
"My name is Emily Mason and I am 21 years old. I am looking for a new place because my best friend is leaving where we are currently living, and I can't stay there without her." I start answering his questions amused, causing Nathan to focus all his attention on me. However, he doesn't seem surprised, as if he already knew what I was saying: "My family doesn't live in London, I have a scholarship in Economics at the London business school and I currently work in a coffee shop."
I laugh after I finish my speech, and question him: "Is that enough information for you, Nathan?"
With a frown he seems to go through my answers one by one, after a moment of awkward silence he finally speaks.
"Do you work in a coffee shop?" Of everything I had said, that was the only thing Nathan had held back. And with good reason, my whole performance of seeming interested in the place had gone down the toilet just by saying that my livelihood was a waitressing salary: "Do you think you can afford this place?" He asks inquisitively, though I'm sure he already knew the answer.
I feel my face turn pale, and embarrassment sinks into my veins.
"How much more or less are we talking about?" I return his question with embarrassment. The smile was completely wiped off my face and I was no longer pleased that he was watching me since I now felt more judged than admired: "You know what? Forget it, I'm really sorry for wasting your time. You know that I cannot afford this…"
I quickly passed him before he could mumble another word and hurried down the stairs. I interrupt the pleasant conversation Lana was having with Michael in the kitchen, and under my best friend's and the boy's surprised gaze, I urgently call the stupid elevator.
"What happened?" My best friend murmurs in my ear. I press the elevator button a dozen more times and I close my eyes tightly in sorrow. I haven't felt so embarrassed in a long time. "Emily, tell me…"
I ignored Lana's call and opted to continue pressing the useless button. Why was the stupid elevator taking so long to arrive?
In the background, I then hear Nathan and Michael mumbling behind me and feel faint.
Finally, Nathan comes back and speaks.
"Hey." He calls out to me but I ignore him. I hear him approach and after a few moments, he puts his hands on my shoulders turning me around. I open my eyes but I'm not able to look at his face, instead, I rest my gaze on the landscape of the window: "Do you like the place or not?"
With irony, I look him in the eyes and question him if the question is serious.
"Didn't you just hear me? I don't have the means to pay you rent." I mutter to him with every intention of not letting his friend hear us.
Then he lowers his head closer to my face, invading my personal space, and reiterates the question.
"Do you like it or not?" I narrow my eyes and examine his face for any sign of teasing. But I don't find anything, so I just nod: "Now answer me something, do you think I need that rent money?"
He suddenly blurts out looking even more serious than before. My brow furrows in surprise and I keep silent waiting for him to continue: "I have an offer for you Emily, but for that, I need you to take a seat."
Well here it was, either I lost a lung or I lost my virginity.