"Good idea. Let's go now," I said as I closed my laptop.
Kitty jumped off the bed. "Let's get moving then!"
Jean stretched her arms, standing up as well. "I'm gonna grab my jacket and meet you at the gate."
Kitty and I made our way straight for the garage. I'm going to borrow Hank's car. As we entered the garage, I noticed Hank messing with a weird motor of some kind, probably fixing it. "Oh, hey, Aron. What's up?" he greeted.
"Hey, Hank," I returned the greeting. "We're going out. Is it okay if I borrow your car?"
"Sure thing," Hank replied, smiling. "The keys are in the car."
"Thanks. See you later," I said as we walked over to the car and hopped inside. Since Jean wasn't there, Kitty took the front seat. I drove the car to the gate and Jean was already waiting there. She didn't say much but gave that glance to Kitty before taking the back seat.
"Just a sec. I almost forgot to book an appointment," I took out my phone and dialed the real estate agent's number.
"Hello, this is Mary speaking," a pleasant female voice answered.
"Hi, Mary. I'm calling about the penthouse listing. Is it available for a tour right now?"
"Yes, it is. Would you like to schedule an appointment?" she asked.
"We're already on our way," I said. "We'll be there in about twenty minutes."
"Alright, I'll meet you at the building," she confirmed.
I hung up the phone, and we started driving toward the city. It was a 20-minute drive and during that time, Kitty and Jean were talking about other places they might like to visit. They even talked about the world tour.
"World tour?" I asked, surprised.
"Yeah. We'd like to see all the wonders of the world," Kitty said. "But it's still just a dream... Well, maybe one day."
Jean sighed, "We'll see about it someday."
I chuckled, "Why don't we go this summer? NY is gonna heat up anyway."
"Wait, are you serious?" Kitty asked, shocked.
"Sure. I think it would be fun," I replied, glancing at her. "If nothing important pops up, then why not? It might be a good change of pace after what happened recently."
Jean nodded in agreement. "That would be fun, actually."
Kitty smiled. "We should totally do that!"
"Alright, then it's settled. This summer vacation, we're going to travel around the world," I declared.
"Yay!" Kitty cheered and Jean giggled in response. "But what about Jubilee and Rogue? I mean, you know... we can't just leave them behind. Aren't we best friends? We have to invite them too."
"You want to bring Jubilee?" Jean asked and I know what she meant by that. "I wanted to have a romantic tour with just three of us... But alright, I guess."
I glanced at Kitty. "Are you sure?"
"I promise to keep Jubilee in check," Kitty assured.
Jean sighed, "Alright. But don't regret it."
"I won't," Kitty said, giggling. "You in, Aron?"
"Alright. Just hope the professor gives the permission..."
After 20 minutes, we arrived at the location. The building was impressive. It was a high-rise, glass-clad, luxury building with modern architecture. I parked the car in front of the building and stepped out. A middle-aged woman, who I assume is Mary, stood waiting at the entrance. She was wearing a black skirt suit, heels, and carrying a tablet.
"Hello, are you Aron?" She asked.
"Yes, I'm Aron, and these are my friends, Kitty and Jean," I introduced them.
"Nice to meet you all," Mary said, shaking our hands. "Shall we head up?"
We nodded and followed her inside. The lobby was sleek, with marble floors and a modern aesthetic. It had a sense of quiet elegance. We took the elevator up to the top floor, and Mary led us down a hallway to the door of the penthouse.
"Here we are," she said, unlocking the door and pushing it open.
The penthouse was spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city skyline. Natural light flooded the room, giving it a warm and inviting feel. The living area was open-plan, with a sleek kitchen to the side and a large living room with plush couches.
Jean walked over to the windows, her eyes wide. "Wow, this view is incredible."
Kitty wandered over to the kitchen, checking out the appliances. "This place has everything. And look at this fridge! It's like it was made for a chef."
I made my way to the balcony, stepping outside to take in the fresh air. The view was stunning. From up here, you could see the entire city laid out like a living map. I felt a sense of calm wash over me.
Mary joined me outside. "It's a beautiful space, isn't it? It's perfect for someone looking for privacy and luxury."
I nodded. "Yeah, it's great. How's the security here?"
"We have top-notch security," Mary assured. "Private access elevators, 24/7 concierge service, and surveillance systems. You won't have to worry about a thing."
Kitty and Jean stepped out onto the balcony as well. "This is the one," Kitty said decisively. "It's perfect."
Jean nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I think we've found your new place, Aron."
I grinned, looking at both of them. "Alright, but I want to check the pool first."
Mary nodded. "Of course. Let's go to the rooftop."
We followed her back inside, taking the stairs up to the roof. The rooftop pool was just as impressive as the rest of the building, with crystal-clear water and a breathtaking view of the city below. It was an infinity pool that seemed to flow right into the skyline. Then there was a setup for an outdoor kitchen. I can imagine the BBQ party here.
"I want this," I said immediately.
"Great!" Mary smiled. "The paperwork can be finalized quickly, and you could move in as soon as next week."
"How much is it?" Kitty asked, curiously.
Mary looked at me. "The asking price is $20 million, exclusive tax and other expenses."
Kitty's mouth fell open, and she turned to look at me. "Holy shit..."
Jean closed her mouth with a sigh, "Stop embarrassing us, Kitty."
"What if I were to take the entire building? Do I get a discount of some sort?" I asked.
Mary seemed surprised, "Wha- Wait! You want the entire plot? I mean, the building? All?"
Mary's eyes widened in disbelief as she processed what I'd just said. She blinked a few times, clearly caught off guard. "W-wait... you want the entire building? All thirty floors?"
I gave her a calm, serious nod. "Yes, the whole thing. I like the privacy, and I could use the extra space. Plus, it's a good investment," I said nonchalantly, as if I were merely discussing dinner plans.
Kitty looked at me like I'd grown a second head. "Are you serious, Aron?" she asked, trying to wrap her mind around it. "That's... How much is that?"
"Yup, I want the whole thing," I confirmed.
Jean shook her head, unable to believe what she was hearing. "Aron, that's... That's a lot of money..."
Mary took a step back, clearly needing a moment to compose herself. She looked at me, then at the tablet in her hand, as if hoping she'd misunderstood something. But when she saw the expression on my face, she realized I wasn't joking.
"This... this would be one of the biggest deals our agency has ever handled," she stammered, still looking flustered. "I need to call the owner and our director to discuss this. Please excuse me for a moment."
"Go ahead," I replied, keeping my tone casual.
Mary stepped aside, heading back toward the staircase to make her call. Kitty turned to me, wide-eyed. "Aron, what the hell? Are you really thinking of buying the entire building? Where did you get that much money?"
"I emptied Shaw's and Stryker's accounts," I said with a smirk.
"Ha! Nice one," Jean lightly punched my shoulder. "After what they did... it's only fair they pay for it. Besides, they are all gone. So, it'd be such a waste to let all that cash go, right?"
"Yeah," Kitty nodded. "But that's so much money... Are you sure you want to spend it all on this?"
I shrugged. "Yeah, yeah, no biggie. I got it all covered."
"So, just a quick question, call me curious... How much money do you have?" Jean asked.
"Aren't you the curious one? Well, I can say that I am filthy rich now."
Mary soon returned, her expression a mixture of excitement and nerves. "Alright, Mr. Aron," she started, her voice slightly shaky. "I spoke with the building owner and our director. They're definitely interested in the offer, but this is unprecedented. They'll need two days to finalize everything and arrange the necessary paperwork. Will that work for you?"
"That's fine," I said, nodding. "Tell them to take their time. I want everything in order. Also, I'd like a full report on the building's maintenance costs, current leases, and any other financial details I should be aware of."
Mary scribbled a few notes on her tablet, trying to maintain her professionalism despite her obvious excitement. "Of course, I'll make sure everything is prepared for you. You'll be able to review all the documents before making a final decision."
"Perfect," I said with a smile. "Let me know when it's ready. I'll wire a deposit once I've reviewed the documents."
"Understood," she replied, visibly relieved. "Thank you for considering us for such a significant purchase. This will be... well, quite the landmark deal."
I nodded. "You can thank me when it's done," I said with a grin.
We wrapped up the conversation, and Mary walked us back down to the lobby. Her steps were brisk and a bit bouncy, the realization of the potential commission clearly sinking in. After saying goodbyes, we drove off. Jean took the front seat this time.
"Wanna see a movie? Maybe grab some lunch on the way?" I suggested, looking at them both.
"Sure! What are you in the mood for?" Kitty asked. "There are some good new movies out right now. Or we could just walk around and see what catches our eye."
"Or maybe..." Jean leaned closer, her eyes sparkling. "We could have a little fun of our own... You know..."
...
...
Well, who would have thought that she meant this when she said 'fun'.
"I HATE YOU JEAN!" Kitty yelled as the guy pushed her down the bridge after checking the ropes and all safety equipment.
Bungee jumping was never something on my list of things to do in my life.
"What? Don't tell me you didn't enjoy that," Jean teased, clearly enjoying herself. She was holding a cup of iced coffee in one hand and her phone in the other.
....
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