Chapter 18
Chapter 18
D
75%
After saying goodbye to her brother, Ellie rushed to the bar where she worked part–time. She’d missed out on an interview last time because Haley called her back to handle a hotel issue, so she was determined not to let it happen again.
The bar’s entrance was small and unassuming. As she stepped inside, a subtle mix of alcohol and cigarette smoke filled the air. It wasn’t as noisy as shelt expected. The lighting was warm and inviting, the music was mellow, and a few young couples were dancing in the corner.
Awaiter led Ellie upstairs to a private room. There, she was taken aback by the woman sitting on the sofa.
The woman wore a stylish dress that flattered her petite figure, her dark hair tied back in a low ponytail. Her light makeup made her look no older than thirty, and she had a gentle, scholarly aura that seemed slightly out of place in the bar’s lively atmosphere.
Noticing Ellie’s nervousness, the woman gestured to a seat across from her and said, “Do I look intimidating?”
Her question immediately eased the tension, and Ellie felt herself relax.
They chatted for a bit, and Ellie learned that the woman was named Whitney York and owned the bar. They had briefly discussed things over the phone, and Ellie’s interview had gone smoothly.
As Ellie was about to leave, she remembered the small bed that Alex had broken. It felt awkward to bring it up during their first meeting, but she needed a solution to avoid sleeping on the floor that night.
So she finally said. “Whitney, do you know of any affordable places to rent around here?”
“Sorry, I don’t know about that.” Whitney replied, her voice as soft as her demeanor,
Ellie tried to act casual, saying it was no big deal.
“Actually, Whitney continued. “I have a niece who owns a small apartment nearby that she doesn’t use. She’s been abroad for a few years and won’t be back for a while.
“If you don’t mind, you can move in for free and just keep an eye on it. You’d only need to cover the utilities.”
Ellie was thrilled, though a hint of concern still lingered in her eyes.
Whitney handed her a key. Tve owned this bar for years, and the first three floors are all mine. You don’t have to worry about any scams.”
Feeling a bit embarrassed that her thoughts had been so transparent, Ellie shyly lowered her head.
Ellie felt a bounce in her step as she left the bar. After a night on Alex’s wobbly bed, she grabbed her keys and headed to her new apartment the next day to clean and get settled.
The place was just a quick walk through the lively night market from the bar, and the bus stop right outside made her commute to the hospital a breeze. The apartment was fully furnished, so she could just move in with her belongings.
She didn’t have many things to move, and the only heavy items were two boxes in the corner. Initially, she thought about selling them, but in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to part with them.
After a long night of organizing. Ellie finally had her cozy space ready. She looked at the two dusty boxes, which held secrets she kept to herself.
1/2
Coin Cars – Restore Customs
Your dream carp
Fri, Ja
Chapter 15
After some hesitation, she brought a chair over, opened the boxes, and carefully stored all the drawing papers in the closet without looking at a single one.
As she picked up the empty boxes to leave, she noticed a sketchpad in the corner. It had an unfinished drawing of a man’s face without any features.
She picked up a charcoal pencil and added a simple weed in the corner. Wanting to erase it but unable to find an eraser, she ended up adding more lines to the sketch.
The pencil snapped with a crack. Ellie gave a small, bitter smile, it felt like even the pencil was telling her to stop being so stubborn. Her fingers traced the lines on the paper, her vision blurring..
No more drawing. I’m done for good she thought, feeling her heart was more tangled than the lines she had drawn.
Suddenly, her phone rang, breaking the silence. Alex’s voice was agitated, “Where are you right now? Why didn’t you tell me you were moving?”
Ellie smiled weakly and hung up.
He knew he had messed up
her bed.
She had been moving her things bit by bit for days.
If he had cared even a little, he would have noticed she was gone much sooner.
2/2
