Chapter 11 Unlucky
“Sorry, but I need to ask–are you sure you’ve got the right place? This seems way out of my budget,” Abigail said, her brows furrowing in concern.
Barry Augustine, the agent, flashed a broad smile that nearly stretched to his cars.
“Oh, Ms. Taylor, you’re in luck! This apartment just became available yesterday. The owner is a returnee from overseas, and money isn’t an issue for them. They’re just looking for a clean tenant who won’t mess up the place.”
Abigail still felt uneasy. “So, how much is the rent?”
Barry leaned in, as if sharing a secret.
“Let’s not worry about the price just yet. I promise it’ll be within your budget. Come on, let’s take a look. I guarantee you’ll love it.”
They quickly made their way to Building 8, heading up to the sixteenth floor.
Each floor had two apartments, and when they reached the door of 1601, Barry opened it with a flourish.
As Abigail stepped inside, she was momentarily taken aback.
Chapter 11 Unlucky
The soft cream decor felt warm and inviting, and the two–bedroom, two–living–room layout was spacious.
Everything looked brand new, from the furnishings to the appliances; it was practically move–in ready.
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What caught her off guard the most was the luxury of it all. The furniture was from international brands, and even the trash can was an LV design.
She swallowed hard, trying to process it.
“How much is this place?” she asked.
Barry raised his hand, fingers forming an eight.
Abigail’s eyes widened. “Eight thousand? For a place this nice?”
She thought, “Eight thousand dollars on a place like this? Are you kidding me? Seriously, this is a steal. Even if it were priced at over 10 thousand, it’d still fly off the market in a heartbeat.”
Barry quickly shook his head, sensing her surprise. “No, no, no! Eight hundred!”
“What? Eight hundred?”
Barry’s expression shifted to one of concern. “Um, well, how about five hundred?”
Abigail turned on her heel, ready to leave.
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“Wait, Ms. Taylor! Let’s talk this through. What price are you willing to accept? The owner is open to negotiation,” Barry said, stepping in front of her.
Abigail regarded him seriously. “This place… it hasn’t had any y bad history, has it? Like, someone didn’t die here or something?”
She pondered, “Otherwise, how could this place be so cheap?
A place like this would probably cost more than five hundred a month in property fees alone. Is the owner willing to lose money by renting it out?
There must be something off about it. Maybe it’s bad vibes or something.”
Barry sighed, clearly reluctant to share. “Well, since you asked… there is a bit of a story. The previous tenants all moved out
shortly after moving in. They all got divorced, and it’s made people think the place is unlucky, which is why it’s been hard to
rent out.”
Abigail raised an eyebrow. “So, did they all get divorced successfully?”
“Absolutely. It’s been a bit of a trend–move in, then move out. It’s really tough to find renters for this place. If you’re concerned…”
Barry hesitated, his face a mix of anxiety and hope.
But Abigail smiled, a sense of determination settling in, “I’ll take
Chapter 11 Unlucky
it.”
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Barry’s eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands together excitedly. “Great choice! Let’s get the paperwork sorted.” He pulled out the contract from his bag and they quickly signed it, with Abigail paying for a whole year’s rent upfront.
It was far below her budget, and she felt a surge of relief as the deal was finalized. Once the paperwork was done, she received the keys and decided to check the apartment for any essentials she might need to buy later.
Barry was all smiles as he pocketed the cash and headed downstairs.
As soon as he was outside, he dialed a number.
“Hey, Mr. Landlord, I followed your advice and told Ms. Taylor about the bad marriage with past tenants. She paid up right away! It’s incredible!”
On the other end, a man’s voice replied, “You did well. Consider her rent as your commission. Just remember, she must never find out about this.”
“Of course, I’ve got it covered. Don’t worry!” Barry assured him, feeling pleased with himself.
Meanwhile, Abigail was inspecting her new apartment. After a thorough look around, she realized it was nearly fully furnished -everything from the appliances to the dishes was brand new.
Chapter 11 Unlucky
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If she needed anything, it was probably just a few plants to liven up the place.
With that thought in mind. Abigail called Amy.
Amy had just rolled out of bed and was enjoying the meal Abigail had prepared for her.
The moment she heard Abigail had found a place, her appetite vanished.
“Wait a second! A place in the city for five hundred a month? Be careful: you might be getting scammed!”
Abigail was mopping the floor as she replied, “I won’t get scammed. The agent said this place has bad vibes, and nobody wants to rent it because all the previous tenants ended up divorced.”
Amy nearly choked on her food. “Well, that’s oddly fitting for you, but why the rush? We could keep each other company. If you leave, I won’t even have a warm meal anymore!”
Abigail appreciated Amy’s concern, but living with her indefinitely wasn’t practical.
“I can’t just keep living off you, Amy. Once I settle in, I plan to find a job.”
Amy’s tone shifted to one of worry. “You studied law, but you gave it all up for that jerk. Now, you’ve got no certifications and no experience. Finding a job will be tough.”
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Abigail knew it wouldn’t be easy, and before she could respond, Amy continued, “Why don’t you come work at my bar? I need a legal consultant, and I’ll pay you top dollar. We can work together!”
While Amy’s bar was thriving, Abigail wasn’t keen on the idea of working in that environment.
“I appreciate the offer, but since I’m divorced now, I need to stand on my own two feet. Don’t worry; I’m ready to pick up my studies again.”
Amy understood Abigail’s stubbornness. Once she set her mind to something, there was no changing it.
So, Amy dropped the subject.
After hanging up, Abigail headed to a nearby plant shop and bought two potted plants–a fern and a cactus.
She also picked up a bouquet of fresh flowers to brighten up the space, instantly adding a touch of life to the apartment.
Next, she texted Felix, intending to set up dinner to discuss the divorce proceedings.
Felix suggested meeting at the amusement park instead. Assuming he was busy with work, Abigail agreed.
With plenty of time on her hands, Abigail figured she could finish moving in that afternoon.
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She arranged for a moving truck and headed back to Amy’s place to collect her things.
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By the time Abigail had everything packed up, it was five o’clock. Abigail hopped on a bus heading toward the amusement park.
Meanwhile, Anthony had been feeling a bit out of sorts all day.
It wasn’t until he received a call from Diana at five that he snapped back to reality.
“Are you off work yet?” Diana asked, her tone laced with
annoyance.
Anthony rubbed his temples, a headache nagging at him. “Not yet. I’ve got a meeting in a bit.”
Diana’s voice was sharp. “You really need to get your priorities straight. Do you even remember what day it is?”
