Chapter 4

I held my phone screen up to the foreman of the renovation crew.

"Sir, can you see this photo clearly?"

"Just match this exactly."

"Strip everything back to how it looks here. One to one."

The workers exchanged glances. They'd clearly never gotten a request this crazy.

"Miss, this place is renovated real nice. Tearing it all out would be such a waste."

I pulled a stack of cash out of my bag and slapped it on the table.

"It's no waste. Tear it out. Every appliance, every piece of furniture, and that window too. Haul it all away."

"Scrape all the paint off the walls. Pry up every board of the flooring."

"And put the pipes back the way they were, leaking."

"Scoop the waste out of my cat's litter box."

The foreman's eyes lit up at the sight of the money. He waved his workers over on the spot.

I watched, cold-eyed, as the apartment came apart piece by piece back to its original state.

There wasn't a trace of regret in me, only a satisfaction I couldn't quite put into words.

I picked up Corey's carrier, dragged the few suitcases I had left, and turned to head downstairs.

Judy Finch was already waiting at the corner. She helped me load everything into the trunk.

"You really had them tear the whole thing out?" she asked as she drove.

I rolled down the window and let the evening wind mess up my hair.

"Didn't he say I breached the lease with unauthorized renovations?"

"Well, since he didn't approve, I'm returning the place to him exactly as it was. Call it staying on the right side of the law."

For the next two days, I stayed in Judy's guest room and spoiled Corey rotten.

Then, on the afternoon of the third day, the foreman sent over a video of the finished job.

In it, the apartment had gone completely back to the wretched state it was in three years ago.

Broken bricks and cement rubble all over the floor, the pipe in the corner dripping steadily.

There were even clumps from Corey's litter box on the ground. You didn't have to imagine what the place smelled like now.

Satisfied, I transferred the balance.

Then I opened my messages with Patrick Lambert.

"Landlord, I've moved out."

"I left the key by the door."

"I've returned the apartment to you exactly as required, just the way it was."

"That six-thousand deposit, I don't want it back either. Consider it my apology to you."

Not long after I sent it, Patrick replied with a voice message.

Even through the screen I could hear how pleased with himself he was.

"See, wouldn't it have been easier to do this from the start?"

"Young people renting places need to learn the rules. That deposit was never coming back anyway."

"I taught you a lesson here. Don't argue with your landlord from now on. It won't do you any good!"

I let out a cold laugh and opened his social feed. His latest post jumped out at me.

"Finally got rid of that broke tenant who was mooching off me for two grand!"

"Tomorrow I welcome a new tenant paying ten grand rent. Now that's a quality client!"

The photo attached was still that gorgeous shot of my princess-style apartment.

Looking at the screen, one corner of my mouth curved into a mocking smile.

The next morning.

Patrick brought the new tenant over.

The new tenant, Sally Chavez, was a small-time influencer, holding up a selfie stick and narrating to the camera.

"Hey babies, today I'm moving into that luxury princess apartment that costs ten grand!"

"Word is the last tenant was an influencer too, and she poured a few hundred thousand into fixing it up."

"Help me check it out, everyone, see if this ten grand is worth it!"

Comments raced up the livestream, everyone waiting for the legendary, gorgeous rental.

Patrick stood off to the side with his back straight, thumping his chest for the camera.

"Absolutely worth it! My place isn't just luxuriously renovated, all the appliances are brand new!"

"Anyone who lives there knows. It's a princess-level experience, guaranteed!"

As he spoke, the two of them reached the door.

"Alright, time to witness the miracle!"

Patrick shoved the door open and turned to Sally, that showing-off grin still on his face.

The moment Sally's gaze went past him and landed on the inside of the apartment,

the smile froze right off her face.