The chime of the elevator signaled for the door to whoosh open. Marnie stepped out into a winter wonderland. A theme of creamy eggshell and ivory whites filled the foyer and living room. The white shag carpet felt as soft as snow. The living room was sparse but each piece was expensive and not without purpose. She noted a glass end table worth a few of her clients’ salaries. It was a popular style she frequently saw in the display window while walking past the furniture stores.
The white, oval ottoman might have been overdoing the theme, but once she stepped into the room, she saw why the furniture was so understated. A floor‐to‐ceiling bay window overlooking the New York skyline was the star. The moon shone into the room, adding to the winter‐like quality. Danny tugged on her hand and led her through to the kitchen.
Her stomach rumbled as she smelled the omelet cooking on the chef stove.
The man tending the omelet turned, a questioning look in his eyes. He had thick, curly black hair and his long, muscled body, engulfed the rather large room. He wore a white wife beater over a pair of red flannel pajama pants. He crossed his arms over his chest, making the muscles in his arms ripple.
“Kevon, say hello to Marnie. She’s going to be my new personal assistant,” Danny said. He entered the kitchen and rooted around in the drawers looking for something.
His chocolate eyes widened, and she gave him a small smile. But it did nothing to ease the look of shock on his face as his eyes roved over her body.
She held out her hand to Kevon. He accepted it reluctantly.
So she wasn’t the only one who thought Danny’s behavior was weird. But still, he was looking at her like she had rabies. It was rather unnerving.
“Marnie. Come in here,” Danny yelled.
She left the kitchen searching the hallway for the sound of his voice. She found him in front of what she guessed was her new room.
He had taken the screwdriver he’d found in the kitchen and removed the lock from the bedroom door.
“Feel free to take the longest bath of your life,” Danny said.
She stepped into her new bedroom, but halted when Danny put his hand on her shoulder.
“Soak in there for at least an hour, immediately.” It was as if he were pleading with her.
“Okay,” she smiled at him then entered her new bedroom.
“I’ll bring you some towels,” he called out to her back.
Danny headed to the linen closet. Kevon and Mickey were close on his heels.
“Are you all right?” Kevon asked.
“Hmm?” Danny asked.
Mickey dropped a tennis ball at his feet.
“You think I’m crazy?” Danny said to Kevon’s back.
“Well, no,” Kevon turned around and chose his next words carefully. “Everyone else will though, if you parade her around.”
“Relax,” Danny said. He grabbed the ball and once he was sure Mickey had laser‐like attention focused on it, he lobbed it down the hallway. He chose his towels and closed the linen closet. “She’ll look good once I clean her up.”
Marnie took off her sandals and relished the thick oat‐colored Berber carpet beneath her toes. A jade chaise lounge underneath the window beckoned her. Soft white curtains flanked it. She sank onto the seat with an appreciative sigh. The sun was just beginning to rise. She parted the curtains a sliver. Vendors across the street had begun setting up their food carts. She sank deeper into the high‐backed chaise. Her bed continued the jade theme, with accent pillows and a comforter, blooming with orchids embroidered against a light green background. They were a far cry from the threadbare white sheet and goodwill blanket laying on her platform bed back at the studio.
She ran her hand across the fabric of the chaise. A dark smudge stayed behind, tainting it. This is a new Guinness World record. It took me only three minutes to ruin the room. She needed to clean herself up. Leave behind the musky smell of men and sweat. That belonged at the studio.
With the bathroom door closed, Marnie turned the knob in the bathtub. She surveyed the room as the hot water gushed in. It was a windowless bathroom, painted a pale creamy bronze with large marble subway tiles covering the floor. She opened the mirrored cabinet; a toothbrush and toothpaste were the only occupants. She quickly undressed and lowered her body into the hot water.
Why did I make it so hot? Turning the faucet to cold, she swirled the water around, cooling the temperature. Once it was to her liking, she smashed the knob with the heel of her foot, shutting the water off.
She sat back against the wall of the tub, and rested her head on the shelf. Marnie let out a huge sigh. Worry crept under her eyelids and hot, salty tears gushed down her face, drops resting on her chin. A wave of sobs wracked her body, and she cried openly, unable to contain the overwhelming emotion coming forth. Good things were happening, but she felt alone. Small, like a ladybug. She felt a hollowness she never knew existed before.
What the hell was up with this bathroom? It wasn’t like her to bawl like a baby. She took a few deep breaths to try and control the flow of her sobs, but another wave of sadness overwhelmed this attempt. She lay huddled in the bathtub, crying her heart out. Over what, she didn’t know. Soon her body grew weary from crying, and her lids became heavy. Her head began to descend into the water.
A hand roughly grabbed her arm. She jolted awake, her head rising out of the tub.
“Don’t fall asleep in here. Wash up and get the fuck out.” Danny’s tone was terse, but the corners of his mouth softened and a hint of worry appeared in his eyes. He stared intently into her own. She blinked a few times to reassure him she was awake. He stood and placed some thick towels on the sink. If he hadn’t come in to drop off her towels, she might have drowned. He left the room as quickly as he came in, leaving the door open.