My darling Allyssa

Allyssa

*ALLYSSA*

I inhaled deeply, a conscious effort to ground myself in tranquility, just as the front desk attendant emitted an almost strangled sound. Where are they? They're always late.

Perhaps I should give them a call...

My gaze lifted in time to witness the entrance of a whirlwind—Ambi, Ava, Hannah, and Akira—swirling through the revolving doors.

"We're so sorry, car trouble held us up. We rushed as fast as we could," panted Hannah, her obliviousness to the receptionist's awestruck gaze was endearing. She covered the distance to me in a couple of graceful strides. "Did we miss anything?"

"Not at all. I was —" My sentence was cut short as a sharply dressed woman in a sleek pink  suit approached, her demeanor as brisk as her purposeful steps.

"Ms. Harper, Ms. Chen, Ms. Kingston, and Ms. Carter. I'm Angella, the Director of Leasing for The Hernandez Apartments."

"Delighted to make your acquaintance, Angella," I couldn't help but be amused by her tone, as if she were the head of Apple and not just an apartment complex.

Everyone carried themselves as if they were grander than life, a trait almost expected in a city like London where the opening question was invariably, 'What do you do?' or 'Who are you?'

A stern whisper from Akira reached Ava's ears, "Behave, Ava." She settled into one of the oversized lobby chairs, a mischievous glint in her eye. Akira rarely lost her cool, so provoking her felt like an accomplishment. Though truth be told, she seemed slightly less unflappable these past few months. Probably the weight from work?

"Did you have a good time?" Ava quipped, promptly shifting her attention to her phone.

As the elevator ascended to the eleventh floor, Angella waxed lyrical about the building's opulent offerings. A rooftop lounge and pool, a state-of-the-art gym, a round-the-clock doorman and concierge—the more she detailed, the more my excitement and apprehension intertwined. The H.A. website conveniently omitted the price range, which only intensified my nerves.

"And here we are!" Angella's voice carried a note of triumph as she swung open the door. A collective gasp escaped all four of us simultaneously.

Oh, my stars.

It was as if the embodiment of our wildest dreams had materialized before us. If someone had taken our ideal apartments, blended them seamlessly, and transformed them into reality, this would be the result. Floor-to-ceiling windows flooded the space with light, leading to an expansive balcony.

The floors, a lustrous parquet, beckoned us to explore further. And that kitchen - a masterpiece in granite. A room devoted to quiet reading, complete with a piano, stood adjacent to an art studio. Four uniquely themed bedrooms, each with its own walk-in closet, plus two guest rooms. It was a scene of opulent fantasy, and we were collectively rendered into drooling admirers.

"I suppose this apartment is will suffice," Ava quipped, attempting to muster casualness, although the rest of us were still catching flies with our open mouths.

"How much does the rent come to, excluding utilities?" I managed to ask, mentally bracing myself.

"Six hundred and fifty thousand pounds per month, my dears," Angella beamed, her enthusiasm unwavering.

"Excuse me?" Ambi and Hannah chorused, their expressions mirroring a blend of offence and awe. The apartment was beyond breathtaking - and so was the price.

"We were notified of a special student discount for those who studied at Duke University," Ava said, her smile exuding a certain plastic charm I hadn't seen before.