family had decided not to extend it and offered it to Trent for a steal.
“Are you planning to open a business here?” Arielle asked as Trent gave her a tour of the place.
“Yes. A gym and a rehab clinic for the vets. We’ll be living in the apartment on the fifth floor. But the gym will operate as a non-profit organization. Quinn wanted me to run a charitable foundation so we could do some good with the family money, and this is a cause I’m passionate about.”
“Quinn?”
“My oldest brother. He’s running the family business.”
“I think I’ve heard your brother’s name in the news. Something about New York’s most eligible bachelors. Well, your mom talked me about him too. I can’t believe you’re related to him.”
“It isn’t always easy being related to him. He’s a perfectionist and a slave driver to boot. But he was nice enough to fund this entire operation.”
“I assume you chose a gym and rehab center because of your experience in the military?”
He agreed. “I want to help my fellow vets who aren’t getting enough help from their local VA. Besides the gym on the first floor, there will be a resident doctor and a couple of physical therapists on the second floor. The third floor will be used as a meditation center for those who suffer from PTSD. When I was recovering from the osteosarcoma, meditation helped me find my bearings and focus on overcoming pain without drugs.”
“Ah, I see. A holistic approach, in addition to modern medicine. That sounds promising.”
“It worked well for me in the past, so I thought it might help those who had exhausted the usual route of healing. The people I have recruited to work here are my fellow veterans whom I served with in the military. They are all excited to be on board with this project. Let me show you our apartment on the fifth floor.”
Arielle chuckled. “ Our apartment?”
“Don’t tell me you’d rather live with my mom?”
“Show me the apartment, big guy.”
The building was equipped with a newly-installed elevator and clearly had gone through extensive remodeling. The apartment boasted four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a spacious kitchen and living space. The rooftop had also undergone some renovations. What used to be a storage place for tenants had become an urban garden. The potted trees and plants were still in the process of being planted, but Arielle could see it would be a magnificent place to retreat once it was finished. She could picture barbeques and parties there in the future when everything was finished. Suddenly, she didn’t feel quite so bleak and hopeless anymore. Perhaps there was a silver lining to her string of bad luck. She got to meet Trent and his wonderful family. And she would get to live in a new apartment in a beautiful neighborhood. She had to let go of the past and embrace the future. Hope blossomed within her.
“Of course, the apartment needs furniture. I was hoping you could help with the shopping,” said Trent. “It’d be nice if this place had a feminine touch.”
“I’d love to. I love decorating. I used to help my dad paint the office and rearrange desks and stuff. When he was still alive, he’d paint our apartment at least twice a year. He always said he never liked the color he chose. Mom and I thought he just like painting the walls.”
“Then I trust the project is in good hands.” Trent winked. “Which room would you like to claim?”
She thought for a minute. “The one next to the kitchen, if you don’t mind? It has a small bathroom that I like.”
“You don’t want the one that has the big windows?”
“The master bedroom?” She shook her head. “Shouldn’t you be taking that one? I’m happy with just a small room. It’s the same size as my room in my old apartment. Plus, I don’t have a lot of stuff.” She blinked. Jesus, she didn’t have any possessions except the clothes she was wearing on the day of the fire. If Trent’s mom hadn’t taken her
“Are you planning to open a business here?” Arielle asked as Trent gave her a tour of the place.
“Yes. A gym and a rehab clinic for the vets. We’ll be living in the apartment on the fifth floor. But the gym will operate as a non-profit organization. Quinn wanted me to run a charitable foundation so we could do some good with the family money, and this is a cause I’m passionate about.”
“Quinn?”
“My oldest brother. He’s running the family business.”
“I think I’ve heard your brother’s name in the news. Something about New York’s most eligible bachelors. Well, your mom talked me about him too. I can’t believe you’re related to him.”
“It isn’t always easy being related to him. He’s a perfectionist and a slave driver to boot. But he was nice enough to fund this entire operation.”
“I assume you chose a gym and rehab center because of your experience in the military?”
He agreed. “I want to help my fellow vets who aren’t getting enough help from their local VA. Besides the gym on the first floor, there will be a resident doctor and a couple of physical therapists on the second floor. The third floor will be used as a meditation center for those who suffer from PTSD. When I was recovering from the osteosarcoma, meditation helped me find my bearings and focus on overcoming pain without drugs.”
“Ah, I see. A holistic approach, in addition to modern medicine. That sounds promising.”
“It worked well for me in the past, so I thought it might help those who had exhausted the usual route of healing. The people I have recruited to work here are my fellow veterans whom I served with in the military. They are all excited to be on board with this project. Let me show you our apartment on the fifth floor.”
Arielle chuckled. “ Our apartment?”
“Don’t tell me you’d rather live with my mom?”
“Show me the apartment, big guy.”
The building was equipped with a newly-installed elevator and clearly had gone through extensive remodeling. The apartment boasted four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a spacious kitchen and living space. The rooftop had also undergone some renovations. What used to be a storage place for tenants had become an urban garden. The potted trees and plants were still in the process of being planted, but Arielle could see it would be a magnificent place to retreat once it was finished. She could picture barbeques and parties there in the future when everything was finished. Suddenly, she didn’t feel quite so bleak and hopeless anymore. Perhaps there was a silver lining to her string of bad luck. She got to meet Trent and his wonderful family. And she would get to live in a new apartment in a beautiful neighborhood. She had to let go of the past and embrace the future. Hope blossomed within her.
“Of course, the apartment needs furniture. I was hoping you could help with the shopping,” said Trent. “It’d be nice if this place had a feminine touch.”
“I’d love to. I love decorating. I used to help my dad paint the office and rearrange desks and stuff. When he was still alive, he’d paint our apartment at least twice a year. He always said he never liked the color he chose. Mom and I thought he just like painting the walls.”
“Then I trust the project is in good hands.” Trent winked. “Which room would you like to claim?”
She thought for a minute. “The one next to the kitchen, if you don’t mind? It has a small bathroom that I like.”
“You don’t want the one that has the big windows?”
“The master bedroom?” She shook her head. “Shouldn’t you be taking that one? I’m happy with just a small room. It’s the same size as my room in my old apartment. Plus, I don’t have a lot of stuff.” She blinked. Jesus, she didn’t have any possessions except the clothes she was wearing on the day of the fire. If Trent’s mom hadn’t taken her
Similar Books
