“Thanks!” the young man said. “You on vacation or something?”
“Oh, no, I just moved here,” answered Simone. How funny, she mused, even the teenagers are friendly. “Actually, do you where I can find Lakeview Towers?”
A moment passed as the youth stared at her. “Are you joking?” he asked. Simone shook her head. “It’s right there. You’re literally right in front of it.” He pointed to the left, indicating a tall building that stood not thirty yards away. “Listen, thanks for the change. I’m going to see if I can catch a ride at the next stop.” Without waiting for a reply, the young man stepped forward, and in one fluid motion, jumped onto his skateboard and rolled down the street.
A large, flat-paneled television welcomed Simone as she stepped into the Lakeview Towers lobby. A dark-skinned woman with impeccable makeup was in the midst of an interview with a remarkably slender brunette, both of whom seemed to capture the spotlight whenever they were on the screen. Is everyone here so attractive? Simone wondered. She had put on a few pounds since college – and a few more, if she was honest, after spending a decade behind a desk – and she’d never quite been able to shed them. Finding the time to work out was almost impossible, and yet the glitterati always seemed to be at the peak of physical perfection. Simone smirked internally. If the camera really does add ten pounds, it does it by adding them to the viewer.
Pulling her attention away from the television, Simone approached the receptionist’s desk with what she hoped was a confident smile. The woman sitting there looked up, obviously bored.
“Hi!” Simone chirped, slightly louder than she’d meant to. “I’m Simone Barker. I’m moving in today.” She pulled out her driver’s license – which she had thankfully removed from her purse before stowing it in her luggage – and placed it on the counter.
The woman pulled the card toward her and eyed it. “You signed the lease already?”
“Yep!” Once again, Simone felt her voice climbing to decibels that weren’t particularly well-suited for the echo-prone lobby. “I’m just here to pick up my key, and then I’ll be out of your hair.”
A sigh escaped from the woman’s lips, but she stood up and nodded. “Wait right here. I’ll be back in a minute.” Simone nodded back, then turned back to watch the television again. There was no sound, but some text at the bottom of the screen identified the women as Hilary Curtis and Victoria Newman… although who they were beyond those names, Simone couldn’t tell. From the looks of things, Hilary was a popular television personality, and Victoria… well, Victoria looked vaguely uncomfortable, or perhaps even a bit under the weather.
“Here you are,” came the receptionist’s voice from behind Simone. She turned to see the woman waiting there, still looking bored. “Your unit is number three-oh-four. That’s on the third floor.” She pushed a set of two keys across the counter, along with Simone’s identification. “There was also a package waiting for you.” A paper-wrapped bundle the size of a large book was placed next to the other items, landing with an impact that suggested something heavy was inside.
Simone examined the parcel, curious about what it could be. Maybe it was a gift from Ashley; a welcome-aboard present. Turning it over in her hands, she spotted a folded-over note, which a quick motion of her finger opened.
Congratulations on your new position at Jabot Cosmetics, it read. You may find yourself being approached with a proposition soon. Consider this a gift. Welcome to our humble city.
It was signed with two initials: V.N.
Not even her first day, and she had already been noticed.
Genoa City, Simone decided, held far more than met the eye.
Share this: