Sophia's POV
Suzzie didn't lie when she said I'd love the house even more in person. The house looked even better than the pictures. My eyes lit up. I could already see myself living there.
We didn't even need to see the other four houses on the list that day; I was so confident that I wanted this one. It had a wide bedroom and living room. The kitchen was structured to my taste, and the garden—oh, I was in love with this space.
I couldn't stop thinking about when I could pay. I wanted the keys right away so I could move in and make it mine, but Suzzie wanted me to wait some time to get the documents ready for me.
Well, I didn't have a problem waiting, as long as I get to move in eventually.
Suzzie got back to me after about a week. I finally got to pay for my dream house.
"Hello Soph, how have you been?" She didn't sound as sharp as usual, and I thought she had bad news.
"I'm fine, dear. Are you okay?" I was scared to ask because I didn't want to hear any bad news, but I had to.
"Oh, me?" Her voice brightened up instantly. "I'm doing great." She added. "Could you meet me at La Cucina dei Re tomorrow at noon? You will have to come and make the payment, so I can hand over the documents and keys to you officially."
"Noon? Sure, yes." I replied with relief. "I know that place, I will be there."
"Alright, see you then." She ended the call almost immediately, like she had something burning on the stove.
I let out a big sigh and smiled. Thank God it wasn't bad news. I packed like someone in a hurry. I kept smiling. I even danced a little while putting my things in the box. I had already booked the moving van. I'd have to move out on the day after tomorrow, after I make the payment. I had two more weeks till the eviction, and I was already dreaming of moving into my new apartment.
It was noon the next day, and I was already at the restaurant. I arrived there at just a few minutes past noon. I hurried in, thinking Suzzie would already be seated, waiting for me, but unfortunately, I arrived too early.
The place was calm. Soft music hummed from the ceiling speakers. The air smelled like the sea and fresh pastries. I loved it. I chose a table by the window.
I wondered why it was called "La Cucina dei Re." It couldn't be because of the flowers, I mean, they were just regular flowers.
I looked at my watch. Only eleven minutes had passed, but it felt like forever.
"I should have called her," I sighed and slapped my forehead.
Fifteen minutes passed. Then twenty. My hands were getting wet. I wiped them on my jeans and kept turning and raising my head whenever I heard someone walk in.
I called her phone a couple of times, but there was no answer.
I ordered a glass of orange juice while I waited and drank it fast, like I needed it to stay calm. I tried hard not to worry, but my chest felt tight.
"What could the problem be?" I asked myself. Just then, I heard someone walking in from the entrance. I raised my head to check, but it still wasn't Suzzie.
In frustration, I flung my hand in the air, mistakenly hitting a waitress coming from behind me with a tray of drinks.
"Oh my God," I shouted in shock, covering my mouth. "I'm so sorry, I didn't…" I turned, paused, and gasped when I realised that the glass of juice the waitress was carrying had spilled over a young man walking past at that same moment.
He looked down, then up at me. His face was tight, and his eyes were full of anger.
"Are you blind?" he snapped, moving toward me.
The waitress had left almost immediately and was returning with a towel in her hand.
"No, I just—it was an accident," I stammered, and I also moved towards him, trying to explain myself.
Before I could say another word, he called over two men. "Get her out of here."
I froze. "Wait, what?" Who was he to order me out? Besides, everyone saw that what happened wasn't intentional. How could it even be?
One of the men stepped toward me and grabbed my arm, but a voice rose from the corner.
Another man hurried in, "What's going on here?" he asked, walking towards us. It happened that they were friends.
"This blind bat spilled juice over me. How do I go to the meeting looking like this?" he shouted and stamped his feet on the ground.
"Hey, mind your words, Mr. I told you it was a mistake, and you saw how it happened, didn't you?" I felt my face getting hot. My hands were shaking. Why was he yelling at me like that? I was still struggling to break free from the man grabbing my arm. I turned to his friend who had just walked in. "Why is he so rude?"
"Leonard, she said it was a mistake. Let her go," he said, gesturing to his friend to calm down.
The rude man frowned, then stormed off in silence, shoes slapping the floor.
The man finally let go of my arm.
His friend looked at me. "Are you okay?"
I nodded. "Thank you."
He smiled gently. "He's not always like that, I apologise." Then he walked off hurriedly in the same direction the rude man went.
I sat down and took a deep breath. My heart was beating fast. I needed to calm down. My heart was still pounding when Suzzie finally arrived, all bright and bubbly.
"I'm so sorry, I kept you waiting. I didn't know you were here already," she said as she slid into the seat across from me and pulled out a brown envelope.
"So, the house. Everything's done. All we need now is your signature and the payment." She brought out the documents from the envelope.
I just sat there quietly with a fake smile. If only she knew what had just happened. But I never brought it up.
I looked through the papers, and I could barely focus. I signed them and handed them back to her. My hands trembled slightly.
She handed me the keys. I smiled again. This time, it was real.
"I'll send the documents to your email," she said happily.
I nodded and transferred the payment.
She confirmed the receipt moments later. "It's officially yours now. Congratulations, Soph," she beamed.
We stayed there a bit. Suzzie ordered a drink, and we just talked. I didn't stay long after that. I was too eager. Even though I wasn't going to fully move into my new apartment today, I still wanted to see it again, maybe spend some time there. After all, it is mine now.
I went straight home, packed a few essentials—my laptop, a blanket, and a few other things I knew I needed for the night—and left.
The address was still fresh in my head. I found the street easily. Quiet. Tree-lined. Peaceful.
I stood in front of the house.
I instantly felt like I had everything in the world. The white stone, black iron railings, and a small balcony with flower pots. It looked very safe.
I moved to the door and slid the key into the lock.
It didn't turn. "Why is it stuck? Maybe that's not the right key for the front door."
I exhaled and tried another key.
Nothing.
I jiggled it, pushed the door, pulled it, and turned the key harder.
Still nothing. It didn't click.
Maybe she gave me the wrong key? I thought. "Oh, no. I'm too tired for this!" I slapped the door hard.
I tried again.
Still locked.
And then I heard footsteps behind me.
A low, calm voice: "Can I help you?"
I turned slowly.
And froze.
It was him.
The man from the restaurant. The one I spilled juice on. The one who tried to throw me out.
He stood at the bottom of the steps, arms open, looking at me like I was a burglar.
My mouth went dry. "You…"
His eyes narrowed. "Are you following me?"
"What? No! I—I just bought this house." I held up the key.
He took a step closer, looked at the key, then looked at me like I was insane. "You what?"
"I just paid for it today. I guess something is wrong with the keys. I will just call my..."
"This is my house," he cut in, voice cold and sharp. "I moved in last week. I don't know who you said you are, but this is my house," he said, with an irritated look on his face.
My stomach dropped.
"No. That can't be right. I paid for this place in full. I signed the papers. You can't tell me that." I laughed.
He pushed me out of the way, walked toward the door, and opened it with the key in his hand.
My mouth opened, but I couldn't say a word. I looked at the keys in my hand, then looked at his. How could this be?
"Obviously, you missed your way or you have been scammed," he said.
His words hit harder than any slap.
I blinked. "No. I didn't miss my way, and Suzzie wouldn't..." I said, dialing Suzzie's number for the second time, maybe she had an explanation for what happened.
She picked up on the second ring. "Sophia," she said flatly.
"Suzzie, the keys are not working. Are you sure you gave me the right one?" Before she could respond, I heard a man's voice in the background laughing. "She fell for it!"
Then Suzzie's voice came again, low and mocking. "You were so easy, Sophia. It's done now. Move on." Then the line went dead. I called again, and her phone was switched off. I dialed again. Same thing. My hands trembled as I stared at the phone screen. My heart sank.
He stared at me a moment longer. "If you don't leave here, I'll have to call the police," he said without remorse, went in, and slammed the door.
My knees felt weak. I sat on the floor and leaned against the wall. Tears rolled down my cheeks. It was getting late, and I didn't even think of going back home. I just sat there crying.
Three hours later, he opened the door, and there I was, weeping and shivering in the cold. He sighed and asked me to come inside for a cup of coffee.
I had a hard time getting up from the floor, so he helped me up and led me in.
When I got in, the living room was already fully furnished. I saw the pictures on the wall, the clean sofa, the warm lights… and I felt so hurt inside.
"How could Suzzie do this to me?" I cried again.
Leonard's POV
She sat at the edge of the sofa and dropped her bag slowly on the floor.
"What kind of person signs a fake deal, gets scammed out of her savings, without even seeing the signs"? I thought to myself, shaking my head.
I was pissed at how easily she got scammed, "Maybe she's not so smart".
A thought came to me immediately, and I couldn't resist. My assistant and I have been hunting for a girl to flaunt to his grandfather as his wife-to-be, because I have to get married before my grandfather will even agree to undergo a life-changing surgery.
So far, I have not found anyone confident enough to play the role.
I didn't care how she was feeling at that point anymore; I was itching to pitch my proposal. "She is desperate, she will do anything to have this house at this point,
''I will make her an offer she can't resist", I felt relieved.