The Nation’s Jackpot Girl (BWWM)

47

Jocelyn's POV

"You should check again," Jane says. "You're probably using the wrong key,"

But I was sure that I was using the right key. I still listened to her anyway. I checked the second key which wasn't the one I usually used to unlock my door.

It didn't even fit in.

I turned to look at Jane in confusion. "I haven't even been gone for a month!"

"Do you have the property Manager's contact?" Jane asks. When I shake my head, she takes out her phone from her bra. "I have it. You can call him and explain."

"Thanks, Jane,"

"Let's go back to my place so you can get rested before they come."

"You're a lifesaver, Jane. What would I do without you?"

"Absolutely anything and you know that," Jane chuckles as she leads me into her apartment.

Again, the man I had seen a few moments ago walked across the tiny living room wearing nothing but a pair of cargo pants. She was so curious to know who this man was so she leaned close to Jane and asked.

"Is he your boyfriend?"

Jane burst into laughter. "Hell, no!"

"Who is he, then?"

"He's my younger brother, Kane," Jane replied as she laughed. "He's staying here for a few weeks because he got fired at work and lost his accommodation. I have to house him till he gets another job,"

"Looks like everyone's losing their jobs this week,"

"Employers are on a firing spree," Jane said and I laughed my heart out. She gave me a concerned look. "Are you sure you're okay, Jocelyn?"

"Yes, I am. Why do you ask?"

"You don't seem to be. I feel like you're acting like you are okay when deep down, you aren't,"

"I'm okay, Jane. I should give the property manager a call," I say and stand to my feet.

....

Going to the window, I dial the number that Jane gave me moments ago. It rings for a long time before the receiver picks up. "This is Gary Hampton, how much do I help you?"

"I am a tenant living in the apartment building close to Green boulevard. I just returned home after a few weeks to find my locks changed."

"Can you provide your name, please?" The voice is quite robotic and I feel I am not speaking to the manager. I don't even know his name.

"Jocelyn Gbone Dizon."

"What floor?"

"Fourth floor."

"Room number?"

"The last room on the floor. Room thirty,"

"Okay, I'll go through the spreadsheet to know your status. Wait for a few seconds, will you?"

"Of course." I reply and lean against the lintel of the window. Closing my eyes, I sighed, hoping that it isn't something as serious as I think it is.

"Are you there Miss Gbone?"

I immediately lean away from the wall. "Yes, I am."

"Uhm, from what I'm seeing here, you're still owing rent from two months ago and you haven't made any payment. Your locks were changed,"

"Why? There are times I don't pay for three months and I always pay up. Why will my locks be changed just because I didn't pay for two months? For crying out loud, I was away!"

"I'm sorry, ma'am. But that's what is on the monitor. You can come to the office downstairs so you can complain directly to the property manager."

"f**k you guys!" I cut the call immediately. Turning, Jane is standing before me with a raised brow. "They changed my locks because I didn't pay my rent for two months. f*****g bastards."

"That's ridiculous," Jane said, mirroring my reaction. "Why would they do that? I've not paid for almost six months and I haven't been sent out. They're being terrible."

"Well, I was asked to come downstairs so I can make a complaint directly to the property manager,"

Jane sighed and followed me to the door. "Make sure you come back here with your news keys. Those people can be cruel at times,"

"I think I am well aware of that, now,"

As soon as she shut the door, I closed my eyes and sighed. Why I'd the universe against me today? From me being fired to returning back home to find out that my locks had been changed.

Universe, I think it's enough. I got the memo. Can you just tone things down a bit?

I got into the elevator and spent most of my time lost in thought. I thought about what happened last night with Julian and I felt so terrible that I let that vile man touch me and seduce me.

I should probably input my name for consideration on the spot for the most stupid woman on the planet in the Guinness book of record because last night, I didn't use my brains. I let my desires control me and look where it brought me.

Looking at it, I can see a bit of it is my fault. I shouldn't have let him get to me the way he did last night.

He was really rude to me this morning. I don't want to even think about it but then, I remember how Leela looked at me with so much disappointment. She had expected more from me and I went ahead to flop in every area.

"Ma'am? You can step out of the elevator, other people might want to step in."

I jerk and realize that I have gotten to the ground floor with the elevator open and waiting for me to step out. A man is looking at me weirdly and I immediately apologize and leave the elevator.

The office is somewhere on the ground floor so I look at every tag on every door when I finally see a french door with an inscription: Property Management.

Walking towards it, I pull the door open and I am hit by the air conditioner. Who the heck turns on the air conditioner on a day as cold as this?

There's a secretary seared on a desk with a monitor in front of him. I'm guessing that's the Gary I spoke to. I stop at his table.

"I want to see the property manager. I was the one that called to complain about my locks being changed."

The young man looks up at me and nods. "You can go in. It's that way," He says and points behind him.

I've not even knocked when the door opens. A man, still young but having a small bald spot, stops when he sees me. "Are you Miss Jocelyn?"

"Yes, I am." I reply while glaring at him. He acts like he doesn't see how hard I'm looking at him and gestures for me to go in.

"Why are my locks different? It's absolutely ridiculous that you would do that to—"

"The owner of this building asked for the locks to be changed."

"And who the hell is he?!"

The Property Manager gestures behind me and for the first time since I came here, I turn to find a man, extremely familiar, seated on the table. His legs are crossed and he has a sinister smile on his face.

"Hello, Jocelyn."