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We continue the tour, and I find myself liking everything I’m seeing. The backyard is large, with a fire pit and a view that stretches far beyond the yard, giving the space a peaceful, almost secluded, feeling.
And then I remember what Lisa said when I complained about moving in with Andrew. She pointed out that this was an opportunity—an opportunity I should take advantage of. I’ve been wanting to sell my apartment for a while now, upgrade to something bigger and more practical. But moving is such a hassle, and finding the right place had been more stressful than I’d care to admit. Maybe Lisa’s right. Living here for a year could give me the space I need to figure out my next step. This house has more than enough room, and with the added convenience of being closer to work, it was starting to feel like a win-win.
Andrew pauses at the last stop of the tour, turning to face me. “What do you think?”
I glance around, nodding slowly. “It’s lot nicer than I expected. I can see myself living here.”
Andrew smiles, and I get the feeling he’s relieved to hear it. “Good. I want you to be comfortable.”
I let out a small laugh, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease just a bit. “Well, you’ve certainly made a convincing case. And if Bruno and Bear approve of me, I guess I’m in.”
Andrew chuckles, gesturing to the two dogs lounging in the corner. “They’re already sold. It’s just up to you.”
Chapter 7: Andrew
I step into the lobby and head straight for the building’s private garage, where my driver, is already waiting by the car. He’s been with the family for years, always punctual and dependable—just the way I like things.
“Morning, Robert.”
“Good morning, sir,” he replies, closing the door behind me and getting into the driver’s seat. “Where to today?”
“The Camellia Condos site,” I say, glancing at my watch. “I need to check on the progress.”
We pull out of the garage, merging into the busy streets of downtown Boston. The drive to Camellia Condos is short, but traffic always manages to stretch it out.
I settle into the backseat, my mind already running through the issues Don mentioned earlier. The structure’s already several stories high, but there’s always something cropping up—today, it’s the windows and the electrical wiring.
That’s the nature of construction.
As we move through the city, I keep my gaze on the passing buildings, a mix of old Boston charm and new, gleaming structures.
Camellia Condos is supposed to be our latest standout project—a blend of luxury and modern comfort. It’s something I’ve poured a lot of time into since I got back.
We pull up to the construction site. Cranes towering above, workers bustling around. Camellia Condos is coming together, but there’s still a lot left to do. I get out of the car, Robert giving me a quick nod before pulling away to park.
Outside, the sun bounces off the surrounding skyscrapers, and I pull my sunglasses on as I approach the site.
The sound of heavy machinery fills the air, mixed with the constant hum of voices. Workers in hard hats are scattered around, all focused on their individual tasks.
I nod to the site manager, as I make my way toward him. “Morning, Don.”
“Hey, Andrew,” he replies, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. “As I was telling you, we’ve hit a few snags on the electrical for the upper floors and some of the window fittings. They don’t match the specs we were given.”
I frown. “The windows? How bad are we talking?”
“Not too bad. The frames are slightly off, and we’ve already sent word to the supplier. Shouldn’t set us back more than a day or two if they fix it on time. But it’s still a pain.”
I glance up at the towering structure, mentally running through the timelines. We can’t afford too many delays. “Make sure the supplier knows we need that correction ASAP. What about the electrical?”
Don shifts, looking over at the wiring team on the upper levels. “Turns out a few of the plans didn’t account for the structural beams in certain areas, and it’s causing trouble with the cabling.”
“Has the architect weighed in?”
“He’s supposed to be here later today, meanwhile, we’re trying to reroute without losing too much time.”
I nod, absorbing all the details. The project is moving, but these issues need to be smoothed over quickly. “I’ll talk to the architect when he gets here. Make sure the wiring crew doesn’t waste time while we wait.”
Don gives me a nod, already moving to handle it.