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CJ shook his head, but a smirk played at his lips as he opened the door for me. CJ had been with our family since before I was born, and he still saw me as a little girl. But at the end of the day, he was here to protect us, not dictate what we did.

The drive from Teterboro to Manhattan was always an experience. I had been to New York plenty of times, but there was something about driving into the city that always made me feel like I was stepping into something bigger than myself.

The moment we crossed into Manhattan, everything shifted, the streets buzzing with honking cabs, people walking fast, designer stores with their displays lit up like art exhibits, and the unmistakable energy that made New York feel alive.

I leaned my head against the window watching people weave in and out of yellow taxis, clutching shopping bags from Bergdorf’s, Chanel, and Bottega like they were accessories.

The streets were lined with hot dog stands, food carts with fresh bagels, and massive billboards advertising Broadway shows and luxury brands.

"Damn, I missed this city," I murmured.

"Don’t gas it. You ain’t even lived here yet," Sevyn teased.

"Whatever."

The Escalades maneuvered through the Upper East Side, pulling up in front of our hotel, The Aman New York, a luxury five-star oasis in the heart of Manhattan.

"Finally," I sighed as a doorman rushed forward to open the car door for me.

The lobby was all gold accents, marble floors, and a soft candlelit glow.The kind of luxury that felt understated yet impossible to ignore. It smelled like white tea and fresh lilies, and the quiet hum of a grand piano played in the background.

"There she is!"

I turned just in time to see Arielle walking toward us, a designer duffle bag slung over her shoulder, her silky black hair swaying with each step she took.

"Bitch, you took forever!" I grinned, meeting her in a hug.

"Girl, I had class," she laughed, pulling back to look at me. "You look good. Jet lag ain’t got you looking crazy."

"I always look good," I smirked.

"Ugh, I missed your cocky ass."

"Missed you too." I hugged her again, tighter this time. Arielle and I hadn’t been apart ever in life. I was devastated when she left for school last August and I was left alone in California. Even though we talked every single day, it wasn’t enough.

Sevyn rolled his eyes. "Y’all done?"

"No." We said in unison.

He sighed dramatically before handing Arielle a room key. "Y’all go freshen up. We got apartments to see."

By the time we pulled up to the first building in Tribeca, I already knew this wasn’t the one.

It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t us. Too small. Too modern. Too… ugh.

The second was in SoHo, but the closets were laughable. Arielle literally said, "Where am I supposed to put my shoes?" and walked out.

The third? Too many people. We don’t do shared elevators.

After four failed stops, I was tired and annoyed.

"We should just wait for Nona and Poppi to buy us a whole building at this point," I muttered as we got back in the car.

I felt like a brat, and maybe I was but I also liked what I liked and none of these were working.

Believe me; I was not usually like this.

Being born into a wealthy family meant I was used to luxury, but I had, had a vision for my life in New York and none of these apartments were fitting the bill.

"Last one," Sevyn said, scrolling through his phone. "Upper West Side. Private elevator. Fully furnished. Hudson River views."

"Oh, now we talking." Arielle rubbed her hands together in a Birdman-esq way.

The moment we arrived at the high-rise I knew this was it.

The lobby was sleek, quiet, and exclusive. There was a doorman who’d introduced himself as Phillip and wore a blue uniform with gold trimming. The second we stepped onto the private elevator, I knew this was the level of living we needed.

"This is nice," Arielle murmured, stepping into the penthouse.

The moment we walked in, floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the entire living room, showcasing Central Park on one side and the Hudson River on the other.

"Yeah, this it," I muttered.

The open concept living and dining space had a glass dining table big enough for ten, plush cream sofas, and a fireplace.

The chef’s kitchen had Italian marble countertops, a six-burner stove, and a double fridge.

The four bedrooms? Huge. Walk-in closets, en-suite marble bathrooms, a balcony that wrapped around from the master to the living room.

"I don’t even need to see the rest," I told Sevyn. "Get the realtor on the phone."

Back at the hotel, I collapsed onto one of the plush chairs in our penthouse suite, stretching my legs out.

Arielle was already calling our grandparents.

"Nona! Poppi!" she greeted sweetly. "We found the perfect apartment."

"Is it spacious? Secure?" Nona asked.

"Of course," I assured her. "It’s exactly what we need. Private elevator, views, and it’s already furnished."

"Sounds perfect," Poppi chimed in. "I’ll have our realtor reach out and make the offer."

"Thank you, guys," I smiled.

"Of course, baby. We’ll have everything finalized soon. In the meantime, you and Sevyn are coming to the house before you head back home right?"

“Of course, I miss you guys.” I replied and I really did.

My grandparents were the backbone of our family.

They ran a tight ship so we were all close and often spent as much time together as we possibly could.

Not to mention, they were often on my side when it came to my parents, Sienna in particular.

“Good. We’ll see you soon and in the meantime we’ll get on the apartment.” Poppi announced. “Love you.”

“Love you too.” Ari and I sang in unison before the line disconnected.

As soon as we hung up, Arielle’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, smirked, then put it on speaker. I looked over at the phone and saw it was her boyfriend Brodie.

"Hey you.”

"What’s up, baby?" his deep, familiar voice rumbled through the speaker.

Brodie had been Arielle’s man on and off for years, but he was also family adjacent. We had all grown up in the same circles, so he and I were tight too.

"Tootie here?"

"Yup." Ari replied.

"Good, now get dressed and come up to Jersey. There’s a party tonight."

I grinned. "Say less. First college party? I’m in."

"That’s my girl," Brodie laughed. "See y’all soon."

As soon as he hung up, I turned to Arielle. "I gotta go find the perfect outfit."

"Jersey about to get a taste of the Bradshaw girls."

"Damn right."