The Lofts at Aubury

[sassyLILrican]

A sophisticated loft home featuring two floors embellished with hardwood floors, a stone fireplace and panaramic. The bedrooms are large. The bathrooms are lavish featuring our exclusive jacuzzi spa tub. And finally, the kitchen -- marble countertop, handcrafted oak cabinets and all stainless steel appliances. All of this located in the vibrant Metropolis Cove's own Aubury section.

One and two bedroom lofts from the $300s.

[Samantha June]

Arriving at her loft finally, SJ kicked off her shoes and threw her purse down on a table, black tears streaking her face. It was just hitting her now, really hard too, Quinton broke up with her.

I don't think we should see each other anymore. Our relationship is too complicated, too difficult to maintain. I know that we are attracted to each other but ... it will never work.

His words still echoed in her mind, causing her to breakdown in tears again. It was two years with an off again, on again relationship. And yeah, it was a rocky one and they barely saw each other but knowing she had Quinton there was good enough for her. She just didn't understand why he abruptly ended it ... it was so suddenly, so unexpected.

The other day they were talking about getting serious, a real commitment, maybe even marriage and now there was nothing.

SJ walked over to the side table which leaned against the back of the couch, on there was a picture of them -- there was love in both their eyes. Her fingers glided over his caramel face, tears sliding down her chin.

"I love you ... I did ... why'd you do this to me?"

[Liesel]

Lee pulled his Porsche in front of the tall building and leaned back aganst his seat, frowning distastefully at the gleaming windows against the blinding sun. He adjusted his sunglasses and sighed. His assistant who was still wheezing silently from pushing the suitcase into the back sat meekly beside him.

The tall, brawny man exited the car and strode to the sidewalk, glancing up. "Which one is it?" he asked to no one in particular but the assistant knew it was him, the insignificant cockroach that he was.

"F-fiftieth floor, sir..." he said, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Lee glanced back at him with a frown. "Sir? I'm not an old man or a mafia boss, stop stuttering. Come on." He walked over to the car and rolled his eyes when the small man winced. He reached behind him for the suitcase, lifting it without effort and strode inside the apartment.

The assistant whimpered, still sitting but startled up when he heard the alarm beep as Schwartz locked it with his automated key. He jumped out, stumbling forward as he tried to keep up with the man.

An hour later, in his newly furnished apartment, the man stood by the wide open window and stared out onto the city under him with a haughty, contemplative expression on his face. "I need a haircut..." he mused aloud.

The assistant swallowed hard, deciding not to say anything as he typed quietly, reporting the news of their arrival to Schwartz's agent, one wary eye on the man. "Yes sir..."

"I didn't ask you to agree," Schwartz muttered, walking to the door. "Don't follow me," he ordered quietly and grabbed his keys, heading out to town in his car.

[Rachel]

Rachel breathed deeply as he stopped the car, taking off her seatbelt. "Are we here?" She asked, turning her head in his direction.

[Liesel]

Lee stormed into the apartment, startling his assistant who was watching Sex and the City on the couch, with a bowl of popcorn on his lap. He almost dropped it when he shot to his feet at the man's entrance. "S-Sir!" he stuttered, almost choking on the half-eaten corn in his mouth.

The brawny man strode across the floor and sat down on the couch, cursing under his breath at the woman from the salon. His assistant gaped down at him, unsure of what to do--noting that one side of his hair was uneven to the other side. "Sir...?" he asked hesitantly.

Lee scowled and looked up at him. "You, can you cut hair?"

The man blinked. "Err, yeah... A little?" He swallowed hard. Was this man about to fire him and send him to work at a barber shop?

Lee nodded. "Good. Go get scissors and come fix this mess." He glared at the assistant until he scurried away to find a barber kit. Meanwhile, Lee picked up his phone and dialed a number.

[Billy]

"Yes," he said softly, turning off the car. "Do you need me to help you since you are unfamiliar with the area? I don't want you to get hurt."

[Rachel]

"That could work," Rachel replied, a smile forming. She knew that she could figure it out on her own, but she didn't mind having Billy help her, not in the least.

[Billy]

After stepping out the vehicle, he went over to the passenger side, taking Rachel's hand. "I live in the Lofts, on the fifth floor, in case you ever want to stop by after today." He led her to the main lobby and into the elevator.

[Liesel]

"Yeah... Look, is there a way to put out customer service complaints about certain areas around here?" Lee asked the operator, a frown forming. The assistant shuffled forward, unsure what to make of his boss' mood. He held a pair of scissors that he could barely stabilize with shaking hands.

"Yes... This store, Cuts for Kitty Kat or whatever. It's terrible. And I'm not understanding why only one barber is in this town. Is that good for business at all?" Lee noticed the man standing sheepishly at the side and waved him over with a dark expression, scaring the man inadvertly. "That's what I thought. You should send whoever is in charge of public health and safety over there. People getting stabbed or injured in a barber shop... I don't know if tourists would find that too appealing in a growing town like this, would they?"

The assistant swallowed hard and stepped forward, tentatively touching Schwartz's thick hair. He took a deep breath and began. Snip, snip, snip.

Lee ended the call and leaned back, causing the assistant to jerk again. He scowled. "You, stop acting like I'm going to shoot you. Do this work well or you'll hear trouble from me." He closed his eyes and relaxed his shoulders, listening to the repetitive yet hesitant snipping above him.

[Rachel]

She smiled, taking his hand and getting out of the car. "It depends. Would you like for me to come here again after today?"

[Billy]

Billy blushed, holding back a smile. "If you want ... I mean, you're welcome to."

The elevator rode to the fifth floor and stopped in an empty hallway. He slid his key into the lock of the first door and was greeted by a cool breeze from his opened window.

"This is it. My place. Make yourself at home," he told her, releasing her hand to close the door behind him.

[Liesel]

"Done..." the assistant said and stepped back, releasing the breath he'd been holding. Lee was asleep, fortunately, so the wiry man sighed in relief and tiptoed to the front to pick up his popcorn.

"Get me my meds, will you Harry?" Lee said in half-sleep, sending chills down the poor man's back.

"Y-yes sir," Harry answered and rushed to find the bag of pills in Lee's suitcase. He returned, seeing Lee rubbing his back in discomfort. Glancing down, he quickly read the labels and began pouring out some in his hand.

"More than the usual, will you?" Lee muttered softly, his brow furrowed.

Harry nodded, quickly adding two more and handed it over to Lee who swallowed them without water.

[Rachel]

Rachel leaned back against one of his walls before setting her bag down and walking around his apartment. She found a sofa, a television, a rug and an end table with a lamp on it before calling him.
"Where are you Billy?"

[Billy]

The loft was very spacious. There was actually too much space for one person. But he did love his place, hoping to earn enough money to expand the kitchen, which was his favorite place in the house.

"Sorry about that," he said appearing from a hallway. "I was getting you a glass of water."

[Rachel]

"Thank you." She turned to the direction of which she heard his voice and walked towards him. "You should have asked me if I wanted it first."