The old Ford Fiesta came to a stop next to a low hedge. Giselle knew the area by walking through once. It was an old residential area, not old enough that the buildings needed a major renovation, but old enough for it to be quiet. Mostly older folks lived here, Laury had explained, just like in her near vicinity. And with old she didn't mean stone age old, just old enough so the kids had moved out. With it maybe some apartments had become too big, so the owners rented them out again. It felt cosy.

Both got out of the car and they glanced around. 31 was two houses further down. And Annie was nowhere to be seen. Giselle hoped that her girlfriend wouldn't be late. Yet if she was, she couldn't wait. They started walking in silence. Her coworker probably didn't know what to say and Giselle herself was pumped with adrenaline. If all went well, this would be it. If all went well. A frown appeared on her forehead and she took a deep breath. "You'll be fine, dear", Laury said reassuringly, to which the brunette nodded in response.

The drizzle had stopped and a few sunny rays brightened the houses and lawns. Giselle glanced up and found she could see the rays clearly. Was that a sign? She shook her head in disbelief. Stress shouldn't make her superstitious, but she would take all the luck that she could get. As they walked up to number 31, a well-dressed lady with grey strands of hair, an expensive choker around her neck and a fashionable skirt and blouse came to the entrance door. They had been spotted already. The woman stepped out, pointed a bony finger toward Laury and mumbled, "I really hope it's not you!". Giselle couldn't help it, when her gaze moved from the old woman to Laury, she burst out into a loud chuckle. "No, no. That would be me. It's nice to meet you, I'm Giselle", she said, grinning and offered her hand for a greeting. Eyeing her up and down, the old hag, probably hag fit that offensive demeanour, shook it, lips curled into a smile. "Nice to meet you, too. I'm Mrs Dean", the hag introduced herself and curiously peered at Giselle. "Nice to meet you, too. I'm Laureen, by the way", Laury mumbled next to them, but got ignored. "Are you related to our boss, Mr Dean, by any chance?", the brunette wondered curiously. It drew a nod and a smirk that looked quite evil on the woman's face, "You could say that, Giselle. He's my ex husband". A rusty giggle escaped the the woman as enlightenment illuminated Giselle. They had known that their boss had been with someone at one point, but only by mention. The relationship had ended before he had hired both of them. It was no concern to her now, she had an apartment to obtain. "I see. Is there anything you'd want to ask before we could look at the place?", the brunette asked diplomatically. "So, you are getting divorced, had to move out and now you need a place to live. You're not the party kind, are you?". "No, not really, sometimes I may turn the volume on the TV too loud?", Giselle shrugged, but received a wave of the hag's hand. "No matter. So are you planning on moving in with your new boyfriend any time soon? I assume you are divorcing your husband for someone else, right?". There was something creepy about that woman that irked Giselle in a weird way. Some people just knew how to read her. It wasn't exactly fair, but here she was.

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

A small part of her was reluctant to reveal Annie. It could cost her the apartment if that woman was homophobic. Yet her resolve steeled her and she heard a car door slam shut. "I'm not divorcing him because of someone. That is a bit more complicated and we've just met. However you're right that I have someone in my life…", she said, hoping to god it would pan out nicely. And it did. Annie arrived just in the right moment and stepped up next to her girlfriend, "Hi, sorry I'm late. Lot's of traffic". "Hi love", Giselle said and kissed the woman on her lips, then took the hand and shrugged sheepishly at the old hag.

That woman just chuckled and turned, "C'mon on then. Let me show you the place! You'll be able to afford it, too. I promise!". The three women followed their guide up to the first floor and into the right apartment. Giselle stepped in first. It somehow resembled her old place again. Was there a single architect in this town that just built the same apartments over and over? How dumb was that? She pushed the stupid thought from her mind and watched as clouds shifted on the evening sky and the sunlight brighten up the place through four windows. Laury stood to her left and put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. Annie stood on her right, leaning close. "So, you want it?". The old woman grinned at the three women, who had come so far and Giselle nodded with teary eyes, "Yes, I do".