Elysian Heights was a whole apartment complex. And the only office was the one at the front?

So maybe... Tyvan was...

...the janitor?

No, that didn’t make sense. According to the way he dressed, maybe he was... the owner?

But... when she thought of landlords, she didn’t think of suits and ties. And silver hair. And the way his jacket fit perfectly on his frame.

MmMmm.....

Anyway... It was strange.

Everything about Elysium was strange... and not because of its design or anything like that.

Shay had never remembered seeing it.

The apartments were... right behind their school, just over a wire fence. But... she’d never seen anyone hop that fence specifically to get back into their apartment. And the other kids climbed fences all the time. And even if no one school-age lived there, that fence was still a shortcut across a whole block?

The building looked nice enough-- wealthy and prominent, almost: modern-gray at the base, topped with orange-tiled awnings near the top. The sprawling courtyard had planters with tropical palm trees and colorful, flowering bushes.

(Heidi mentioned she took care of those, so it was no surprise they were so gorgeous.)

The stone walkways were clean and free of trash and debris... a stark contrast from the neighborhood she lived in. Ooh, and there were little white rocks at the corners of each of the pave stones.

It looked like a really nice place to live!

When she got a nice job and enough money to move out of her aunt’s place, she wondered if she could move in...

--and she’d be a little closer to Tyvan.

Oh, she’d be able to see him every day! Even if they didn’t talk... just the thought of a chance at seeing him gave her a huge boost in... confidence? She needed to move out as soon as possible!

She stood in front of the office.

She took a deep breath... and she stepped through the doors.

“H-hello?” she said.

“Fuck off, high school girl,” said the woman at the desk.

“Okay, sorry to bother you,” Shay said.

She walked back outside, easing the closing door to keep it from making too much noise.

Then... she squinted her eyes... real hard.

She walked back in.

“Rude!” she said, glaring at Raia Latorre.

That woman worked for the Arkham Enquirer! Why was she in Tyvan’s office?

Raia sat behind a sleek, darkwood desk, covered with a mess of papers.

She was dressed better to match her general style, in a black and red, lacy corset that showed off her cleavage and the tattoos all over her neck and arms. She had her hair down, dark, silken waves ending at her collar.

Even though Shay put all her frustration and willpower into her glare, Raia didn’t even look up.

She kept her focus on her work while chewing on the back of a wooden pencil.

Her eyes were brown.

Drat.

Shay took a breath and sighed before she took in the rest of the office.

Dark tile flooring and geometric patterned rugs. Luxurious leather chairs and a coffee table with a replica of a wooden sailing ship at the center. Wood-paneled walls and even square panels on the ceiling.

Everything looked so nice, she wondered if she was supposed to take off her shoes.

Dozens of thick books sat on a bookshelf set into the back wall, safe behind glass cabinet doors. One corner of the room had a curved metal stand holding a lamp that probably cost too much. Hung on the walls were black-and-gold framed paintings that definitely cost too much. There was even a faded-yellow globe that fit the general color scheme beside the desk.

Oh, there was a corkboard that looked wonderfully out of place. But with how expensive everything else in the office looked, it was probably made from cork gathered up solely from hundred-year-old vintage wine bottles.

Shay turned to the side, yelping in surprise at someone rIghT next to her!

--it was just a statue, though... a black, polished statue carved to look like an Egyptian Sphinx. Its face was eerily realistic. It had a soft, troubled expression-- as if it felt sorry for her.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Don’t. break. anything,” Raia said from her desk. “Don’t touch anything. Don’t even take another step into the office. Whatever it is you think you want? --the boss isn’t in, and I can’t help you.”

She made a shooing gesture with her hand, “So I advise you to listen to what I said earlier and--”

She looked up... “You... why are you here?”

Shay nervously waved back, “Is... is Tyvan going to be back anytime soon?”

“Like I said,” Raia replied, “Tyvan’s out right now.”

Shay nodded slowly in understanding.

All her information and guess-timates so far had been good. Tyvan was the boss of the office-- which meant Raia worked for him.

--wait, did that mean he worked for the Arkham Enquirer too?

Raia stood up at her desk, planting her palms down. Some of her papers went flying off, filled with numbers and colored graphs.

“What’s your relationship with my boss?!”

Shay opened her mouth to provide a reasonable explanation. Nothing came out, though-- no words, anyway. Just some ‘uh’ and ‘ah’ noises.

Raia pursed her lips and tilted her head. Her septum piercing shifted to the side.

“You’re not... Japanese, are you?”

“N-no,” Shay smiled politely. “I’m Chinese.”

“So you’re not related to him,” Raia frowned. “If you don’t have any business here, the door’s right behind you.”

Shay cursed her stupid mouth. If she was a bit slower in responding, she might have been able to use that as an excuse. She looked around for something else that could possibly save her.

The corkboard!

Shay hopped over to it, nearly tripping over the sphinx’s front legs. She snatched a paper that said ‘Help Wanted’, turned back to Raia, and held it up triumphantly.

“I’m here to apply for a job!!”

Raia narrowed her eyes.

“You want to lead bible studies at the church down the street?”

...Shay quietly retrieved the pin on the ground and returned the paper to the corkboard.

But then, she grabbed another ‘Help Wanted’ ad!

She marched up to Raia’s desk and slapped it down in front of her, “THIS is the position I wanted to apply for!”

Raia glared at her before glancing down at the paper.

“Elysian Heights... custodian?” she said before sneering, “No way. You?”

Shay stared back, “I’m good-- no, I’m perfect for the job.”

Raia leaned back, crossing her arms, “Doubtful. You’d be cleaning up... trash and... old man puke?”

Shay lifted her head arrogantly, “Doesn’t bother me one bit!”

Her uncle getting drunk on cheap beer and vomiting all over the house was a weekly (and unfortunate) occurrence.

Raia winced as if she got slapped, “Well... the job details include working around the building-- fixing appliances and stuff? You-- you can’t have...”

“I’ve fixed a washing machine before-- and a microwave,” Shay declared. “My guardians are cheap as hell!”

Raia bared her teeth, “Changing light bulbs! Picking up broken glass!!”

Shay laughed arrogantly, “Is that all?”

She hardened her expression-- to sharpened steel!

“Don’t insult me.”

Raia scrunched up her face and clenched her fists.

“Y-you have to be 18 to take the job!” she yelled, “It says that on the paper!”

Shay reached into her bookbag, retrieving her wallet.

Fear shone in Raia’s eyes, but Shay was in a battle-- and on the battlefield, there was NO ROOM FOR MERCY!!

She smacked her ID onto the desk with her full palm.

“I am a LEGAL ADULT!!” she said. “Give it up. I’m your new custodian.”

Raia’s lips quivered... She wanted to say something-- wanted to fight...

But the weak were destined to bow to the strong.

And thus, Raia lowered her head, rubbing at her elbow.

“I... I can’t make the decision without Boss’ approval.”

“So when can I expect him?” Shay asked.

Suddenly, the door opened behind her.

And there he was.

Soft, gentle, silver hair. Hazel eyes that she could stare into for days.

Tyvan walked into the office, dressed in his dark suit and green tie. A tri-folded golden handkerchief stuck out of his front pocket and his dark gloves hung out of the pocket on his side.

And in his hand...

--was a take-out bag from the rice bowl shop?

He walked straight toward her. She panicked.

“T-t-t-tyvan?” she squeaked.

He stood in front of her-- close enough for her to reach out and touch.

--not that she’d try to touch him... or his eyes. That would be weird.

“Yan Xue,” he said. “Good afternoon.”

“Good,” Shay managed. “Yes. I’m good. Yes. Afternoon-- it is.”

Tyvan gave a nod to Raia, “Briar Rose. Good afternoon.”

“Afternoon, Boss,” she said-- almost helplessly.

He gestured to his food bag, “I’ll be in the break room.”

Then, he walked past the desk, walking through the door behind it.

As soon as the door shut, Shay collapsed sideways onto a leather couch.

It felt like all the strength had left her body.

Raia picked up Shay’s ID, staring at it with furrowed brows.

“First name Xue... last name Yan?” she said.

Shay pushed herself up, sitting with her back straight.

“That’s right. Is something wrong?”

Raia put the ID down and pushed it forward... “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”