It had being a hard week for her, the time she was supposed to spend looking for an apartment she actually spent it working late in the small company she was hired almost a three years ago. Her time to find a new apartment was almost up and she was starting to wonder if she'd have to go back and live with her parents unless she found a new apartment in two days.
The sweet landlady passed away and her daughter decided to sell the apartment building giving the tenants a two week notice because "I need to sell soon and God knows you are not paying enough rent for me to consider giving you more time." If finding that apartment had being a challenge and she had months to do so, how was she supposed to find a new one in two weeks?
It was lunch time and she was in a small café near the office, looking in the newspaper for some apartment options when the waitress approached her with a coffee pot.
"Do you want some more coffee?" her smiling face almost erased the frown on hers.
"Yes, please." She smiled, but still pinched the bride of her nose.
"I don't want to appear nosy, but are you worried about something?"
"No, that's ok. I just have two more days to find a new place to live."
"Well, we do have some adds on the wall, don't forget to check those." She smiled and walked over to another table.
She finished her coffee and walked over to the wall, maybe there was something there, she browsed over them and it seemed nothing worked for her; she leaned over on board and felt something underneath the sheet of paper she pressed her forehead on.
A smile appeared on her lips after reading the information and taking paper from the board she called the number listed there.
It was almost 7pm when she pressed the button and waited until she was buzzed in; she tried to calm down during the short elevator ride before knocking on the door with number 3.
She looked around and noticed how in truth there was only one apartment per floor, not that it was all that weird, but she'd had enough disappointments the first time she looked for an apartment; she didn't mind sharing a wall with another apartment like she did now, but the idea of having a whole floor was always tempting.
The door opened, a light brown haired girl motioned her in and smiled warmly.
"Hello!" she took the hand that was offered to her. "I'm Jessica."
"I'm Cassidy." A very serious looking girl said and she shook her hand too.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Elizabeth." She sat down in the sofa she was shown to and looked around. "This is a great place."
"Well, it certainly needs more décor, but we just moved in and we're not really here most of the time." Jessica said.
"I'm sorry to be blunt, but I need to go to a meeting…" Cassidy said with a smile. "We're not here most of the time, like Jessie just said, but in all honesty our schedules are hectic, so we might drop by or leave for days at time."
"Oh, I'm fine with it. I'm usually an indoors person, most of the time I stay in my room and go out for breakfast, lunch and dinner or I just skip one of those."
"You know how to cook?" Jessie asked pleased. "Cuz most of the time we just order in and I'm sure the kitchen will appreciate the attention."
"Well, I'm no chef, but I'd be happy to cook if you guys are too busy." She smiled. "And I'm always glad to try new recipes."
"You told me over the phone that you have a bachelor's degree in PR?" Jessica's hazel green eyes looked at her.
"Yes, but that's my second one. I also studied Journalism, Political Science and International Relations." Elizabeth blushed and added "I also speak 7 languages." Cassidy and Jessie looked at each other with a meaningful look.
"Any habits we should know about?" Jessie asked and showed her the cigarette box on the table. "I smoke."
"Outside, Jessie." Cassidy placed her hand over Jessie's when she tried to light one and pointed to the balcony. "I like to drink a lot of coffee, so coffee here it's mandatory."
"Well, I do like to smoke once in a while. I don't really drink a lot, but… mmm… I do like to sing out loud sometimes and I prefer tea." She smiled apologetically.
"Well, here's the amount of money you'd have to pay" Cassidy said with a warm smile and slipped a piece of paper on the coffee table. "I wish I could stay, but have to go now… My boss doesn't like to wait." She stood up, grabbed her coat and walked to the door. "Ask her." And she left.
Elizabeth and Jessie waved to Cassidy as she closed the door.
"Ask me what?"
"Where are you working right now?" Jessica asked after stashing the cigarette box in her front blouse pocket.
"I'm in the communications department of a small company. I mostly do PR stuff."
"There's an opening at the company we both work for, as an assistant to someone in the higher levels. Maybe you should give it a shot. Here's the number."
"Wait… is that a yes to me moving in?" Elizabeth smiled hopefully when Jessie gave her a small piece of paper with a number written on it.
"That's a: 'welcome to your new apartment'. Let me show you your room."
After thanking Jessica many times and asking her to tell Cassidy the same, Elizabeth left in a hurry to pack her stuff even if it took her all night, find a place to store the thing she wouldn't need.
Jessie waved at her as she turned the corner and hailed a cab, she left the cigarette in her lips and took out her phone and pressed number 3 in her speed dial.
"Hi! She already signed the contract. And I told her about the position and she's going to call first thing tomorrow; tell your boss that her file would be on her desk tomorrow afternoon."
Elizabeth got to her current apartment, changed into something more comfortable and started packing and throwing things out. Singing out loud she noticed how something so small like a simple phone call changed her life, new apartment, roommates and maybe a new job.