CHAPTER 5

Zoey walked into her apartment and the memories of her past filled her head. Her eyes got teary as she remembered the sweet memories her mother left with her in the house.

She looked around the house and felt the emptiness in it. The emptiness without her mother. She swallowed the lumps in her throat as she walked into her mother's room.

It was still the way she had left it. The scent, the bed, everything. She stood on her spot and bowed her head as tears flowed down her eyes. She promised herself not to cry but she couldn't help it. 

She pursed her lips and wiped her tears. It wasn't the best time to cry. She sniffed and looked at the empty bed. "Mom, I am back here. I know it won't be easy but I need strength to go on." she forced a smile and went out, locking the door.

"I love this place. Even though small, but comfy. Well, it would just need some little touches and it would be perfect." Carissa swirled around and fell on the couch, breathing deeply in relief.

"You can have that room there." Zoey said, pointing to a room. "I will be taking that." She looked at her mom's room but looked away immediately.

"I don't have a problem with that." 

A knock came on the door causing the two girls to look towards it.

"Are we expecting anyone?"

Zoey shook her head and went to open the door. Seeing who was standing by the door, her eyes widened. "Ms. Julie?" she called and looked around. "Why.....why are you here?" 

Ms. Julie snorted and crossed her arms below her breast. "I see you are back. Anyway, this house would be under renovation and the man in charge would be inspecting the house in five minutes."

"What?" Zoey looked back and saw Carissa dancing to the song playing on her phone. She came out and locked the door behind her.

"Ms Julie, what are you talking about? What renovation?"

"It happened suddenly. I sent you a message last week that I wanted to sell this house. I needed some money for my son's tuition fee. After giving up on finding a buyer, someone suddenly called thirty minutes ago and said he would be coming to inspect the house." she smiled and breathed in relief. "This is great news for me."

"But.....but it shouldn't be done this way. Do you mean I will have to leave this house? This house has a lot of memories for me. I can't leave now."

"I never said you will. He is only coming here to inspect for now. You know what to do. I don't want him to lose any interest." she said and left without waiting for Zoey to oppose it.

"This is a disaster." she said and went back to her apartment. Carissa was busy with her phone so she paid no attention to what was happening. Zoey was glad about that. She went into her kitchen and took a bottle of water.

Just the first day back in Shutter-way, her landlady gave her a notice about someone else taking over her house. It was a disaster.

She gulped down the bottle of water and sat on the kitchen chair.

"Is there something wrong?" Carissa asked when she noticed how worried she looked.

Zoey smirked and took another bottle of water. "Someone would be coming to inspect this house."

"Someone?"

Immediately she said that, a knock came on the door. Zoey dropped the bottle of water and went over to open the door. It was Ms. Julie and a man wearing a nose mask behind her and another man standing beside him. From the look on the face of Ms Julie, she could tell it was the man coming for the inspection.

"Mr Alcatraz is here to inspect."

"I wasn't given a head up early so do not take the untidiness of the house as something unimaginable." she moved away for them to go in.

Ms. Julie was about to go in but was stopped when the man who wasn't wearing a mask spoke. "You don't have to go in. You should leave. I will handle the rest from here."

Ms. Julie was taken aback by that. They were going in for an inspection so she should be there. 

"But I have to go in with you. I am the landlady."

"I am buying it." Isaiah, the man with the mask, said to the shock of everyone. He looked around and shook his head. "Eddie, go sign the documents. I need to inspect the house."

"Are you sure about that?" Eddie whispered into his ear but he only nodded. Not having what to say, he went ahead with the landlady leaving Isaiah and Zoey alone. 

"You can go ahead and inspect the house. There is nothing I can do." she said and turned to leave but came back and faced him again. "Do you know what you just did was being inconsiderate? You just called to say you are buying this house and you would be coming for an inspection in just a few minutes and the next thing you will say is that you are buying it. Did you think about the tenants leaving here? What amount of time would they get to evacuate this building?" she said in one breath.

Isaiah was taken aback because he wasn't expecting the sudden come back. It was his business so why was it a bother to her?

"I bought the house from the landlady and not you. If you have any complaints, you can relate it to my brother. This is a business and the seller isn't bothered about it."

"That is because she needs the money. Of course she can make any decision at any time. You should be considerate of others."

He smirked and shook his head. It wasn't just the landlady who was desperate but him also. He didn't just buy the house cause he wanted it. He has a lot of apartments, houses and to name more. He decided to pick that house because of one person,"Zoey Hall."

He was able to find out where she was leaving immediately he was told she was back in town. Even though he was receiving treatment, he left to come see the woman who would save his life.

Zoey knitted her brows wondering why he was staring at her so much. She wondered if he was a perverted man and felt irked.

"You shouldn't be looking at me that way." she half yelled and moved back.

"This isn't the first time we've met. You should be able to recognize me. Besides, I am here for you." he said.

"What are you talking about?"

He smirked

again and slowly pulled off his mask, revealing his face. "We will meet again!"