90

He stopped on the driveway and led me to the front door, where he pointed at another touchscreen by the doorframe.

“There. Use your finger and your key,” he said, smiling at my suspicious frown.

I did and the front door clicked. He pulled it wide open. Three soft warm lights came to life in the ceiling, revealing a cozy living area and a kitchen at the other end. The stairs to the upper floor were against the wall on the right.

“C’mon in,” he said, waving for me to walk in.

I stopped just past the doorway, still trying to understand what was this place and why he’d taken me there.

“This is one of the guesthouses,” he said in a casual tone, coming to stand by my side. “There’s a toilet under the stairs and two bedrooms upstairs.”

“And we’re here why?”

“Next time you need a break, you can come here. Nobody will disturb you, and you can stay for as long as you want, be it a couple of hours or a couple of years.”

I turned to him, speechless. Behind us, the soft roar of a fine engine grew