Chapter 2

Jace

Looking out of the window of my new home, I sighed. There was no view. Well, if you didn't consider watching your neighbors a view. If it were up to me, I would've never bought this house, but it was given to me as payment for my job well done. And right now, it was perfect. I didn't feel like looking for a new apartment and dealing with real estate agents. There was just too much on my plate, and I had to stay low for a while.

I had this annoying tendency to look out the windows when I needed to think. For most of my life, I had stared at a garden of flowers which had helped me get to many great conclusions to some of my problems. So, this here was going to need some getting used to. But it was going to work. I was bad at giving up habits.

The truth was even if I had been forced to look at a graveyard or a stone wall, I was still not moving out. I was up to my neck in worries and work. And there was the thing about the conspiracy of this living complex which was in my favor. Nobody wanted to buy or rent here. The legal struggles with the contractor were still going. This place had been finished for four years and not even a third of it was occupied.

But obviously, with my luck, someone had moved into the adjacent house that was remodeled into a condo on the second floor. And the bad thing was I was facing exactly that condo. What could've happened to change this since the last time I checked my house two years ago? Unbelievable.

Well, life always came with compromises, and this here was going to be one of them. The irony of my home was that the bedroom was facing both the small garden and street next to it, while the living room's only windows were facing the neighbors. This was just one more problem added to the list of this so-called luxurious complex. Nothing was right in it.

I lifted my whiskey glass to my lips and took a sip. It burned my throat, and I grimaced. I never liked alcohol. Not like my father at least. But this one was for him. He deserved it.

It was already dark outside; the curtain of the night had fallen two or three hours ago. Judging by the clouds I could see peeking on the left from the other house, I was sure it was going to rain. Fall was already here. And with it, problems followed.

My breath hitched, and I forced myself to take another sip of the strong liquid. My nostrils instinctively flared, triggered by its sharp smell, and a frown appeared on my face.

I examined the place against me, curious about its occupant. It was still empty, and the moon was shining right on its French windows, so I could see everything inside. The kitchen cabinets, the TV, the couch. And the jacket thrown over the couch. There had been a person inside recently. Bad. The possibility it was just furnished for future accommodation melted away, just like my taste buds. Damn, this whiskey was strong.

I glared at the glass in my hand and continued exploring the neighbor's space. I slightly jumped when the lights turned on, and a figure entered the living room. A woman. She was trying to walk straight, but she seemed so drunk, it was impossible to do it. Her movements were so haphazard and uncoordinated that they picked my interest. I was going to enjoy the view for a bit. It could very well turn into my entertainment for the night.

She hit the couch, and her mouth flew open, probably cursing every living creature there was. Then she went to the bedroom that had its curtains pulled, and I nearly sighed at the impending boredom and the thoughts I wanted to escape at least for a bit. Just as I looked at my glass once more and swung it in my hand, the woman showed up from her bedroom, almost naked. I choked on my spit and cocked an eyebrow. Cool. She was only in her black panties and a crop top. Her black hair was dancing together with her as she swung her hips from left to right. She was also singing to something and looked so content and happy that I just gawked at her. That green-faced emoji popped over my head, and I pursed my lips. I felt mesmerized by this woman, even if this was my first time seeing her. The moonlight lit her curvy body as she kept twisting it from side to side; it was dancing together with her. For a moment, I felt like I was the partner she was missing, and I was the one caressing her curves. I clenched my jaw.

She looked so different from me and my serious mood that constantly followed me these last few months. My eyes were captivated by her, and I didn't dare move a muscle not to let her see me and distract her from her dance.

My heart dropped when she approached the window, her arms lifted over her head, and her flat stomach exposed for me to ravish. Damn, this girl had a nice body. One I wouldn't refuse to—

She froze when she lifted her gaze from her darkwood floor, and her eyes met mine. I could see their cat-like shape and piercing blue color. They clenched around my heart for a moment, preparing it to burst as I imagined her screaming or pulling the curtains in horror.

Instead, my heart lurched in my throat as she smirked and continued dancing, completely ignoring me. My jaw fell agape as she acted like I didn't exist and wasn't staring at her like a predator—its prey. She didn't feel threatened or with her privacy broken. No.

She trained her eyes on me and started dancing harder, with a smirk that made blood rush through my veins. I wouldn't have imagined this even in my wildest dreams.

Well then, hello, my interesting new neighbor.

...

In the morning, I stood up from my sofa I had spent the whole night on, and grabbed my punching bag, hanging it on the ceiling in the living room. All of my troubles and concerns didn't let me sleep once again. I was being followed by the ghost of my family and the problems it brought. It was filling my heart with desperation.

So, the best thing I knew that I could do was to vent. To break something, exhaust myself, and eventually, get some sleep. I had business today. I had to talk to Max and the lawyer.

After another vicious hit, I grabbed my wide tank top and wiped the sweat off my face. My muscles were pumping with the exertion and strain, and I felt like passing out. This was exactly what I needed. I just hoped I would hear my alarm and not sleep through the whole day.

Taking a deep breath and relaxing my shoulders, I glanced at my window. The chick from yesterday was out there; staring at me with a grin on her face.

I froze and stared back at her, feeling my stomach fill with dread. Was she up to something? Did she even remember last night? She put up quite a show for me, but she did that herself. I didn't make her do it or something. I wasn't a stalker. The thought she'd call the police flashed through my mind. No, there was no reason for her to do that. I hadn't done anything illegal. I didn't hurt her. Staring at her through my own window wasn't a crime. Especially, if she didn't pull her curtains!

Still, her grin confused me.

My lips parted, and I flinched as the girl lifted her hand and waved. She stuck her tongue out, and I wondered if it was true or my imagination was playing tricks on me. There was something shining on her tongue. She turned to leave her apartment, and her sexy ass swung in her skirt as she quickly walked to the door.

After she left and her place was long empty, I still stood there and gaped at this weird girl's window.