Roommates with Complicated Benefits Read online

  Roommates with Complicated Benefits

  J. S. Cooper

  For my mum, I miss you more and more everyday!

  Contents

  Blurb

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Confess Teaser

  Contents

  Blurb

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Confess Teaser

  Blurb

  What do tequila, furry handcuffs, shame, and a 6' 2" hot man with a black eye all have in common?

  They were all in my bed last night.

  Well, shame was there this morning.

  My asshole roommate up and moved out and rented her “room” to some guy her brother’s coworker’s cousin “knows really well.” The aforementioned roommate thinks we’ll get on like a house on fire. I tell her I don’t think anything related to fire is a good thing. Especially as this guy and I will now quite literally be sharing the same room, with a divider for “privacy.”

  Sounds bad, right? Well, it gets worse.

  Ethan Huntington is the most annoying, frustrating know-it-all, pompous jerk I’ve ever met. I did try to be open and ask him about himself when he moved in. But his responses consisted of, “Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies.” Yeah, okay. Cue major eye rolls as I walked away from him. It only made me angrier when I heard him laughing as I slammed the door as if he’d gotten the last laugh.

  He thinks he’s God’s gift to women just because he’s hot. I can’t lie: I’ve seen him without his shirt, and let’s just say he got more than my heart racing. But that doesn’t mean I’ll succumb to him. No way.

  Well, that was the plan. Until that night. When we decided to play a few rounds of cards and we drank way too much. Sure, we had one night. But that’s all it’s going to be. I’m not going to let my one-night mistake stop me from going out and meeting Mr. Right—even if Ethan is still living with me and I can’t get him out of my mind.

  And then the first letter arrived and changed everything. Maybe that one-night mistake was just the beginning of something really special.

  Prologue

  Molly

  I’ve been living in New York City for exactly three weeks. Three weeks in a hotel, and now my savings are almost gone. I’d been stupid enough to get a place in Times Square because I thought, as all British people think, that it would be really fun and exciting to live in Times Square. But I soon gathered that it was only tourists and newcomers like me that thought that.

  I scoured the newspaper, looking for roommate listings. I needed to find an apartment. And unfortunately, I needed to find one that had a roommate because the salary I was earning in my new job wasn’t anywhere near enough to get my own place in New York City by myself. Not that I would tell my parents or my friends back home that because they already thought I was absolutely crazy. I’d left a perfectly good flat in London. Yes, it was only a one-bedroom flat, and it was on the ground floor, but it was still my own.

  I’d jumped at the opportunity to come to New York to work for an up-and-coming fashion designer. Granted, my particular role wasn’t very exciting. I photographed the clothes, trying to make them look good on the models, which wasn’t hard because my boss, Marcia Fredricks, was really talented and she made the most amazing clothes; well, some of her clothes were nice. But she hadn’t made it yet, and as such, I hadn’t made it yet. And on my salary, I needed a roommate. But I didn’t mind because I also had dreams about being on stage and what better place to get a role in the theater than in New York City?

  I frowned as I looked at yet another ad that offered lower rent in exchange for personal favors: “Single white male seeking female. Rent lowered in exchange for nightly massages and other duties. Call 718-555-2289,” I read out loud and rolled my eyes.

  Yeah, right. Not interested.

  I kept looking, but there was nothing that looked like it was going to work for me. It sucked. I had no friends in the city, aside from some coworkers, and it wasn’t like I could ask them to find me a place. I mean, this was Manhattan. They probably had trouble finding an affordable place themselves.

  I turned the page in the newspaper and paused. “Hmm. This seems interesting,” I muttered out loud, trying to ignore the screaming and shouting coming from the street below.

  I was really ready to be out of Times Square. Not only was it obnoxiously loud, but I was pretty sure that there were bed bugs in the mattress. I didn’t have the budget for a nice hotel in Times Square; I was in some cheap hotel around the corner from the nice ones. And let’s just say there was a reason why the rooms were so cheap. I scratched my leg and tried to ignore the itch.

  “Don’t think about it, Molly. Don’t think about it,” I told myself as it started to itch even more. “Ooh, what’s this? This looks interesting.

  That didn’t sound half bad. Single female seeking single female for roommate. Nice apartment in the Upper West Side. Two bedroom, very private.. Looking for friendly, outgoing, and easy-going roommate. If that’s you, contact me at 510-555-2210.

  I grabbed my phone and quickly called my best friend Henrietta, hoping she’d pick up. “Please answer, Henri. Please answer!”

  “Hi, Molly. Is that you?” she yawned.

  “Oh no, I didn’t wake you up, did I, Henrietta?”

  “No. I was just about to fall asleep, though. It’s ten o’clock here, you know.”

  “That’s nothing. You don’t normally go to bed until midnight.”

  “I know, but I had a long day today.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, remember I told you I started my new job?”

  “Oh, yeah. How’s it going?”

  “Not bad. Quite boring, if I’m honest. I mean, you’ve never heard of an interesting chartered accountant, have you?”

  “I guess not.” I laughed. “Guess what?”

  “You met a handsome American man who wants to marry you?”

  “I wish.”

  “Let me see. You met a handsome Canadian man that wants to marry you?”

  “I haven’t met any handsome men. You know I’ve basically just been at work this whole time.”

  “You need to get out, Molly. That’s part of the experi
ence. You got to meet a handsome Yank.”

  I smiled. “They don’t call them Yanks here, you know.”

  “Yeah, but you’re not from there. You’ve only been there, what? It’s not even been a month yet, has it?”

  “No, it hasn’t. And you know, I’m feeling awfully homesick.”

  “Yeah. But you don’t have to stay there very long, do you? Isn’t your contract just for a year?”

  “Yeah. It’s for a year. But if it goes well, it will be extended. Well, at least I hope so. I don’t really know how this visa stuff works, you know?”

  “Yeah, that’s true. But we miss you. I hope you do come home in a year.”

  “Well, of course I’ll visit. Even if I extend the contract and you have to come out to visit me, too. Didn’t you say that you love New York?”

  “You know I love New York. I’m going to try and come in a couple of months when I can get some time off work. I can’t really leave right now as I just started.”

  “Yeah, I get it.”

  “So, what was your news, Molly?”

  “Well, I was just about to say that. I think I found an apartment that will be absolutely amazing.”

  “Oh, yeah? How many men do you have to suck off for that one then?”

  “Henrietta, you know I’m not going to do that!” I laughed.

  Henrietta was the only friend that I’d told about the naughty sounding ads I was finding in the newspaper. We’d been best friends since primary school. I could tell her any and everything. She was the only friend who really understood why I’d packed up and come to New York City. Everyone had told me that I was mad. I’d been working for a top magazine in London. I had my own flat. I’d been dating a guy, not seriously and not for very long, but he was stable and nice.

  Everyone thought I’d been absolutely bonkers to give it all up to come to the States. But I knew it was something I needed to do. You didn’t get these chances often. And at 28 years old, I knew that if I were to wait even a couple of more years, I probably wouldn’t have the same energy and excitement to try out a new country.

  “So is it with a man, then?”

  “No. You know I’m not going to live with a man. It’s with a woman and—”

  “Oh, gosh, Single White Female! You’ve seen that movie, right?”

  “Henrietta, I saw Single White Female years and years ago. And we don’t even know if she’s white.”

  “Okay. I’m just telling you to watch out.”

  “What, would you rather me live with a crazy man that wants me to bathe him?”

  “No, but you know they’re all crazy over there in the States. They’re psycho.”

  “They’re not psycho, Henrietta. You can’t say those sorts of things.”

  “I can say those sorts of things to you.”

  I laughed. “Well, anyway, this apartment sounds really great. I’m going to call, and hopefully, I’ll get in, and hopefully, it’s as good as it sounds.”

  “Yeah. Let me know, then.” She yawned again. “Oh, Molly, I’m sorry, but I’m falling back asleep. Can we talk tomorrow?”

  “Yeah. I’m going to give this lady a call anyway and see how the flat is.”

  “You mean you haven’t even spoken to her and you think it sounds amazing?” Henrietta giggled. “You are mad, aren’t you? They’re rubbing off on you already.”

  “I’m not mad. I just got excited. Thanks for the chat. I just wanted to speak to a friendly voice. I’m a little bit lonely, you know, not really knowing anyone here.”

  “I know Molly, but that’s why you’ve got to get out. Join a dating app or something. Meet someone new.”

  “Yeah … I don’t want to do that just yet. I’m trying to concentrate on the job.”

  “I understand that. See if you can’t go out with your workmates.”

  “Yeah. I think we’re going to go out for a drink this weekend, hopefully. And then, you know, maybe I’ll meet some of their friends and that sort of thing. Meet some new people.”

  “Just don’t go and replace me, okay?”

  “I could never replace you, Henrietta.”

  “I know. Anyway, ta-dah, darling. I love you.”

  “Love you too. Bye.

  “Bye.”

  Three Months Later

  Chapter 1

  Ethan

  There’s something about watching your brother make cow-eyes at his girlfriend that makes you feel kind of sick.

  At least it made me feel kind of sick. My older brother, Harry, had never been the sort of guy to fawn over women, but here he was, hanging on Sarah’s every word.

  I wanted to belch or fart or something.

  “So, Ethan, what are you thinking about finding your own girlfriend?” Sarah sent a sly smile in my direction.

  I tried not to roll my eyes. The love on her face did make me happy for my brother, but it also annoyed me. Just because they’d found love didn’t mean I had to find love. It was the last thing that I wanted. The very last thing.

  “I don’t think I really need a girlfriend right now, do you guys? I’m just trying to figure out what I want to do next in life.”

  “Aren’t you a bit old for that?” Harry stood up, walked over to the bar that he had in his apartment, grabbed the whiskey decanter, and poured more into his crystal glass. “Don’t you think it’s time you grew up?”

  “Oh, no way. I know you are not saying that to me. Really?” I stood up and grabbed the whiskey bottle from him. “Dude, I’m not trying to be funny,” I looked over at Sarah, “but you’ve been in love for barely two seconds, and you’re preaching to me? You used to get around town like—”

  “Hey, hey, hey!” Harry frowned at me. “Not in front of Sarah.”

  Sarah started laughing. “Harry, I’ve been your best friend for years. I know that you used to be a dog.”

  “Hey, I never was a dog!” He shook his head. “Okay. Maybe a little bit of a dog, but a cute one. A very, very cute one.”

  “Oh, the cutest!” Sarah went over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “That’s why I decided to date you.”

  “You decided to date me because you love me,” he replied before kissing her on the lips.

  “Geez!” I groaned. “Guys, I didn’t come over here to watch you guys make out. I thought you wanted to talk about business—”

  “I did want to talk about business, but Sarah’s here right now, and—”

  “And what?” I said, suddenly frustrated. “It means I have to watch you guys kiss and tell me I need to be in a relationship?”

  “We’re not saying that you need to be in a relationship,” Sarah said gently, her eyes shining. “I just think you’d be really happy if you found a nice girl.”

  “That’s okay, thanks. I’m not really into nice women.” I winked at her. “I like them bad, you know? I’m a bit of a rough and tumble sort of guy.”

  “Really, Ethan?” Harry hit me in the shoulder. “Not in front of Sarah.”

  “Harry, I’m not a baby or a little doll.” Sarah laughed. “I can handle your brother telling me that he’s into kinky sex.”

  “Well, I didn’t say I was into kinky sex—” I stopped as I saw the warning on Harry’s face. “Anyways, I’m not looking for a good girl. At least not right now. Maybe in ten, twenty, thirty years.”

  “Thirty years?” Sarah exclaimed, laughing. “What?”

  “You’re all talk,” Harry said snorts. “Whatever.”

  “Whatever,” I mock him. “Just because you got yourself settled down doesn’t mean that me and the other brothers are going to.”

  “Yeah, we’ll see about that,” Harry said with a smile. “So,” his voice suddenly becomes serious, “I’ve been going over the books, and I feel like we’re gonna need your help.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Need my help with what?”

  “There’s some money missing from one of the accounts. I think we need an internal investigation.”

  “What’d you mean, there’s money m
issing?” I frowned. “How much money?”

  “A couple million dollars,” Harry said quietly.

  Sarah’s jaw dropped. “No way!”

  “Yeah.” Harry nodded and gestured toward the couch. “Come on, let’s sit down.”

  “So what do you want me to do about it?” I asked as I took a seat.

  “Well, no one really knows you at the office.”

  “What are you talking about? Everyone knows me at Huntington Enterprises.”

  “It’s not at Huntington Enterprises that we’ve got the issue.”

  “Oh? So where is the issue?”

  “It’s at that new real estate company that we purchased. Eklund Morrison Realty.”

  “Didn’t we change the name to Huntington Realty?”

  “Yeah, but it hasn’t officially gone through yet, remember? That’s next month.”

  “Okay. So what do you want me to do?”

  “I’ve been going over the books from the merger, and there’s a couple million missing. So we need to figure out who’s doctoring the books or who’s taking the money and ensure that they’re not with the company much longer.”