The moment they closed, he leaned back against the wall, the strength in his legs giving out, barely holding him upright.
"Did I really just do that?!"
He yelled out to no one, his voice echoing through the elevator. "I just ignored the most popular queen bee of my ex school!?"
He asked himself, then shook his head. "Like it matters! We're adults now…"
He took a few breaths in, remembering the bullying he endured during middle school and high school. Then lightly spat three times to forget.
As he exhaled he finally calmed down enough to smile again and be filled with anticipation of what his new apartment will look like.
He felt that it could be special, considering it had a private elevator and everything. But he had no idea what the difference between his and the other apartments could be.
He was curious about it, as it could be the reason his apartment came with an exclusive apartment, one of the guesses was that the management felt bad, since it was on the top floor.
As for Rina…
Albeit he was worried he was neighbors with his ex bully, they were both adults. And he hoped he wouldn't meet her as much and today was an un-lucky encounter.
besides, that wasn't enough to throw him in the dumps, after all he reminded himself, he was filthy rich!
Finally though, the elevator came to a stop. Its doors opened and as Furuhiya stepped out his jaw dropped in shock.
The size of this apartment couldn't be brushed off as a simple condo.
It was, in reality, a penthouse.
And not just any penthouse.
A vast living space opened before him, anchored by a massive curved sofa that seemed to wrap around a sleek, low glass table.
Plush cushions were scattered across it in careful disarray, like it had been styled straight out of a magazine.
The walls themselves carried that same deliberate elegance, smooth and modern in a muted grey-white palette, broken only by large, carefully spaced paintings.
Abstract pieces, bold yet restrained, framed in thin black and metallic borders.
They didn't overwhelm the space, they completed it, each one looking quietly expensive in a way that didn't need to announce itself.
Across from the sofa, the huge TV stretched on the wall, framed by built-in shelves displaying books.
Floor-to-ceiling windows dominated the far side of the room, letting in a flood of golden light.
Beyond them, the balcony extended wide, fitted with a set of outdoor loungers and a small fire pit, overlooking the city far below.
From up here, everything looked distant—quiet, almost unreal.
The open kitchen on the left gleamed under soft pendant lights. Marble countertops, spotless.
The bar area held a row of high stools, perfectly aligned, with what looked like an untouched collection of expensive bottles behind it.
Even the appliances looked high-end enough to belong in a showroom.
There was even a piano in the corner. A piano. Who just casually had a piano in their apartment?
A staircase curved upward along the wall, lined with subtle LED lighting along each step, leading to the second floor.
Just beneath it, he noticed a tucked-away reading nook, complete with a built-in shelf and a ridiculously comfortable-looking chair.
He stepped further inside, his footsteps soft against the polished floor.
To one side, a hallway stretched out, five doors, each leading to a bedroom with its own bathroom.
***
He had already checked each and every one of the rooms. An hour had passed since, and now he was on the balcony, enjoying the sun without a shirt on.
Surprisingly, it wasn't windy, thanks to the thick glass railings and the building's height, which seemed to deflect most of the harsh gusts, leaving only a gentle, warm breeze that barely brushed against his skin.
Furuhiya let out a quiet breath, running a hand through his hair as he tried to take it all in. This wasn't just luxury.
It came with five bedrooms, each having a bathroom of its own, a kitchen with an open bar overlooking the living room with adjoined dining room.
Sure that much was obvious and even necessary, but what wasn't was the furniture, decorations and amenities.
Everything looked expensive, and high class to the point where Furuhiya was scared of touching anything to not accidentally break or ruin it.
While it was his, who'd pay a few thousand for a simple decoration?
As for the price of the place?
He finally checked on his phone and found out that penthouses around Valcrest ville cost anywhere between $7.5m to $10m.
Staggering amount for someone who was fired around an hour ago and was in a sea of debts.
This was the kind of place people dreamed about and never actually lived in. And somehow it belonged to him.
Everything was a lot to take in, but Furuhiya was sure he'd get used to it quickly, and on one hand, he already was getting fairly used to it.
He was sleepy after a night shift, but still in the mood for a bottle of champagne.
He had found one on the kitchen counter with a red ribbon on and a letter below it in a red envelope.
He turned back inside, bare feet silent against the polished floor, and walked toward the kitchen counter again.
The bottle sat exactly where he'd left it, condensation beginning to form along its glass surface. The red ribbon was tied neatly around its neck, simple but elegant.
Beneath it, the envelope waited.
Furuhiya picked it up, turning it over once before opening it. The paper was thick, clean, and neatly sealed, nothing unusual, just the kind of detail you'd expect in a place like this.
Inside was a single folded letter.
His eyes moved across the paper.
The smile he'd been wearing since stepping into the apartment slowly faded.
"…Oh."
That was all he said.
But his grip on the paper tightened slightly, just enough to wrinkle it.