Chapter 11 visit to a real estate agency
Jay brought his phone out from his pocket again and immediately went online, scrolling through different listings from several real estate agencies.
A few of them caught his attention almost instantly.
They had clean layouts, decent pricing, and surprisingly good locations. And the best part was that some of them weren’t even far from where he currently was, about a thirty-minute drive at most.
He paused on one particular listing, zooming in on the photos. Spacious living room. Large windows. Modern kitchen. The kind of comfortability he'd always dreamed of having.
“I have to check this out,” Jay muttered to himself.
Just then, he spotted an approaching cab and immediately raised his thumb slightly, signaling for the driver to stop.
The moving taxi eventually slowed before pulling up beside him.
“Where to, sir?” the driver asked.
Jay pulled the door open and slid into the back seat. "I'll send you the address," he said, pulling out his phone once again. After a few taps, he sent the location, then read it aloud as well, just to make sure there was no misunderstanding.
The driver nodded before putting the car into motion and merging smoothly into traffic.
Jay leaned back against the seat quietly, watching the city buildings slide past one after another through the car windows.
The location he gave the driver belonged to one of the real estate agencies he had found online. If he remembered correctly, the trip should take around maybe twenty minutes, if he wasn't mistaken.
Over twenty minutes later, the cab finally pulled up to the destination.
"Sir, we've arrived," the driver said, glancing over his shoulder to get Jay's attention.
Jay looked up from his phone and blinked as he took in his surroundings. "Oh," he muttered, as though he'd completely lost track of time.
The driver checked his screen. “That’ll be twenty-six dollars.”
Jay nodded and made the payment without hesitation, then added an extra twenty dollars as a tip.
The driver’s expression softened instantly. “Thank you, sir. I really appreciate it.”
“Yeah, no problem,” Jay replied as he opened the door and stepped out.
The car pulled away moments later, leaving Jay standing there with his eyes fixed on the building ahead.
Evasy Real Estate Agency.
Jay took a deep breath before walking toward the glass doors. He hesitated for a brief moment, then pushed them open and stepped inside.
The blast of air-conditioning hit him instantly, sending a wave of cool air across his skin. The lobby was spotless, polished to perfection, and so quiet that the atmosphere felt almost intimidating.
Jey walked toward the reception desk.
The receptionist noticed him almost instantly, her posture straightening as a professional smile settled on her face.
“Good day, sir. How may I help you?” she asked smoothly.
“Umm…” Jay hesitated for a second, pulling up his phone. “I saw your house options online. I was hoping if I could rent this specific apartment.”
He turned the screen toward her, showing one of the listings.
“Sure,” she replied, her tone still warm but now more attentive. She picked up the office phone and dialed a number.
“Sir, there’s someone here interested in one of the VIP listings… alright… yes, I’ll send him in.”
She hung up and looked back at Jay.
“I just spoke with the agent in charge of that property. His office is straight down, then to your left,” she said, gesturing in that direction.
“Thank you,” Jay replied.
He slipped his phone back into his pocket and followed her directions. When he reached the office, Jay paused for a moment before knocking on the door.
Less than three seconds later, the door swung open.
A man in a well-fitted gray suit stood in the doorway, composed and professional. “Welcome, sir. You must be the person the receptionist just called me about,” he said.
“Yes, I am,” Jay replied.
"Come on in." The man stepped aside, holding the door open as Jay entered.
The office was neat and well-organized, with a large desk at the center and shelves lined with files and property catalogs.
"Please, have a seat," the man said as he walked behind his desk.
Jay took a seat, doing his best to keep a calm expression.
"I'm Mr. James," the man said, extending his hand. "And you are?"
“Jay...Jay Wayne,” he replied, shaking his hand firmly before they both settled into their seats.
The man took a slow sip from the cup of coffee resting on his desk.
“Umm, we have a variety of beautiful VIP listings you might be interested in,” he began professionally. “If you’d like, you can take a look.”
He reached across the table and handed Jay a thick folder containing photographs and detailed information about several luxury apartments.
Although he had already taken an interest in one of their online listings, Jay still accepted the folder and slowly opened it.
The very first page was enough to make his eyes widen slightly. It was filled with photos of luxurious penthouses, modern duplexes, and private rooftop apartments, many of them featuring breathtaking views and private swimming pools.
Each property looked like it had been taken straight from the pages of a billionaire lifestyle magazine.
Mr. James noticed the way Jay carefully studied the photos and smiled faintly.
“All the properties in that folder are located in some of the most secure and prestigious areas in the city,” he explained. “Most of our VIP clients prefer privacy, comfort, and top-tier security.”
Jay nodded silently as he continued flipping through the pages until one particular listing caught his attention.
The apartment looked absolutely stunning. It featured floor-to-ceiling glass windows, polished marble flooring, and a massive living room with a breathtaking view of the city skyline.
Even the bedroom alone looked bigger than his entire current apartment.
“This one," Jay said slowly while tapping on the photo. “Can I know more about it?”
Mr. James adjusted slightly in his chair before looking at the listing.
“Excellent choice,” he said almost immediately. “That’s one of our premium luxury apartments located in the Skyhall Residence District.”
He leaned back slightly as he continued explaining.
“It comes fully furnished with smart-home technology, private underground parking, twenty-four-hour security, backup electricity, gym access, and a rooftop lounge exclusively for residents.”
The more Jay listened, the more unreal it all sounded. This wasn't just an apartment—it was the kind of lifestyle he had only ever seen wealthy people living online.
“How much is the yearly rent?” Jay finally asked.
Mr. James glanced at the file for a moment before answering calmly. "The annual lease is four hundred and eighty thousand dollars."
Even though Jay now had more than that in his account currently, hearing that amount still made him pause internally for a second.
Almost half a million dollars just for rent.
Seeing the brief silence from Jay, Mr James quickly added politely,
“Of course, we also have more affordable luxury options if you’d prefer something less expensive.”
But to his surprise, Jay slowly shook his head.
“No,” Jay replied calmly while looking at the picture again. “I like this one.”
Truthfully, after everything he had been through, Jay no longer wanted to live modestly. He had spent far too much of his life crammed into tiny apartments, constantly worrying about bills and simply trying to survive.
Now that he was finally seeing real money, Jay wanted to experience what true comfort felt like, even if it was just once.
Mr. James studied Jay for a moment before speaking again. "If you're truly interested, sir, I can personally take you there for a viewing right now."
Jay nodded without hesitation.
"Alright."
A faint professional smile spread across Mr. James's face as he rose from his chair.
"Perfect," he said. "Then let's go take a look at your future home."
