The apartment was beautiful.

It was everything that Maria had hoped for: big, spacious and bright with a small but perfect kitchen, gleaming white bathroom and a roomy bedroom with an enormous wardrobe.  She ran around the apartment happily like an excited child, finally coming to a standstill in the living area, where she collapsed on the couch and gazed out through the large windows to the city skyline outside.

The man who had followed her into the apartment walked over to her casually.  He was Gavin Samuels; a tall, dark-haired man with a solid build and a long stride.  His true age was concealed by his youthful appearance; he seemed only to be forty, but in reality he was fifty-six.

He looked down to Maria, the pretty young woman of only nineteen years.  She was born in a remote town in Taiwan and immigrated to New Zealand when she was sixteen years old.  Despite being only in the country for three years, she spoke perfect English with a slight American accent.

As he walked over to her, she jumped off the couch and threw herself at him in a heart-warming embrace.  Gavin was startled by her actions.

“Oh, Gavin,” she exclaimed in a girlish voice.  “This is beautiful.  Thank you for finding this apartment for me!” (more…)