“Well, we’re only a few months away from putting our game in beta testing. If that goes well, we can get it live in no time.”
“And then the work really starts.”
“Not for me. I’m just the laborer. I don’t have anything to do with the business end of things.”
“You will.”
I rumpled my eyebrows at the conviction in Hunter’s voice. We slowed into a turn. Thankfully, it was taking us away from his house. A few minutes later, he turned into a driveway of a three-story building. The first story appeared to be just the garage.
“Who lives here?” I asked in confusion.
The garage door rose. He pulled into the cavernous space and shut off the car. The door started lowering behind us.
“Is this the hideout for your secret drug cartel or something?” I asked as I got out of the car. “Are there going to be topless women in there cutting and bagging coke?”
“You watch too much TV.”
As we entered the house, I noticed the tightness in his eyes and the rigid set of his shoulders.
What was going on?
He started up the stairs, his gaze everywhere at once. He checked out the freshly painted wall, the banister, the steps themselves, and the ceiling. On the landing, he brought out a key before glancing at the second set of stairs leading to the third floor.
He fit the key in the lock and clicked it over. I expected him to step aside and direct me through the door, but he didn’t. For the first time since I’d met him, he stepped in ahead of me.
Warning bells went off. Blaire and villains and homicidal clowns could’ve been waiting in there for all I knew.
“Are we in danger?” I asked in a hush, following him in a hunch. I was ready to run and I didn’t care who knew it. The first sign of danger and I was out of there.
Hunter’s gaze took in the polished wood floor of the entryway that turned into a hallway to the back of the flat—because this was, indeed, a flat. Not an apartment, like I lived in, where there were a few units per floor. This was one living space that took up the whole floor of the building, with another flat above where someone else lived. And judging by what I could see so far, it was huge by San Francisco standards.
“I’m thinking of buying this building, and wanted your thoughts,” Hunter said as he took two steps to the right and stood in the mouth of an archway.
“Oh.” I straightened up. “Why didn’t you say so? I was thinking the worst.” I put my hands on my hips and checked things out.
A large kitchen opposite the entryway had granite counters and all the latest appliances. A mat graced the ground in front of the sink, and the wine rack in the corner was fully stocked.
“Does someone live here now?” I asked as I moved through the spacious kitchen and into the dining area on the other side.
A large table, set with crystal and china, was set up in front of a filled china cabinet. Off to the right of that, in the front of the flat, crouched a sofa and chairs looking on a large entertainment system and huge TV.
“Not at the moment, no.”
“So whose stuff is this?” I circled back around to the door, Hunter dogging my steps.
He didn’t answer me. Instead, he put out his hand toward the back of the flat. “The bedrooms are at the back.”
Weird. And since when did he need a second opinion? His way was always the right way, regardless of the logic involved.
It occurred to me that often houses being showed were staged with furniture and decorations, though this one didn’t have anything on the walls. Those usually came with a realtor passing out information.
Although Hunter would probably bypass that.
I passed a bathroom with a new sink and vanity unit, and glanced into an empty bedroom opposite. This one looked out into the atrium, a hollow in the middle of the building letting light in. At the back were two more bedrooms, one a master with a huge bed, curtains, a TV, and other fine things, and the other bare. Beyond those rooms was a large balcony with stairs leading into a backyard.
“There’s an en suite bathroom off the master bedroom.” Hunter pointed into the room.
“I have no idea what the value of flats are out here, Hunter,” I said, stepping back into the hallway. “I don’t know how I could possibly help you.”
“Do you like it, though? Does it fit your tastes?”
“My tastes?” I shrugged, looking around again. “I mean, yeah. It’s really nice. Renovated and spacious. You could get a pretty penny in rent, even though it’s way out in the Richmond District.”
“Would you live here?”
“If I was in college, had plenty of money and good roommates, sure. I’d brave public transportation for this place.”