"Hey! I'm Giuseppe," the man in front of me greeted, shaking my hand firmly before he eyed the building before us. "Damn, this building is nuuuuts. How long you been here for?"

I smiled, the ache in my heart overpowering any other emotion I could have. "Feels like for-ev-er. My last roommate split and now it's time to find someone else. I'm too attached to the building to leave."

He didn't notice the change of my voice towards the end of the sentence; he just kept smiling with dark green eyes scanning every detail of the building he was applying for. "I'm just excited it's above a bodega. Late night munchies for daaaaays."

I smiled, the positivity radiating from the stranger in front of me. Maybe I needed this.

I stared at the floor of the Escalade, trying desperately to ignore the expensive gown I had to wear for tonight's event. An expensive Mac Duggal, it was a stunning black evening gown that was off the shoulders with a layered ruffle mesh skirt. Paired with beautiful black stilettos that laced up and came to a ribbon finish on my ankles, even I could not deny that I looked like I belonged to whatever event we were to be attending.

Giuseppe...Giuseppe Such looked absolutely stunning. Wearing a black slim muscle fit suit by Moss London, I truly believed he would be able to stop World War III with how amazing he looked. Although the tension was enough to strangle us, he completely memorized my thoughts with how he looked tonight.

"I don't want you to be nervous, but I don't want you completely lax, either, 'cause then Luca's gonna be bitchy," Giuseppe spoke up after some time, his hand finding mine and giving it a reassuring squeeze. My heart panged. "I'll be by your side all night. We have one objective: corner the woman from the mall."

I nodded, unable to look anywhere but outside the window. "Is anything going to happen to her?"

He didn't respond right away. "She's dangerous, Chaya..."

I couldn't bring myself to respond. Unless she was shooting at us or trying to poison our too expensive champagne, I would be adamant in harming her. 

"So, to honor us being new roommates, you wanna get a pet?" Giuseppe asked as we were getting our bacon-egg-and-cheese's from the bodega. "Like, uh, a beta fish or somethin'!"

"Yeah, but only if it's a super huge tank. The little things live such bad lives at Petsmart," I faked a sniffle and wiped away a pretend tear.

"And we can name it somethin' corny! Like uh...shit. Gichya...no...that doesn't sound right.."

We were handed our bagels and walked through a side entrance to the apartment's hallway, Giuseppe trying to figure out names which each step we took. "Chaseppe? Sechaya? Ugh!"

"What about last names?" I asked as I unlocked our door. "Wixsuch?"

"Wixsuch! Yeeeees!" He shouted, picking me up in a bear hug - something I have yet to get used to with him, his over affection. "We're comin' for you, lil' Wixsuch!"

The Hammerstein looked beautiful tonight. Bustling with people coming out of expensive cars and people in even more expensive evening wear walking into the building, I immediately felt out of place. I was a fucking Social Worker - I didn't belong here. I don't know how Luca got Giuseppe and I on the guest list, and the thought of it was enough to make my head spin.

I turned my head to look at my ex roommate, but he was already looking at me. "Ready?"

He nodded. "I know things are fuckin' weird right now, but I won't break my promise, Chaya. I'll be next to you every single second of the night."

I squeezed his hand and faintly smiled. "Let's go pretend, Giuseppe."

We were treated like fucking celebrities as soon as we stepped out of the car. Although there was an air of secrecy, the way we were accepted with open arms made my suspicions die down a little. Walking hand-in-hand into the gigantic building, we grabbed the cards that had our names on them and walked towards the ballroom, champagne being thrust in our hands before we could even realize we were thirsty. 

"Everyone's staring at you," Giuseppe whispered, his lips brushing up against my ear. "It's fuckin' annoying."

I frowned, his attitude slightly reminiscent of Luca's. I didn't realize how alike the two were until the truth of them being 'coworkers' came out. "It shouldn't bother you in the slightest." 

Anxiety fully present as if it were my plus one instead of Giuseppe, I gnawed at my bottom lip as we were guided to our table. Beautifully decorated in matte blacks, reds, and golds, a paddle board with a number was placed at each seat. An auction. Tonight's formal was an auction. "How cliche."

A brunette in her late thirties who sat across from us laughed. "They just want our money, darling. They know most people here are dying for a reputation boost. Why else would a yacht seized during a cocaine bust be selling for one hundred and fifty thousand - starting?"

Her honesty shocked me, and made me stumble for words as I took my seat. "Are you telling me it isn't Pablo Escobar's yacht?"

The stranger smiled, taking a sip of champagne before responding. "Yasmin," she held her manicured hand out, "and you, darling?"

I took her hand in mind, shaking it while responding. "I'm Chaya. I much prefer darling, however."

"Well, Chaya, darling - get ready for some fun tonight," Yasmin responded with a wink, turning her body in her chair to be able to see the stage.

I turned my attention to Giuseppe, who was carefully eyeing up a table on the other side of the room. "She's over there - see? The blonde hair in the curly up do?"

I nodded. "What's our plan?"

He shrugged, downing his champagne flute and signalling the waiter for more. I did the same. "Hopefully, corner her inna' corner, hope she doesn't try to shoot and kill us. That kinda shit."

"So, like, what do you do for fun? Anything scary? Shooting guns - an underground fighting league?" 

I giggled, taking a bite of my breakfast. "My ex roommate's dad taught me how to shoot. I don't think I like it though."

"Yeah, my uncle taught me how to shoot, too," Giuseppe responded thoughtfully, taking giant bites before responding again. "Italians are fuckin' nuts."

I rolled my eyes. "Story of my fucking life."

"Well, I'll teach you how to shoot. Only if you clean Wixsuch's bowl the first ten times after we get him."

"Such a tempting offer from my new roommate - what kind of asshole would I be to deny?"

Giuseppe grinned, a dirty blonde curl falling over his left eye. "A giant one, for sure."