Free Heller by J.D. Nixon Page A

nodded
to show that I understood, burning with instant curiosity. “The
second floor is the office here and some storage space. The third
floor houses Sid and Clive’s flat and the gym for the those of us
who live here to use. Let’s go look.”
    We climbed to
the next floor and Daniel showed me a compact but well-equipped gym
with a large plasma screen hanging on one wall. It smelt like sweat
and agony. To me all gym equipment looked like medieval torture
devices.
    “If you’re
like the rest of us, you’re going to experience some pain here,”
Daniel said, smiling wryly.
    “Oh, I can
guarantee it.” I pulled a face. “According to Heller, I need a lot
of toning.”
    “Ouch! That’s
cruel. Guess you’re in for a world of pain then,” Daniel
sympathised.
    “Always good
to know what’s ahead,” I replied bravely. Apparently, lots of
suffering for me.
    We climbed up
to the fourth floor. There were only two doors in the hallway.
    “This is my
place,” said Daniel, opening the door on the right. I could see a
very neat and modern flat from the brief glimpse I was allowed.
“And you already know that yours is on the left.” I had a warm
feeling all over when I glanced at my door.
    We kept
climbing up to the fifth floor. “Heller and Niq live there,” Daniel
pointed to a door, “and his valet, Victor, lives in those rooms.
The rest is more storage. A word of advice, Tilly. Don’t come up to
this floor unless you’re invited. Heller takes his privacy very
seriously.” I made a mental note not to ever do that and we climbed
up to the sixth floor.
    “Here’s the
store.” Daniel opened a door and again I was completely gobsmacked.
Inside was a large pantry, its shelves and fridges stocked with a
colourful riot of different foods – fresh, canned, frozen. I turned
and looked at Daniel, my eyes wide open. He smiled at my
astonishment. “It’s true. We get to choose all our food from here.
Whatever you want, whenever you want it. Heller keeps it
well-stocked. And it’s all free.”
    I walked
around the small room, marvelling at the variety of food available.
It all looked very healthy. “You mean that I just come up here to
do my grocery shopping from now on?” I said in amazement.
    “Yep!” said
Daniel smiling. “Isn’t it wonderful? Heller is a health-nut though,
so it’s all salmon, tofu and alfalfa sprouts.” I crinkled my nose.
“Mind you, he does keep a decent cellar that is through there,”
pointing to a door at the far end of the panty, locked with a
swipe-card mechanism. “Your staff card will open the cellar as well
as your flat. We only keep the wine cellar locked because Niq has
access to this store too. But I have to warn you, Tilly, that
Heller is very strict about us not drinking when we are on duty.
Which is all the time, basically.” Daniel shrugged apologetically.
“Heller doesn’t drink himself and doesn’t like it when other people
drink. I think he’d prefer us all to be teetotallers, but the twins
and I like a tipple now and then and he reluctantly lets us.”
    An unpleasant
thought started to wind its delicate way through my mind. “Daniel,
am I going to be the only woman living here?”
    He nodded.
“Not just the only woman living here, but the only female, the
first female, employee ever! You’re a pioneer of sorts.”
    I was
incredulous. “Heller’s never employed a woman before? Not
ever?”
    “Nope, never.
He says that women are too much of a distraction in the workplace,
especially with all the security men we employ. So he’s certainly
taking a chance with you.”
    I tried to
process this information, but wasn’t sure how I felt about it. The
feminist in me wanted to rail against such Victorian-era nonsense,
but a shameful part of me felt a bit pleased. What woman wouldn’t
like the opportunity to work in a male-only environment for a
while? I only hoped it would work out and Heller wouldn’t come to
regret his decision. And neither would I.
    We left