Chapter 1

What happens when a high school senior aged 18 loses her parents on her graduation day? Did I mention her parents were ultra-rich? The relatives come from the woodwork to claim their share of the money and assets. So what does she do when all the assets are frozen and the courts evict her from her childhood home?

Well, I am not that girl. However, I would come to play a significant role in her life.

Sara Jane was your typical mean, rich bitch high-school girl. Her long, wavy red hair often hung over her shoulders, hiding her ample breasts. She had a tall, athletic body that one would expect from a track star. Simply put, I thought she was a goddess in the looks department. Not that she would have ever given me a chance. The fact was the rumor mill in high school pegged her as being a lesbian. She never dated any guys, so that was a natural assumption. She only talked to me to tell me to get away, creep. Maybe that was partly my fault, as I was one of the photographers for the school news and yearbook. Well, she was very photogenic, after all. I mean, she did get a few photos of herself in the yearbook. I think the one I liked best was her breaking the ribbon at the finish line of a race. It was the perfect shot of her all sweaty with her arms stretched wide. The person who came in second was a blurry 10 paces behind her. The shot made the school newspaper as well. I was so happy that I printed an 8x10 of it and gave it to her. I even gave the picture the title victory. As she stared at it, it was the only time she didn’t tell me to get away, creep. I also entered it into the local newspaper competition. It got 2nd place. Given what it was up against, that was saying a lot. And the 100 bucks was nice as well. The 500 for first place would have been better. It also leads me to get press credentials from the paper as a contract photographer. That meant assignments like getting a picture of this business or that house. Sometimes, even events. You could say I was a paparazzi member if you cared to. Then again, those types of assignments were rare. However, the press credentials did help when I was taking photos of the new jail. They did not want pictures taken of it. However, as an accredited news photojournalist, they had to let me go. After they called the paper to confirm, I was on an assignment. Also, the chief got involved to allow certain areas inside to have photos taken. They started with a mind to avoid security features. Then, they changed their minds and wanted them well documented. Just don’t disclose where they were inside. Ultimately, everyone was happy, and a print journalist wrote the story for the published pictures.

One of those assignments required me to photograph a 16-plex apartment complex. Do you know how the college kids’ party got a little carried away? As I was doing so, an elderly man posted a for-sale-by-owner sign out front. He had seen me and asked what I was doing. I explained that I was from the newspaper and that they wanted a picture of the scene from the fight. He rolled his eyes at that. He informed me that is why he was selling the place. It was too much hassle to keep up with things at his age. Then asked me if I was interested. After a few moments of thought, I confessed that I would be if I had the 100,000 he was asking for the place. I then got schooled about only needing 25 percent to get a loan. I didn’t even need credit as it was considered an income property. Well, I did have 25000 in the bank. It was supposed to be for college, a gift from my late grandfather. Well, he was saying something about helping guide me through the process, and if I was willing to pay a bit more, he could help me with the down payment. Now, I was old enough to do this. He told me to meet him at the bank after classes tomorrow. Well, there were only two months of school left, so why not, I figured. Besides, I didn’t want more school at this point in my life—maybe some college classes for photography, but no thanks to more English or math.

The next day, I met with him and the bank manager and learned how to make this work. Before I understood it, I was signing loan papers. Well, at 2.5 percent interest, it seemed like a good deal. This, in turn, led me to a real estate lawyer’s office to make sure all the paperwork was done correctly. It shocked me he only wanted $500.00 for his services. However, he did recommend a liability waiver for anything before the property transfer—that and title insurance. I was beginning to think it was getting too expensive for me to do. When I explained my dilemma to the old guy, he informed me that he would pay the fees out of his end. Well, I was putting up all my money after all. We were set to close a month later. Then I had to explain to my parents what I was doing. That took a few days. However, once they saw the numbers and learned what I would be making. They wanted me to make an apartment available at drastically reduced rent for my great aunt. It seemed that to prevent family drama, my agreement would do it. No problems with the closing. All the letters informing the tenants had been sent out, and three days later, rent for the next month was due. The old guy would be moved out of the manager’s apartment by week’s end and was off to live in sunny Florida. Yes, there was some confusion about where the payments would be made. However, they were straightforward to resolve. Then again, a few of the tenants did look at me funny. Oh, and not so great. Aunt Debra passed away before she could move in. The only problems I had with the units were so plumbing issues. Clogged drains and a broken toilet seat. Nothing I couldn’t fix on my own. However, when I moved in after I graduated, I didn’t expect to have a Karen complain about more college kids. My poor dad had to listen to her complaint instead of helping me move my bed in. Once she understood I was the owner and manager, not Dad. Well, she went back to her unit with a scowl on her face. The officer that showed up was laughing his ass off at her. Well, after he understood what was going on. She could not believe an 18-year-old bout the place.