Golden Girl Read Free

Grace. She’s
cold and business-like and saves her smiles for the residents. Yoram, the other security guard, is the same. He doesn’t do chit-chat. No-one questions me going upstairs any more, even though,
generally, staff don’t mix socially with residents. However, everyone who works here knows that I’m mates not only with JJ, but also with Alisha. I often go up to see her or she comes
down to hang out with me and Pia. Most of the teens at Porchester Park stay in their exclusive little world, not going out without minders and not mixing with the other teens in the block, never
mind the sons and daughters of staff. JJ and Alisha are the exceptions – and Alexei, a Russian boy who arrived just after Christmas. They’re all home-schooled and are glad to meet
people their own age. Life can be lonely for them up there in their beautiful homes and the one thing that their parents’ money hasn’t been able to buy them so far is true mates.
    None of the staff know that I’m dating JJ, apart from Dad, of course. He doesn’t totally approve but he can’t object, not with his mantra that what a resident wants, a resident
gets. I just don’t think he ever expected that a resident would want to date his daughter. It’s a mad world and sometimes feels like ‘us and them’, upstairs-downstairs, but
I’m getting used to it and finding out that the residents are not so different, just because they’re loaded. They might dress in expensive clothes but inside their feelings are the
same. Alisha’s the same age as I am and she’s never had a proper boyfriend either. She says it’s because, for the last few years, her family haven’t stayed in one place long
enough for her to get into a relationship but I think that it’s also because, despite the luxury lifestyle, she doesn’t get to meet a lot of boys our age.
    Over in a corner, one of the housekeeping staff was changing a candle. They’re burnt every day in reception to give the lovely smell that always permeates the building. One day, Pia and I
looked up on the internet how much those candles cost. One hundred and twenty pounds, just for one big one! Only the best for Porchester Park residents . . . My Aunt Maddie says they have money to
burn. She’s right there. Pia and I say it’s like stepping into Wonderland when we go into the main block. It’s another world where no expense is spared and although the public
areas are neutral in décor, I’ve seen inside some of the apartments and know what treasures lie behind those closed doors. Each one is different, depending on which interior designer
did the decoration, but there are rare antiques and artefacts, original paintings by the grand masters, priceless Persian rugs, gold-leafed ceilings, state-of-the-art kitchens, bathrooms with
marble from France and Italy, and vast living rooms as big as football pitches, most with stunning views through floor-to-ceiling glass windows that look out over the park. One apartment had the
whole interior of a French château transported over and incorporated into its rooms, though most apartments tend to favour a more modern, uncluttered look, with everything brand new and the
best that money can buy.
    ‘Where are you off to?’ asked Dad, suddenly appearing behind me. He was immaculately dressed, as always, in a dark suit and tie and, even though he’s my dad, I had to admit he
looked handsome, if a little tired. He had shadows under his blue eyes and there were a few grey hairs starting to appear in his mane of dark hair.
    I pointed upstairs. ‘Er . . . JJ,’ I stuttered.
    Dad frowned. ‘Don’t be long up there. I don’t mean to be a killjoy but you know what your priority has to be this holiday and it’s not boys.’
    ‘I’ll be quick,’ I promised. ‘He . . . he just wanted to tell me something.’
    ‘There’ll be plenty of time for boys once your exams are out the way. In the summer. But right now you have to concentrate on what’s