~ Los Angeles ~
JoAnna and Bridgette went to see an exquisite Mediterranean style villa on a three acre lot.
Just as Steve said in the email, when they reached iron gate and said that Mrs. White is here to see the house, whoever got the message swiftly opened the gate for them.
JoAnna was not complaining anymore when Jeff addressed her as Mrs. White. He even introduced her like that to people. She said that he might be jinxing them, but he shrugged it off saying that it's now or in two months... what is the difference? JoAnna decided not to argue with him on this. It's not worth it.
Spectacular circular motor court with a huge fountain in the middle and parking for over twenty cars is impressive. Colorful blooms around the driveway mixed in with lush landscape and lawn is impressive.
Grand foyer with domed skylights made JoAnna like the place already.
Villa looked empty, but they didn't mind. Security people followed them, and few went in front to ensure their safety.
Everything inside and out was done with high end luxury finishes.
Just as they were about to enter deeper into the villa, another car pulled in. A man in early thirties came out of the car. He was wearing a white shirt with a necktie and light gray pants. He introduced himself as Enrique, the real estate agent. Security checked his ID and called someone to verify. Only after man on the phone gave a small nod, they let Enrique inside villa, to approach JoAnna and Bridgette.
"Hi, if you decide to buy this property, you will work with me. I represent current owners.", he flashed a charming smile while introducing himself to JoAnna and Bridgette. His short dark hair was neatly combed back, and his hazel eyes were fixed on JoAnna.
JoAnna assumed that he is looking at her because he knows that she is the potential buyer.
He joined them while they toured the villa. Enrique kept a respectable distance and didn't try to initiate any talk with girls. He was not too close and not too far away either. Girls were going through the villa as if he is not there.
Out of twelve bedrooms, ten are suites. Villa has a home theater, massive indoor gym with basketball court, game room, and garage parking for ten cars. Basement is massive with a vine cellar, huge open area, and six large non-furnished rooms. There is a separate building for maids and other house staff. The back of the house is facing resort-like lagoon style pool with a waterfall, spa, sauna, outdoor kitchen and expansive sitting and entertainment areas surrounded with beautifully landscaped grounds and a tennis court further in the back.
On their way out, they bid farewell to Enrique and he gave JoAnna his card. JoAnna passed the card to Bridgette and said that they will be in touch.
Enrique watched them drive away with a complex expression. For a split second he frowned and a sinister glint appeared in his eyes and then his lips curved into a smirk.
"I will ask Jeff to come and see this place as well. If it's up to me, we are moving in here tomorrow." JoAnna laughed while heading back to the penthouse. "No, no… today. I would move in here today." She likes the place very much.
…
As soon as Jeff returned from work, JoAnna started talking about the Mediterranean style villa she saw with Bridgette earlier that day. She was telling him all the details and how she thinks it's just right, and more than that.
Jeff was happy to hear that JoAnna likes the place. He checked all property listings before sending them to her, and he finds any of those acceptable.
"How about other ones?" He noticed that she is talking only about that one property.
She didn't want to hide it from him, he can find out anyway. "I didn't go to see any other property. I don't want to. This one is perfect. It has everything on both of our lists, and much more, and it's close to work. When can you join me so that we see it together?"
Jeff wanted to say that there is no need for him to go because if she is happy, he is happy. But he knows that she wants him to be part of the process. "How about first thing tomorrow morning?"
JoAnna beamed and vigorously nodded.
~ White family villa ~
"Check this out.", Aiden pulled Sarah to sit in his lap and showed her photos of one listing that Steve sent.
She glanced at the screen and then faced him. "You are house hunting already?" They talked about it, but with everything going on, she didn't find any time to look for a house, or even to think about it. "How do you find time for all this?"
"I can't take credit for this. I mentioned to Jeff that we are considering to get a house, and he thought that we should look at this." He gestured to the screen.
Sarah was still looking at him. "Did you see it?"
He nodded. "He sent three. There is a reason I'm showing you only this one."
Sarah understood that he likes it.
She observed first photo and saw two level house on top of the cliff. House exterior is light gray (concrete maybe) and a lot of glass. Through the glass, Sarah can see that top floor are living and entertainment areas encased in floor-to-ceiling windows, while lower one is a mix of open and closed space. Both levels are much taller than standard, later Sarah will read in description of the property that each is 25' high. There is a huge infinity pool in front of the house. Sarah was confident that the pool as well as the rest of the house provide breathtaking ocean views, and probably a great sunset as well.
Next photo showed back of the house, with a large driveway and a half-circle sitting area almost like an amphitheater which is facing a large two-story high glass surface of the house.
Sarah checked next ten photos which showed details of those two floors, state-of-art kitchen on first floor and dining room.
Sarah noticed that there were no bedrooms. She turned to Aiden and raised her eyebrows indicating that she wants to see the rest.
He showed her details of the house. "Read this."
She read '9-story home' and blinked few times until she realized. "This one goes seven storied down, inside cliff!" And she wanted a simple basement. She got seven levels of basements!
Aiden nodded. "Watch this." He showed a photo showing the cliff side, and from that angle it was visible that there were numerous windows embedded inside tall cliff, facing the ocean.
On the left side of all those windows, there is a huge rectangular flat area. Based on the windows, it is about three stories high and more than that wide. "What is that?", Sarah pointed.
"That thing opens, we can get a helicopter inside, as well as a jet. It's an underground airport."
Sarah's mouth were slightly open. This thing looked like it came out of a spy movie!
She composed herself and read the description: it's a house on a ten acre lot with ten bedrooms (all with ocean view), fifteen bathrooms, seven additional rooms, three elevators, sauna, Turkish bathroom, vine cellar, garage for twenty cars, underground gym with a rock climbing wall, underground tennis court which doubles as a movie theater and a ballroom that can accommodate 300 dinner guests and a dance floor, flex areas, underground swimming pool with water slide, spa pool with relaxing crystals…
"I have no idea what relaxing crystals are, but I like it.", she laughed. "Where is this?"
"Just outside Los Angeles city limits. It's about half an hour drive from White corp."
"When can we go and see it?" Sarah was eager to see this thing which looks like spy movie and a dungeon game had a baby.
"You like it?"
"Very much!" What is not to like? It's a spy-dungeon house, close to the city and she got her basement! She didn't ask for the price, but that comes later.
"OK. I will arrange that we go and see it." He was happy that she likes it. Because he likes the house as well. It's unique, just like two of them.