Chapter 24: Using Supplies to Keep the House

Since she had already learned about the situation from Jayce, Sierra wasn’t surprised or angry when she heard what the two women said.

"I want to keep this apartment. I won’t let anyone else move in," Sierra said. "I know the rules. You can pay with supplies to keep your home, right?"

The two women looked at Sierra, surprised she already knew about this.

Though surprised, they quickly composed themselves.

"That’s right, there is such a rule. But your apartment is huge. The amount of supplies required to keep the whole place is no small sum. Are you sure you can come up with it?"

The other woman added, "Even if you could, there’s no need! You know how things are now—supplies are what matter most! For the two of you, one large room should be enough. It’s a waste of supplies that you’d be better off keeping for yourselves to eat."

The two women both looked to be around thirty.

As they spoke, they seemed to be earnestly trying to persuade her, genuinely looking out for Sierra’s best interests.

Sierra appreciated the kindness from these strangers.

Sierra smiled at them. "I know, but I don’t like other people living in my home."

Seeing that Sierra was insistent, the two women didn’t try to dissuade her any further.

"Alright, since you’ve made up your mind, we won’t say any more. To keep your apartment, you’ll need to contribute at least eleven thousand pounds of supplies. It can be food or drink, any brand. We only go by weight. Do you understand?"

Sierra nodded. "I do!"

’Just eleven thousand pounds?’

’She was overflowing with rice and flour; she couldn’t possibly eat it all. Coming up with eleven thousand pounds would be a piece of cake.’

"When are you coming for the supplies? You’ll be the ones moving them, right?" Sierra asked.

The two women stared in shock, not expecting Sierra to actually have that much.

That was eleven thousand pounds!

’Who in their right mind keeps eleven thousand pounds of food and drink at home?’

’Is this some kind of weird hobby for rich people?’

Before the apocalypse, the two women had heard of this residential complex. They only knew that its residents were all rich and powerful, but they had never been here themselves, much less known anyone who lived inside.

Now, hearing Sierra’s words, their shock was immeasurable.

Despite their shock, they remembered their duties. One of them nodded quickly. "Don’t worry, you won’t have to deliver it yourselves. I’ll notify the team to come and pick it up now."

She unhooked a walkie-talkie from her belt and relayed a few instructions.

With the power out and no internet, cell phones were obviously useless.

But devices like walkie-talkies were extremely convenient.

After about ten minutes, footsteps suddenly echoed from the stairwell.

Judging by the sound alone, it was clear that a lot of people were on their way up.

A moment later, a burly man emerged from the stairwell, leading the group.

"Mr. Everett?"

The man looked at Jayce in surprise, clearly not expecting to see him here.

Jayce nodded, then turned to introduce them. "Sierra, this is Dominic Crawford, captain of Logistics Team One. Captain Crawford, this is my girlfriend, Sierra Sullivan."

Dominic Crawford’s expression grew even more peculiar.

He knew just how high Jayce’s standards were; after all, they’d known each other for more than a day or two.

In the past, countless beautiful young women had thrown themselves at Jayce, but he never gave them so much as a glance.

’How did he suddenly get a girlfriend out of nowhere?’

But after getting a clear look at Sierra Sullivan’s face, Dominic Crawford understood.

’She’s so beautiful, like a life-sized doll. No wonder Jayce fell for her!’

Though his mind was wandering, Dominic Crawford hadn’t forgotten why he was here.

"Mr. Everett, is this the apartment being kept with a supply contribution?"

Jayce nodded. "That’s right. Bring your men and follow me."

Dominic Crawford, "???"

Dominic Crawford stood frozen, giving Jayce a strange look, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

’With Jayce’s status at the base, his girlfriend wants to keep her apartment... and she has to pay with supplies?’

’Couldn’t Jayce settle this with a single word?’

When the two female staff members heard how Captain Crawford addressed Jayce, they immediately guessed his identity.

After all, there was only one person in the entire base with the surname Everett whom Captain Crawford would treat so respectfully.

They looked at each other, a flicker of fear in their eyes. They began racking their brains, trying to remember if they had said or done anything wrong.

’What if we offended him? What if Jayce decides to settle the score with us later?’

A single casual word from Jayce could cost them their jobs—jobs that countless people envied!

The more they thought about it, the paler their faces grew.

Jayce paid no attention to their expressions. He just raised an eyebrow at Dominic Crawford. "What are you standing there for? I said come in! Sierra isn’t the kind of person you think she is."

Hearing this, Dominic Crawford was finally sure that Jayce wasn’t joking.

By now, the rest of his team had come up the stairs behind him, forming a long line that clogged the landing.

"Yes, sir!"

Dominic Crawford answered loudly.

"Listen up! When you go inside, don’t touch what you shouldn’t and don’t look at what you shouldn’t. Just count the supplies, move them out, and that’s it! Otherwise, even if Mr. Everett doesn’t hold it against you, I won’t let you off the hook!"

Dominic Crawford was a tall, sturdy man, and his voice was incredibly resonant.

Speaking loudly on purpose, his voice boomed like thunder at close range.

Dominic Crawford’s words were both a warning and a reminder.

Hearing Mr. Everett’s name, the team members behind him immediately fell in line.

Some had been thinking that a person with so many supplies must have other valuables at home, and that they might be able to snag something on the side. Now, they wouldn’t dare.

Jayce led Dominic Crawford and his men into the apartment, taking them directly to the room where the food was stored.

The rice and flour were in 110-pound bags. Ten bags made eleven hundred pounds; one hundred bags made eleven thousand pounds.

Eleven thousand pounds sounded like a lot, but with enough hands, moving it was a quick job.

Dominic Crawford had brought a large, able-bodied crew. Each man shouldered a bag and hurried downstairs, making quick work of the task.

With so many people running back and forth in the stairwell, the commotion was naturally significant.

Downstairs, Mandy Sinclair stood at her own door, craning her neck to peek furtively up the stairwell.

She had heard every word of the conversation upstairs. Her heart churned with a mixture of anger and envy, but mostly, she felt shock and contempt.

’No wonder Sierra Sullivan was playing dead, refusing to make a sound or open her door. She was hiding all these supplies!’

’Not only did she have tons of supplies, but she also had a boyfriend with an incredible status!’

’The water and power have been out for days, and I feel disgusting. But I just got a peek at Sierra Sullivan—her skin is glowing and rosy, and her hair is perfectly clean! She’s clearly been living well, not suffering one bit!’