She hesitates, assessing me from head to toe for a few moments. Eventually, she gives me a dry nod and waves for me to follow her. She leads me to a small office by the stairs and makes me sit at the desk. After she’s shuffled inside a drawer, she takes out some papers and hands them to me, showing me where to sign. I don’t trust her enough to do it blindly, so I go through it rapidly.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Godfrey, there seems to be a problem here,” I say with a frown, pointing at the wrong number. “We agreed on eleven hundred.”
“Miss Walker, Ballard is one of Seattle’s trendiest neighborhoods. I have to adapt to the market.”
“I’m pretty sure it didn’t become this trendy between a week ago, when we agreed on the price, and now, Mrs. Godfrey.”
“I decide what it’s worth, Miss Walker.”
“Have you seen the room you’re renting? It really isn’t worth nearly two grand,” I try to reason.
“Your generation doesn’t know any better. I can rent it for that price with a snap of my fingers.”
I’m about to protest when something in her cunning expression stops me. She’s trying to scam me. And I don’t think it’s her first time doing it. She might even account for some bargaining in that price, and I might get it lowered by a few hundred, but it would still be too high.
“Is this your schtick?” I ask, suspicious. “You lure people in with acceptable prices, give them time to settle in, and then change the deal?”
“Watch your tongue, young lady.”
I let out an incredulous laugh. Her scam won’t work on me because I’ve been a lazy slob, so most of my boxes are untouched and ready to go. Moving out wouldn’t be nearly as tedious as she expects.
“I’m not paying that much for an awful studio that violates several safety standards,” I protest. “Who the hell puts an electric plug so close to the showerhead?”
Everything in me dislikes the way I’m talking to an elderly woman, but she deserves all of it and more. Mrs. Godfrey looks beyond pissed, her face reddened, and her lips squeezed into a thin line. I expect her to blow up at me, but after a moment of silent reflection, she leans forward to snatch the papers from my hands. “You paid for a week, so I want you out by Friday evening,” she states.
For a second, I consider agreeing with her price. The prospect of having to find a new place in three days isn’t great. Especially since I have a new job and an annoying new boss to worry about.
But I have my pride, and I won’t let her get away with this. “Alright, I’ll be gone,” I confidently reply. I stand, straighten up, and stare down at her. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”
With that, I turn around and leave the small office, back to the hall, then up to the studio. The piles of boxes have me sighing, but for once, it’s from relief rather than because I need to find the courage to start unpacking. Who knew being a lazy fucker could have its advantages?
At least I have an excellent excuse to break my promise to Kate and not unpack…
Chapter 05
My trip to Kelex the following morning is spent looking for a new place and sending emails. I sent a bunch yesterday and have received four unfavorable responses so far. And by the time I arrive at work, I have three more replies telling me the time frame won’t work for them. It’s technically possible, but I can’t see how I’ll find a new place so quickly.
Once more, I pour myself a cup of coffee with way too much sugar before I head to my desk. I’m just settling in when my phone buzzes. When I glance at the screen, I see it’s another email. What shows on the notification already tells me this is another no, and I sigh.
I’m not as focused as I’d like, but I still manage to get some work done. It takes everything not to spend my morning looking for a solution to my precarious living situation, but I tell myself I’ll have the lunch break to do that.
That’s why, as soon as half past noon hits, I’m on my feet and walking to the breakroom. I buy another sandwich, find an empty table, and sit down with my phone in hand, ready to find something. I can even rent a storage unit for my stuff and find a cheap hotel to buy some time until I find a new place.
I’ve barely started my search when a plate of steamy Bolognese pasta is set in front of me.
Startled and confused, I look to my left and notice Oliver holding a similar plate.
“I suspected you’d be having another one of those horrible sandwiches, so I cooked for two,” he explains as he sits beside me.
Shocked, I stare at him, then at the well-filled plate. I should refuse, but it’s too late for that. And if I’m being honest, it smellsreallygood, and I’m dying to try it.
“You cooked this?” I ask, still surprised.
“I did, so you have to accept the offering, or I’ll be offended.”
With a small smile and a shake of my head, I pick up the fork planted in the spaghetti. I practically moan at the first bite of pasta. Ugh, he’s a great cook, which I add to the mental list I have in his favor. It seems this man is all assets and has no flaws.
“Thanks, Oli. I’ll pay you back as soon as I have a decent kitchen.”
