It didn’t really saytomorrowbut stated a date—which would be tomorrow. Demolition? I fumbled in my backpack for my phone, dialed the number on the bottom of the poster, and was told that if I was “squatting” in the building, I’d better be out by nightfall when the fencing would go up around it and I’d never get back in. Then the snippy bitch hung up.
My landlord was the next call. Surely he could explain the mistake.
“Yello.” I hated when he said that. He thought he was so cool.
“Allen, why is there a demo notice on the building where I’ve paid you rent?”
“Huh.” I heard the sucking sound I’d grown to recognize as smoking. “I wouldn’t worry.” See? It was a goof on the demo company’s part.”
“So, it won’t be torn down.” I let out a breath in a long whoosh, tight muscles starting to ease.
But he went on. “I didn’t say that. Just thatIwouldn’t worry. You probably should.”
“What are you saying?” My heart rate kicked up. “You own the building. Why are you having it torn down?”
His harsh laughter told me the truth before he did. “Everyone else left yesterday when the sign was posted. They were mad at me, too.”
“I want my money back. Rent and deposit.”
“You are even more naive than I thought. Consider this a lesson. Don’t trust everyone you meet. And don’t bother to call this number again. The phone is a burner and will be crushed under my heel as soon as we disconnect.”
“Allen. You can’t do this to me!”
He chuckled. “I just did.” And the line went dead. I didn’t even bother to redial, taking the lying skeeve at his word that he’d broken the phone.
No doubt the name on my rental agreement was made up, too, and the address he’d given me. I could report it to the police, but how did that work with my attempt to lie low? No…I would think about it, but I had a feeling I would never see a dime no matter what I did, and I had to figure out what to do about a place to live.
Even under current circumstances, I had to work, and I was running late now, so I raced down the several blocks and into the bakery, arriving out of breath and sweaty.
“Harper, if you’re still sick, you should have stayed home,” Amanda said. “I told your healer I’d pay you for a sick day today.”
“I’m fine,” I assured her. “Just didn’t want to be late.”
“All right, but if you get tired or don’t feel well, let me know.”
“I need to go by school on my lunch break, and I will try to hurry, but I might be a few extra minutes. I’ll make it up.”
To my shock, Amanda reached out and pulled me in for a big hug. “Harper, do what you need to. You have a job here as long as you want it.”
I sniffed back tears. She meant it, I was sure, but things sometimes happened out of a person’s control. The bakery could burn down or she could have some other reason to close. Still, it was the most reassurance I had, so I clung to her for a moment before stepping back. “Thank you.”
The morning went fast, as they always did here at the busy bakery, and before I had a chance to think about everything hanging over me, it was my break time. I hurried off to school and found the student services office down the hall from the admin office where I’d visited before. Of course, there was a line, and I shifted from foot to foot, waiting my turn to speak to the lady behind the desk.
When I got up there, she picked up her mug of coffee and took a long draught before asking, “Can I help you?”
“I just found out today my rental was illegal and the landlord was not the landlord and I have to be out so if there is any kind of housing still available I need it or I will be out on the street,” I spilled in one long breath. “Please.”
Pity filled her expression, and she set the mug down. “Oh, I’m so sorry. We are just a local community college, and we don’t have dorms or anything at all. Sometimes, people post things on the board out in the hallway, so you can look there, but we don’t have any kind of direct housing.”
I thanked her, assured her I’d figure it out, and dragged myself out into the hallway to find the community board. The few housing offers were far above my budget, mostly ADUs in nice areas for three times what I’d been paying to that thieving fake landlord. I hadn’t seen the sign the day before, probablybecause I was still a little foggy from fainting, but one day wouldn’t have helped much. And I had to get back to work. Looked like I’d be on the street until I could save up enough for something else. The thought chilled me to my bones. How would I protect myself living homeless?
“Excuse me?”
I pivoted to find the handsome professor who had conducted our orientation behind me. “Yes?”
“I apologize, but I overheard a bit of your conversation in there. We have an empty room in our home if you need a place to stay.”
My wolf did backflips, but my sensible side said, “Thank you for your offer, but god no.” Then I fled. I’d already lived with alphas and knew what they wanted from an omega. Something I wasn’t going to allow to be taken from me again.
