Page 2 of Neighbors' Omega
“Actually…” he started. “I needed to discuss the rent with you. I see that mother has kept your monthly rate stable for many years, and it’s now significantly below market rate…”
I frowned. My rent was a bit low, but not that bad.
“With that in mind,” he continued, “your rent will increase from sixteen-hundred to twenty-four hundred dollars a month, starting in sixty days.”
“Are you kidding me?” I demanded. “A fifty-percent increase? And don’t you have to adhere to the terms of my lease?”
“It is appropriate for the area. As to the lease, I am within my rights to adjust prices to match market conditions.” Another pause. “I have other matters to deal with. Expect formal paperwork regarding this within a few days.”
“I will be looking into the legality of this myself.”
“You do that,” he replied, and I could hear the sneer in his voice. “I’ve already met with real estate attorneys and they have assured me that this is within the boundaries of the law.”
The phone went silent before I could reply, and I stared at the screen as I pulled it from my ear.
“The asshole hung up on me,” I muttered, then I slumped into a chair.
My phone clattered as I dropped it onto the desk.
“You ok?” Dawn asked as she paused by the stairs.
I blew out a long breath and ran a hand through my mostly-black hair. “Just some shit I now have to deal with.”
She studied me for a minute, nodded, then headed up the stairs.
I scrubbed a hand down my face, leaned back, and stared at the ceiling. I could go to the law department and ask if any of the professors had experience with tenant law.
“Ugh,” I groaned. We were between semesters, so faculty being around was hit-or-miss, and I needed to act fast.
I wracked my brain.
“Ryan!” I nearly shouted.
“Crap! You scared me.” Dawn chided. “What was that about?”
“Sorry. Just had an idea about a sudden situation.”
She studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Ok if I unlock all the doors?”
“Go for it.”
“Cool.”
She headed to the front while I grabbed my phone from the desk and started typing a text.
You just started working at a law firm, right? Anybody there do landlord/tenant law?
I sent the text to my cousin, Ryan, then turned to my computer. I didn’t expect him to reply for at least another hour, and I was too riled up to focus.
For a moment I wondered what to do, then I remembered my bet with Ash.
“Might as well see what I won,” I muttered as I went to the website for the new cupcake bakery.
∞∞∞
“Hey Ryan,” I said as I approached the reception desk where my slender brown-haired cousin sat. “How are you doing?”
He shrugged. “Can’t complain.”
