Back again

Chapter 18: Rents

I returned back home on a Thursday, early, because Stacy had called. She was the assistant of my landlord. "We need to talk" she had said. That's not something to feel chilled about at all. Considering the fact that it had to do something with my rent.

As soon as the she entered the my flat, she put on her trademark authoritive voice,"You have a visitor I see?".

Wasn't it obvious from the fact that Vincent was sitting in the same room as us wearing a grey sweat shirt and khaki half-pants?

"Yes?" I muttered.

"Well, that means you have to pay double the rent?"

"Double the rent? What for?" I almost shouted. She was annoying already. And her declaration added to the frustrations I had been harboring due to extra office work.

She swayed her blonde her and adjusted her glasses, then she opened her notebook, clicked her pen and started scribbling.

"The rent of this flat was 1200 dollars for one person. That times two gives you the twenty four hundred dollars for this flat. It would be only fair because you're using twice more water, gas, electricity and all the other necessities."

"twenty four hundred dollar!"

What the actual fuck?!

"yes. Here's a deal. I'll reduce the amount to twenty. Sounds fair?" She grinned.

I thought about the agreement I and the landlord had between us for a while. There was no way I was going to pay twenty hundred dollars each month for this place. At that rate I could buy myself a new house!

"I'll think about it" was all I could mutter.

"There is no thinking Ms. Knight, 2000 US dollars is the rent from now on" she got up and dusted imaginary dust off her black pencil skirt. In no time, she walked out of my flat, her heels clicking, but before that she didn't forget to through me another trademark of hers. Her characteristic bitchy smile.

As soon as she was gone I looked at Vincent. He sighed,"If you want, I'll try to find a new place."

"Shut up" I rolled my eyes and went to my room to search for the agreement papers.

I ran an eye through the agreement. It said nothing about doubling the rent for two people. Nor did it mention anything about having visitors over. Good.

Then something struck me.

I ran to the hall where my phone was kept next to where Reed was sitting. "Why you in such a hurry?" He raised his eyes from the book he was reading. Jeffery Archer.

"Need to call my landlord"

A few rings later, he finally picked up the call. "Hello, Mr. Walter?"

"Yes?"

"It's Ashley here, Ashley Knight. I've taken a flat in s--"

"Ah! Yes, yes. Ashley. I know you. Olsen fashions?"

"Yes sir"

"Yes. Tell me"

"Sir, Stacy came over today to discuss the rent on the flat I'm living in currently"

"Yes. And?"

"She says that you ask for double the rent because I have a guest over."

"Yes?"

"Sir. As far as the agreement is concerned, there was no mention of increasing the rents if there was a guest over. Also, as far as I remember, when I had agreed to take this flat from you on rent, you had said, or technically your staff had said, that I had to pay a higher rent since I was not taking in a roommate. If my guest is considered as my roommate at this very point of time, then my current rent is supposed to cover the costs."

"The agreement had nothing to do with guests or visitors, you say?"

"No sir"

"you see, half of the time I am so engrossed in company works, I am oblivious towards the rents. You say Stacy asks you to double up, huh?"

"Yes sir?"

"And what is the normal amount you pay?"

"Twelve hundred dollars"

"hmm. No agreement including guests or visitors. And already high payment of rent for a single resident because there are no roommates?" He seemed to be taking down the facts.

"Yes sir."

"I do agree that the rent is considerably higher for a single individual. Fine. I will speak to Stacy."

He hung up.

Vincent looked at me wide eyed,"Tell me again, why aren't you a lawyer?"

"Shut up" I laughed.

He grinned,"I love the way you tell me to do that"

"do what?"

"You know what. 'Shut up'"

I narrowed my eyes at him but I was still smiling.

"Say that again"

"Shut up!" I laughed and put a finger on my lips.

He put a hand on his heart,"How incredibly sexy that sounds"

I threw a pillow from the couch at him which he successfully dodged. He grinned again.

"It's okay. It's not like I wanna put my shirt up for you" he smirked.

"Shut up Vincent!"

"Sexy" he winked.

A few minutes later while we were at this I got a call. It was Stacy.

"hello"

"Looks like you've made your landlord understand stuff pretty well"

"Wait. What?"

"The extra rent is cancelled. You pay the normal amount only."

Then the bitch cut the call.

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