Family Landlords Raise the Rent to Force One Sister Out
“I am fine,” I said, keeping my silver wristwatch dial steady under my thumb. “The third-quarter report for the dental group is finished.”
“I saw it,” Keith said, putting his folders on the counter. “The copy is clean, but you missed the morning touch-point meeting on Tuesday. That is not like you.”
I looked down at the paper cup, which was starting to warm my fingers. “My living situation has become somewhat crowded.”
Keith clicked his pen again, once, and tucked it into his shirt pocket. “Your sister is still staying with you?”
“Yes,” I said. “And my parents just doubled my rent to eighteen hundred dollars, effective December first.”
Keith did not look surprised, but his eyebrows drew together as he looked toward the glass wall of the breakroom. “That is more than the market rate for a two-bedroom in that sector. Significantly more.”
“I know,” I said.
“We have a desk for you here, Lauren, every single day if you need to escape that house,” Keith said. He adjusted his glasses. “You can work your full forty hours from this office. If you need to handle personal business during the day, we can adjust your core hours.”
