I watched him carefully.
I still didn’t trust him.
He had arrived with armed men and ordered them to move into my apartment while I was physically standing in front of the door.
A sudden display of fairness didn’t erase that.
But the power in the hallway had shifted.
And Mr.
Lynn knew it.
“What exactly do you want?” the landlord asked.
Mateo looked at me.
“That isn’t my question to answer.”
For a moment, I didn’t understand.
Then I did.
He was giving me the floor.
I swallowed.
“I want my apartment restored,” I said.
“I want my belongings put back where they were, professionally, not thrown around.
I want anything damaged replaced.
And I want proper written notice before anyone tries to change my lease again.”
Mr.
Lynn immediately protested.
“That’s not practical.
Mr.
Falcone already has a lease for 4B.”
Mateo spoke before I could.
“My lease is not her concern.”
Mr.
Lynn stopped.
Mateo continued.
“You leased me a unit while apparently failing to complete the conditions required to remove the current tenant from it.
If that creates a problem for me, you will solve my problem separately.”
I stared at him.
That was the first time all evening someone had drawn the boundary correctly.
My home was not a bargaining chip to settle his inconvenience.
Mr.
Lynn tried again.
“There may be another one-bedroom available next month.”
“I don’t want another one-bedroom next month,” I said.
“I want the one I legally occupy now.”
“Elena, please be reasonable.”
Something inside me went cold.
“I worked twelve hours today caring for people who were scared, sick, and exhausted.
I came home expecting a shower.
Instead, I found armed strangers outside my door and discovered that you had entered my home without speaking to me, packed my life into boxes, broke my property, and shoved everything into a studio.
Do not ask me to be reasonable because dealing with the consequences is inconvenient for you.”
No one spoke.
Even Mateo looked at me differently after that.
Mr.
Lynn cleared his throat.
“I’ll review the paperwork.”
Mateo’s gaze sharpened.
“Now.”
“I’m not at the office.”
“You had access to enough paperwork to execute a new lease and arrange a same-day move.
Find it.”
The call went quiet except for faint rustling.
Several minutes passed.
