Rude fellows - I

"$5000 for renting an apartment, which just two rooms—" Brandon stopped himself in the middle and just let out a breath signaling his frustrations. 

Did she not know how absurd the rent is?!

The apartment he was standing in had twp small bedrooms, just enough to fit a bed in one, a small wardrobe, just one bathroom where he clearly saw mold in and a kitchen that appeared to be the place he would never set his foot and let alone eat.

"No," He replied instead of the rant that he was going to give the broker, "do you not have anything else?" 

"Well, there is Always the first floor." The broker, Emilia said. "I have one studio bedroom apartment that is on the second floor. So it's a little safer—" 

'Little' safer?! 

"That is all I can fit into the schedule today. I mean, I showed you more than 10 houses. Do you like any of them?" 

Was she daft? 

Most of them had some kind of thing crawling in the carpets. Then came the black thing that looked velvety slightly, which he realized was mold. Was anyone going to live in any kind of apartment that she had actually made him visit? How are they even on the list?

How was that not a health violation?! 

"I'll see that as the last house for today." he had to agree to it anyway. Maybe this one might have a silver lining to it. 

They moved to the second floor and the apartment was quite close to the left. However, this was even worse than the first one. 

Emelia took one look at his face and huffed. "It's a no?"

"Yes, it is a no." Brandon confirmed, his tone nonchalant. How was the place even a little bit livable? Being small was not the issue. He could live in a small space, bollocks it would be easier to live in and clean. Also given that he had to go back home after three years, a little apartment would be perfect. But it still had to be livable.

"Well, I can fit you in tomorrow around 12—" 

Bran cut in. "I have work tomorrow. I will not be able to come for a house showing at 12. It would either have to be before eight in the morning, which is not going to be possible, or after six in the evening." 

"I see," Emilia brought out her phone from her bag and checked something. "I can come two days after today at six. Is that okay with you?" 

He winced mentally. "Sure."

He followed her out, and as he did, Brandon had one thing on his mind. If this continued, and he assumed that it would take at least a week if not two, then his £50,000 were going to deplete faster than a tub of water on a summer day. It meant that he had to shift the hotel he was staying at and definitely had to go for a cheaper one. 

Maybe, he would have to make sure that his meals come from outside too. 

Fuck, if this continues, I might have to re-evaluate the budget I made. 

Not to mention, he was starting work. He had to make sure that his best suits were out for a good impression. Perhaps the last service he could use from the hotel could be a little bit of iron.

The first thing he did after coming into the hotel room, was to check the price and it was in hundreds! 

There is no way I can afford this. If I get it steam pressed, I might have to cut out the food I'm going to eat for today. I should have eaten at McDonald's when I had the time.

Bran aggressively ran his hands through his hair. At that moment, he decided something and started packing his bags. He had to move into a cheaper hotel immediately.  

He packed away everything, realizing that he should not have unpacked everything on the first day. Then he made sure to book a hotel that he found miraculously quickly. Start first time, he opened the door and stepped out with his back towards the whole only to bump into someone—

"Shit," he stumbled, but caught a hold of his foot and straightened up. "Sorry," he apologized, winced at his eyes and met the person whom he had banged into. 

The man gave him a glance, nodded and stepped to the side before continuing to the lift that he stepped in without looking back. 

Brandon stared at the closed gold-colored metal doors. He— what the hell?