Avoiding Mr Right by Anita Heiss Read Free Book Online Page A

shared courtyard out the back.
    'Can I have an application form, please?' I held out my
hand.
    'Hi, I'm Max. You'd look great in this flat.' He smiled
and handed me a form. Max was right. I would, and in
fact did already look great in the flat. But there were about
twenty other people looking at the same property. There
were couples, single women, parents, and artsy-looking
folk. No-one looked over forty, which I found interesting.
    It was promising to see who wanted to move into the
area that I'd decided I would call home for the next year.
Problem was they all appeared on sight to be worthy
applicants, so I had to think about what would set me apart,
give me that edge that would mean I would get the lease
over someone else. I needed to be original when I filled out
the form. Could I simply write, PS I'd look great in this flat ,
just as the agent had suggested? Or had he said it to every
single girl who walked in? James had warned me about real
estate agents.
    I put Alice down as a referee because someone employed
as head of department at a private Catholic school would
have to carry some serious weight for sure. I decided that
putting Liza down from the Aboriginal Legal Service was
an equally bad idea. I also put down my old landlord, who'd
offered to keep my flat in Coogee on notice for when I
returned. I handed Max the form.
    'You have a good chance, Peta.' Max winked at me, and I
thought, You are way too cheeky and way too cute, Mr Max .

seven
Manipulative Max
    First thing Monday morning, agent Max called me on the
mobile to talk about the flat. 'There are some things you
forgot to fill out on the form. Do you have time to do it after
work?' I was sure I filled everything out on the day, but if
he said I'd left something out then I must have.
    'Sure, but I won't be able to get there until six.'
    'We shut at five. I can meet you at the George Hotel
around the corner from the unit at six – do you know it?'
    'I'll find it, and I'll see you there.' It seemed the George
was going to be my local. I punched the air like a sports star
who had just won gold in the 400-metre butterfly. It was
obvious I'd landed the flat I wanted – why else would he
need me to fill more forms out? Life was going to be very
good in Melbourne.
    'You look happy.' Sylvia appeared at my desk without
warning. She was one of those phantom types, one minute
there, the next gone, and then back again.
    'I'm fairly sure I just got a great flat in St Kilda. I'm meeting
the agent after work to go through the forms again.'
    'Sounds great, congrats.'
    'We're meeting at the George, do you know it?'
    'Of course, it's also known as the Melbourne Wine Bar.
But why are you meeting him there? Be careful, won't you.'
    'What do you mean?'
    'Now, Peta, I know you're an adult and everything, and you're my boss, but you do know that real estate agents deal
in deceit every day, don't you.' She sounded just like James.
    'Really?' I'd rented straight from an owner in Sydney and
he was more like a father to me than a landlord. If only my
mum had chosen him as one of her many husbands.
    'Yes – and it's part of their job to tell lies to innocent,
unsuspecting candidates, just like you.' Sylvia was adamant
as she went through my diary and slotted in different events
I had been invited to attend.
    'Gees, that's a bit brutal isn't it, Sylvia?'
    'I'm just worried about our new resident is all. Be careful,
boss.'
    'First of all, don't call me boss. I don't play the hierarchy
thing. And secondly, thank you for your concern, but I'm
not as naive as you imagine.' I liked that Sylvia was being
a bit protective of me as the new person in town. It was
exactly what Liza would do if someone from another state
started work at the ALS in Sydney.
    'Trust me, Peta, I know what I'm talking about. I'm not
as old as you, but I've been around the block a few times,
you know. I'm telling you, for every property deal he'll have
a woman.' Sylvia