As a shrewd woman, Brittany Scott felt resistant when she heard she'd have to do the cleaning. But when she considered the rent prices in Summit City's financial district, it seemed like cooking a few meals wasn't much of a loss compared to the six or seven thousand a month for such a high-end apartment. After all, saving six or seven thousand a month is still a sum of money. Her salary and benefits combined barely exceeded ten thousand a month, so saving this money would be perfect.
"Alright, deal." Brittany Scott hesitated for a moment and then agreed, "But as a woman, there are many inconveniences. I think you should know what to be mindful of in daily life. You're not allowed to enter my room casually, just as I won't glance into yours. However, when it comes to public cleanliness..."
I raised an eyebrow, "You're expecting me to do it?"
Brittany Scott was speechless and pursed her red lips, "Fine, but please don't be a slob. If I end up doing too much cleaning and feel wronged, I'll definitely leave."
I said, "Then you can leave right now."
Brittany Scott gritted her teeth, "You!"
I said, "You want to stay and yet you're being picky. This floor has one of the few scenic views in Summit City. The balcony at night could be rented out for profit. And besides, I'm not charging you, just asking you to clean. Is it that hard?"
Brittany Scott gritted her teeth, "But I'm not a maid. Besides, a maid would need to be paid, wouldn't they? I'm not charging you either, so can't we compromise? Is it really necessary for a grown man to nitpick with a woman like this?"
I glared, "You're the one setting rules with me, not the other way around."
Brittany Scott snorted, "But you can't be without rules, right? We're not familiar with each other. There have to be rules when a man and a woman live together."
I said, "I'm a person of rules and have boundaries. Otherwise, why can other people be swayed but not me? I know what you're worried about. At first, you thought using your beauty you might have an edge and make me cautious later, but you realized just now I'm not easy to tackle, so you're trying the second plan—using your supposed weakness as a woman to make rules with me. Really though, you're overthinking it. I've met more beautiful women and never felt tempted, so rest assured, I'm not interested in you at all."
I didn't have time for romance now; I just wanted to join The Griffin Division as soon as possible.
His indifference was an insult to Brittany Scott, who had always been confident in her looks. However, she was completely passive now and couldn't get angry, or she'd jeopardize the agreement. Tobby Curry was right; finding such an apartment was indeed not easy.
But... even if she was a really beautiful woman, shouldn't a man discuss terms with some gentlemanly conduct?
"What is this? Bullying a weak woman?" Brittany Scott put on a fragile expression and stared at me.
"Weak woman?" I laughed, "A weak woman who can throw a six-foot-three guy like me to the ground? A weak woman who's a police detective captain?"
Brittany Scott didn't expect this guy to have such sharp eyes and spot her badge position.
"To others, I'm an impartial cop, but to you, someone who can beat me, I am merely a 'weak woman.' Does bullying a newcomer like me make you feel superior?" Brittany Scott said.
I waved my hand: "Stop that. Either do it, or turn around and leave without looking back."
"You've got a problem with your thinking!" Brittany Scott huffed, then picked up her luggage and was ready to leave. But as she waited for Tobby Curry to call her back, seeing no tender or envious response to her beauty, she realized she had overthought it.
Angry, she turned back, dropped her luggage, and declared, "As a police officer, I've decided to save you."
Then she disregarded her dignity, found her room, placed her luggage, and tidied her packed bedding.
Just after she was sent away, I heard a woman and a man arguing while heading over via the hallway. Just as I was about to close the door for some peace, the woman approached with her man. Sporting a naturally tousled hairdo, thick-lipped, with long lashes, the woman's pretty egg-shaped face turned cold seeing me. She dumped her luggage and threw several stacks of hundred-dollar bills on the floor, saying coldly, "I fly all day long, utterly exhausted, wanting only to sleep. Now, the property management tells me to move? Having money is nothing special. Take your penalty fee; all I want is some sleep." Then she walked into my room in high heels. I stood there stunned; what was this about?
The man following her was the property manager, awkwardly looking at me with some helplessness and apology.
"Mr. Curry, this..."
I glared at the property manager, "What's going on?"
The property manager awkwardly replied, "Forgot to mention, two girls from the four rooftop units won't take the penalty fee, nor will they leave. We thought we could negotiate, but who knew they'd be so hard to handle. Sorry, Mr. Curry, one of them is a cop, hard to push around, and this one's a flight attendant. Judging by the luxury cars she drives to and from the property, being a flight attendant is likely just a hobby. Even our boss couldn't persuade them."
I was speechless, but seeing the manager's troubled face, I couldn't fully blame him. This was something for the boss to handle. So, I waved the manager off. I accessed four units only for equipment space to conveniently exercise and restore strength. Sighing, I crouched down to pick up the money.
When Brittany Scott came out, she obviously didn't know that in this grand thousand-square-foot room, another woman had moved in too. Dusting off her hands, she said, "To show I can stay without affecting work, I'll treat you to dinner."
I said, "You're not avoiding cooking by treating me to dinner, are you?"
Again, he saw right through her!
Brittany Scott felt she couldn't have a pleasant conversation with such a man; he just wouldn't give a woman a break, not even a beautiful one, showing zero gentlemanly qualities! Curiously, she asked me, "Are you still single?"
I nodded, "Strictly speaking, yes."
Brittany Scott: "Serves you right, let's go, anyway it's a meal, doesn't matter where. I've already postponed work today to sort this apartment thing."
I thought going out would be fine; I could ask the policewoman about Summit City's security situation along the way.
He had such thoughts, but not Brittany Scott. During this time, she felt overwhelmingly bullied by Tobby Curry's dominating behavior. So, she planned to take him to a small restaurant her male colleagues loved, hoping the unexpected encounter and their anger might give her some leverage.
Since I hadn't gotten my car yet, I took Brittany Scott's small sedan instead.
Summit City's shopping centers, street screens, signboards, and billboards were all adorned with Emily Thomas's endorsement photos. Her pictures beautified the city.
Out of the blue, I said, "Do you know why women's charms don't work on me? It's because my wife is Emily Thomas."
Brittany Scott, driving, snickered, "If Emily Thomas were your wife, I'd livestream myself putting medicated oil on my... down there."
I was at a loss, "I was joking, don't take it too seriously."
I'm afraid you'd actually livestream doing that with medicated oil.
"I was joking too, come on, if Emily Thomas were your wife, I'd really show you me applying medicated oil live."
I said, "..."
The two of us arrived at a less-than-fancy restaurant. I was a bit puzzled why Brittany Scott had brought me so far; I checked my surroundings. The detective unit's building was nearby, so I realized the food might not be very palatable.
Brittany Scott feared I'd back out and smiled faintly, "Our staff have perks for eating here, lots of discounts. A treat's a treat no matter where we eat, right? So, let's eat here. Adam't underestimate it; the taste comes from organic home-grown produce, and they make great home-style dishes."
I nodded, "Then let's just have a bite."
Brittany Scott nodded with a sweet smile.
Then, after entering the restaurant with him, her colleagues from the detective unit, dining after work, saw the two of them together; a few elbowed each other, exchanging glances, "Hey, isn't that our squad's police flower, Brittany Scott? Damn, Steven Davis couldn't capture her heart because she's got a boyfriend, huh. Hey, go get Steven Davis, showcasing affection right at work is something else."