“Yeah, something like that,” I said. Again, I felt like there was a weird power play happening between my friends. I decided to change the subject. “Am I supposed to get in touch with him with a confirmation of the rules?” I asked. I was hoping for a yes, because I really wanted to get a look at this guy who could be so highly pedantic about his dos and don’ts.

“No,” Miguel said. “I think if you just take the rules to heart and avoid any interactions with him, you’ll be much happier.”

Drat! My curiosity about Mr. Daire was not to be appeased. When I pictured him in my head, I saw a skinny, slump-shouldered, bald-headed, hook-nosed, steely-eyed eagle of a man à la Mr. Burns from The Simpsons. I figured he was the kind of guy who sent his food back to the kitchen just because he could, you know, a real “Get off my lawn!” sort of old man.

I usually had decent success with charming those codgers. Mostly, I’d discovered their anger came out of feeling displaced by a society that was moving on without them, making them feel powerless, obsolete, and left behind. A little attention went a long way toward mitigating the grumpiness.

Despite Miguel’s advice to leave Mr. Daire be, I figured if my path ever crossed my landlord’s, I’d go out of my way to be positive and bring him some cheer. It’s what I do. I’m a people pleaser, which is why I was able to be a freelance designer for so long. I know how to get a person to yes.

Miguel turned into a multistory attached parking garage, and I looked out the rear window. We had driven only half a block from my house to here. Soph had not been kidding when she said I could walk. Sweet!

We wound up the ramp to the second floor, and Miguel parked in a spot by the elevators. I slid the strap of my large bag onto my shoulder as I exited the car.

I’d worn a black flared skirt and green knit top today with a pair of utilitarian black pumps with a heel that was slightly too high. My feet already hated me, and I had no idea how an eight-hour stint in grown-up shoes was going to go. Working at home, it was oversized T-shirts, yoga pants, and socks all the time, which was great because I frequently struck a downward dog or warrior pose when my creativity got stuck, but I figured with it being my first day and all, I should at least try to look professional.