Daily English 1068 - An Expiring Business Lease

Jane: Our lease is up at the end of this year and we need to negotiate a new one.

Monty: I know, but if I bring it up first, the landlord will think I’m desperate to renew.

Jane: We are desperate to renew. We’ve built our business here, and it would be really difficult to uproot it and reestablish it elsewhere.

Monty: I know, but given our antagonistic dealings in the past, I’m afraid the landlord is going to jack up our rent and we’ll be forced out.

Jane: It’s in the best interest of the landlord to keep a steady business leasing his property.

Monty: He might not see it that way. He might see this as an opportunity to bring in a higher-paying tenant.

Jane: Or he may realize that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Monty: Or he might think, “Out with the old and in with the new.”

Jane: You won’t know until you contact him.

Monty: Right, but I think I’ll let him stew just a little longer.