Chapter 5

I nod and head off. It’s within walking distance thankfully. My door is hanging off of its hinges and the place is ransacked: My laptop is gone and so is the notebook with all of my information, my passwords, and...that stash of $2,000 I had for emergencies which I’d stashed underneath the loose floorboard. I quickly left and I called Irene, telling her what had happened. There was no one in sight. It looked as though it had happened quite a long time ago.

I went back home.

“Darling, have you checked your bank accounts? They have access to every one of them with those passwords, and these people seem accustomed to fraudulent behavior.”

I take out my phone and open my accounts. I had $4 million in savings and $50,000 in my checking account the day I’d met the clown, and, as I checked each one of them now, I realized I had exactly $0.

“Empty.”

Why did they want my money. What were they doing with it?

“Report it! Report this to the bank!”

I looked at the charges...wine in California, a Mercedes Benz, and...a house in Tampa.

What the fuck? Why Tampa, when they were here?

I groaned and called.

“Hello!”

“Hello, sir! I would like to report fraud on my bank account.”

“Yes. I was wondering why you bought a house in Tampa!” he chuckled, “I thought you loved your shoebox of an apartment in New York.” he paused, then added jovially, “I know I love mine. No hate, ma’am. It’s just hard to find anything decent-sized around here. I know you have enough funds though. Unquestionably or did...okay. Shutting up now!”

I could hear him pushing a few buttons, “Sorry, dear, it’s been a very long day. Your funds should be returned to your account in a few days.”

“Ughhh...no problem. Thanks!”

“Sure thing! Have a nice day!”

“You too!”

I couldn’t help but think that there was something off with the fellow. Most customer service representatives didn’t treat their customers that way, after all. It was impolite, but like he’d said, maybe he’d just had a long day.

I sighed.

It was hard to trust anyone. Before long, I might even start becoming suspicious of Irene. I had no money, the remnants of an apartment with no door (unacceptable during a pandemic in New York City), and no laptop to make more money.

I wept on Irene’s shoulder, but then she said I could use her computer, so I got straight to work, hoping and praying that the four mil would be back in my bank account by Wednesday.

If it was, I was cashing it out. When people know how much money you make, they’ll do anything they can to take it from you, especially if they work at a bank. I was stashing it in a locked safe and carrying the keys with me at all times. That’s what I was doing. No one would be able to access it, not even the bank manager! It would just be cold hard cash. My cold hard cash. I was so done with these institutions, taking my money from me without a second thought, not keeping a close eye an account that contained four million dollars! The nerve!

I began working on my novel once more. I only had ten thousand words left, and, luckily, I had started it on Google Docs so I still had access to the draft on my computer. I breathed a huge sigh of relief, realizing that my hours upon hours of work had not been performed in vain. I thought maybe I would add some suspense to the affair. I’d always been inspired by real life after all, so I made the mistress cheat on her husband with the gardener, in his own home. The nerve! I know! It would be absolutely horrid if that had happened in real life, but it sure does make for a page turner when it comes to a romance novel. This sort of thing makes paperbacks fly off of the shelves, and it makes dollar bills fly into my pocket! I smirk to myself, knowing what my agenda is in writing this particular genre, and, finally, accepting it.