From Jackpot to Accusation: The Clerk Said I Didn’t Pay

I retorted, “You’re the one lying and twisting things. I bought this scratch-off ticket fair and square from your shop. You saw me win and got greedy. Then, you snatched the ticket right out of my hand!”

Chloe smirked and looked at me.

“You claim you bought it fair and square. Show me your payment receipt.”

I was a regular customer at this store. Every time I walked in, Chloe would hand me the scratch-off tickets. Scratching first and paying later had become an unspoken understanding between us.

I never expected this to become her leverage against me.

I pointed at the surveillance camera.

“You handed me this ticket yourself. I didn’t just take it without asking like a thief. The security camera proves it.

“The second you handed me those tickets, a purchase agreement was made between us.

Hearing my words, the police officer requested to review the surveillance footage.

Chloe’s face turned pale.

“Only my boss has access to the security footage. He’s not here right now. So, no one can see it.”

I sneered, “Is that so? Or is it that you’re afraid to let us see it?”

Chloe put on a fierce expression and said hurriedly, “The boss isn’t here. So, we just can’t see the footage.”

Seeing that we were about to argue again, the police officer stepped in to mediate.

“We’ll contact your boss now. Once he gets here, we’ll review the footage together. Then, we’ll find out who that scratch-off ticket really belongs to.”

Chloe stammered and tried to find more excuses to delay.

The police officer had already dialed the shop owner’s phone number.

A few minutes later, a stocky middle-aged man, Felix Perkins, rushed over.

He was the shop owner.

Felix greeted the police officers with practiced ease.

“Officers, I’m really sorry you had to come all the way out here for something so small.”

Then, he looked at me and said politely, “Tiana Lowes, after all these years, you still haven’t lost your passion for buying scratch-offs.”

I said coldly, “Now that the boss is here, let’s pull up the security footage.”

Felix put on a friendly smile.

“There’s no need. I’ve known Tiana for years. I trust your word.

“Chloe definitely handed the scratch-off ticket to you. No questions about it.”

I felt so much better after he said that.

“Then, hurry and make her give me back my ticket. And fire this greedy shop attendant. Do that, and I’ll forget the whole thing ever happened.”

Felix was a reasonable person. That made me feel like my trust in him was not entirely wasted.

Having worked at my unit for several years, I often received complaints about this shop. People said Felix did not follow the rules.

But every time I sent someone to investigate, Felix cooperated with a very polite attitude. He claimed those complaints were just slander born from others’ jealousy.

Besides, I had been buying scratch-off tickets from his shop for many years. So, I trusted him time and again.

It seemed the main problem was his shop attendant.

Since he was not responsible for the issue, I did not want to ruin his livelihood.

As long as he fired Chloe and straightened out the shop, their shop’s license to sell scratch-off tickets could still be valid.

Hearing my demand, Chloe smiled at me provocatively. Then, she leaned against Felix and said coyly, “Felix, are you really going to fire me?”

Felix gave her a lewd look and reached out to pat her backside twice.

“You’re nothing but trouble. I’m going to have to punish you later.”