Gold Behind Closed Hands

Everyone glared at me like I was the bad guy, and the mean words just kept coming.

I glanced at Caleb. He did not seem to care at all.

It almost felt like Nevaeh was saying what he was thinking, and that made me feel even worse.

I forced a weird smile onto my face.

I was about to say something when Caleb grabbed me, acting all nice like he was trying to smooth things over.

"Forget about it. What's done is done. I'm not hurting for cash.

"The next time you need money, just ask me straight up. No need for stories."

Caleb's words made everyone even madder. They thought I was being ungrateful.

"Right, Mr. Brooks is loaded. Just ask him for money. There’s no need to make up such a sad story."

"Making up stuff about your own mom for cash? That's just wrong."

"I can't believe Jessica would do something like this. I thought she was careful with money and I even used to share my snacks with her."

"She's the kind of person Mr. Brooks should dump. She’ll find out how just tough it is in the big city."

I saw my old work friends piling on too.

Then I thought about everything Caleb had done.

Suddenly, it all seemed so pointless.

Even if I showed him my paycheck right now, he and Nevaeh would still find a way to get everyone to keep putting me down.

I quietly tucked my paycheck away.

I looked up and gave Caleb a small smile.

"We've been together for seven years. You should figure out how much money you've really spent on me.

"If you can't remember spending anything on me, then I'd like the hundreds of thousands you owe me back, please.

"If not, get ready for a lawsuit, whether it's you or your company."

He always said he did not mix feelings with money.

However, money seemed to be on his mind all the time.

This guy, who others saw as a big spender with endless cash, was actually using the money I had saved for my mom's emergency fund.

Caleb looked worried after thinking hard for a while.

He could not recall a time he spent money on me, as he had not even been willing to buy an umbrella without splitting the cost.

I realized it was not that rich people are stingier, but that I was not worth a cent of his money.

He might have wanted to say more, but I was done listening.

As I turned to walk away, Nevaeh pushed me out of nowhere.

I stumbled and fell onto the ground.

"Jess, stop making things up. Caleb doesn't owe you money.

"Spreading lies, huh? Aren't you scared we'll call the cops on you?

"If you end up in jail or the hospital, who's going to take care of your mom, the one waiting for you to make money?

"You should apologize to Caleb right now!"

Nevaeh thought she could scare me.

However, I had nothing left to lose.

Just then, my supervisor walked by, saw Caleb, and joined the crowd.

He was holding some paperwork.

"Mr. Brooks, Jessica's mom died a few days ago. You haven't signed off on the employee hardship payment.

"And about Jessica asking for a $2000 advance on her salary, I took it back like you said.

"It's a shame, though. Jessica's mom was just $2000 short for her surgery."