CHANGING THE GAME WITH THE CASHFLOW SYSTEM

Regret, Regret, Regret

“No one walks out on me!!" Pa. Walter boomed.

The room fell into dead silence. No slightest sound made its way out from the animates in the room except the Flat screen on the wall, displaying the live news.

“And where is the idiot?!! Blake!!!"

Blake entered the living room hurriedly. His face was a mask of sweat. A white apron hung around his neck. The smell oozing from him was a mix, enough to choke anyone out; Smoke, rubber, Aroma, antiseptics– every smell, single droplets of sweat was a testament of the work he had laid his hands on that morning.

Those who stood near him adjusted from him, pinning their nose from the stench more like spite.

Blake was unmoved. He's used to it. He steadied his breath. He was surprised to see everyone standing before Pa. Walter likes servants about to be judged by their mighty boss.

He took a brief glance at his wife, Jemina but the expression on her face was something he couldn't comprehend. It was a cycle of emotion– sadness, embarrassment, disappointment and anger.

Mrs. Smith stepped away from her daughter as if she had rejected her while her gaze burns with anger merely seeing Blake.

“Blake!" Pa Walter began, his voice mighty and authoritative.

Blake looked at him. His expression was calm but curiosity burns in his mind.

He respects the man to some degree regardless of how ugly he had always treated him.

“You paid for your grandmother's hospital bill. Isn't it?" He asked, almost like he just needed a confirmation.

Blake looked around and that was when his eyes fell on Dr. Frank. He has a smirk at the corner of his lips, taunting.

Dr. Frank must have told the man everything.

“Yes sir. I did.” He said confidently.

Patriarch Walter laughed softly, amused. He looked into eyes as the smile dropped from his face, leaving a cold expression.

“And you stole my own money to do that?”

“What!! No! I didn't. Jemina gave me the money. Honey, tell them." Blake looked at Jemina's side but she didn't say a word. She looks indifferent, disappointed and distant.

The word ‘Honey’ was like sand poured into Mrs. Smiths' soup. She twisted her face in distaste and disgust.

It looks like everyone had abandoned Blake. They had always done that but something about the gathering made him feel tensed.

“And how much did Jemina give you?" The man of the family pressed on.

Blake knew where the question was heading to. It'll definitely lead to him revealing about the mysterious system. The system that had come through for him at the moment of his desperations.

Blake was hesitant to speak, processing every thought that crossed his heart like a computer.

“Speak!!" The patriarch barked.

He startled out of the thoughts “$20,000, sir.” He said, his breath shaky.

Pa. Walter nodded gently, a knowing nod, like a hunter who made an accurate kill.

“And you paid $40,000. How?"

“It's $47, 000, Pa.” Mason corrected with a chuckle. He crossed his hand on his chest, leaning against the wall, lazily.

Blake gulped down, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

“And now my $50,000 is missing. Tell me you weren't the one responsible.”

Blake started with a cracking voice. It wasn't out of nervousness but he was in shock of the brewing accusations but his voice steadied along.

“I'm..I'm not the one..I have no idea what you're talking about sir. I have been at the hospital throughout and I came back only when everyone was about to retire to bed. I couldn't have come to your room and stole anything.”

“Lier!!!" Mason didn't give him a chance. He straightened his spine. “You might have stolen the money during the ceremony. After all, everyone was busy. That was your chance!"

They nodded, Mason always makes sense.

He seems to hate Blake more than shit. He always crosses his path.

“Mason is really smart. He's supposed to be an interrogation officer.” Someone admired him.

“Now, tell me Blake, how did you get the $47,000 you paid?” Patriarch Walter asked, his gaze locked on him.

The question was simple and the answer shouldn't have been difficult to sputter but this is beyond Blake's comprehension and he can't mess this one chance up.

The system. It has come to change things for him. He can't reveal it. He can't just do it.

Lumps formed on his throat. He swallowed hard, crushing under the weight of the query.

His lips parted to say something but nothing came. Only air. He gulped hard again and said. He just had to say something else he'll be guilty of the false accusations which had genuine evidence already.

“I was fortunate to meet an old friend who helped me.” He said, without even thinking. The words just formed out of his mouth like it had been lurking there from onset.

His confession lingered on the air.

Then Mason, the invincible interrogation officer–Sarcasm.

He chipped in again, saying. “Old friend huh? This makes it suspicious. Blake here is lying.”

Blake had tolerated enough of his false and baseless observation. His eyes darkened with rage and his fingers clenched at his side. Everyone noticed the shift.

He started, his voice calm but cold. It was raw with growl. “If you're going to ask me, I'll say you're the suspicious one here Mason! You're not the only one here so why are you the only one so hyperinterested in this when it wasn't your money that was stolen? Are you trying to frame me for your crime?!” Blake's voice elevated at the end.

“Don't you dare shift the crime on my son, Blake. My son knows nothing about this!!” Cassandra, Mason's mother, intervenes. She's a divorcee.

The hall bursted into chaos. Mason slammed Blake with more words and Blake retaliated. Cassandra didn't watch, she fired back at Blake too.

Oh no.

Jemina couldn't bear the weight. Her heart hurt badly. Tears clouded in her eyes. Maybe her mother was right. Maybe Blake didn't deserve her love– Her thoughts cracked. Maybe Blake has no potential just like she claims. The weight of everything crashed down on her. The tears rolled down from her eyes and she raced into her room.

“Jemina!” Blake called.

The door slammed!