ed on. I was busy with work and the logistics of my upcoming move, and the ugly confrontation began to fade from my mind. I

I looked through the peephole and my stomach dropped. It was M

just a crack. "W

s upset. I said things I didn't mean," he said, his voice thick with fake regret. "I ju

f annoyance and wariness. He was trying to ge

erson," I said coolly. "What's done

toward me. "This isn't about the job. It's

moment my fingers closed around it, his demeanor changed. The fake

nly brisk. "Now, about the money

my hand. "What are you talkin

rble floors. You know, the expensive stuff you wanted. I paid for it out

ecial supplies. I always told him to just use stan

any special purchases," I sa

lars," he said w

? For cleaning supplies? That's an out

ly. The friendly neighbor

five years, you're asking me for a receipt? I treated this place like

he defensive. It was the same manipulative tactic he

with a two-hundred-dollar expense that I never approved. If you want me to reimburse

. "I... I don't have it

ring it back. Or text me a picture of it.

as no receipt because there was no two-hundred-dollar purchase. H

it was a real hassle. I had to go to three diffe

untered flatly. "I told you any major brand

I'd slapped him.

eceipt," I repeated

for another angle. Finally, he seemed to deflate

his voice barely a whispe

as it, then

omething I c

was

humiliation and anger. "It was twenty dollars! Are you h

raud filled me with a cold fury. He was tryi

ed to defraud me of one hundred and eighty dollars and you call the real amou

red at me,

I said, my disgust total

lled out a twenty-dollar bill. I didn't want h

g it out to him. "Here

ike he wanted to say something else, to curse

small measure of satisfaction. I h

pastries back," I said.

mpotent rage. He then turned and stormed away down the hall without another word. I watched him go, then closed and locked my door, feeli