Rich Boy, Poor Girl
840 Words
Gabriel POV
“You are too poor for me now.”
The words hung in the air like dark smoke. Everyone inside the church stared at me with mouths open. My legs trembled like jelly. My breathing became difficult.
Clara stood in her gown, tears streaming quickly down her face. She looked like a broken doll.
I wanted to hold her and ask her why she wanted to destroy what we had built together. I wanted to scream and shake her. I wished to vanish immediately, but there was no way for me.
Williams chuckled heartily. "Go ahead baby " he urged Clara. "Share the rest with him.”
Clara’s lips trembled. She glanced at her mom, Evelyn was sitting in the front. Evelyn offered her a nod as if encouraging her to go ahead.
Clara took one step away from me.
“I didn’t love you Gabriel, " she declared, her tone was soft yet piercing like shards of glass. "I just want your wealth and now that you have nothing, I choose Williams.”
My ears began to buzz. Nothing? What was she implying by nothing?
Williams raised some documents. "Sign these Gabriel. Transfer the company to David, then we can all leave satisfied.”
David. My brother David walked into the church grinning as if he had just received an award. He carried papers in his hand.
I glanced at Clara once more. "You were aware of this?" I inquired. My voice sounded like a child's.
She refused to meet my gaze; her eyes were fixed on my footwear.
David placed his hand on my shoulder. "Kid brother you trusted quickly. Skyline Group belongs to me now. The banks have already taken your homes and vehicles. You’re Broken.”
Broke! The word hit me like a punch in my stomach.
The guests began to depart quickly, and elegant footwear tapped against the floor. A few women wept, while some men shook their heads.
I stood by myself in my tuxedo, resembling a comical penguin.
Clara walked past me; her perfume was identical to that of every evening that we had. She paused for a moment. Her hand brushed mine beneath the blossoms.
Her fingers gripped fast like a hidden hug, then she let go and continued walking towards Williams.
I didn't understand what was going on.
Williams wrapped his arm around her waist and gave her a loud kiss on the cheek. Ruby sprinted over. Embraced Clara as if they were best friends once more. Evelyn beamed widely.
They abandoned me there, standing like a cave image, the entrance of the church shut loudly with a thud.
I was alone with the priest and empty chairs and the flowers that cost more than most people make in a year.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. A bank message. Account balance: $47.23
Everything had vanished. My money was gone.
I stepped outside the church slowly. Snow continued to fall. My luxurious car was gone. A large truck was hauling it away.
I had no house, no company, and no Clara. Nothing, just broken pieces of myself
I began to walk. My footwear became soaked. My heart ached deeper than anything before.
Darkness fell. I sat on a bench in Central Park. The snow turned my hair pale. I wept softly so no one would notice a man shedding tears.
A boy’s voice, inside my mind, repeatedly said she lied; it was a prank.
Then I recall that tiny squeeze of her fingers. That was not hate, that was scary.
Clara was at risk. I felt it deep down.
I rubbed my face with my hands. I was broken and alone, but I was not foolish.
I grabbed my phone with the remaining battery and launched my bank app once more. I had an account that David was unaware of. It contained a small amount of money that I reserved for urgent needs.
$200,000. Not much for the old me, but enough to run.
I purchased the airline ticket to some distant place. Mexico. Leaving in three hours.
Before boarding the plane, I messaged Mike, my assistant, and a friend I still have at the company.
“Find out what they did to Clara. I believe they harmed her severely.”
After that, I powered down my phone.
While heading to the airport with snow blanketing my steps, I vowed to the night sky.
I will come back rich, I will come back strong. I will ensure they all suffer for each tear I shed today.
However, initially, I need to discover why my Clara appeared as though she were a captive in her wedding gown.
The plane took off. The lights of New York appeared tiny beneath me.
I hadn’t realized that six years later I would return to that city feeling like a king.
There was one thing I was certain about.
This story was not over.
Not even close.
And when I return, I promise, someone is going to be very, very sorry for hurting me.
- Writer
