– You’re mistaken, we rent this flat, – the girl awkwardly smiled.
– He’s not right for you! – repeated Alice for the hundredth time. – One day you’ll see for yourself!
– Mum, don’t worry, if you believe that day will come, – chuckled Vera in response.
Of course, Vera was quite annoyed that her mother had taken a stance against her relationship with Peter, but she wasn’t about to abandon him just because her mother wished it.
On the contrary, Vera found satisfaction in irking Alice and highlighting that things with Peter were fine.
– Where are you off to? – asked the woman sharply upon noticing her daughter packing.
– Peter and I decided to rent a flat, – Vera announced happily.
– With what money? He’s not only lazy but also broke, – Alice scoffed.
– Mum, Peter and I will split the rent. If you’ve forgotten, we both have jobs!
– Remind me again, where does he work? – the woman smirked skeptically. – In a factory, perhaps?
– Why must one work in a factory to earn money?! Your view of modern life is outdated. Peter works from home.
– Peter’s lying to you! – Alice cried out indignantly. – You’re the only one working hard. It’s evident he’s a con artist!
– Mum, enough badmouthing him! – Vera said angrily. – I’m going now, I’ll call you later.
Vera dragged her belongings out, unwilling to engage further with her mother’s suspicions.
That evening, Vera and Peter rented a one-bedroom flat that Peter found through friends and moved in together.
Vera studied at a teaching college during the day and worked evenings as a cleaner in two shops.
Peter worked strictly from home. Vera didn’t delve into the details of his work.
The main thing was that Peter earned money, and they split the rent and groceries equally.
Everything seemed fine in their relationship. The only thing that bothered Vera was that Peter didn’t introduce her to his friends.
Vera brought it up a few times, but Peter would always joke about it, instead inviting her to have her friends over.
– How will we celebrate your birthday? – Vera asked after three months.
– I don’t want to celebrate, – Peter grimaced.
– Peter, you’re turning twenty-five! A milestone! We must, – Vera insisted.
– No money for a café…
– Let’s invite your friends over! I’ll cook everything, it’ll be cheaper. Come on, Peter, – Vera coaxed, and eventually, he relented.
On the day, Vera spent most of it cooking, so by evening she was exhausted.
She chopped salads, fried patties, and roasted chicken. Peter didn’t help with anything.
By seven in the evening, Peter’s friends arrived. There were more than expected.
They were very loud, and Vera quickly tired of them. Citing busyness, she stepped onto the balcony.
However, she didn’t get much quiet. Within minutes, Nicky, a friend of Peter’s, joined her.
– You’re lucky, Vera, landing a guy with a flat, – Nicky said enviously. – Did you know beforehand?
– What flat? Peter has a flat? – Vera was surprised.
– Of course, he does, – Nicky replied incredulously. – You live in it.
– What? – Vera blinked nervously. – You’re mistaken, we rent it.
– You can’t be renting it because Peter inherited it from his grandmother on his father’s side. I’ve been here countless times; he’s lived here for years, – Nicky rebutted.
Vera stared at Nicky, trying to process the information she just received.
– You didn’t know? – Nicky exclaimed. – He didn’t tell you? Seems like he wanted to test if you’re after money or not.
Nicky laughed loudly. It seemed she did it deliberately to mock Vera.
– Peter, – Vera approached him as he drank beer with his friends, – we need to talk!
– Later. The guys are telling a hilarious joke, – Peter waved her off like an annoying fly.
– No, we need to talk now! – Vera insisted.
– Speak in front of everyone then, – Peter grumbled, taking a sip from his can.
– Why didn’t you tell me you own a flat? – Vera demanded, hands on her hips.
– I don’t own anything, – Peter feigned a smile.
– And this flat? Whose is it?
– Yeah, whose? – Nicky appeared behind Vera. – It’s yours! All your friends can confirm it!
– Yeah, sure, – the friends shouted in unison.
– So you’ve been lying? Wait, then who were we paying rent to? – Vera was in shock. – You?
Peter grinned foolishly and chuckled nervously. He realized Vera had caught him in his lie.
Indeed, during the three months they stayed in the flat, the rent money went straight into Peter’s pocket.
Peter himself handled the rent. Vera had never sent money to the landlord nor seen him.
Now the vile truth emerged: the ten thousand Vera had given him went into his pocket.
– Peter, you’re such a scoundrel! – Vera cried, tears in her eyes, and began packing her things.
She no longer wanted to live with a liar. His deceit and greed sullied everything good in their relationship. That evening, Vera returned to her mother’s.
– Mum, you were right, – Vera confessed with a break in her voice and explained how Peter had deceived her for months.
After this incident, Vera and her ex-boyfriend never crossed paths again. However, she heard rumors that Peter and Nicky had moved in together.
