1 Crazy Sum of One hundred Million dollars

"What the hell are you doing here!?"

John refused to believe his ears. No! He must have misheard. Why would Ashley even ask him that? She was supposed to ask him to come in. That was how it was supposed to be. This was their fucking home. They both owned it. 

So, if this was a prank, she had better stop it. He was very tired and bone-deep weary. He didn't even have the luxury of time to argue. He just wanted to rest, take a wink or something before he went for both his second and third jobs. 

He cleared his throat and slowly spread his lips in a smile. "I'm sorry, I didn't get what you just said, Babe."

Ashley scoffed. "Who is your babe? Look here, John. Don't be more absurd than normal. No one's anyone's babe here. I broke off our engagement some time ago, but you were too blind to notice, weren't you? I don't want to ever--- ever have anything to do with you!"

Broke off? He felt his heart jab against his chest violently at her hurtful words and it took him all the self-control in him not to flinch. He watched Ashley's face closely and realized, to his surprise, that she wasn't even putting effort into her words. They were just flowing out of her mouth naturally, which meant that she was dead serious.

No! This couldn't be real! This can't be happening! They had planned to get married at the end of the month, buy a ranch or a cabin downtown, and then get better jobs. So what was wrong? And oh yes! She had been giving him a bit of an attitude over the weekend but he had dismissed it as a sign of stress. She can't seriously break up with him now.

"At least, let me in, Ashley."

"Let you in here? No way! Oh!" Her hand flew over her mouth as she stifled a laughter. "You must still think that this is your house. Hell no! Have you forgotten I lent you the money to rent this apartment? And have you also forgotten that you haven't paid me yet? So naturally, this place belongs to me, now! I packed your stuff out already. It's in the garage."

Tears stained the corner of his eyes as he listened to her. He fought hard to stop them from spilling. He swallowed hard at the lump that had formed in his throat, trying to get his lips to form a word. Only that his mind wouldn't even compose any meaningful thought. He didn't know what to think or say.

Finally, he found his voice. "Babe, I'm sorry. I know I wronged you, I've been busy and not giving you enough attention, but I'll make it up to you. I promise." His voice came out shaking.

"Don't you get it, you loser!?" Her voice had risen an octave. "I said I'm tired of your fucked up and miserable life. I've still got a lot of life left in me. I can't stay stuck with these low-paying jobs you have, that lack of ambition of yours, and this fucking hellhole of a town! I want more. I deserve more. I want to explore the world. I'm done with you, John. And I'm not sorry about that!"

Obviously! John wanted to add. She sure wasn't sorry. The most painful part was the way he was hurting inside. Was heartbreak supposed to feel this way? He felt like his heart was squeezing inside his chest as if life was slowly draining out of his body.

Ashley's gaze never wavered. She was staring intently at him as if daring him to say something that would earn him a backlash from her. "So you're saying our two-year relationship was all for nothing? The love we shared was nothing too?"

"Love?" She repeated, bursting into a peal of sarcastic laughter. "Look, John. Don't be more foolish than necessary. I never loved you. Not even for once. But then again, you were too blind to notice that. And I've been more than patient, coping with your poor and pathetic life. I can't do this anymore. Just get your poverty-stricken self out of here."

As if it wasn't enough, she moved a little bit closer to him, moving out of the doorway. She scanned his face, with a glint of derision in her dark eyes, before whispering into his ears. "Scram! Get as far away from me as you possibly can! Your existence in its very own definition sucks!"

He winced. Her words slapped him violently across the face and he felt like a sharp sword dipped into alcohol had been driven through his heart.

He opened his mouth to say something when he heard a voice behind her. "What's going in here?"

A figure appeared at the door. The man's face came into view and he glanced at John with eyes full of disdain. He dropped his hand lightly on Ashley's shoulder. "Who is this rascal?" He asked.

Rascal? John mused. This man was sure a joker. "Uhmm----- Mac, John was just leaving," Ashley said.

Before she could say another word, he spoke. "I guess I could use the same question too. Who the hell are you?"

Mac let out a derisive snicker. "Me? I'm her boyfriend." He said, pointing at Ashley. "And who may you be? Looks like you're giving my girlfriend some trouble. It might do you a little good to get the hell out of here while I'm being nice!"

"What? Girl---? This is crazy!" His hand clamped over his mouth. "You guys are--- you must be fucking joking!" He had finally lost his cool. How dare she cheat on him and even act so brazen about it?

And this man? Mac or whatever his name was. Who was he to interfere in their conversation?

"You guys are going to regret this! I promise." 

"We'd be waiting. Goodbye, John. I guess we've seen enough of your ugly face around here. Like she said, your stuff is in the garage." Mac lowered his voice. "But seriously, man. Who the hell keeps that garbage as property these days? I was appalled when I saw those shit!"

His words irked John to the core and he had to implore all the self-control he had left in him not to kill the man on the spot. "Look, neither Ashley nor I require your interference, do you feel me!?"

"Feel you." He repeated, scoffing. "And third party? Serious, man, don't you get it? You're the third party here. I and my babe were just about to get in bed. You just ruined the best moment for us."

He stepped forward so that they were eye to eye. "And I haven't even begun to interfere. Would you love to see how much I'm aching to do that?" His smile was impassive. "I'd be happy to interfere. In fact, I've been looking forward to the opportunity."

John stepped an inch backward and faced Ashley. "Is this what you've been up to?" Raw disgust laced his words. "Even if you were going to cheat on me, not with a riff-raff like this?"

"Sorry, did you say something I should have heard?" Mac asked, his head slightly tilted. 

He smelt like trouble and John knew that. He was looking for every avenue to have a brawl with him. But him? He wasn't ready to stoop so low to the level of such an uncivilized man. Still, he turned to face Ashley.

"I can see you're not the person I've always believed you to be." His voice sounded pained.

Ashley had a lopsided, 'I don't care' grin on her face. "I can't tell you how much that makes me happy, John. Cut your losses!" She yelled. "And go fuck yourself!"

He angled his head and studied both of them with equal disdain. "Alright, goodbye!" He said through gritted teeth, and strode away, feeling miserable.

His phone buzzed in his pocket as he made his way to the coffee shop. A new notification, probably a spam text, he reckoned as he unlocked his phone.

"What!?" He exclaimed as shock reflected in his eyes, and his phone slid out of his hand. Slowly, he bent to pick it up and rubbed his eyes to be sure he wasn't dreaming. He looked at his phone again, the message was still there.

Right in his account, there sat a crazy sum of one hundred million dollars!!