Chapter 2 How scary can a few numbers be in the first part? -2

How scary can a few numbers be? It's okay, take it easy, take it easy.This is just a VISA card bill.A piece of paper, a few numbers.I mean, how scary can a few numbers be? I stared out my office window at a bus driving down Oxford Street.A white envelope was lying on my cluttered desk, and I forced myself to open it.It's just a piece of paper, I told myself countless times.I'm not stupid, am I? Of course I know what the number on the bill will be. to a certain degree.roughly. Probably... £200.Maybe, £300.Yes, maybe £300.£350 at most. I casually closed my eyes and summed up.That suit at Jigsaw, that dinner with Suzie at Quarino's, that gorgeous red and yellow rug.Come to think of it, that rug alone cost £200.But that's what you get for what you pay for - and everyone raves about it.Or, at least Suzie is.

And that Jigsaw outfit is on sale—30% off! So, it’s actually a savings! I opened my eyes and reached for the bill.As soon as my fingers touched the paper, I remembered the new contact lenses, 95 pounds, which is indeed quite expensive.But, I mean, I can't help but buy it, can't I? It's a blur, what can I do but walk around? And I also had to buy new eyeglass cleaner, a fancy case, and some hypoallergenic eyeliner.So all this should add up to... £400? Claire Edwards, who was sitting at my table, looked up from her seat.She was sorting all her letters, as she did every morning.She tied them with rubber bands and put stickers on them like "Come back soon" or "Come back later."I hate Claire Edwards.

"All right, Becky Rebecca's nickname.—Annotation?" Claire asked. "It's all right," I said lightly, "I'm just reading the letter." I reached into the envelope cheerfully, but my fingers couldn't quite get the bill out.They still cling to it, and my heart clenches again with my secret dreams—every month at this time. You want to know my secret dream? It's based on a story I read in the paper about a mistake that happened at the bank.I loved the story so much I cut it out and taped it on my closet door.The bank sent the wrong credit card statement for two people, and -- mind this -- the two cardholders, unaware, paid the wrong bill.They paid each other's bills without even looking at them.

Since reading this story, it has been my secret dream that the same thing will happen to me.Some silly old lady in Cornwall would get my huge bill and pay it without even looking at it.And I'll pay her bill for three tins of cat food, 59p each.This, no doubt, I will definitely pay.After all, we want a fair deal! I stared out the window, smiling all over my face.I'm sure it will happen this month - my secret dream is about to come true.But when I finally pulled the bill out of the envelope - urged on by Claire's curious gaze - my smile hesitated, then faded away.Something hot stuffed my throat.I think that might be the tension.

A series of familiar product names in black and white flashed past my eyes, like a miniature shopping mall.I'm trying to figure out what exactly are there, but they're moving so fast. Thorntons, I managed to catch a glimpse. Thorntons? What the hell am I going to do with Thorntons? I'm on a diet! There must be something wrong with this bill.It can't be my bill, there's no way I've spent that much! Take it easy! I was screaming inside.The key is not to get nervous.Just look slowly one by one.I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down, focus, and start over. WH Smith Stationery (Well, it's nothing. Everyone needs stationery.)

boots (same as above) Specsavers glasses (essential) Oddbins wine (a bottle of wine – a must) Our Price's Album (Our price? Oh, that's right. New album. Well, I had to buy it, didn't I?) One Dinner at Bella Pasta (Dinner with Caitlyn) Oddbins wine (a bottle of wine – a must) Esso gasoline (gasoline does not count) One dinner at Quaglino (it did cost a fortune - but only once) Pret a Manger (that time I ran out of cash) Oddbins wine (a bottle of wine – a must) Riches rug (What? Oh yes, that rug. Pointless rug.) La Senza lingerie (sexy lingerie bought for a date with James)

Agent Provocateur lingerie (another set of sexier lingerie bought for a date with James. Huh. Like I need it) Body store (bought my must-have skin cleansing brush) Next shirt (very annoying white shirt - but it's on sale) Millets... My eyes stopped, Millets? I've never been in Millets! What did I do in Millets? I stared at the accounts suspiciously, frowning, trying to remember—suddenly, it dawned on me.It's obvious.Someone stole my credit card! Oh God! I, Rebecca Bloomwood, have been the victim of a crime! now I understand.Some criminal stole my credit card and forged my signature.Who knows where else they used it? No wonder my bill was so huge! Someone went on a spending spree all over London with my credit card - they thought they could get away with it !

But how did they do it? I fished my wallet out of my handbag, opened it - and there was my VISA card staring at me.I took it out and stared at it.Someone must have stolen it from my purse, used it - and put it back.It must be someone I know.oh god.a? I looked around the office suspiciously.Whoever it was, he wasn't very smart.Using my card at Millets! It's kind of ridiculous, like I've ever been there to buy something. "I've never been in Millets!" I said out loud. "No, you did," Claire said. "What?" I turned to her, not happy to be interrupted. "No, I haven't been there."

"You bought Michael's farewell present at Millets, didn't you?" I stared at her and felt my smile disappear.Oh shit! Yes.That blue hooded jacket for Michael.That awful blue hooded jacket from Millets.