Anthony Finally Says NO: Where Did Shayla’s $3,000 Go?
The room was already tense, but Shayla wasn’t ready to back down.
She stood near the kitchen counter, phone pressed against her ear,
trying to sound confident even though she knew Anthony was becoming frustrated.
Shayla took a deep breath before speaking.
Shayla:
“Anthony, I’m trying to tell you that I need help with my rent.
I need you to pay it.”
There was silence on the other end.
For a few seconds, Anthony didn’t say anything.
That silence made Shayla even more impatient.
Shayla:
“Anthony? Are you listening to me?”
Anthony finally responded, but his voice was noticeably calmer than hers.
Anthony:
“Yeah, Shayla. I’m listening.”
He paused.
Anthony:
“But I need you to understand something. I just gave you $3,000.”
Shayla:
“And?”
Anthony couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Anthony:
“And you’re already asking me for more money?”
Shayla:
“I’m not asking you for something unreasonable. I have rent due.
What am I supposed to do?”
Anthony sighed.
Anthony:
“Shayla, you just received three thousand dollars from me.”
Shayla:
“That money is gone.”
Anthony went completely silent.
Anthony:
“Gone?”
Shayla:
“Yes.”
Anthony:
“How?”
Shayla hesitated.
For the first time during the conversation, she didn’t have an immediate answer.
Shayla:
“I had things to take care of.”
Anthony:
“What things?”
Shayla:
“Why are you interrogating me?”
Anthony:
“I’m not interrogating you. I’m asking a simple question.”
He paused before continuing.
Anthony:
“If I give you $3,000 because you tell me you need help,
and then you come back asking for rent money days later,
I think I have a right to know where the money went.”
Shayla:
“Anthony, you’re making this way bigger than it needs to be.”
Anthony:
“No. You’re making it bigger by refusing to answer.”
The tension immediately increased.
Shayla looked around the room, clearly frustrated.
Shayla:
“You’re supposed to help me. You’re the father of my baby.”
Anthony:
“Exactly. I’m the father of my son.”
He paused.
Anthony:
“And I will always take care of my son.”
His voice became firmer.
Anthony:
“But that doesn’t mean I’m responsible for every expense you have.”
Shayla’s face changed.
She clearly wasn’t expecting him to say that.
Shayla:
“Wow…”
Anthony:
“What?”
Shayla:
“So now you’re acting like I’m asking you for too much?”
Anthony:
“I’m saying I already gave you $3,000.”
Shayla:
“And I told you I needed it!”
Anthony:
“For what?”
Another silence.
This time, Shayla didn’t answer.
Anthony:
“Shayla?”
Shayla:
“What?”
Anthony:
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Shayla looked away.
Shayla:
“I don’t have to explain every single thing I spend money on.”
Anthony:
“If you’re asking me for more money, then yes,
I think you should explain.”
D’Nisha Walks In
Meanwhile, D’Nisha had quietly walked into the room.
She wasn’t trying to listen to the conversation, but Anthony’s voice caught her attention.
She stopped.
Then she heard Shayla say something that made her eyebrows rise.
Shayla:
“Anthony, I’m telling you I need rent money.
Why are you making me feel bad about it?”
D’Nisha looked at Shayla.
Then she looked at the phone.
Something didn’t add up.
Anthony:
“I’m not trying to make you feel bad.
I’m trying to understand how $3,000 disappeared so quickly.”
D’Nisha’s expression became serious.
Shayla:
“Can you give me a minute?”
D’Nisha didn’t move.
D’Nisha:
“He gave you $3,000?”
Shayla covered the phone for a moment.
Shayla:
“D’Nisha, please stay out of this.”
D’Nisha:
“I’m just asking.”
Shayla uncovered the phone.
Shayla:
“Anthony, I’ll call you back.”
Anthony immediately stopped her.
Anthony:
“Wait.”
Shayla froze.
Anthony:
“I’m not sending any more money until I know where the $3,000 went.”
Shayla:
“Are you serious?”
Anthony:
“Completely serious.”
Shayla:
“So you’re just going to leave me without rent?”
Anthony:
“I’m not leaving my son without anything.”
He paused.
Anthony:
“But I’m also not going to keep handing over money without knowing what’s happening.”
Shayla looked stunned.
Shayla:
“Anthony…”
Anthony:
“Think about what I said.”
Then the call ended.
CLICK.
Shayla slowly lowered the phone.
For several seconds, nobody said anything.
D’Nisha:
“Shayla…”
Shayla didn’t respond.
D’Nisha:
“Where did the $3,000 go?”
Shayla:
“Why does everybody suddenly care about my money?”
D’Nisha:
“Because you just told Anthony it was gone.”
Shayla:
“It was.”
D’Nisha:
“Okay… then where did it go?”
Shayla crossed her arms.
Shayla:
“I told you. I had things to pay.”
D’Nisha:
“What things?”
Shayla:
“D’Nisha, seriously?”
D’Nisha:
“I’m serious because $3,000 doesn’t just disappear.”
Shayla looked away.
D’Nisha:
“If you spent it on rent, food, the baby, or something important,
then just say that.”
Shayla remained silent.
That silence said more than words ever could.
D’Nisha:
“Wait…”
Shayla:
“What?”
D’Nisha:
“Don’t tell me you spent that money on something else.”
Shayla’s face suddenly changed.
Her confidence disappeared.
Shayla:
“I didn’t say that.”
D’Nisha:
“You didn’t deny it either.”
Shayla:
“I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
D’Nisha:
“Maybe not to me.”
She paused.
D’Nisha:
“But you might have to explain it to Anthony.”
Shayla looked down at her phone.
For a moment, it seemed like she was considering calling him back.
But then she stopped.
D’Nisha:
“What are you hiding?”
Shayla:
“Nothing.”
D’Nisha:
“Then why are you acting nervous?”
Shayla grabbed her purse.
Shayla:
“I have somewhere to be.”
D’Nisha:
“Right now?”
Shayla:
“Yes.”
D’Nisha:
“Where?”
Shayla stopped.
She turned around slowly.
Shayla:
“It doesn’t matter.”
D’Nisha:
“It matters if that’s where the $3,000 went.”
Shayla didn’t answer.
Instead, she walked toward the door.
D’Nisha:
“Shayla, wait.”
Shayla stopped but refused to turn around.
D’Nisha:
“Anthony gave you $3,000 because he trusted you.”
Shayla finally turned around.
D’Nisha:
“If you spent it on something you weren’t supposed to,
you need to tell him before he finds out another way.”
Shayla:
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
D’Nisha:
“Then tell me I’m wrong.”
Shayla said nothing.
D’Nisha waited.
Five seconds passed.
Ten.
Still nothing.
Then suddenly, Shayla’s phone buzzed.
BZZZT!
Both women looked down at the phone.
Shayla quickly grabbed it.
Her eyes widened after reading the message.
D’Nisha noticed her reaction.
D’Nisha:
“Who was that?”
Shayla:
“Nobody.”
D’Nisha:
“Shayla…”
Shayla:
“I said nobody!”
She quickly put the phone away.
But D’Nisha had already seen the fear in her eyes.
D’Nisha:
“Whatever that message was… it clearly scared you.”
Shayla:
“I have to go.”
She opened the door.
D’Nisha:
“Just answer one question.”
Shayla looked back.
D’Nisha:
“Where did Anthony’s $3,000 really go?”
Shayla stared at her.
No answer.
Then she walked out.
The door slowly closed behind her.
D’Nisha stood there, completely confused.
