I Gave My Neighbor A Ten Thousand Dollar Gift

“Rosalind, don’t you worry. I use nothing but the best ingredients. The birthday person will love this cake.”

I jotted down the design my neighbor Rosalind Webber requested and offered a gentle reminder.

“Oh, and one more thing: for the money-pull cake, you’ll need to provide the thousand dollars that goes inside. Cash or transfer is fine. I’ll stuff it in for you.”

Her expression soured instantly.

“What do you mean? Didn’t I already pay you?”

I was taken aback.

“Rosalind, the hundred dollars you paid was for the cake itself. The original price is one hundred and twenty-eight dollars.

“I gave you twenty percent off and threw in free pastries. Honestly, you still shorted me a couple bucks, and I didn’t even mention it.

“The money that comes out of the cake is your surprise gift to the birthday person. That… has to come from you,” I said cautiously.

But she slammed her palm on the counter. The force sent my piping tips clattering and rolling across the floor.

“You have the nerve to charge me over a thousand dollars for one cake? Is the cake made up of gold or diamonds?

“I ordered a money-pull cake! If there’s no money in it, then what kind of money-pull cake is that? How is that not a scam?”

She planted one hand on her hip and jabbed the other finger inches from my nose.

“I’ve been in this neighborhood for over a decade. Everyone knows who I am! I’m doing you a favor by even coming here, and you’re trying to rip me off?”

I took a deep breath and said calmly, “Rosalind, I know exactly what you’re doing.

“I charge for my labor. That’s how I make my money. If you want me to stick a thousand dollars in cash inside that cake, then dream on. There’s no way I’m paying for that out of my own pocket.

“Good thing you only asked for a thousand-dollar cake today. If you’d asked for a ten-thousand-dollar cake or a hundred-thousand-dollar one, was I supposed to hand over my whole shop to you?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Spare me the speech. I’ll pick it up by 6 p.m.. If you mess it up, I’ll take this straight to the group chat and let everyone judge you.”

I frowned, finally seeing her for what she was.

This woman was here to pick a fight.

I was not about to indulge her.

I said deliberately, “If that’s the case, I can’t do this one, Rosalind. I’d be losing money on it.”

She clearly had not expected me to refuse.

She froze for a second, then let out a shrill laugh.

“Excuse me, you won’t make the cake?

“You’re just some baker. What’s so special about you? Don’t you dare get all high-and-mighty with me.”

I ignored her and refunded the hundred dollars she had transferred right back to her account.