Gold digger

Jenna thought she was set up for life, until everything fell apart¼

All I' m saying is, don' t let your heart rule your head, Dee. In the position you' re in, it' s so easy to attract gold-diggers.'

There' s no danger of that,' my wealthy friend Dee smiled.

She hadn' t always been wealthy.

A recent substantial inheritance from an uncle had meant she' d resigned from her factory job and become a lady of leisure.

Dee had swapped her damp, poky council flat for a detached, luxury fivebedroom house, complete with a vast garden, a conservatory, an indoor heated swimming pool and a snug cinema room.

She' d splashed out on new clothes, plus she' d added a glamorous bright red sports car to the list.

There' s every danger,' I said.

How can Tom be a golddigger when he works for a homeless charity?' she asked.

Tom was Dee' s new boyfriend. She' d been seeing him for two weeks.

Feel free to call me a cynic, but Tom could be lying, simply to get his mitts on your money.'

She looked exasperated. How can he be lying, Jenna, when he called at the door with photo ID?'

`Anyone can knock those ID cards up on a computer. Shall we see if the charity really exists?'

She nodded, and I pulled her high-end laptop toward me.

We found the charity online.

There he is!' Dee exclaimed, when we spotted Tom' s photo on the Meet the team website page.

He certainly looked friendly and trustworthy, yet I knew how deceptive appearances could be...

Ioften popped round to Dee' s after my shift at the factory. It was heaven to have a hot power shower (the pathetic stop-start flow in my council flat was only lukewarm), wrap myself in a thick, soft towel, then sink into the deep velvet sofa to watch her huge, sleek, hi-tech telly.

I' m bored,' Dee declared later over our six-course takeaway Chinese meal.

I' m fed up with going shopping and having my hair and nails done. I' m lonely¼ I miss my friends at the factory.'

I stared at her in amazement. I couldn' t believe

Dee was moaning, after her fabulous, lifechanging windfall.

I was just about to suggest that I move in as a non-paying lodger to keep her company, when the doorbell rang.

It was Tom.

Seeing them so loved-up, I suddenly felt pushed out.

Time to go,' I said, as I shrugged on my jacket, plodded out into the rain and caught the bus.

Dee didn' t persuade me to stay over or offer to call me a taxi she was too busy giggling with Tom.

How are you getting on?' I asked Tom on the phone a few days later.

Fine,' he whispered. But I need more time.'

The spoilt, ungrateful mare is saying she' s bored and lonely. Huh! I wish we had that problem.' I tried to cut back on the sour tone in my voice, but it was difficult.

Dee had it all. Good looks, pots of money and a wardrobe stuffed with designer outfits and flashy jewellery. Plus a slim figure, fabulous hair, and a gorgeous home and car.

Look, it' s not easy, trying to persuade her to part with a vast sum. I' m working up to a big charity donation.' Good,' I said. Make sure you insist on cash, not a bank transfer.' Of course. Speak soon,

darling.'

I smiled as I ended the call. Tom wasn' t Dee' s boyfriend he was mine.

We' d met a year ago at the homeless charity. When my freshly released ex-convict, Lee, threw me out of his house, I had nowhere to go.

There was an instant spark between Tom and me. He quickly found me a room in a hostel, and soon after I was offered a council flat. A job followed.

At the food factory, I made friends with the supervisor, Dee. And because we were mates, I looked forward to longer coffee breaks.

I didn' t mention Tom to her. I guess I felt insecure, as she was a

Love Island type

slender with a long mane of hair and perfect skin. Far better looking than me.

When Dee hit the inheritance jackpot, I was happy for her to borrow Tom on a temporary basis.

It was easy for him to knock on her door and spin her the charity spiel. He' d turn on the charm and hopefully they' d soon get cosy¼ that part of the scheme went smoothly. So why was I warning Dee against Tom?

Well, in the circumstances, it' d look strange if I didn' t express my concerns, wouldn' t it?

If Tom and I pulled off the scam, we' d do a runner.

We' d adopt new names

(I' d made it up with Lee and he' d helped source false ID paperwork for us), and escape to a remote location.

Dee had it all. Good looks, pots of money and a wardrobe stuffed with designer outfits

I hate to say this, Jenna,'

Tom began nervously. But I want out.'

My heart almost stopped. What?'

He' d popped round to deliver the bad news personally.

Dee' s told me that you' ve tried to warn her off me,' he said. Why did you do that?'

Er¼' My mind spun. It had never occurred to me that Dee would mention her doubts to Tom.

He sat down and put his head in his hands. Dee' s forced me to face up to the truth I was being a gold-digger, wasn' t I?'

I kept calm as I noted the use of the past tense. What have you said to Dee?'

I just prayed he hadn' t confessed.

That I' ve fallen in love with her.'

My blood ran cold. I see.' I' m sorry, Jenna, but I really have. She' s a genuinely kind and caring person. She' s going to volunteer at my charity so she won' t be bored and lonely, plus she' s promised to donate a substantial amount.'

I sighed how had our plan gone so wrong?

You' d better leave.'

It' s time you faced the truth yourself, Jenna. You' re full of envy and driven by greed. You hang around

Dee like a bad smell.'

Get out!'

According to her, you were the laziest worker in the factory. She doesn' t want to see you again and neither do I,' he added as he slammed the door.

It was a shock, yet I was able to take stock. I' d lost a boyfriend and a major stream of potential income not forgetting access to regular luxury home comforts.

Did I deserve to lose them? Maybe, but there was one option left.

I grabbed my mobile and found the name on my contact list.

Hi, Lee, honey. It' s me!' I purred¼