Secret Love Nest

Hacked pt 2

We had a cold night together. My mind full with thoughts of my credit card bill problem and thinking of ways on how to solve it.

I didn't even mind if I saw Qing looking intently at me but before he can open his mouth to start a conversation I will excuse myself to go somewhere away from him. I am just avoiding a fight match with him again.

But I did asked him how my bill came into his hand.

Qing: (calmly)The shooting location was near to your apartelle so I went there to check on it when I saw the bill inside your mail box. I took it from there.

Me: And opened it?

Qing: (nodding) And opened it.

I just nodded and left. I don't have the energy to fight and reason with him anymore. I want to reserve my energy in solving my bill problem. We can always come back to Qing's habit of opening letters addressed to me later.

The next morning I asked my manager to cancel any schedule I have for that day so I can personally attend to the problem. I avoided Qing until he went out to work while I wait for the banking hour to start before I went out the house.

In the bank, I was assigned to a nice bank personnel who asked me what was wrong.

Me: (smile full of charm) It's about my billing statement this month, I think there was a mistake cause the amount is just...way too huge...

I showed her the bill. She has no initial reaction about it.

Bank Personnel: Is there something wrong with your bill Sir? You can see the items you bought using your card listed in your bill.

Me: Yes...and I studied it carefully last night. There are some items there that I can't remember buying and I won't think of buying. Like that expensive shoes and laptop and another phone...and for Pete's sake, a designer bag for ladies.

Bank Personnel: (now looked a little concern) Sir, did you lost your card?

Me: No, why?

Bank Personnel: Did you let someone else use your card?

Me: No, why?

Bank Personnel: You don't let other people handle your card.

Me: (getting slightly irritated at the questions) No. My card is always in my wallet and my wallet is with me all the time (or with my assistant or manager but whatever, right?)

Bank Personnel: (nodding) I think I should refer you to our manager Sir. Wait here for a moment.

The personnel left and the next thing I knew I was directed, not on the manager's office but on an office situated at the top floor of the bank's building.

I was waiting there close to an hour when the door opened. My eyes widened in surprise when I saw Qing entered with another guy who looks a bit familiar to me.

Me: (standing up) (addressing Qing) What are you doing here?

Qing: (point at the other guy) He's a close friend of our family. A big brother to me. Their family owned this bank, he's a VP here. He asked me to come here to explain things about your account.

It clicked to my head. I met the other guy before. In a gathering with Qing's other friends. I think this guy is closer to Wang Zhu, Qing's cousin, than to Qing.

Me: (politely) Hello, nice to see you again.

Bank VP: Hello, Dayu right? I'm sorry that we meet again in this kind of circumstances but I think we have a problem.

Me: (grimacing) Yes, when I read my billing statement, that's also what I thought. I have a problem...

The Vice President of the bank nod at me. Then he asked us to sit.

Bank VP: The problem is someone hacked into our system and I think those hackers got an access into Dayu's account.

Qing: (frowning) You mean they had an access to use his card?

Bank VP: I'm afraid so, yes. We traced every item on Dayu's statement and some of them are bought in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Qing and I was shocked at that information.

Me: Someone from Taiwan and Hong Kong hacked your system?

Bank VP: (shaking his head) That is the sad thing about cases like this. Authorities can trace the general location but can't pin point an exact location to find those hackers. Something to do with signal towers, I'm not so sure. We already reported this hacking incident to our system cause Dayu is not the first person to complain about their unexplained huge billing statement.

Qing: And did you find the solution to this problem?

Bank VP: We are overhauling our whole security system. Fortunately, we don't have that many victims and they came to us immediately about this problem. By next week we will have a new security features put on and we will give the notice out to our members...

Qing: But...

Bank VP: But there are already victims and the damage is done.

Me: And the solution is?

Bank VP: Dayu had to pay at least half of the amount stated on his bill.

Me: (my heart jumped) H-half? I have to pay half?

Bank VP: (apologetic) That is what's stated on the contract you signed when you get that card.

I turn to Qing who closed his eyes, looking resigned.

Me: (turning to the VP again) I have to pay half even if I didn't even spent half of that half of the total amount stated there on the bill? (The VP nodded) Aren't you being a little unfair to me? I am already a victim here.

Bank VP: I know Dayu, and I am sorry but that is the bank's policy. My hands are tied too. The good news is the bank is willing to take the payments in installment. We can give you a whole year to pay half of the amount stated on your bill...

I blanched at that. Pay in installment? And that is the good news? Is he kidding me? Why should I pay for the things I didn't buy? Why do I have to pay for their mistake? They are the one with the crappy security system. They didn't protect those victim of hacking like me!

I open my mouth to protest when Qing finally speak again...

Qing: We will pay it in full...

I looked at him in shock.