Abboud (her husband) made sure to remind her often that money and status were important; that she should take comfort in knowing that he had an excellent job and was well off, and that she was marrying someone who was well respected in the community. In time, the meaning of this statement would return to haunt her. .
Some years later, after celebrating a friends birthday and being taken home from the club drunk, the protagonist awakens to find her emerald ring missing. She is quick to place blame on a servant, however does nothing about the situation until her husband's return from work. This is the first glimpse the reader gets at how economics shapes the gender relationship in this story. The fact that she needs her husband's approval to confront the servant is a clear indicator of who is boss. As the story continues, Abboud confronts Gazia (the servant) first using a calm questioning method and later resorting to threats and violence. "You've got 15 seconds to say where you've hidden the ring or else, I swear to you, you"re not going to have a good time of it" (384). The matter was then taken to the authorities by Abboud. .
In the meantime, the young girl finds her ring, and on Abboud's return home from the club, proceeds to wave it in front of his face in sheer joy until she realizes that he is not as excited as she. "I"m sorry. I can't think of how it could have happened. What do we do now?" (385). Although the protagonist was obviously concerned about the blame she had placed on Gazia and wanted to rectify the situation, Abboud seemed quite unconcerned. She pleaded with him; "But they have been beating up the girl-you yourself said they"d not let her be till she confessed" (385). Still, Abboud was completely unconcerned about the welfare of the servant. Instead, his government rankings and respect from others in the community was the issue. " By now the whole town knows the servant stole the ring-or would you like me to tell everyone , "Look, folks the fact is that the wife got a bit tiddy on a couple sips of beer and the ring took off on its own and hid itself behind the dressing-table"? What do you think?.