Chapter 10 DESPERATE TIME PART 3
Vivienne and Marcus had been working together for the past seven years now, and although they weren't where they'd hoped they'd be, this was the worst possible thing that could ever happen to them.
"I thought the contracts would go through. I thought we would be fine. But they didn't, and now the loan is due in forty-five days. If we don't pay..." Marcus's voice broke. "I'll lose my house. My kids will lose their home."
Vivienne couldn't talk. The words wouldn't come out. She sat on the cold hospital floor with the phone to her ear, listening to her best friend's life fall apart.
"I'm sorry," Marcus said again. "I thought I could fix it without you having to worry. But Vee, we don't have any other choices. Unless..."
"Unless what?"
"The Hunt contract. Vee, they're ready to talk about the terms with us. We have almost an open check. We could pay for everything: the rent, the loan, new equipment, and more."
Vivienne's jaw tightened. She could feel the walls closing in on her and every way out of the room disappearing one by one. "I'll take care of it. Remember, I went to the bank this morning?"
"Yeah, how did that work out?"
Vivienne didn't answer.
"Vee, two other banks turned us down. We've been turned down twice. What makes you think..."
"Then I'll find another investor, client, or something." She seemed confident, even though her hands were shaking. "Marcus, believe me. I'll take care of this."
"But the Hunt deal..."
"Not an option." She got up and brushed the dust off her pants. "I'll call you later. I need to check on Noah."
She hung up before he could say anything.
Noah had fallen asleep when she got back to the examination room. His face was still red and his breathing was shallow, but at least he was resting. She sat back down in the chair next to his bed and waited.
Thirty minutes later, Dr. Patel came back. He pulled up Noah's chart on a tablet and said, "The results are in. It's acute strep throat. And early signs of scarlet fever. We're going to start him on IV antibiotics and keep him here for observation. Four to six hours, just to make sure the fever comes down and he responds well to treatment."
"But he'll be fine?" Vivienne asked.
"He'll be okay."
She nodded.
They took Noah to another small room with a bed, a chair, and a window that looked out over the parking lot. Then the nurse came in to start the IV.
"You're so brave, baby," Vivienne whispered, and squeezed his other hand.
Noah's eyes were closing in a matter of minutes. The drugs and tiredness were pulling him down.
Vivienne sat down next to him and finally let herself breathe.
She still had her phone in her hand.
She opened her banking app and looked at the numbers she already knew by heart. Personal account: $2,600. Business account: $23,000. The payroll was due in two weeks. $30,000 that she didn't have.
She did the math in her head again, even though she knew it wouldn't change. Marcus's loan: $65,000 in 45 days. To replace the equipment, it will cost $80,000. $40,000 in back rent.
It would be more than enough if she could somehow get the bank loan. But that was a big if.
Next, she checked her email.
The last message from Alexander was still at the top of her inbox, unread. She clicked on it.
Ms. Cross,
I know you have concerns about the project, but I think it would be good for both of us to talk. I am ready to offer you a six-month exclusive contract and also compensate you for your extra time and skills. We can meet anywhere you want to talk about the terms, and I'm willing to work out an open budget for this project.
Please tell me when you can talk.
Best, Alexander Hunt
She read it again and again, this time letting the words sink in.
He probably sent Marcus a message like that, hoping that her business partner could talk her into it. But why was Alexander so determined to get her to work on this project? Why make the budget open? That level of flexibility wasn't normal, especially for someone like Alexander Hunt.
How much was he willing to spend? A hundred thousand? Two hundred? What if it was more? What if it really could save everything?
Her thumb was right above the reply button.
But then she thought about what it would mean to say yes. She would have to see Alexander every day, work with him, and act like she didn't know him. The only man she had ever loved. She would have to pretend it didn't hurt her. And Victoria. There was always a chance that she would run into Victoria. Vivienne would be going back into their world if she signed this contract, putting everything she had worked for at risk.
Putting herself at risk of them finding out who she really was. And the worst part is that Alexander might find out about Noah.
No. "I won't take the chance," she said to herself.
She put her phone away and didn't answer.
"Mom?"
She raised her head. Noah's eyes were only slightly open.
"Right here, baby."
"Will I be okay?"
She leaned in and brushed his hair back from his forehead. "Yes. You're going to be just fine."
His eyes closed again, and in a matter of seconds, his breathing became normal.
Vivienne watched him while he slept. Saw the IV drip slowly flow into his arm. Listened to the steady beep of his heart rate from the monitor.
She thought about Marcus's house and couldn't shake the guilt that was weighing on her chest. She couldn't let him lose his home. And her workers who needed CrossLight to make a living. How could she let them down now?
And the loan. She had left at the worst possible time, and now she wasn't sure if she could get another appointment at the bank.
But she had to try again.
She would do anything else but take Alexander's offer.
She would rather lose everything she had worked for than let Alexander Hunt or his family get close to her son. She would rather go broke than let them find out who she really was. She spent all those years making a new life for herself. She isn't going to lose everything to that family again. She wouldn't risk that for any amount of money.
But there had to be a different way. She couldn't afford to let Marcus and the other people who worked for her go down with her.
There had to be.
Vivienne felt the walls closing in on her even as she told herself that. She watched her son sleep with an IV in his small arm and heard Marcus's words echoing in her head.
She thought about running away and hiding. But that might just lead to her defeat again.
What if there is no other way?
She was going to lose everything. Just like ten years ago.