Chapter 12 TIME BOMB PART 2
"Vee," Marcus started, "I know you don't want to hear it, but that's the only choice we have left. We could make an offer with them. Two hundred thousand dollars would pay off my loan, get us new equipment, and give us time to rebuild our client list. It would save a lot of things."
"You don't know if they'll agree to two hundred thousand. That's a lot for a one-time deal."
"Then take whatever he's willing to give you. It might be more or less, but at least we'd know if you agree to meet him."
Vivienne looked down. "I'm looking into other options."
"What other options?"
"First National Bank hasn't gotten back to me about the loan yet. I'm also making calls to old clients. We have old contacts, so someone will definitely come through."
For a moment, Marcus was quiet. His voice was softer when he spoke again. "Have any of them come through yet?"
She didn't respond.
"Vee, I'm not trying to force you to do something you don't want to do. But time is running out. I have forty days to pay my loan. If I don't, I lose my house. My marriage is on the line, Vee. What will happen to my family if that happens..." He stopped talking and shook his head. "Vee, why are you being selfish?"
"What? Selfish?" Her voice heightened, defensively. Her face red. "I said I would fix it, and I'm not being selfish. I just need a little more time."
"I didn't think twice about putting my house up so we could stay afloat," Marcus said, leaning forward with his elbows on his desk. "Why is this one thing so hard for you? I don't want to hear about your no-camera rule. You're the CEO of CrossLight. What does it matter?"
Vivienne's throat was tight. She didn't know how to answer that.
"It's complicated," she finally said.
"How is it complicated?"
"It just is, Marcus. Please believe me."
Marcus looked at her, trying to find answers on her face that she wouldn't give him. He sighed and leaned back in his chair after that.
"Okay." He hesitated. "I'll let you do it your way, but you have a week. If nothing comes through by then, we have to take that offer."
She got up. "I need to get to work."
"Yes. Me too."
She left his office and walked back to her own, shutting the door behind her.
The rest of the morning was a blur of pointless phone calls.
She started with her old clients, many of whom had moved on to bigger agencies but were always nice when they saw each other at industry events.
"Hey Vivienne, how are you? Oh, CrossLight? I heard you guys were going through some changes..."
"I wish I could help, but we just signed a deal with Sterling. You know how it is."
"Let me talk to my team and get back to you. I'll call you next week, okay?"
Next, she called people she used to work with, her old coworkers. These people owed her favors and had promised to help her if she ever needed it.
"Hey, Vivienne. It's good to hear from you. Things are pretty tight right now..."
"I'd love to give you some work, but our budget is set until the second quarter. Maybe try again in July?"
There were seven months until July. They couldn't wait seven months.
She had called eleven contacts by noon. Eleven polite no's.
She went to see Noah around 12:30. He was still in the conference room, drawings of spaceships and planets all around him. He smiled when she walked in and looked up.
"Are you hungry?" she asked.
"Yes, a little. Can we get pizza?"
"Sure. Do you want pepperoni?"
"Of course."
She ordered from Antonio's, the greasy pizza place down the street that Noah loved and she put up with. They had lunch together in the conference room and listened to him talk about the new book he was reading, a book about astronauts on Mars. He was lively and waved a piece of pizza around in one hand. For a moment, she could almost forget everything else.
After all, Noah was her whole world.
Her son was talking, and her laptop was open on the table next to her. There was an email alert in the corner of the screen. She moved the laptop closer to her and turned it away from Noah.
First National Bank.
Decision on Loan Application
Her stomach sank.
She clicked on it even though she already knew what it would say.
Dear Ms. Cross,
Thank you for wanting to learn more about First National Bank's small business loan program. We are sorry to say that we cannot approve your request at this time after carefully reviewing your application and financial documents.
The following things were taken into account when making the decision:
Not enough collateral
The current debt-to-income ratio is higher than what is acceptable.
Recent drop in revenue forecasts
If your financial situation changes, we encourage you to apply again in 6 to 12 months.
Thank you,
The Business Loan Department of First National Bank
Vivienne shut the laptop.
"Mom? Are you okay?"
She raised her head. Noah was looking at her, forgetting about his pizza.
"Yeah, baby. I'm fine." She smiled through invisible tears. "Finish your lunch. I need to make a few more calls."
He nodded and went back to his pizza, but she could tell he was watching her leave the room.
The afternoon was worse than the morning.
She called everyone she could think of, yet she got nothing.
Her list of contacts was empty by four o'clock. She was too.
She opened her banking app anyway, even though she knew what she'd see.
Personal checking: $2,100.
Checking for business: $20,800.
She shut the app and looked at the ceiling.
Her laptop had her email open. She hadn't answered Alexander's message yet. She had read it so many times that she knew it by heart.
She read it again. Then she closed it without replying.
She didn't have to reply. It was a big no for her.
Even after her little fight with Marcus this morning, it's still a big no.
It wasn't going to happen. And that was it.
She just needs to find a different way. There has to be another way.
Marcus left at about four-thirty. On his way out, he stopped by her office.
"I'm leaving now. I'm taking my niece and nephew out for ice cream later tonight," he said. "Are you leaving soon?"
"Not yet. I'm just finishing up some things."
He stood in the doorway for a moment. "Did you have any luck with those calls?"
"I'm sure I'll hear back from a few people."
Marcus nodded, but she could tell he didn't believe her. "Okay. See you tomorrow."
Then he left.
Most of the staff had already gone home, at least the ones who were still there. Now it was only Vivienne and Noah.
She turned off her laptop and went to get him from the meeting room.