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“Sonia, I don’t know what’s been going on with you the past few days but you’re acting…” He scans the room of members. “You know how we have to act around here. And it’s not like that.”
It’s true. We follow a code of conduct at all timesdespite whatever hell is going on in the background. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”
Farley’s eyes soften for a moment.
Maybe I can tell him. Maybe he’ll listen. We’re friends, aren’t we? Perhaps he’d listen and keep my secret and–
“So, what is the date, then? For the closure?”
Right…how could I be so stupid?It’s all business. “I don’t know, I’ll have to look at my calendar.”
“Could you let me know by five today?”
“Fine. I’ll–” My phone starts to vibrate; I pull it out of the pocket of my slacks.
My heart falls into my stomach when I see the contact information. It’s just a phone number without a name attached, but I know the number by heart. Attaching it to a name will make it seem too permanent. Too…awful.
If he’s calling me, I know I’ve fucked up. “I have to take this.”
Farley starts to protest, but I ignore him and head into my office, shutting the door behind me as I answer. “Hi, Bruce.”
“You’re late on your payment, Sonia.”
My heart drops into my stomach. “Am I?”
I look down at the blotter on my desktop, the one that has a printed calendar on it where I notate things like meetings and dinners with Bridget. Days I’m supposed to pay the loan shark.
And sure enough, I was supposed to issue out a payment yesterday. “I’m sorry, things have been hectic, let me–”
“It’s payment and a half now.”
I drop into my chair. “I…what?”
“You’re late on a payment, now you owe–”
“I can’t give you payment and a half.”
I swear, Bruce, the fucking loan shark, chuckles. “Then we can add it to your tab.”
“I–” I lean my forehead on my hand. “I’m going to be paying you back for the rest of my life.”
“It’s a shame the daughter has to pay for the sins of the father. I know, it’s not fair.” Bruce sighs. “But those are the rules.”
My eyes burn with hot tears.Moretears.
I’ve cried every day since Edwin found out about me and Nate. And the crying is never cathartic. It’s painful.
I hate that nothing is going right in my life. Will it ever? “How can I follow the rules when you keep changing them?”
“Life isn’t fair, cupcake. And neither am I. Get me your late payment by the end of the day. Or else–”
“Let me guess. I owe you double.”
“Now you’re catching on.”
As soon as Bruce hangs up, I go to my banking app, transfer everything in my checking account to his money grubbing hands, and then throw my phone across the room before tumbling into a fit of tears.
I’m trapped.
