Page 48 of Temporary Vows

Marcus smiles. “To you, too, Elodie Harper.”

He has the same South Boston accent as the scar-faced man, but his is thicker.

“I apologize for the late payment,” I begin. I hate apologizing for something I’ve already explained, but over the last twenty-four hours, my messages to him have been nothing but apology. It should be enough, but doing it one more time won’t hurt. You can’t stick to normal rules of society with people like this.

Marcus straightens and walks around his desk. He stops in front of it and lowers himself onto the edge.

“So, tell me, Miss Harper,” he says, folding his hands loosely, “just how much are you going to pay me tonight?”

I draw in a measured breath. “Fifty thousand.”

His eyes widen slightly. I take that to mean he’s surprised. That’s a good thing.

At least, it should be.

My optimism dies fast when his face hardens.

“Fifty thousand,” he repeats slowly, like he’s tasting the number. “That’s… impressive for a little schoolteacher.” His mouth curves, but it’s not a smile. “You must’ve worked very hard for that money.”

“I did,” I say quietly. “I was hoping we could talk about restructuring the monthly payments. I don’t think my friend is coming back, so this loan is left to me. I don’t want to fall behind again. I?—”

He clicks his tongue, cutting me off. “See, that’s where you and I have a problem, sweetheart.”

“What sort of problem?” I bite down on my back teeth to keep them from chattering.

Marcus leans forward, forearms braced on his thighs, his gaze pinning me in place. The lazy friendliness drops from his face, and I finally see the man people whisper about.

“You’re talking like this is still the old agreement,” he mutters. “The one with cute little monthly installments and grace periods.” He tilts his head. “But you missed your deadline. You broke the terms.”

My fingers tighten around the strap of my bag. “I told you I’d be late. I told you I’d come today with as much as I could.”

“And I let you keep your life.” The mildness in his tone twists my insides. “That was me being generous.”

A cold knot forms in my stomach. “Marcus… this is fifty thousand dollars.”

“Yes.” His eyes flatten. “And now that you’re in default, that’s not a payment, Elodie. That’s adown payment.”

The floor tilts beneath my feet. “A… down payment on what?”

His smile returns, slow and shark-like. “On the full amount of the original two hundred thousand. I want the full balance all in one lump sum.”

For a second, I honestly think I mishear him.

“The… full amount?” My voice scrapes out of my throat. “But what about all the payments that were already made?”

“Written off as penalty payments.”

“But that’s not fair.” I can barely get the words out. “I’ve worked so hard to pay you back. This loan isn’t even mine to pay.”

“Sorry, doll, I’m the one who gets to decide fairness here. And I’m choosing not to do business with you anymore. Therefore, I want everything now.”

God, this can’t be happening. “Everything?”

He tilts his head, studying me like I’m exceptionally slow. “That’s what ‘one lump sum’ means, sweetheart.”

“But that wasn’t our agreement.” My fingers curl into my palms so hard my nails bite skin. “We agreed monthly payments. I’ve been paying monthly.”

“Wehadan agreement,” he corrects, voice going flat. “Then you were late. Twice. When you don’t show up when you’re supposed to, terms change.”