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Sitting in her car in front of the bank, she tried to psych herself up. She was ready to take control of her life and her business. The new contract that would sever all ties to Eric sat in a folder next to her on the seat. This was it. It was time.
She’d called to confirm that the bank could issue the cashier’s check for $50,000. Once he signed the paper and she handed over the check, the business would be all hers. Jade’s nerves jangled in fear at the thought that she would be without a financial safety net for the first time since they opened.
Her stomach clenched. If anything expensive happened after she signed, there wouldn’t be any money for months to do anything about it. She’d briefly talked with the loan officer she had been working with on the expansion ideas. He assured her he would consider approving the expansion loan earlier than planned. If he did, the money would be enough to cover both the expansion and replenish her funds. But without the three months of operating costs in the bank as collateral, it would be a tougher sell, and the interest rate wouldn’t be as good.
Depending on what they decided, she might have to wait until she saved the money back up. That would take almost a year. Some faceless people in the back office of a bank would decide her fate.
Fifteen minutes later, she was sitting alone in the lobby of that bank, completely unsurprised that Eric was late for their appointment. Maxim, the very large Russian from the other night, was sitting quietly on the other side of the room. She didn’t like the smug, knowing look on the man’s face. Ten minutes after they should have signed the papers, Eric finally came through the door.
Of course, he didn’t look the least bit apologetic. His hands were fidgety. And he gave her an angry glare. “Let’s get this over with.”
Frustration and a deep sense of loss were a cold lump in her throat. Even now, he didn’t seem to care. He wasn’t grateful that, once again, she was bailing him out of his problems. Her friend of fifteen years didn’t seem sad that their business partnership was ending.
He was acting petulantly. Probably because he wouldn’t have the free paycheck coming into his bank account every month. Jade tried to extend an olive branch, as they went through signing the papers with the bored-looking Bank employee.
“You know if you ever need a job or work, there’ll always be a teacher slot available for you at Leap.”
“You’d love that, wouldn’t you? Have me as your employee so you can gloat over how much better you are doing than me. There’s no way in hell I’ll ever step foot inside that place again. And if you don’t think I’m going to tell everyone how heartless you are, you’re sadly mistaken.” Eric’s words were like a slap.
It wasn’t the fact that he could affect her reputation and business with his lies. She’d already had to deal with that whenever he got in a mood and lashed out. Did he really believe that she didn’t want him to succeed? “I don’t know when you changed, Eric. I miss the old you.”
His hands clenched on the desk. They signed the last of the paperwork.
“I hope someday you realize I never wanted to hurt you.”
“Whatever, Bitch.”
“Why do you have to be so cruel?”
The Russian man, who up to this point had stayed silent, snorted. “He’s cruel because he hasn’t gotten his fix today.”
Jade sat back in shock.
“Shut up, errand boy. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Eric’s defensive words caused her to take a closer look at him.
How had she not noticed how much weight he’d lost over the last few months? His skin was sallow and perspiration dotted his hairline. His jittery muscles, the vicious mood-swings. It all made sense now. She leaned forward and touched his hand.
“Oh my God, Eric. We can get you help.”
“Don’t need help, Jade. What I needed was a friend. Instead, you tossed me away so you could own the business by yourself. Don’t act like you care about me.”
“I do. I just couldn’t keep letting you walk all over me. What you were doing was going to drive our business into the ground.” Jade shook her head. “Forget the business. I’m worried about you. I’m sure we can find you an excellent program, help you get your life back under control.”
“I don’t have a problem. And I definitely don’t need your brand of help.” He pushed the signed contracts her way and snatched up the check that the notary had put down on the table. He tossed the check at the Russian and stormed out of the room.
The smug smile on the Russian’s face as he looked down at the money was annoying. He slid the check into an inside pocket of his coat and gave her a nod that sent chills down her spine. She bit her tongue as he left the room, not wanting to draw his attention back to her.
How could she have missed the signs Eric had slid so far? His gambling didn’t surprise her. He’d always been drawn to games of chance. Loving the thrill of pitting himself against people in every way possible, but it never once occurred to her he would do drugs. They were athletes. While they might abuse their bodies physically, and indulge in a little bit too much drink, they were only too aware of what that garbage could do to a body.
She gathered up the papers and organized them back into the envelope to send over to her lawyer as soon as she got a chance. A strange thought hit her. Why had Eric given the Russian the whole cashier’s check? Was that why he was happy, because they were getting more than they were owed?
She’d assumed he would have the bank split the money into two separate checks. One to pay off his debt, and one for himself. Was it possible he really owed the Russians $50,000?
Her phone beeped with a text. She looked down and saw it was from an unfamiliar number.
???:Hey girl, this is Cami. The girls and I wanted to invite you to the Clubhouse tonight for a party. It gets a little wild, but your men will be there. I think you’d have fun.
Jade stared down at the words with a smile. This was the first time in years anyone had invited her out simply to have some fun. There were several things she had to do this afternoon, and she needed to teach a class this evening at the gym. But that would be over by seven. She saved Cami’s contact info to her phone while she thought it over.
