Chapter 9: The Offer That Came With a Threat
Alicia stared at Cynthia.
The gift basket sat between them.
Inside were imported chocolates, expensive tea, and a bouquet of white roses.
It looked like an apology.
But Cynthia hadn't apologized.
She had walked into Alicia's workplace and referred to a fraudulent loan application as a misunderstanding.
“Please come into my office,” Alicia said.
Cynthia glanced at Mia.
“Can we speak privately?””
Alicia nodded to her employee.
“Mia, please keep the front desk covered.””
Mia gave Alicia a concerned look before returning to the counter.
Inside the office, Cynthia took the visitor's chair without being invited.
She placed her handbag on the floor and folded her hands.
“I know things got emotional last night.””
Alicia remained standing.
“Why is my business listed on a credit application for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars?””
Cynthia sighed.
“Because Derek was exploring options.””
“Options for whom?””
“For the family.””
“My business is not the family.””
Cynthia's smile faded.
“That's a very cold way of looking at marriage.””
“I'm not married yet.””
“Exactly. Which is why we should resolve this before things become more complicated.””
Alicia looked at her.
“Did you authorize Derek to submit that application?””
Cynthia hesitated.
“He was only checking eligibility.””
“Using my information.””
“Yes, but he didn't intend to cause any harm.””
“Did you give him my bank statements?””
Cynthia looked down at her handbag.
“I was trying to understand your business position.””
“You had no permission.””
“Because you never would have listened!””
Alicia folded her arms.
“So you went behind my back?””
Cynthia stood abruptly.
“Don't twist my intentions.””
Alicia remained calm.
“Then explain them.””
Cynthia walked toward the window.
“Your business is doing well. You have equipment, customers, a good reputation. There are opportunities you don't even understand.””
“Such as?””
“A larger commercial kitchen. A second location. Better equipment.””
Alicia frowned.
“I never said I wanted another location.””
“You should. You're wasting your potential.””
“My business is not yours to expand.””
Cynthia turned.
“I'm trying to help you.””
“By applying for a loan I didn't request?””
Cynthia's expression tightened.
“Derek said the paperwork could be prepared in advance. Nothing would happen without the final approval.””
“Then why is my signature on the authorization?””
Cynthia went quiet.
Alicia opened the email on her laptop and turned the screen toward her.
“Look at it.””
Cynthia glanced at the document.
Then she looked away.
“That's a preliminary form.””
“That's my name.””
“It's just a signature.””
Alicia stared at her.
“It's my signature.””
Cynthia sighed.
“Fine. I admit the paperwork should have been discussed with you first.””
“Should have been?””
“Yes. But that doesn't mean you need to turn this into a scandal.””
Alicia sat down.
“Who is Derek?””
“He's a financial consultant.””
“What company?””
Cynthia named a small financial services firm.
Alicia typed it into her phone.
She found the company's website and opened its contact page.
“Did you tell Derek that I agreed to the application?””
Cynthia looked irritated.
“I told him you would probably agree after the wedding.””
Alicia slowly put down her phone.
“You told him I would agree after the wedding?””
“Because you would be part of the family.””
Alicia shook her head.
“You keep using marriage to explain why you think you can make decisions for me.””
Cynthia stepped closer.
“You need to understand something. Andre has obligations. His father has debts.
Our family has a reputation to maintain. When you marry him, these things will become your concern too.””
“Not through a loan in my business's name.””
“Why not? You have the means.””
“Because I didn't agree.””
Cynthia looked at her for a long moment.
Then her voice became quieter.
“Do you really want to lose Andre over this?””
Alicia felt the words settle heavily in the room.
There it was again.
Love as a weapon.
Marriage as leverage.
And family as an excuse for taking whatever someone else had built.
“Are you threatening my relationship?””
“I'm reminding you that relationships require compromise.””
“Compromise isn't forgery.””
Cynthia's expression changed.
“You need to be careful with accusations like that.””
Alicia opened the folder on her desk.
Inside were printed copies of the venue documents, the cake receipt, and the unauthorized credit application.
“I've already contacted the bank. They've placed security restrictions on my business account. The venue has also been notified that I dispute the documents.””
Cynthia's face went pale.
“You did what?””
“I protected my business.””
“You're making this much worse!””
“No. I'm making sure it doesn't get worse.””
Cynthia grabbed her handbag.
“Do you know what will happen if people find out?””
Alicia looked directly at her.
“They'll know the truth.””
Cynthia laughed bitterly.
“Truth? You think people will believe you over me?””
Alicia didn't answer.
Cynthia continued.
“I have known these people for twenty years. They trust me. I organized this entire celebration. I brought everyone together.””
“And you told them I had agreed to make twelve cakes.””
“That was a small misunderstanding.””
“You collected eighteen hundred dollars.””
“I was organizing the event!””
“You signed my name.””
Cynthia's voice rose.
“Enough!””
The office door opened.
Andre stood in the doorway.
He looked at his mother.
Then at the documents on the desk.
“Mom, what are you doing here?””
Cynthia immediately changed her tone.
“I'm trying to make peace.””
Andre looked at the gift basket.
“By bringing flowers?””
“Your fiancée has turned a family issue into a legal matter.””
Andre stepped inside.
“Because you submitted documents using her name.””
Cynthia shook her head.
“Derek prepared the forms.””
“Who told him to?””
Cynthia said nothing.
Andre pulled out his phone.
“I've spoken to the bank's fraud department. They confirmed that a credit inquiry was initiated using Alicia's business information.””
Cynthia looked stunned.
“What?””
“The application hasn't been approved. But they've opened an investigation.””
Cynthia sat down.
For the first time, she seemed genuinely frightened.
Andre continued.
“They also told me something else.””
Alicia looked at him.
“What?””
“The account information wasn't only used for the credit assessment. Someone attempted to register a secondary contact on the application.””
Alicia frowned.
“Who?””
Andre turned his phone around.
The name appeared on the screen.
*Cynthia Harper.*
Alicia looked at her.
Cynthia immediately stood.
“I was only helping manage the process.””
Andre shook his head.
“You were trying to make yourself the contact person for a loan under her business.””
“I was going to help with the repayments!””
“With whose money?””
Cynthia looked at him.
Then, in a desperate voice, she said, “Your father needed help.””
Andre went still.
“My father?””
Cynthia's eyes filled.
“He doesn't know how bad things have become.””
“What things?””
She pressed a tissue against her lips.
“The house is at risk.””
Alicia looked between them.
Cynthia continued.
“Your father borrowed money to keep his company running. We thought things would improve, but the payments kept increasing.””
Andre slowly sat down.
“How much?””
Cynthia whispered a figure.
Andre stared at her.
“That much?””
She nodded.
“Your father has been trying to handle it alone.””
Andre rubbed his face.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't want you worrying.””
“And you thought stealing Alicia's financial information was a better solution?””
“I thought we could use the business loan to pay off the urgent debts. The bakery would benefit too.””
Alicia shook her head.
“You were going to put two hundred and fifty thousand dollars of debt on my business to save your house?””
Cynthia looked at her.
“You would have been compensated.””
“With what?””
“The family would take care of you.””
Alicia almost couldn't believe what she was hearing.
She had built her bakery with borrowed kitchen space, secondhand equipment, and years of exhausting work.
She had never asked Cynthia for a cent.
Now Cynthia was offering to compensate her with a promise.
Andre stood.
“Mom, you need to leave.””
Cynthia looked at him.
“Please.””
“Leave.””
“You're my son.””
“And she's the person whose financial future you tried to gamble with.””
Cynthia picked up her handbag.
But before she reached the door, her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Her expression changed.
Andre noticed.
“Who is it?””
Cynthia didn't answer.
The phone rang again.
Then a message appeared.
She read it.
And for the first time, her hands began to shake.
Alicia watched her carefully.
“What happened?””
Cynthia looked at Andre.
Then at Alicia.
Finally, she whispered:
“Derek says the lender wants to speak directly with the business owner.””
Andre frowned.
“So?””
Cynthia swallowed.
“He says if Alicia refuses to confirm the application, they may investigate everyone who submitted documents.””
Alicia stood.
“Good.””
Cynthia stared at her.
“You don't understand. Derek said he has copies of everything.””
“Then he can give them to the investigators.””
Cynthia's face crumpled.
“There's something else.””
Andre stepped closer.
“What?””
Cynthia looked at him with frightened eyes.
“Your father signed the original agreement.””
Andre froze.
“What original agreement?””
Cynthia reached into her handbag and removed a second folder.
She placed it on Alicia's desk.
Inside was a document showing the proposed loan structure.
But the final page contained a clause that none of them had seen before.
If the business owner failed to repay, the guarantor would be responsible for the outstanding amount.
Alicia read the clause twice.
Then she looked at Andre.
His father was listed as a witness.
And Cynthia was listed as the person authorized to communicate with the lender.
Andre's voice was barely audible.
“Dad knew?””
Cynthia lowered her head.
“He thought it was the only way to save the house.””
Alicia closed the folder.
She had spent the entire evening wondering whether Andre's family simply expected too much from her.
Now she understood the truth.
They hadn't merely expected her generosity.
They had been preparing to use her business as collateral for a debt she had never agreed to carry.
Andre looked at Alicia.
“I swear I didn't know.””
She believed him.
But believing him didn't make the documents disappear.
Cynthia reached for her son's arm.
“Please, Andre. We can still fix this. You just need to convince Alicia to cooperate.””
Andre stepped away.
“No.””
Cynthia stared at him.
“What?””
“No more asking her to save us.””
Alicia looked down at the folder.
Then her phone vibrated.
An unknown number had sent a message.
*You should ask Andre why his father wanted the loan completed before the wedding. There is something he hasn't told you.*
Alicia slowly raised her eyes.
Andre saw the message.
His face changed.
May you like
And Cynthia whispered one sentence that made the room go silent.
“Who sent you that?””
