chapter 2

"This is huge... how come you never told me?" Allan's voice was shaky.

"It's humiliating. I didn't want to tell you," I said.

"How come I never heard anything?" Allan asked, forcing himself to calm down, suspicion flashing in his eyes.

"You're not lying to me, are you?" he added.

"You're only a VP. How would you know about shareholder-level issues?" I shot back.

"But hey, if you actually own shares, that would take the pressure off us." I grabbed a pen and flipped open his contract, acting like I couldn't wait another second. "Is it here? Do I sign here?" I asked.

"Wait!" Allan snapped, snatching the contract back in a flash.

"Vivian, on second thoughts, no rush. Let's talk about this later," he said. "But once the company pulls through, you'd better tell me right away."

"Allan, you can't just leave me hanging. I'm still short on cash. Just need enough to cover this month's hole," I continued, taking control.

"How much?" Allan asked, swallowing hard.

"3 million bucks," I said.

Allan was visibly shocked, his eyes wide in disbelief.

"3 million bucks? Right… Vivian, I just remembered there's a contract I forgot to sign. I need to run back to the office," Allan said, making his excuses and leaving.

After he bolted, I turned to Ava. "Ava, about that gift I gave you…" I started.

"Oh, Vivian, I just remembered an old friend of mine is in the hospital. I should go visit her," Ava said quickly and left.

Once they were gone, I pulled out my phone and called my uncles to give them the heads-up.

I had barely finished my call when Sadie waltzed in without knocking. She plopped down like she owned the place.

"Vivian, you haven't taken me shopping for a long time," Sadie said warmly.

I knew exactly why she came.

She was pretty, but her family was broke.

We were college roommates. She acted so warm and close, and I treated her like a real friend. Every time we went shopping, if I bought something, I bought one for her too.

If she cried about being broke, I sent her money instantly.

Later, when she got pregnant before marriage, I paid for the nanny and even covered her postpartum center fees.

I felt sorry that she had been cheated by a scumbag, and I really treated her well.

Turned out the baby was Allan's. The two of them had been together behind my back. I spent my own money raising a mistress and her bastard kid. God, I was such a damn fool.

"I'm pregnant now. Don't feel like going out much," I said, keeping my guard up.

Perhaps having heard from Allan that our company was experiencing some cash flow difficulties, she tentatively inquired, "Vivian, the nanny's salary is due.

"And I saw other kids already starting kindergarten. I found one I like. It's not expensive, only a few tens of thousands of dollars a year."

I really committed to the act, even faking a sob. "Sadie, the company's strapped. All my cash went into covering debts. Can you cover it this month yourself?"

"What?" Sadie said, panicking instantly. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? The kid's about to start school, and now you dump this on me? What about his education?" she complained, blaming me nonstop.

"You don't even have tens of thousands in hand?" she asked and looked at me suspiciously.

I sneered inwardly. Of course, I had the money, but why the hell should I give it to her?

"I bought you all those designer bags. Sell a few," I suggested.

"If I sell them, what am I supposed to carry? People will laugh at me," Sadie said, pouting.

"Okay, how about this? I've got a friend who runs a fancy private kindergarten. Tuition's 500 grand a year. I can probably get it down to 400 grand. Remember the car I bought you? Sell it and pay the tuition first," I said.

"If I sell the car, what do I drive?" Sadie asked, jaw dropping.

"Fine, then take out a loan on it, " I said.

"Or better yet, ask the kid's dad," I said calmly.

The second I said "the kid's dad," her eyes flicked toward me. Her face fell.

"Think about it. If you throw him into some cheap school, you'll be paying extra later for music lessons, dance, all that crap.

"But in a private school, they've got etiquette, arts, everything. Saves you trouble later. A one-stop solution," I said, keeping my voice smooth.

"Once your son graduates, he'll walk out with real noble airs," I continued.

Sadie started to waver. "You're right. I'll take the car to the bank, get a loan, and pay the tuition. But when your company's back on its feet, you'd better pay off the loan for me. And you'll buy me another car, a nicer one," she said.