CHAPTER 3

The Deal.

"Mom, what's happening? Why is no one talking to me?" At that moment, she was gradually losing it.

Josh wasn't ready to disclose either. The situation was way beyond him. He remained mute, planning how to select his words carefully so as not to get Alison more upset.

"It's fine. I'll do the talking. I don't think your mom would be inclined to admit to what she did," leaning forward, Josh held Alison's hands, looking straight into her eyes.

"Damn! How do I explain this to you? I don't want you to feel sad," Josh halted and faced the ground.

Alison is his favorite colleague at Royal Gold Mine. Disclosing the unfortunate incident might shatter her heart, and he wouldn't want that to happen.

"What are you talking about? Just say something. I'm going nuts already. Your suspense is slowly killing me." Allison begged with a fading voice.

Her face was gradually turning red, as her eyes widened to be certain she didn't miss any details Josh was about to spill.

Just when Josh was about to tell it all, Kristen saved him from the stress and finally confessed. "I stole a check worth $1 million from his pocket."

"I would pretend I didn't hear that. This is nothing but a mad joke. Tell me you didn't do it, Mom," Alison was stunned and doubted her mother's confession.

"Oh, yes, I did. And I am not ashamed of what I did. That was the only option I had left. I did it to keep a roof over our head," Kristen defended her actions and didn't feel remorse.

"What the hell do you mean by that statement?! You aren't even sorry for what you did. You risk going to jail, you know that, right?" Alison questioned and doubted if her mother was cajoled to make such a ridiculous confession.

"I know I should have said this before, but your Dad took a huge loan of $500k from the bank while he was alive, but unfortunately, he couldn't pay back. Now the bank is back to confiscate the house. I couldn't stand seeing us become homeless, so I had to do something. I eavesdropped on Josh's conversation before he stepped inside the bank. That was when I discovered he had a $1 million check in his pocket. I intentionally bumped into him to perfect my plans. I'm not scared of going to jail. It's better than being homeless," Kristen further disclosed with full confidence. She wasn't regretful or sad about what happened.

Allison didn't know what to say anymore. All along her late father applied for a loan, and she knew nothing about it. Now she's trapped in a dilemma that seems almost impossible to get out of.

"What are we gonna do now? You're dropping all charges against her, right?" she turned to Josh to find solace, but he looked away and remained speechless.

"I know that look. I thought you were on my side. You're the only hope we've got now. Please do something," she went on both knees and gripped Josh's trousers.

"Please, stop. Get up! People are watching. You're embarrassing me," Josh attempted to make her get up, but she declined and remained on the ground pleading for him to drop all charges against her mother.

"I can't! It's way beyond me now. Mr. Alejandro already knows about it. I didn't want to tell him. Even when he kept calling my phone, I ignored him. So he called the bank manager instead and he revealed everything. So you see, there's nothing I can do." Josh broke her heart and completely shattered her hopes of ever seeing her mom come out of jail alive.

Alison is well aware of how difficult it is dealing with Alvin Alejandro as her boss, let alone a criminal case like this.

"I've always known you were a clown. Just this one request I ask of you, yet you chose to destroy my life. I thought we were best of friends. What happened to. 'I will always be there for you?'. If there's anyone the boss listens to in that organization, it should be you!"

"I wish I could. He's not even aware you're connected to this. You should go talk to him yourself. I'm sorry, I don't want to get involved. I'm out of here. I have a check to cash at the bank. See you at the office, good luck Alison" Josh walked away without looking back and abandoned Alison alone to face her fears.

"Happy now? You've successfully dragged me into your mess. I just hope you come out of this alive," Allison narrowed her gaze at her mother.

"I'm so sorry for getting you involved in my shit. I had no idea your boss was involved. How do I fix it? I really want to make amends Ali." Kristen felt sorry and finally acknowledged her wrongdoings.

"Hahaha! Fix it?!" Laughing enigmatically, Alison dried her tears.

"I'm so disappointed in you! I'm heading back to the company to speak with Mr. Alvin Alejandro. Just pray he listens to me. If he doesn't, start thinking about what size to get because a prison outfit would look great on you mom." Alison berated her mother and vacated the station amidst Kristen's plea.

**********

Alison arrived at the company shaking in fear. Despite working for Alvin for over 5 years, she was yet to get along with him. She considered him arrogant, harsh and ruthless. She headed to his office and did a cross sign before landing a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," he spoke from inside.

Walking inside, she found a few seated strange men suspected to be business partners.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I had no idea you had visitors. I'll be back when your associates are gone," she made a U-turn to go back.

"No, it's fine. We are done discussing. They were about to exit the office before you came knocking. Come sit down," he stopped her from leaving as she took part in the meeting that was already over. A few minutes after her arrival, the business associates exited the office.

"Okay, over to you. I didn't recall asking you to come over. What brought you to my office this morning?" Alvin focused his attention on her shortly after his associates departed.

"Sir, erm. How do I say this?" She stuttered.

"I've got a busy day ahead of me. If you don't know what to say, I would advise you to leave my office immediately," Alvin was beginning to lose his patience. At full speed, she dropped both knees to the ground.

"I'm sure you heard about a certain woman who stole your check earlier this morning, right? That was my mother. Trust me, she's a good woman and not a thief. She just needed to offset the loan my father took before his death, after he used our house as collateral. The bank is back to confiscate our house, she didn't want us to go homeless. You're a good man and I believe you can drop all charges against her." She narrated tearfully and fondled her shirt like a kid.

"I've waited for a day like this. Now you need my assistance, you suddenly remember I'm a good man. This is wonderful. I've got nothing against your mother. I got my check back and that's what matters. But there's no way I'm letting your mother go scot-free. She requires a bit of torture to reset her head. So my answer is NO! I'm not dropping the charges." Alvin addressed and killed her hopes of controlling the damages.

"Sir, please, you're my last hope now. I apologize for my unruly behavior towards you in the past. This is a critical condition and I can't fold my arms and watch my mother go to jail," Alison wept inconsolably, still pleading for Alvin to reconsider her request.

He sighed for a moment, looked at Alison, and told her to get up.

"Be seated. I wanna offer you a better option than what you're asking me now,"

"A better option?" Bewildered, she asked and raised her tear-filled eyes.

"If I heard you correctly, you mentioned your mom stole the check because she needed money to offset the bank loan of $500k, right?"

"Yes that's correct, and what about it sir?"

"How about I drop all the charges and offset the loan of $500k?"

"Are you joking? Please tell me this is not a joke," Alison jumped for joy, a wide grin on her face.

"Don't get too excited. It comes with a prize.

Are you ready for what's coming your way?"

"And what is that sir?"

"Recall the meeting I had with my business associates before you showed up? We were discussing a multi-billion dollar deal before you walked in. They clearly stated that the deal would be sealed if my son, Lucas, the Managing Director of Royal Gold Mine, got married.

Their family has this rule over some heritage."

Alvin explained, but Alison was still confused. She sat in front of her boss, looking like a dummy.

"I still don't get it sir. Why are you telling me this? Lucas should get a wife then, I'm not a matchmaker."

"I know right? That's where you come in. The contract is only going to last for 3 years. Once the deal is off, you can file for a divorce." Alvin buttressed, but Alison wasn't even interested and outrightly declined his request.

"Even when your mother's freedom is at stake? I'm sure you don't want to start roaming the streets of the United States homeless when the bank finally confiscates your house. I'm willing to offset the loan and drop all charges against your mother. You should be happy I'm willing to assist you."

"Never! I'm never going to marry your son for a billion dollars. Good luck finding your son a wife!" Alison exclaimed, slamming the door and exiting his office.