Chapter 6 - The Final Notice
The thirty days felt like a lifetime for the Millers.
They sold the furniture,
the cars,
even Eleanor's wedding ring,
but it was merely a drop in the ocean of their debt.
Leo stopped going out entirely,
paralyzed by fear as shady creditors began circling their home.
The once-pristine lawn was overgrown,
and foreclosure notices were taped to the front door.
On the final day,
an elegant black town car pulled up to the Miller driveway.
A man in a sharp suit stepped out,
carrying a leather briefcase.
He knocked on the heavy oak door.
Richard opened it slowly,
looking broken and defeated.
"Mr. Miller?
I represent Apex Holdings,"
the man said smoothly,
stepping inside without invitation.
Eleanor and Leo scrambled into the living room,
looking at the lawyer with desperate,
pleading eyes.
"Please,
we just need more time,"
Eleanor cried,
clasping her hands together.
"We can pay,
my son has a brilliant new business plan!"
The lawyer did not even look at Leo.
He opened his briefcase,
pulling out a stack of legal documents.
"The grace period is over,
Mrs. Miller,
Apex Holdings is executing the foreclosure,
you have twenty-four hours to vacate the premises."
"Twenty-four hours?!"
Leo screamed,
his voice cracking.
"You cannot do this,
we have nowhere to go,
we will be on the streets!"
"That is not my client's concern,"
the lawyer replied coldly.
"However,
my client has offered one final meeting,
the CEO of Apex is willing to see you at the Sterling Capital building downtown this afternoon,
if you wish to negotiate."
Richard's eyes widened.
"Sterling Capital?
That is a billionaire's firm,
why would they care about our small debt?"
"Be there at three o'clock,
or the police will escort you out tomorrow morning,"
the lawyer said,
turning on his heel and leaving.
The family sat in stunned silence.
"We have to go,"
Richard whispered,
a tiny spark of hope returning.
"If we can just talk to this CEO,
explain our situation,
maybe they will show mercy."
"Yes,
mercy,"
Eleanor repeated,
nodding frantically.
They scrambled to find decent clothes,
ironing out their wrinkled suits and dresses.
They wanted to look respectable,
like the wealthy family they once were.
They had no idea that they were walking straight into the lion's den.
Clara watched her monitor,
seeing the town car pull away from her old home.
She took a deep breath,
adjusting her silk tie.
Today was the day.
The day the ghosts of her past finally met the monster they created.
She pressed the intercom button.
"Send the Millers up to the grand boardroom when they arrive,"
May you like
she instructed her assistant.
"And make sure they wait."
