3| Sophie's Financial Struggles

Sophie sat stiffly in the cold, sterile atmosphere of the bank office, her anxiety palpable as she waited for the loan officer to speak. The air-conditioning was on too high, and she regretted not bringing a sweater.

She rubbed her arms for warmth, her discomfort heightened by the shuffling of papers, the low murmurs of other loan officers, and the impersonal clicking of keyboards.

Across from her, Mr. Hayes, her loan officer, flipped through documents, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched, making her even more restless. She twisted her fingers in her lap, feeling like she was holding her breath, waiting for a verdict.

Finally, he looked up.

"Ms. Miller," he began, his tone neutral but firm. "I'm afraid your financial situation is quite serious. Your shop's revenue isn't covering your loan repayments."

Sophie's fingers stilled, pressing against her palms. She had known things were bad, but hearing it laid out so plainly still felt like a punch to the gut.

"I understand," she said, forcing her voice to stay steady. "Is there any way we can extend the repayment period or find another solution?"

She had to find a way. The shop wasn't just her dream—it was her and Lily's livelihood.

Mr. Hayes sighed, adjusting his glasses. "I'll see what I can do, but I can't make any promises. Your debt has accumulated significantly, and the bank has to consider its own interests."

Sophie nodded, her mind racing.

Why did things always have to be so difficult?

She and Lily had poured everything into the flower shop. Their passion for flowers, their father's legacy, the dream of running a business together. And now, it was slipping through her fingers.

"Please," she said, her voice quieter but more urgent. "I'm doing everything I can to turn things around. Business is improving. I just need a little more time."

Mr. Hayes studied her, his expression softening slightly. "I can see you're dedicated to your business, Ms. Miller. I'll review your case and check if there's any flexibility in the repayment terms. But you need to be prepared for the possibility that the bank may not be able to accommodate your request."

"Thank you," Sophie murmured, barely above a whisper. "I appreciate anything you can do."

Outside, the warmth of the afternoon sun hit her skin the moment she stepped out, and she released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. After the freezing bank office, the heat felt grounding, almost like a reminder that she was still here, still standing.

She lingered on the sidewalk, letting everything sink in. Her gaze drifted across the street, landing on the massive Sinclair Enterprises building towering in front of her.

It was almost mocking her.

Every time she passed by, she found herself wondering if he was in there somewhere, sitting in a high-rise office, running the empire that carried his name. She shook the thought away before it could take root.

She had bigger problems than indulging in silly daydreams about men she had no business thinking about—especially not now, when everything felt like it was crumbling beneath her.

Almost like an impending storm.

She scoffed at herself, shaking her head before turning toward the next bus stop. There was no time for wishful thinking.

She had real problems to fix.

*******

Ethan stepped out of his office building, already dreading his next meeting. He just wanted to get it over with.

The city buzzed around him—people hurrying past, car horns blaring, the hum of life moving forward. He stood by his car, about to get in when something caught his attention.

His eyes found Sophie.

He didn't want to admit it, but he had been noticing her coming out of that bank once a week. And somehow, he had started expecting it.

It was a habit he hadn't meant to form. Noticing her. Looking for her.

A guilty pleasure—one he had no right to.

But every time he saw her on that busy street, he found himself watching, telling himself it meant nothing.

The first time he had seen her, he had almost walked up to her—almost closed the space between them. But then reality had hit. What would he even say?

So he had done nothing. Let her disappear into the crowd, convincing himself it was for the best.

But today... Something was different. She looked worried, her steps hurried. There was a weight to the way she moved, like she was carrying something too heavy for her to bear.

Ethan felt an unexpected pang of concern.

He watched as she disappeared into the crowd, the urge to follow—to do something—tugging at him stronger than before.

"Is everything alright, Mr. Sinclair?" his driver asked, pulling him from his thoughts.

Ethan blinked, forcing himself back to the present. He shook off whatever that had been, brushing it aside like it didn't matter.

"It's nothing," he said, slipping into the car. "Let's go."

*******

As Sophie settled into her seat on the bus, her thoughts drifted to the worst parts of her financial struggles. The bank's refusal was just one problem—there were far bigger shadows looming over her.

She had borrowed from less reputable sources when her father fell ill, taking out desperate loans to cover his expensive treatments. At the time, it had felt like the only choice.

The banks wouldn't help. Insurance wouldn't cover enough. And when time was running out, she had done the one thing she swore she never would.

She had borrowed from the wrong people.

But even after all that money, after fighting so hard to save him, he was gone. And the debt still remained—only heavier now.

Her breath faltered as she recalled the men who had come to her shop just a few days ago, their voices still echoing in her head.

"You're behind on your payments, Ms. Miller," one of them had said, his voice low, the kind that made her stomach turn. "We need that money now."

Sophie had tried to explain, her voice shaking. "I'm doing everything I can. Please, just give me a little more time."

The second man had stepped closer, his tone dropping. "Time's up. We'll be back, and next time, we won't be so nice."

Fear had gripped her then, and it gripped her now.

As the bus came to a stop, she stepped off quickly, hurrying through the streets, as if moving faster would somehow outrun her problems. She needed a solution—fast.

Something that would save her, the shop, everything.

As she neared her flower shop, she caught sight of Mia, her oldest and best friend, stepping out of her bakery across the street. Mia's face lit up with a warm smile—only to shift into concern the moment she saw Sophie's expression.

"Sophie, what's wrong?" Mia asked, crossing the street in quick strides.

Sophie forced a smile, though it barely held. "Just came back from the bank. It's not looking good, Mia."

At least with Mia, she could be honest. She hadn't told her mom or Lily just how bad things really were—she couldn't.

Mia frowned, worry settling between her brows. "What did they say?"

"They're reviewing my case, but it doesn't sound promising," Sophie admitted, her voice wavering. She hesitated for a moment before finally letting it slip. "...And then there's the loan sharks."

Mia's eyes widened. "Loan sharks? Sophie, you didn't tell me about any loan sharks!"

Sophie exhaled shakily, rubbing her temples. "I didn't want to worry you. I thought I could handle it, but now it's all spiraling out of control."

Mia placed a firm, comforting hand on her shoulder. "Sophie, I'm so sorry. But listen to me—we'll figure something out. You're not alone in this, okay?"

Sophie nodded, her chest tightening with emotion. "Thank you, Mia. It just... it feels like I'm drowning. Like I'm in a pit so deep, I don't know how I'll ever climb out."

"We'll get through this," Mia said, holding her hands tightly. "One step at a time. Let's start by boosting business. I'll call all my friends, see if they need flowers for any events."

Sophie managed a small, genuine smile. "Thank you, Mia. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'll never have to find out," Mia said with a reassuring grin, hoping to ease at least some of Sophie's worry.

For the first time all day, Sophie let out a soft laugh, warmth flickering inside her.

Then, her phone buzzed.

She pulled it out, expecting another bill reminder. But instead, her stomach clenched as she read the message from her mother.

"Come home, Sophie. We need to talk."

-------

Photo credit: Pinterest

Don't forget to vote and leave a comment 🩷🩷