Lisa woke to the kind of morning where the air felt too heavy to breathe. She had slept, but not well. Every time she closed her eyes, Derek's debt loomed like a shadow pressing against her chest and the decision she made last night felt like a wrong one. Coffee hadn't helped. Even now, sitting at the kitchen table, she traced the rim of her mug with restless fingers, trying to convince herself she was doing the right thing.
Elena's voice broke the silence.
"How do you feel now? Do you think you'll be able to go to the bookstore today?" Elena asked, carrying her bag from the couch.
"I feel better, thanks, Elena. About the bookstore, I'm not sure yet," Lisa said. Her fingers twitched against the mug, betraying her nerves.
"Alright. So, about Derek. What are we going to do?" Elena pressed.
"I already found a way to help. I agreed to the offer last night. The one I told you about," Lisa replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
"You accepted already? Without telling me first?" Elena asked, eyes wide.
"I'm sorry, Elena. I couldn't think of anything else. I don't think I can get that kind of money in such little time. And I didn't want to bother you with all this," Lisa explained.
"Lisa, you're my best friend. You could never bother me. Anyways, what's going to happen now... with the offer?" Elena asked again, softer this time.
"She's supposed to text me—" Lisa's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen. Talk of the devil. She just texted.
"What did she say?" Elena leaned forward.
"I'm to meet up at some place called Blue Lake by 12," Lisa replied.
"Okay. Just make sure you tell me everything when I get back from work, alright?" Elena said.
"I will. Go on, you'll be late," Lisa urged.
"Bye, Mum. Have a nice day," Elena said, heading out.
"You too," Lisa replied quietly.
At exactly noon, Lisa stood in front of Blue Lake Hotel. Sleek glass walls reflected the sky, polished marble floors gleamed in the lobby, and the reception desk shimmered under soft lighting. She calmed herself, steadied her breath, and stepped inside.
The elevator ride to the 25th floor was quiet. The mirrored walls showed her nerves in every angle. She straightened her posture, forcing herself to appear composed. When the doors opened, she followed Jennifer's directions down a quiet hallway, her heels clicking softly against the floor. At the door number Jennifer had given, she knocked gently.
The door swung open to reveal Jennifer's warm smile. "Come in," Jennifer said.
Lisa stepped inside. Her eyes swept over the suite. It was huge—larger than both hers and Elena's bedrooms combined, with space to spare. The living room opened out in clean lines of white and grey, plush furniture set around a low glass table with abstract art on the walls. She felt a twinge of awe, but the thought was quickly pushed aside when her gaze landed on a man in a charcoal suit seated in one of the armchairs.
His posture was straight, almost rigid. One hand rested lazily on the armrest, the other scrolled through his phone. When their eyes met, something tugged at her memory.
Lisa's stomach flipped. He looked familiar.
"Lisa, meet Lennie. Lennie, this is Lisa," Jennifer said warmly.
"We've met before, haven't we?" he asked, his voice low and steady.
The sound triggered recognition. "The bachelor's party."
"Yeah, that." he said dryly.
Lisa frowned, trying to piece it together. Dark lights, loud music... the blur of people... and then she saw him clearly. It was him. The distant one of the group at the bachelor's party—the one who hadn't laughed as loudly as the others, who had sat slightly apart, observing, calculating. Back then, she hadn't registered him. Now, outside the chaos, everything clicked. Sharp jaw, straight nose, black hair neatly styled, cold eyes that seemed to assess her with quiet intensity.
Lisa hadn't expected to meet anyone she already knew. She felt a small knot of unease but reminded herself he was just another person.
"You two know each other? Fantastic. This will be easier than I thought," Jennifer chirped.
Lisa's eyes narrowed slightly at him. He didn't offer her a smile or even a nod. He just tilted his head, as if assessing whether she was worth his time. She felt a brief flicker of irritation, but she swallowed it.
"She's the one you intend to carry out this plan with?" Leonard asked, glancing briefly at Jennifer. His tone carried a subtle edge of irritation, like he was forced into this.
"Yes, Lennie. I think she's best for it," Jennifer replied.
He turned back to Lisa, eyes sharp. "I assume you know what this is about," he said.
"Yes," Lisa said as she sat, her fingers twitching slightly against her bag strap. She reminded herself to stay calm, to watch everything carefully.
Jennifer spoke quickly. "I just wanted you two to meet so everything becomes final. Lisa, any questions?"
"I need this situation explained clearly. I want to know exactly what I'm agreeing to," Lisa said.
Leonard's jaw tightened. "Simple. We need the wedding called off. You'll act as my pregnant ex-girlfriend," he said. He sounded detached, as if discussing a matter unrelated to him, and it made Lisa bristle slightly.
"No name changes, no fake profiles, nothing dramatic?" she asked.
"None of that is necessary," he replied flatly.
She raised an eyebrow. "So I just... wait until you need me?"
"Yes," Jennifer said calmly, almost soothingly. "You're only here if our families start digging."
Lisa's mind ticked through worst-case scenarios. "And what if the wedding doesn't get called off?" she asked.
Jennifer smiled faintly. "It will. We already have a reasonable excuse," she reassured her.
"Okay... I just wanted to be clear. I won't have to storm into a wedding with a fake bump, right?" Lisa asked.
He glanced at his watch, a frown etched on his face. "Enough hypotheticals. I don't have time for this," he said.
Lisa clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. She noted the subtle impatience in his movement, even if his face remained composed.
"Relax, Lennie," Jennifer said, shooting him a look. "She has a right to ask. Lisa, no—you won't be doing anything dramatic. You're only here in case our families start digging."
"What if the wedding gets called off and I'm asked to marry you instead?" Lisa asked, half-joking, half-testing.
"That will never happen," he said, disdain clear in his tone. "My family has expectations. You don't fit them."
Lisa flinched but kept her expression neutral. "I'm asking because I don't want to get stuck in a mess," she said.
"It's fine, Lisa. I understand," Jennifer said, soothingly.
Lisa sighed. "Alright then. You'll reach out when you need me?"
"I hope it doesn't come to that," Leonard muttered.
Jennifer smiled. "I hope so too," she said.
Leonard's gaze cut back to Lisa. "Your name again?"
"Lisa," she said.
His eyebrow arched, waiting.
"Elizabeth Rose Sanders," she answered in a bored tone. Was she supposed to read his mind?
Without a word, he pulled his phone from his pocket and extended it toward her. She quickly typed in her number and handed it back.
"I'll have a contract drafted and sent to you tomorrow morning," he said, giving a stiff nod before striding out, leaving the air colder in his absence.
Lisa exhaled, tension finally easing from her shoulders. She turned to Jennifer. "Is he..."
Jennifer laughed. "I know. He can be a bitch sometimes," She pulled out her phone. "Your details. I'll make a transfer of $150,000 now. If you eventually need to show up, I'll add more."
Seconds later, her phone buzzed, the numbers staring back at her. At least half of Derek's debt would be gone. Relief pooled in her chest.
"Thank you, Lisa. You don't know how happy I am you agreed to this," Jennifer said, hugging her.
"Thank you too, Jennifer," Lisa replied.
"I have to run—meeting a client. Will you be alright?" Jennifer asked.
"Yes. Go ahead," Lisa said.
Jennifer offered her a ride down, but Lisa refused. She stepped out of the suite alone, letting the door click shut behind her.
Outside the hotel, Lisa was adjusting her bag when a familiar voice called her name.
"Lisa?" Max asked.
She turned to see Max walking towards her, his usual easy smile in place. Beside him stood a woman, holding a little girl in her arms.
Lisa's gaze softened at the child. "Hey there. How are you? Is this Alanna?" she asked.
"Yes. Lisa, meet my daughter Alanna and this is my neighbour, Yvonne," Max said.
"Hello, nice to meet you," Yvonne said, smiling warmly.
"Nice to meet you too," Lisa replied.
"Come on, Alanna," Max coaxed gently. "Won't you say hi?"
Alanna tucked her face shyly into Yvonne's neck.
"Sweetie, say hi," Yvonne encouraged, patting the girl's back.
A tiny voice squeaked, "Hi," as Alanna peeked out.
"Hello," Lisa said with a smile, giving her a small wave.
Max chuckled. "She doesn't warm up to people easily. We're working on it," he said.
"It's normal," Lisa replied, still smiling at Alanna. "She'll open up with time."
Lisa kept her smile, watching the girl's wide eyes lock onto her father, as if he were her whole world.
"She's a daddy's girl through and through," Yvonne said with a laugh, adjusting Alanna on her hip. Lisa noticed as Yvonne's gaze lingered on Max, soft and full of care.
Max shifted his attention back to Lisa, his voice warm. "Anyway, it's good to see you outside work for once. Take care, alright?"
"You too," she said softly.
On the way home, Lisa replayed everything in her head. Half of Derek's debt was gone, just like that. Now all she had to do was live with the cost of what she'd promised.