Chapter 66 - [66] Between a rock and a hard place

It had been days of agonizing over the decision, but in the end, I had no choice. The debt had become suffocating, and every job application I'd sent out either got rejected or led to a dead-end. My parents were stressed beyond belief, and I could feel the weight of their disappointment, even though they tried to hide it. I had tried everything, I even sold off the Patek Philippe Vanessa gifted.Now, I stood outside Vanessa's office building in downtown LA, staring up at the towering glass structure as people passed by, living their lives. It was the last place I wanted to be, but I had run out of options. I'd called her several times that week, left voicemails, even sent a few texts. No response. I couldn't tell if she was ignoring me or just too busy, but either way, I knew I had to confront her in person.So here I was, standing outside her office like a lost puppy, hoping for a miracle.I took a deep breath and walked inside, my nerves on edge as I approached the front desk. The receptionist glanced up, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against the keyboard as she looked at me."Can I help you?" she asked, her tone polite but distant."Uh, yeah," I cleared my throat. "I'm here to see Vanessa Reed."The receptionist raised an eyebrow. "Do you have an appointment?""No, but—" I started to explain, but she cut me off with a tight smile."Ms. Reed doesn't see anyone without an appointment," she said, already looking back at her screen.I sighed, feeling the frustration build. "Look, I'm not here for a business meeting. I just need to talk to her. It's... personal."The receptionist didn't even glance back up. "I'm afraid that's not possible without an appointment. You can call the office and try to schedule something."I clenched my jaw, trying not to lose my temper. "I've already called. She's not answering."The woman glanced up at me, clearly unfazed. "Then I suggest you try again."My patience was wearing thin, but I knew causing a scene wouldn't get me anywhere. "Fine," I muttered, turning away from the desk. I wasn't going to leave, not yet. I'd wait for as long as it took.I found a seat near the lobby, somewhere out of the way but close enough that I could see anyone coming in or out of the elevator. I must have sat there for hours, watching people come and go, watching the clock tick by with excruciating slowness. I kept telling myself that Vanessa would show up eventually, that she wouldn't avoid me forever. She had to come into the office at some point, right?Just when I was about to give up for the day, I saw her. Vanessa stepped out of the elevator, looking as flawless as ever, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders in loose waves, dressed in a tailored designer suit that screamed power and authority. But what caught my eye was the guy walking next to her—a tall, well-dressed man with an air of confidence that immediately rubbed me the wrong way.My stomach churned as I watched them, my mind racing with questions. Who the fk is that? He was close—too close. And the way she laughed at something he said, the way her hand brushed against his arm—it didn't take a genius to figure out what was going on.I stood up, my heart pounding in my chest as I approached them. Vanessa noticed me first, her expression shifting from surprise to something unreadable as her eyes met mine."Tristan?" she said, stopping in her tracks. "What are you doing here?"I swallowed hard, feeling a lump in my throat. "I... I need to talk to you."Her eyes flicked to the man beside her, and she gave him a quick, tight smile. "Could you wait for me outside? I'll just be a minute."The guy—her new boyfriend, I realized bitterly—gave her a nod, glancing at me with mild interest before walking off toward the exit. I felt a surge of jealousy hit me like a punch to the gut, but I pushed it down. Now wasn't the time for that.Vanessa turned back to me, crossing her arms over her chest, her expression cool and guarded. "What do you want, Tristan?"I hesitated, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. This wasn't how I wanted things to go. "I'm sorry to bother you like this," I began, my voice sounding more desperate than I'd intended. "I know we haven't talked in a while, and I know things ended... badly, but I'm in a bad place right now."Vanessa raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp. "A bad place? What does that have to do with me?"I took a deep breath, hating the words that were about to come out of my mouth. "I... I need your help. Financial help."Her eyes widened slightly, though her expression remained unreadable. "You need money?"I nodded, feeling the humiliation rise in my chest. "My family is in debt. We're drowning. I've been trying to find work, but everything keeps falling apart. I didn't want to come to you—I swear I didn't—but I'm out of options."Vanessa was silent for a long moment, her gaze locked on mine. I could see the gears turning in her head, and it made me feel even smaller, more pathetic."You think you can just come here and ask me for money after everything that happened?" she said, her voice cold but not unkind. "After you walked away from me? After you hurt me?"I winced, the guilt hitting me hard. "I know. I fucked up, okay? I shouldn't have left the way I did. I should have talked to you, handled things better. But you have to believe me—I didn't want to hurt you."Vanessa's lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Well, you did.""I'm sorry," I said, my voice quieter now. "I really am. But I didn't know what else to do. I wasn't ready for everything you were offering, for that life. It was too much for me."She sighed, crossing her arms tighter over her chest. "I've moved on, Tristan. You're no longer my boyfriend. You're no longer a part of my life."I nodded, feeling the sting of her words. "I know. And I'm not asking for anything beyond this. I just... I just need your help right now. My family needs help. Once I get back on my feet, I'll pay you back. I promise."Vanessa stared at me for what felt like an eternity, her expression unreadable. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the hesitation. I didn't blame her for not wanting to help. I wouldn't have helped me either.Finally, she let out a slow breath, her gaze softening just a fraction. "You've got some nerve, Tristan," she said, shaking her head slightly. "You really do."I felt my heart sink. I could already see her turning me down, walking away, leaving me stranded with no way out. I opened my mouth to thank her for at least hearing me out, but before I could say anything, she spoke again."But... I'll help you," she said, her voice quieter now, almost resigned.I blinked, not sure I'd heard her right. "Wait... what?"Vanessa sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I'll help you, Tristan. I can't just turn my back on you, even after everything. But understand this—I'm doing this because I don't want to see you or your family suffer. This doesn't change anything between us. We're still over. Got it?"I nodded quickly, relief flooding through me. "Yeah, I get it. Thank you, Vanessa. Thank you so much."She glanced toward the door, where her new boyfriend was still waiting, then back at me. "I'll have my assistant transfer the money to your account. How much do you need?"I hesitated, feeling the weight of the question. "At least 50k... for now."Vanessa raised an eyebrow, but she didn't argue. "Fine. I'll get it done."I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "I'll pay you back. I swear."Vanessa gave me a small, sad smile. "We'll see."Q: Would you pay back the money if you can?