"The company's cash flow has collapsed. Without a capital injection in three days, it goes into liquidation."
"And right now, I'm the only one who can put up that kind of money."
I turned to face him.
"What's the catch?"
Stan leaned in close.
"Marry me."
I couldn't help it. I laughed.
"Stan, what's in it for you?"
"You. You're what's in it for me."
The performance was flawless. But I had already died once. I would never fall for that lie again.
I picked up the folder and tore it clean in half.
"Then let it go bankrupt."
"I'd rather beg on the streets than marry you."
The moment Stan left, I called the company's finance department to verify.
The situation was worse than he'd described.
The cash flow wasn't just broken. Several massive debts were about to come due, and it was obvious someone had been sabotaging things behind the scenes.
Who else could it be but Stan?
He would stop at nothing to force me to submit. The playbook was identical to my previous life. First, engineer a crisis from the shadows. Then swoop in as the savior, so I'd be grateful enough to fall in line.
Not this time.