"Please, give us just one more month." I promise you we'll raise the money.
Elara almost cried out, her hands were already shaking. The loan officer didn't even blink.
"I've given you six months, Elara," he said flatly, tapping the paper in front of him. "This is the final notice."
"Please one month…," she tried pleading, forcing her voice to stay steady. "I just need more time to sort something out."
The loan officer let out a dry laugh. "Sort what out? You've been 'sorting things out' since last year."
Her throat burned.
Because he wasn't wrong.
Life hadn't just gone bad… it had been going bad for a long time.
"You either pay," he continued, sliding the paper closer to her, "or you pack your things, in three days' time."
Three days, that's all you have. That should give you time to get a place to stay because I know you can't get the money even if I give you one year.
Elara stared at the eviction notice.
Her home.
Gone.
Just like that.
"Sir, please …" her mother's weak voice finally broke in.
"No more pleading," he cut her off sharply. "I've been patient enough."
The loan officer shrugged. "You have until three days."
—
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then her mother let out a shaky breath and sank into the chair.
"What do we do?" she asked quietly.
Elara didn't answer.
"I'll go out and find help," Elara said suddenly, grabbing her bag.
Her younger sister, Maya, frowned. "Go where?"
"I don't know," Elara replied, already moving. " I'll find something."
—
The moment she stepped outside, everything felt… loud.
Cars honking.
People talking.
Life moving like nothing was wrong.
Meanwhile, her whole world was literally about to collapse.
Her thoughts wouldn't stop.
Money.
Rent.
Food.
Her mother's tired face.
Maya's frustration.
Think.
Think, Elara.
She reached into her bag and pulled out her phone.
Low battery.
She almost laughed.
"Perfect timing," she muttered.
Her contact list stared back at her.
No one to call.
She was on her own.
—
By afternoon, her feet were already hurting.
She had walked into three shops.
Two offices.
One café.
Same answer.
"We're not hiring."
"Leave your CV."
"We'll get back to you."
Elara stepped out of the last building, the rejection still ringing in her ears.
Her stomach growled.
She hadn't eaten since morning.
But food wasn't the problem right now.
She leaned against the wall, closing her eyes for a second.
Just one second.
And something felt… off.
A strange feeling.
Like she was being watched.
Her eyes snapped open.
She looked around.
People passed by.
Cars moved.
Nothing unusual.
"Get it together," she whispered to herself. "You're just stressed."
—
By the time she got home, her heart started racing again because day one was almost one.
She pushed the door open slowly.
The first thing she saw was boxes.
Half-packed.
Her mother sat on a chair , arranging things silently.
She looked up. "Did you …."
Elara shook her head.
The words didn't even need to be said.
Her mother's shoulders dropped.
Elara dropped her bag and sat down slowly.
"I'm sorry mum," she said quietly.
Her mother immediately shook her head. "No, don't say that …"
"I should have tried more," Elara cut in, her voice cracking. "I should have …."
—
Just then, they heard a knock at the door.
Three sharp hits.
Everyone froze.
Elara's heart dropped.
She stood up and walked to the door to open it.
The loan officer stood there.
And behind him … was two rough looking men
Then he peeped in a bit
"I see you all have started packing," the loan officer said smiling.
"Please," she said softly. "Can you give us breathing space?"
One of the men stepped forward.
"Elara…" her mother called weakly.
Something inside her snapped.
"Stop," she said sharply.
The man paused.
Elara stepped forward, blocking the entrance.
"We will leave," she said. "But…. until the deadline you gave us expires, you don't have the right to harass us."
The loan agent raised a brow. "I see you have some guts."
Well I am here to show these men what to do if you don't move out in three days. I think we have a potential buyer for the house.
"Hey!" Maya shouted. "You can't just—"
"Take only what belongs to you," the loan officer added coldly.
Elara stood there, frozen, as strangers walked into her home… touching their things… moving around…. like they were being inspected for theft in their own home.
Her chest burned.
Humiliation.
Anger.
Helplessness.
All at once.
She hated this.
Hated how powerless she felt.
Hated how life kept pushing her to this point.
—
That was when her phone buzzed.
Once.
She ignored it.
Then again.
And again.
Annoyed, she pulled it out.
Unknown number.
Her brows furrowed.
She almost ignored it.
Almost.
But something told her not to.
So she opened the message.
And froze.
"If you want to save your family, come to Vale Tower. Now."
Her heart skipped.
Vale Tower?
Her mind raced.
Why would….
Another message came in immediately.
"You don't have another option, Elara Moore."
Her breath caught.
What is going on?
Her eyes slowly lifted.
The men were still moving around their sitting room.
Her mother looked like she might cry.
Maya was arguing with one of them.
Her home was slipping away.
Right in front of her.
Elara looked back at her phone.
Then at the door.
Then back again.
Her heart pounded.
This could be a trap.
But staying here?
Wasn't an option either.
"I'll be back," she said suddenly.
Maya turned. "Where are you going?"
Elara grabbed her bag.
"To fix this."
"How?" Maya demanded.
Elara didn't answer.
Because she didn't know.
All she knew was…
This could be her only chance.
She stepped out.
Her phone buzzed one last time.
She looked down.
"Don't be late. Mr. Vale doesn't wait."
Elara's steps slowed down.
Mr. Vale?
Alexander Vale?
The billionaire?
—
As Elara stood on the roadside trying to get a cab, a black car pulled up slowly in front of her.
The window rolled down.
A man in a suit leaned slightly.
"Miss Moore," he said calmly. "Mr. Vale is expecting you."
Elara stood there speechless.
She didn't tell anyone where she was going.
And yet…
They found her anyway.