Are they so impatient, or are they just worried I might leave without finishing what we started?
Helen, noticing Caroline’s lack of response, quickly grabbed Caroline’s hand. “Aunt Caroline, let me flip through the pages for you. That way, you can sign faster. It’ll only take a minute, and you can go to the bathroom afterward, okay?”
The pain in Caroline’s stomach seemed to worsen.
This would only make her feel more rushed and less likely to properly review the contract.
Pretending to be unaware of their intentions, Caroline asked, “It won’t take me long to use the bathroom. Why can’t we wait until I get back? What’s the hurry?”
Helen faltered for a moment, unsure how to respond, and quickly glanced at Garth.
Garth stepped in to explain, “Here’s the thing. We process loans in batches. If an application is submitted before 11:00 a.m., it gets processed immediately. But if it’s after 11:00 a.m., we have to start internal reviews in the afternoon, and the funds won’t be available for about a week.”
Only 15 minutes remained before 11:00 a.m.
They urgently needed the money, and this excuse couldn’t have been more perfectly timed.
Caroline knew he was lying, but she nodded, pretending to believe him.
“Oh, I see.”
As soon as she spoke, the pain in her stomach seemed to grow more intense.
She quickly pressed one hand to her stomach and waved her other hand toward Garth. “No, I really need to take care of this. Here’s what we’ll do, Mr. Jenning–let the borrower sign first, and then release the funds. I’ll come back to finish the rest after I use the bathroom. Please, I’m counting on y
With that, Caroline hurried toward the door.
She looked genuinely in a rush to use the restroom.
The three of them watched in silence as she disappeared out of the room.
A moment passed before Liam snapped back to reality Mr. Jenning, I really need that money. Could you release the funds to me first?”
He knew that Garth was connected to Helen’s friend, and he was aware that Helen had already worked out how to get Caroline to sign the loan before they arrived
But what Liam didn’t know was that Garth had lied about the loan processing time.
The truth was, loans submitted after 11:00 a.m. could still be processed right away.
For a small company like this, releasing funds at any time wasn’t a problem.
While the interest rates appeared low at first glance, they were far from cheap when you did the math.
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They were quick to approve loans and close deals.
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Even Helen didn’t know the full details–she had only repeated what Garth had told her to impress Liam.
“Yes, Mr. Jenning, you saw for yourself that my aunt is willing to sign. It’s just a matter of timing. Why not. release the funds now?” Helen added with a convincing smile.
Garth was more than willing but still appeared reluctant. “Alright, alright. If it weren’t for you two being referred by my old clients, I wouldn’t make this exception.
“But let me remind you, once I release the funds, you must get Ms. Caroline to sign and leave her thumbprint, or I won’t be able to let you go.”
Liam wasn’t concerned. “Don’t worry. We won’t leave until she signs.”
He was sure Caroline would sign eventually, and they could just wait for her to return.
Garth agreed without hesitation and released the funds.
Before long, Liam received a notification that 300,000 had been deposited into his account.
He quickly checked his banking app, and sure enough, the money was there.
A huge weight lifted from his chest.
His face lit up with excitement as he showed his phone to Helen, whispering, “Helen, look! The money’s here! It’s great that your friend helped us out. Connections really do make a difference.”
He knew the loan company wasn’t exactly on the up–and–up, but since it was Helen’s friend who referred them, he felt confident everything would be fine.
Helen smiled widely, her confidence unwavering. “Of course! What did I tell you? I have a lot of useful contacts!”
The two of them laughed and chatted while they waited for Caroline to return.
But as time passed, Helen began to feel uneasy as her stomach growled, and Caroline still hadn’t come
back.
Helen glanced at the clock–half an hour had gone by, and Caroline was still absent.
An unsettling feeling started to stir in her.
Could she have decided to leave?
She looked over at Garth, who was busy at his desk, and then quietly pulled her chair closer to Liam. In a hushed tone, she whispered, “Uncle Liam, why is Aunt Caroline taking so long in the bathroom? Do you think she’s left?”
Liam casually rubbed the back of her head, brushing off her concern. “No way. Didn’t you see how quickly she agreed to everything earlier? You’re just overthinking it.”
From the way Caroline had looked earlier when she was in pain, Liam figured she must have eaten something that upset her stomach.
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He recalled when he had food poisoning–he’d been stuck in the bathroom for over half an hour.
So he assumed Caroline was likely still dealing with that.
Despite his reassurance, Helen remained uneasy. “Even if it’s food poisoning, it’s been a while now. Maybe you should call Aunt Caroline and ask her to hurry up?
