Until now, I think to myself. She’ll always have me.
Gracie takes a deep breath and forges on. “There were times we couldn’t make ends meet and my mom would run up credit card debt. It always seemed insignificant, but we could barely afford the minimum payment on those cards over the years, yet we always managed, or so I thought.”
Gracie pauses, her voice thickening with emotion. “Then, when I was in high school, my mom got cancer. I was covered with insurance through the state because I was a minor, but she had no medical coverage. There were some medical grants she applied for and received but not enough. I put myself through college with student loans and a handful of scholarships. After I graduated, I consolidated all of our debt and I swore I’d repay everything so that my mom didn’t have to worry for one more day. She’s spent her entire life worrying about money, and in my gut, I feel that was ultimately responsible for her cancer. Her worry and stress manifested itself physically in her body, and I wanted her focus to be on getting better and nothing else.”
I nod slowly, taking it all in. Now Grace is the one worrying about money. She’s the one manifesting the stress onto herself. I’m also confused about how much debt she has since people do debt consolidation loans all the time. This usually helps them focus on repaying their debt faster with one loan versus a handful of loans. My mind is racing, but I continue to remain silent and let her finish.
She exhales heavily. “When I finally consolidated everything, it was almost three hundred thousand dollars, most of it medical bills.”
I almost choke at the amount. She didn’t just consolidate her student loans; she consolidated everything into one giant loan. I swallow hard, realizing the trouble she’s gotten herself into financially.
She looks at me warily. “I know that doesn’t sound like much to you, but for us, that’s a big deal. Even with my job, the payments are hard to stay on top of and I found myself in the same position as before. Every month, I make the minimum payment, and it barely covers the interest. I just feel like I can never get ahead. My paychecks barely cover my rent, a small amount I send to my mom, and the payment on the loan.”
This is where I stop her. “Where is your loan through?” She better tell me it’s a legitimate bank or I’m going to lose my fucking mind.
She shrugs. “Some financial company I found online. They’re the only ones that would help me,” she says, her face defeated. “I was just a kid right out of college and had no credit.”
I nod my head and feel the anger bubbling inside me. I know exactly what she did.
“First of all, financially, this burden should not be yours to bear alone.” This really pisses me off. I get that Grace loves her mother, but she shouldn’t have to bear the burden of all this debt. “And we’ll get back to that, but it sounds to me like you’ve gotten wrapped up with a predatory lender. They’re all over the place. Those payday loan places you see on every corner in poor neighborhoods are exactly that. They prey on those who need help. They hike up interest rates in return for quick cash. It’s awful and many states are cracking down with laws regarding them.”
Her eyes mist with tears and her face reddens in embarrassment.
“Let me help you—” I begin and she cuts me off, her head shaking from side to side.
“No! I don’t want any help and I also don’t have the time to get involved with anyone. I need to focus and work my ass off—”
“Grace!” I stop her, reaching out to cup her cheek. I lift her chin so her eyes meet mine. “You can do this alone, but I can help you. Let me help you get this loan refinanced—”
“Stop trying to save me,” she snaps. “I don’t need to be rescued.”
There’s the stubborn woman I’ve fallen in love with. I sigh, leaning forward on the couch, and rake my hands over my face. I want to help her, but how will I get through to her? “I’m not trying to save you,” I try again, my voice even. “Just let me help you figure this out. Let me help you with a plan.”
Her head falls forward and her eyes are downcast as she picks at her thumbnail in silence.
“Please,” I urge her.
“I can’t get involved with you,” she says quietly. “I can’t afford to lose my job over this relationship.”
“You’re not going to lose your job, Grace. We’ve already been over this.”
“Then I can’t afford the distraction. I need to focus on my clients—”
I shake my head and cut her off. “Give me one week to prove I won’t be a distraction in your life.” What in the actual hell am I doing? Am I negotiating myself? I have never begged a woman for anything, let alone to give me a chance at proving myself. Anyone else, and I would have packed her bag myself and had the bellhop up here escorting her out. But not Gracie. What in the hell is she doing to me?
What feels like ten minutes is more like fifteen seconds, but she finally lifts her head, her eyes meeting mine. “One week?” she asks.
“One week,” I confirm, feeling hopeful. I can see the wheels in her head turning. “Then this is done?” Her voice shakes.
I swallow hard at how easily she says that. “If that’s what you want, then yes, after one week, this is done.”
She’s pondering my proposal. “Do you promise to not be all weird at work?” She sits up a little straighter and I know she’s considering this.
I chuckle softly at her remark. “I’m not weird, Gracie.”
She tilts her head. “You know what I mean. You’re not going to use this against me at work, are you?”
“Our relationship is separate from work,” I tell her, not even disturbed for using the word relationship.
“What am I doing?” she mumbles to herself and buries her hands in her face before rubbing her temples. “This is a really bad idea.”
It’s not a bad idea. It’s the best idea. I will do anything in the next week to prove to her that we belong together.
I send off an email to the same private investigator I used to get information on Gracie the first time, when I walked into that conference room and found out she worked at Williams Global. I asked for a complete report on her, her mother, and any known relatives, including credit reports, addresses, and any last detail to find out more about her. I know the right thing to do would be to ask her, but she’s convinced that she’s done with me in one week, so I don’t know that’d she’d share any more than she already has, and I will do anything it takes to keep her. Anything. In a matter of days, this woman has changed me, softened my hardened heart. Gracie makes me want a future, something I gave up on when I found my ex-fiancée in bed with my brother.
We spend the afternoon binge-watching HGTV, and I order lunch in. Even though Gracie doesn’t say it, I know she’s exhausted and needs some time to simply rest her mind. She’s cautious with her space on the couch next to me, but I pull her closer anyway and she doesn’t fight me.
She sets a pillow in my lap and rests her head on it, her body facing the television in front of us. I take this opportunity to run my fingers through her silky hair and she lets out a little moan when my fingers graze the back of her neck.