TALIA'S SECRET: Sold To Sin

☆Rejection☆

Talia barged into attorney Dwayne’s firm. His secretary tried to stop her but she brushed her aside and charged into his office.

“What's going on here?” Dwayne took his face out of all the files he was looking through.

“I'm sorry sir. I tried to stop her but she refused to listen,” His secretary said.

Dwayne squinted, studying Talia. “ You are Dempsey’s daughter, right?”

“Yes. Talia Dempsey.”

“It's okay, Shelly. She's family,” Dwayne dismissed his secretary.

“Okay sir,” Shelly said and took her leave. Attorney Dwayne motioned for Talia to take a seat.

“I’m sorry I had to barge in like this,” Talia said, settling into a seat.

“It's okay, Talia. Any child of Frederick is also my child.”

“Really? And we didn't see you at the hospital. Not even your shadow was present and I'm sure you heard what happened to my dad. But that's not why I'm here,” She said slightly annoyed but suppressing it since she needed information from him.

“Then why are you here, Talia?” Dwayne asked.

“I'm here to inquire about my father's financial situation. Cause I got a weird call from the bank today and I'm not sure how to process it. I think only you can explain better.”

“What did the bank say?”

“Something about a loan and dad using our home as collateral. You are his attorney, you would know better,” Talia was starting to get impatient with Dwayne unnecessary questions.

“Look, Talia. When your dad came to me for advice about the loan, I asked him not go through with it because it was a risky move. I actually thought he took my advice, I didn't know that he eventually went ahead with it and did what he wanted to do,” Dwayne said.

“So, you are saying you advised against it but my dad still went ahead with it?”

“Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying.”

“Which means you don't know the details of the loan he took?” Talia asked.

“Correct, but I can ask Shelly to call the bank and find more about the loan,” Dwayne said trying to calm Talia. He saw that she was already fidgeting.

“Thank you, Mr Dwayne.”

Dwayne picked his intercom and called Shelly. Thirty minutes later, Shelly came in with a file and gave it to Dwayne. Her expression was enough to show that the situation was pretty bad.

“Is it that bad?” Dwayne asked her. She nodded. “Thank you. I'm going to look at it and see if there may be any loopholes”

“Mr Dwayne, what's wrong? Is it really bad?” Talia was now seated at the edge of her seat.

“I'm sorry, Talia. But it's really bad. It shows here that your father has a week to pay off his loan or he is going to lose the house and his construction company.”

“My God!” Talia put her hands on her mouth, tears threatening to fall. “What am I going to do now? I didn't know he used the company too. Mr Dwayne, please tell me you are going find a way for us to get out of this. If we lose the house then it's over for me and the triplets. Dad can't do anything, he is lying lifeless at the hospital. Mr Dwayne, you are our only hope,” The tears were already streaming down her face.

“I will make sure I look for a way to sort it out. We’ve got a week and I'm going to fix it before the week end. Trust me. Every lawyer in my firm will be on deck, we will do all we can. There will definitely be a loop hole in the contract and we are going to fish it out,” Dwayne assured Talia.

“I'm going to put all my faith in you, Mr Dwayne,” Talia sniffles as she got up.

“Talia, You got this. You are strong as your mother and you would be fine,” He got up and handed her some tissues.

“Thank you,” She took them and left.

As Talia left, Shelly picked up her phone and called an unknown person, notifying him about Talia leaving the firm and how they had to act fast if they wanted things to go according to plan.

****

Talia arrived at the hospital, still stunned and trying to unfold everything that just happened. She didn't even notice when Dr Jameson called her.

“Talia,” Dr Jameson tapped her shoulder.

“Huh?” She muttered.

“Are you okay?” He asked. Hearing someone ask if she was okay broke her and she fell into his arms crying.

“Shush, it's okay,” He said as he took her into his office. He gave a wipe to clean her tears and a bottle of water.

“Thank you,” Talia collected the water and wipe. “I'm sorry I'm a mess. I didn't plan for this to happen,” She dabbed her eyes dry.

“No, it's okay to cry, Talia. I'm surprised it took you this long to break down. Any other person in your situation would have done worse, ” He consoled her.

“Thank you.”

“So now that you calm now, care to explain what happened? You seemed to be lost in your thoughts when you walked into the ICU.”

Talia started explaining everything that happened to him. How she received a call from the bank about the loan and how her dad's Lawyer wasn't aware about the loan and how the bank has given her a week to pay off the loan or they loose the house and her father's company. She heaved when she was done. It had taken strength to not break down again.

“Woah, that's a lot. What are you going to do now? Is there a way out?” He asked.

“Well, Dwayne said he was going to do everything in his power to sort it out, so I'm putting all my hope in him.”

“Okay, I know you got this, but can I give you a suggestion?”

“Of course, doctor.”

“Your dad must have business associates and close friends, why not give them a call to see if they can help you out? You don't need to do it if you don't want to. It's just a suggestion,” He said.

“Oh my God! That is brilliant. Thank you, I never thought about it. I'm such a block head, ” She smacked her forehead.

“I will do just that, doctor. I'm sure one or two of my father's friend's or associate will be able to assist us, ” She dashed out and Dr. Jameson watched her leave his office with such optimistic attitude. He wished everything woukd work out for her.

Talia drove home and rushed to her dad’s study. Going through his phone book, she started to place calls to all his business partners.

“Hello. Is this Mr Ramirez. I’m sorry to call at a time like this. This is Talia Dempsey.”

The man’s voice grew impatient when he heard ’Dempsey’. “Well what do you want, kid? I’m a very busy man.”

She explained the whole bank situation to him. Mr Ramirez cleared his throat. “What does that have to do with me?”

Talia’s eyes burned, a rejection and this was the first call she made. “Please . . . help us. In any way you can. We need —”

“Look, child. You may have a lot of free time on your hands. But don’t waste mine. Except you have business deals for me, don’t call this number again.” And he hung up.

Talia stared at the blank phone. One rejection doesn’t hurt too much. And so she called another person, and then another, and then another. All had the same things to say, and none was positive. She sank in her father’s chair, feeling so hopeless and alone in the world. She got up to leave, and decided to look through the book one last time. And then she saw it.

“Oh, Uncle Clifford!” Her face lit up and she immediately put a call to him. “Hello, Uncle Clifford, this is Talia, Talia Dempsey. No sir, I am not doing good. I’m in a huge mess and I have nobody to help me. Your house? Okay, I’d be there right now,” She hung up. Uncle Clifford was the only one who even wanted to hear her out. And she was thankful for such a friend, the only actual friend her father had.

She left a note for Lily in the kitchen, telling her she’d be back shortly. And then like a crazed driver, she speed off to Clifford’s house.

'God, please let this work out. He is the only hope left for me and my brothers', she prayed in her mind as she drove down. She had this ill feeling about asking Clifford for help.