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No sooner had I arrived than Lauren called.
Gone was her arrogance." Emma, can you lend me money? I can't afford to get home."
Her family lived upstairs from mine." Didn't you get $300,000? And you're borrowing?"
She sighed heavily."The holiday means finance hasn't transferred it."
"I called Mrs. Grant—she's not answering."
I smiled." Think Mrs. Grant would scam you? relax, she's not like that. Wait it out."
She panicked." I need it now!"
"Look, Emma, lend me $150,000. When the bonus comes post-holiday, I'll repay you, plus $50,000 extra. Deal?"
I feigned difficulty." Lauren, I'd help, but I gave my money to my parents. I can't ask them back."
"What's going on?"
She sobbed." Emma, I took a loan shark deal to pay the bill. If I don't repay today, they'll come for me!"
As I suspected. Lauren loved spending beyond her means. In that pinch, she'd turn to loan sharks, not knowing it was Sophia's and my trap.
"Emma, you're my only hope."
"If my parents find out I owe that much, they'll disown me!"
Her cries felt exhilarating."Lauren, what? It's noisy here..."
I hung up, blocking her.
That evening, as I prepared dinner, noise erupted from Lauren's apartment upstairs. I skipped eating to watch the drama.
Her door was wide open, shouts and sobs spilling out.
Peeking in, I saw Lauren's mom kneeling, wailing, surrounded by tattooed men.
"Where's that little tramp Lauren?"
"Does she think she can hide?"
Her dad, grim-faced, said," She's an adult. She borrowed it—deal with her. This is my house!"
The lead thug scoffed." As long as you're her legal parents, you're responsible too!"
Her dad pounded his chest." I'll disown her! Pretend we never had her!"
The thug grinned sleazily."Disown her all you want, but she agreed to $10,000 in daily interest. Pay up today, or no one's sleeping easy!"
Her mom wailed," What a sin, raising such a troublemaker!"
Reluctantly, her father paid the $10,000 in interest.
The thugs left with a warning," Tell your daughter to pay tomorrow's interest on time, or it's trouble for all of you…"
As the scene started to wind down, I turned to leave and bumped right into Lauren, who was just getting home.
