Page 137 of Shattered Melodies

I felt my stomach drop. The bank never called with good news. “Mr. Greene,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “What can I do for you? Is there a problem?”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, long enough to make my palms start to sweat. Finally, Elijah spoke. “I’m afraid I have some unfortunate news, Mr. Winchester.”

I leaned against my truck, bracing myself. “Alright, let’s hear it.”

“The bank has decided to adjust the terms of your loan,” Elijah said, his voice carefully neutral. “Specifically, the repayment deadline.”

My grip tightened on my phone. “Adjust how, exactly?”

Another pause. I could almost hear Elijah squirming on the other end of the line. “They’ve decided to move up the deadline. You now have until midnight on Sunday to repay the loan in full.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. I felt the air leave my lungs, my vision blurring at the edges. “Sunday?” I managed to choke out. “That’s impossible. The fundraiser isn’t until the weekend. We can’t possibly-”

“I understand this puts you in a difficult position,” Elijah cut in, his voice softening slightly. “Believe me, Mr. Winchester, if it were up to me, but I’m just the messenger here. The decision came from higher up.”

I ran a hand through my hair, my mind racing. This couldn’t be happening. Not now, not when we were so close. “There has to be something we can do,” I said, hating the desperation in my voice. “An extension, anything. We just need a few more days.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Winchester,” Elijah said, and he did sound genuinely apologetic. “But the decision is final.”

He didn’t need to finish the sentence. I knew what it meant. We’d lose everything. The ranch, our home, generations of Winchester history gone.

“Right,” I said, my voice hollow. “Thanks for letting me know, Mr. Greene.”

I hung up before Elijah could respond, letting my phone drop to my side. For a long moment, I just stood there, leaning against my truck, trying to process what had just happened.

How was I going to tell my parents? How was I going to tell Liam? God, Liam. He was in New York, busting his ass to help us, and now…

“Fuck!” I shouted, slamming my fist against the side of my truck. The pain barely registered through the haze of panic and anger swirling in my mind.

A few people in the parking lot turned to look, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Let them stare. Let them whisper. None of it mattered now.

CHAPTER 37

Nothing Else Matter

LIAM

My heart was pounding with a mix of anticipation and nerves. The plush carpet muffled my footsteps, but I could swear everyone could hear the thundering in my chest. My mind was racing, replaying every scenario I’d imagined over the past few hours.

This wasn’t just any business deal. This was the deal that could change everything. The one that could finally free me from my father’s expectations and give me the chance to live life on my own terms.

As I approached the reception area, I caught my reflection in a nearby mirror. I looked composed, professional in my tailored suit, but my eyes betrayed my inner turmoil. I took a deep breath, straightening my tie.

“Mr. Denison?” The receptionist’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She smiled warmly at me. “Mr. Clark is ready for you now.”

I nodded, mustering a smile in return. “Thanks.”

With one final deep breath, I pushed open the door to Leon’s office. This was it. No turning back now. I’d made up my mind about taking the deal, but I was itching to know how Leon planned to pull this off. How exactly were we going to fool my father.

The familiar scent of leather and old books hit me. Leon was there, hunched over his desk, completely absorbed in some paperwork.

I cleared my throat and knocked on the open door, pushing my doubts aside. Leon looked up, a warm smile spreading across his face as he stood to greet me.

“Liam,” he said, extending his hand. “Good to see you. Come in, come in.”

We shook hands, and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of nervousness. This was it - the moment of truth.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” Leon asked, gesturing to a well-stocked bar in the corner. “Water, coffee perhaps some wine?”

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