Do not be so dramatic, Caroline. It is just a temporary line of credit. A temporary line of credit. I repeated my voice dropping to a dangerous icy whisper. You committed identity theft. You forged my signature on federal lending documents. That is not a line of credit. That is a felony. Richard crossed his arms over his chest, looking down at me with absolute contempt.
Lower your voice and listen to me. Your mother and I did what we had to do. The logistics company is completely underwater. We have been running on fumes for 2 years. Every commercial bank in the tri-state area laughed in my face when I applied for a bridge loan. My credit is completely shot.
Your mother’s credit is shot, but you. He pointed a thick accusatory finger at my chest. You have a pristine 820 credit score because you sit at a safe, boring government desk all day playing by the rules. The sheer audacity of his confession was staggering. He was not confessing to a crime.
He was justifying a necessary business transaction. ‘So, you stole my identity to throw a party,’ I said, looking around the catering kitchen at the remnants of expensive champagne and imported truffles that surrounded us. ‘You took out half a million dollars under my name to rent a Hampton’s estate so you could pretend you are wealthy.
It is an investment.’ Richard snapped his eyes flashing with irritation at my lack of understanding. ‘Brittany is marrying Terrence Jefferson. Do you understand who the Jeffersons are? Warren Jefferson could buy our entire logistics company with the loose change in his couch cushions. We had to match their lifestyle.
We had to throw a $150,000 engagement party to prove we belong in their elite circle. We had to buy Britney a dowy designer gowns, a lifestyle that Terrence would accept. If they knew we were bankrupt, they would pull the plug on this wedding immediately. And when the bank comes after me for half a million dollars, I asked the sheer legal magnitude of his stupidity crystallizing in my mind.
What was your brilliant investment strategy for my ruined financial life? Richard rolled his eyes, visibly annoyed by my lack of cooperation. You are missing the big picture, Caroline. Once Britney marries Terrence, the Jeffersons will officially be family. Warren will bail out my company. I will pay off your little loan in 6 months. Nobody gets hurt.
