The Bargain

Hazel woke up that morning thinking it would be an amazing day but there she was, sitting down, head in her palms and deep in thought. She was totally confused. Why did the world have to be so cruel? It seemed life threw rock after rock every corner she went. 

She had been overseeing some accounts in her office earlier when Mark, one of the accounting employees, had called her saying she was needed at her Dad’s office. While wondering what this was about, she stood up and made her way to the office just in time to see her mother walk in. She stopped, hesitating just long enough for her mother to get in. Very confused as to why her mom was there, since she didn’t handle anything at the company, she walked into the office. 

Hazel showed a confused expression when her parents shot her concerned and solemn looks.  Her mother, Annika, stood behind her father with her hands on his shoulders as if to comfort him. That was not a good sign. Whenever they stood like that, there was always bad news. The air in the room felt heavy with the weight of their worries. She took a deep breath, trying to prepare herself for whatever news awaited her, and then took a seat across from the couple. 

“Dad. Mom. Is everything all right?” She asked, feeling uneasy. 

"Hazel, my dear." her father began, his voice filled with a mixture of resignation and sadness, "I'm afraid I'm not feeling well. The doctor says it's serious." 

Hazel's eyes widened with concern. She leaned in. It wasn’t the first time that her father had fallen sick, but he had always recovered and, with the look in her parents' eyes, she was sure that this recent fallback would be worse than the last ones. 

"What is it?” 

Her question was met with no answer. She straightened her back and asked more authoritatively. 

“What did the doctor say, mom?” 

Her mother was silent. Gerard managed a faint smile, grateful that he had a daughter who cared about him.  

“I’ve been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy.” 

“What?” She said as tears began to well up in her eyes. 

“Your father is sick, Hazel, and this time we aren’t sure if he is going to come back from this one.” 

“No! How could you tell me? How long?” Hazel screamed out at her mother before getting up and rushing to her father’s side. 

“Hazel.” 

“How long?” 

“Three months ago.” Gerard said, not looking Hazel in the face. 

“No. I refuse to accept that. We have the money. We’ll get you the best doctors, pharmacists, anyone money can buy. You’ll live na very long life.” 

“Hazel,” Annika began, but was cut short again. 

“I refuse to allow this to be the end mom.” Hazel declared as tears ran down her face, but her eyes held resolve. 

"I know, sweetheart. It's hard, but there's something else I need to talk to you about. Just listen, please.” Gerard mentioned as he glanced at his wife, who nodded in agreement. 

"The company," he continued, "it's been struggling lately. We haven't been able to attract enough clients, and our debts are piling up." He hesitated for a moment, as if trying to find the right words. 

Hazel's mind raced with worry. What was he talking about? The business shouldn’t be on the verge of ruin. They were fine. They were more than good even. She had personally reviewed their financial statements and they were spectacular. She was about to speak out when her father raised his hand to stop her. 

“We hid it from you. Your mother and I knew that you loved it here and wouldn’t let it go without a fight, but we were tapped out. There was no place that we could get a loan from and even if we did, we still owe someone a lot of money.” 

"We can find a way to turn things around, Dad. We'll come up with a plan. We always do." Hazel pointed out optimistically, trying to share her hope with her parents. 

"We appreciate your enthusiasm, Hazel, but it's not as simple as that. Your father owes a substantial amount of money to an old associate. Elijah Moore." 

Hazel furrowed her brow, trying to understand the gravity of the situation. Her Dad almost never took loans, more or less from deranged business men. He instilled that discipline in her also, so how did this happen? 

"How much do we owe, Mom?" 

Her father sighed heavily before answering. 

"It's a large sum, darling. Almost three million dollars.” 

“Two million, nine thousand and thirty-three dollars, to be exact.” Annika added. 

Hazel’s eyes twitched in slight anger. What were they thinking about taking such a sum of money from a man like Elijah Moore? 

“I had a period of a year to pay him back, but it's not enough. The deadline is in a week. I tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen.” 

“How would he? We all know he has a reputation for disrupting the lives of those who become his enemies. Dad, how could you? You should have come to me first. We could have found another way.” 

Her father's face turned grave, and he looked down, seemingly burdened by guilt. Annika, Hazel’s mother, gave her a warning glance. Hazel knew she was in the wrong for the way she lashed out, but she couldn’t help it. She sighed and apologized. 

“I’m sorry dad. I didn’t mean to lash out at you.” 

"I made some bad decisions, Hazel. Investments didn't pan out, and I took some risks that didn't pay off. I thought I could turn things around, but it only made matters worse. Elijah seemed like the best way out.” 

She didn’t fancy the way she was being told about both her father’s health issues and their ever-looming debt, but at least now she knew, and now she could find a solution to both problems. 

“That’s in the past now, dad. We need to think of a way to pay Elijah back and also get you a competent doctor.” 

Her mother smiled warmly, pride shining through her eyes.  

"You've always been so strong, Hazel, just like your father, but what do we do? Your father and I have decided that it would be best if we closed down the company or let Elijah have it as collateral for what we owe. We would be flat broke, but we would be out of debt.” 

"And leave no money to treat dad. No mom, there has got to be another way. I’ll come up with some ideas. I’ll do anything." Hazel said, her mind already racing with possibilities.  

Her father squeezed her hand, grateful for her unwavering support.  

"Thank you, my dear. You really did grow up to be a strong woman.” 

Gerard’s hand cupped Hazel’s cheek, and she leaned into it, relishing her father’s touch.  

“I’ll save you dad. You and the company, even if it’s the last thing I do.” With that that Hazel walked to the door, held the handle and looked back at her parents. Her father looked at her with joy and whispered the words ‘I love you’ to her before she opened the door and walked out to avoid being thrown into a torrent of her own tears. 

She wiped her eyes as she moved through the hallways of the company, her breathing becoming erratic. Nevertheless, she had gotten to her office and collapsed on her chair. As the tears began to fully fall without any hindrance, the tears soaked the documents on her desk. Hazel found herself deep in thought as she sat there in the silence, she knew she had to step up and take charge. Her father was out of the race and her mother had never had any experience with the company as she was meant to take control when her father retired. 

Paying off Elijah Moore was the foremost thing to do. If she could pay him off somehow and then ask for another loan, she could be able to help her father recover. After that, then she could find a way to pay off the new loan. The only problem was how to get almost three million dollars in a week.  

What was she supposed to do now? Just then, a light bulb went off in her head and she wiped the tears from her face. She had an idea. It was a long shot, but it was better than sitting on her thumbs and doing nothing. 

Hazel picked up her phone and dialed a number. The line rang three times before the call was answered. Hazel took a deep breath and spoke. 

“Hello.”