Bound To The Syndicate

DALIA The room radiated unbearable heat, soaking my clothes with sweat as I searched desperately for a way out, but the window was sealed tight, and the huge metal door seemed almost impossible to break through. I twisted the knob aggressively, hitting the door with force. I scanned my eyes around the room once more, and the room was filled with things I couldn't identify, but none of them were strong enough to break open the door. I grabbed a rod, smashed it against the window, but it wouldn't bulge, before I could process what was happening, the fire tore through the door, exploding right in my face. I jolted awake, my heart pounding so violently that I pressed a hand against my chest, like it could ease it. It was the same dream again. Just when I was having a moment to calm myself, my phone vibrated on the nightstand. I picked it up, and it was a loan reminder. My screen flashed again and it was another loan reminder. How my father could afford to send me abroad, live like a wealthy man, and still owe this much made no sense to me. How am I supposed to raise this money before tomorrow? It had been almost two months since I returned to Valmere City. The lawyer had told me about the loans my father took years ago. Most of them carried my name as his closest family, and some hadn't been paid for two years, so the interest had piled up. His crumbling company had been kept afloat with borrowed money too. I had already sold almost everything, and it still wasn't enough. If I didn't pay by tomorrow, the house would be sealed. The more I thought about it, the more helpless I felt, as though the walls were closing in. Still, I got out of bed. There has to be a way, or I will lose the roof over my head. I freshened up and went to the garage, and there was only one car left, so I contacted a dealer to trade it for me. Then I headed to the company, with no idea about how to revive it, but I kept my hopes high. My phone rang, and it was my best friend....... Adrian Brown. “Hello.” “Dalia!!!!! I have just arrived at the airport and my Uber has been canceling on me. Can you please come pick me up?” Adrian asked. My heart leaped with joy. “Adrian.... Are you really in the country?” “I have been waiting for almost an hour. Please, I'm losing my mind here,” Adrian whined. “I'm on my way!” Adrian and I met abroad, where we studied fashion together. I later discovered he was also from Valmere City, and we had been close ever since. The cab stopped at the airport about fifty minutes later. I shared my location with him, and before I could blink, he was already a few steps away from him. “Adrian!!” I squealed, pulling him into a tight hug. He hugged me back, scattering my hair, a bad habit he had never dropped. “Stop acting like it's been a year already. It's barely even two months.” I pulled away, grinning. “It feels like a year to me, welcome to Valmere City!!” We loaded his suitcases into the trunk and got into the car. “Dalia, what plans do you have? It's been almost two months since you arrived. I'm sorry for your loss,” Adrian consoled. I could only smile. I couldn't tell him my father had left me hefty loans. “I'm trying to organize my life first, but I'm hoping I could work as a designer for a clothing company.” “That's a good way to start. Gosh, I'm so tired.” Adrian yawned and shut his eyes. I looked out of the window, my fingers gripping the hem of my dress, unwilling to burden him with my problems. His voice startled me. “Are you okay?” “I'm okay.” I forced a smile. He knew I was lying, but he didn't press, and I was grateful. After some minutes, we arrived at Adrian's parents' house. He invited me in, but I declined politely because I needed to be at the company. “Are you sure you don't want to come in?” Adrian raised a brow. I shook my head. “I will pass this time, see you around.” I waved him goodbye and climbed back into the cab. About twenty minutes later, I arrived at my father's company. It was already short of staff, some having left because they were underpaid and others staying in hope. I responded warmly to those who greeted me and headed for his office. Memories of waiting in that office till he finished his meetings came flooding back. Those were indeed the good days. It felt good to be home, yet I wasn't happy. I had barely settled in when I got notified of a visitor. Who would visit a crumbling company? I adjusted my dress and sat upright. When he walked in some minutes later, my breath caught. He was one of the big shots in the city, the kind of man who never wasted time on dying companies unless there was something left to strip. “Hello, Mr. Moretti.” I greeted him with a smile. He stepped inside as though the room already belonged to him. He was tall, polished, and expensive in a way that made the faded carpet and cracked leather chair look even worse. “Mr. Moretti,” I said, managing a polite smile. “Please, have a seat.” He sat, and I sat too, hiding my trembling hands. “I have been watching this company for a while,” he said. His voice was calm and almost casual. “I'm here to offer a transfer of ownership.” I gasped. “I'm sorry, Mr. Moretti, I do not quite understand what you meant.” The company was the only thing my father would be remembered for. How could I sell it? “I want to buy the company,” Mr. Moretti said. My stomach dropped. Before I could say anything, he added. “Here is the proposal for you to take a look at when you have time, you can think over it and let me know when you are ready. I know this is hard, and I'm willing to relieve part of your burdens.” “Mr. Moretti,” I called. “Why do you want to buy my father's company after learning it's in huge debt?” He gave a small, humorless chuckle. “I'm simply offering to help, if you can handle the debt yourself, then, forget I came.” I watched him walk out as though he had just signed a billion-dollar contract. I pulled the proposal closer and read page after page. On the last page, my heart leaped. Thirty million? For one dangerous moment, it felt like relief, but thirty million wasn't enough to clear all the debts. I read further, and the file dropped from my hands. He would also clear the company's debt, and once I transferred ownership, I would have no say in it. Would my father be pleased with this? I bit my trembling lip. Even after the sale, the money wouldn't cover the loans outside the company's debts. I had less than twenty-four hours to gather seventy percent of it or the house would be sealed away. I read the proposal a second time, and without thinking, I picked up my pen because I had no other choice. The pen glided across the line where I was supposed to sign, my eyes stinging with tears.