Last Resort

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Atelier," a voice interrupted her train of thought. Carol turned to see a tall, wide-shouldered man in an Armani suit. Even though he looked wealthy, his behavior was kind.

Duncan shook her hands professionally. "I was at an important meeting. But I heard all the details from Ted and will do whatever possible to help you out."

A smile formed on Carol's distressed face. "Thanks for being considerate. So… Can you loan me the amount?"

Duncan nodded reassuringly. "Yes, but we'll need to discuss the terms first."

The man looked around at Ted's office. "Let us move to a more secure room. It would be a problem if your competitors discovered you seek personal loans. It will be bad press for the company."

Carol rubbed her forehead in embarrassment. Duncan was actually correct in his assessment of the situation.