A Gamble

Alisia sat on the edge of her bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. The quiet hum of the house filled the silence, but her mind was a storm of thoughts and emotions. The kidnapping still haunted her—those dark figures in the alley, the fear coursing through her veins as they grabbed her—but now, sitting alone, the weight of the situation hit her harder than ever.

Her father had been deeply shaken when she told him what happened. The guilt etched into his face was almost unbearable. He had tried to keep her out of it, but now she was fully entangled in the mess he had created. They were running out of time, and the looming debt weighed on both of them like a ticking time bomb.

As much as she loved her father, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration. How had things spiraled so far out of control? She had been so focused on her studies, on trying to build a future, and now that future felt like it was slipping through her fingers.

Alisia leaned back, letting out a frustrated sigh. Her mind ran through every possible solution she could think of, but none of them felt right. She considered going to the police, but her father's warnings rang in her ears. These weren't just loan sharks—they were dangerous criminals, the kind who wouldn't think twice about hurting them if they couldn't pay up.

A loan from the bank crossed her mind. Maybe if they could borrow enough to cover the debt, they could buy themselves some time. But the reality of it hit her quickly. Even if the bank approved a loan, it wouldn't come close to the amount they needed. And with the interest rates, it would only dig them into a deeper hole.

Her eyes drifted to her phone, the conversation with Ethan still fresh in her memory. His offer had been tempting—too tempting. She hadn't accepted it during their last meeting, but now, with the debt hanging over her head and no other way to repay it, she wasn't sure she could afford to turn him down.

Her fingers hovered over the screen as she opened her messages. She hesitated, biting her lip. Asking Ethan for an advance felt wrong. It wasn't just that she barely knew him; it was the sense that she was stepping into something she didn't fully understand. Ethan's world was different, wealthier, more powerful, and she couldn't shake the feeling that accepting help from him would come with strings attached.

But what choice did she have?

Her fingers moved on their own as she typed the message.

Alisia: Hey, Ethan. I've been thinking about your offer, and I wanted to ask... is there any way I could get some upfront salary in advance for a few months? We need to repay a debt, and I don't have any other options right now.

She stared at the message for a long time before pressing send. The knot in her stomach tightened as she waited for a response, the seconds ticking by like hours. It felt wrong, imposing on him like this, but they were desperate, and desperate people did desperate things.

The familiar buzz of her phone jolted her, and she quickly opened the message.

Ethan: I understand, Alisia. I can arrange for an advance of $20k, but that would cover about four months of salary for a fresher in this position.

Alisia's heart sank. Four months of salary. That wasn't much time, and it wouldn't even cover the full debt. But it was something—a lifeline, however fragile. She typed another message, her hands shaking slightly.

Alisia: I really appreciate it, Ethan. I'm sorry for imposing on your generosity like this, but we need the money as soon as possible. I can start working with your company right after my exams. I'm doing my best to sort this out.

She bit her lip, feeling a pang of guilt as she hit send. She didn't like the idea of owing anyone anything, least of all someone like Ethan, but she didn't see any other way.

His reply came faster than she expected.

Ethan: Don't worry about it, Alisia. I'm happy to help. I'll arrange for the payment, and we can finalize everything once you're ready to join the company. Take care of yourself, okay?

Alisia closed her eyes, her phone resting on her lap as a wave of relief washed over her. Ethan had agreed. That meant she had a way to get the money, a way to pay off at least part of the debt before things spiraled further out of control. But the relief was short-lived.

There was something unsettling about the ease with which Ethan had agreed. He didn't even ask for more details, didn't pry into her situation. It was almost too smooth, too convenient. And despite his reassurances, she couldn't shake the feeling that accepting his help came with unspoken obligations.

Alisia sighed and lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mind wandered to the future—what it would mean to work for Ethan's company. Was this really what she wanted? To lock herself into a five-year contract with a company run by someone she barely knew? The thought made her uneasy, but what other choice did she have? Her father needed help, and she couldn't let him drown in this mess alone.

She stayed there for a long time, staring at the ceiling, her mind torn between two competing thoughts: the relief of having a temporary solution and the growing unease gnawing at her from the inside.

The next morning, Alisia woke early, her mind still heavy with the weight of the previous day's events. She found her father in the kitchen, sipping a cup of coffee and staring blankly at the table in front of him. The tired lines on his face were deeper than ever, the guilt still clinging to him like a shadow.

"Dad," she said softly, sitting down across from him.

He looked up, his eyes filled with worry. "Morning, sweetheart."

Alisia hesitated, unsure of how to tell him what she had done. "I talked to Ethan."

Her father's brow furrowed. "The young man you mentioned? What about him?"

"He offered me a job with his company," she explained. "And... I asked him for an advance on my salary. He's going to send us $20k to help pay off the debt."

Gram's eyes widened, a mixture of relief and concern crossing his face. "Alisia, you didn't have to do that. This is my problem, not yours."

"It is my problem, Dad," she said firmly. "We're in this together. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."

Her father sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't want you to get tangled up in this mess. I made the mistake, and now you're making sacrifices to fix it. It's not fair."

"I'm not sacrificing anything," she replied. "This is just a job. I'll be working for a company, earning a salary. It's a way out."

"But at what cost?" Gram asked, his voice heavy with worry. "You don't know this Ethan, not really. What if there's more to this than just a job?"

Alisia bit her lip, the unease she had felt last night creeping back in. "I know it's risky, Dad. But we don't have many options. This buys us time, at least."

Gram was silent for a moment, his eyes downcast. "I've spoken to a few friends," he said finally. "One of them, Jeff, thinks he can help us restructure the debt, maybe buy us more time to pay it off. He knows people who handle situations like this—legally."

Alisia's heart lifted slightly at the news. "That's great, Dad. We need all the help we can get."

He nodded, but the worry in his eyes didn't fade. "Just be careful with this Ethan, alright? I don't want you to get in over your head."

Alisia smiled, though the tension in her chest remained. "I will, Dad."

Later that afternoon, Alisia found herself sitting at her desk, staring at the email she was about to send to Ethan. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, her mind racing. Was this the right decision? She had already agreed to the advance, but now that it was time to finalize things, the doubts clawed at her.

Finally, with a deep breath, she began typing.

Alisia: Hey Ethan, thank you for being so understanding. I've thought it over, and I'm ready to move forward with the contract. I can join the company as soon as my college exams are over, and I really appreciate you helping me out with the advance. I know I'm imposing on your generosity, but I have a bit of a situation and I'm trying to resolve it as quickly as possible. Let me know if there's anything else you need from me before we finalize everything.

She pressed send before she could second-guess herself.

Moments later, her phone buzzed with a reply.

Ethan: Don't worry about it, Alisia. I understand, and I'm happy to help. Let's meet soon to go over the contract details, and we'll get everything sorted. Take care.

Alisia stared at the screen, a pit forming in her stomach. It was done. She had accepted the deal, and there was no turning back now.

But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had just stepped into something far more complicated than she could ever imagine.