But no.
“Because of the business transfer and town regulations, I won’t have access to the store money until three months after opening back up. It’s so that they don’t have someone coming in to rob the store of its cash and leave. It’s why they require you to have money on hand to put into the store,” I say through clenched teeth.
“Ah, that makes sense.” She nods, pressing her finger to her chin. “Huh, that’s quite a predicament. We really should have had that money.”
Oh my God, I’m…I’m going to murder my aunt.
“I can’t with you,” I say, storming off toward my bedroom.
Chapter Three
RENLEY
“Just follow my lead,” Aunt Kitty says as she adjusts her purple velour business suit with matching necktie. “This is not my first rodeo. They’re going to try to rope us into so much more than what we need. We go in there, slap a piece of paper on the desk, and say, twenty thousand, that’s it. No more, no less.”
“This is not a good idea,” I say, adjusting my simple black dress with sleeves, the same dress that I wore to my father’s funeral, the only fancy dress in my closet. “They’re…they’re not going to give us the money.”
“Trust me, I know my way around this joint. Five summers ago, I had a wicked affair with Robby Trent. He bent me over every desk in this establishment. I have video evidence, and if he doesn’t give us a loan, then I plan on blackmailing him.”
“Aunt Kitty, that’s…that’s not a great idea.”
“Blackmail is the key to business. How do you think people become billionaires?” She touches her nose. “Blackmail.” Then she holds the door to the bank open and gestures for me to walk in.
That,or investments…
But desperation has seeped in and I’m not above trying something different to avoid the embarrassment of walking into the mayor’s office and handing over the keys to Rudder’s Sweets.
So, head held high, I walk into the bank with my folder while Aunt Kitty strolls in behind me, briefcase in hand, on a mission.
She walks right up to the counter and slaps her hand on the surface. “We would like to speak to Robby Trent right away; this is of the utmost importance.”
The lady behind the counter looks Aunt Kitty up and down and says, “Kitty, Robby was fired five years ago after the escapade you two went on in this bank.”
For the love of God.
Aunt Kitty leans forward and asks, “Are you sure?”
The lady across the counter lifts her chin and says, “Very sure.”
Standing taller, Aunt Kitty taps her fingers on the counter in front of her and then says, “Can we speak to the individual who took his place?”
The lady points toward the right and says, “Second office on the left.”
Aunt Kitty raps the counter and then says, “Thank you.” Together we head to the office while Aunt Kitty leans in and says, “Looks like we’re going to have to pull back on the blackmail idea.”
“Didn’t even think it was a good one in the first place.”
“Every idea is a good idea until it fails. Now, get ready and watch me cook.” She knocks on the open office door, and inside, when the person in the chair turns around, it’s Marjorie smiling brightly up at us. “Son of a bitch,” Aunt Kitty whispers.
“Well, if it isn’t the Gossage girls, looking all businesslike.” She folds her hands together. “Is there something I can helpyou with? Because I can’t imagine you’re here for money for the sweets shop.”
Oh God.
Oh God.
Oh God.
My skin prickles with panic, because she’s onto us. Of course she is. I bet this is all a setup. She knew we didn’t have the money and she knew we would come here and…and…wait…
