Page 29 of Perfect Pact

“I’m so glad you asked me that. I have so many ideas. The possibilities are endless. It could be a wedding venue,” I begin, talking a hundred miles per minute, my hands are moving just as fast. “Lights strung up across the beams. Fresh seasonal foliage we could glam-up with tulle, or make it more rustic with burlap. It could be anything we want it to be. A barn to fit your needs.”

I pause for a minute to give Alice time to catch up. She’s scribbling as fast as I’m talking.

“And it doesn’t have to only be a formal venue. I think Mason Creek and the surrounding towns need a place like my barn for kids to have parties. Maybe a carnival or a petting zoo? What do you think?”

I find myself going on and on. The ideas are finally starting to come, and it feels good. So damn good. I’m beginning to believe this can become my reality.

Alice smiles and nods, agreeing with everything. Maybe getting her wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

“All this is good.” Alice opens up a folder and hands me an application. “Let’s get you started on your application and get you preapproved for a business loan.”

“Really?” I practically bounce in my seat.

“I don’t see why not.” Alice slides the piece of paper over to me. “Sometimes loans like this can take a couple months to finalize, so let’s get the ball rolling.”

“Wait…” I lay my pen down. “Did you say months?”

I lean back in my seat, staring at her.

“Yes, there’s a sixty-to-ninety-day window. I’m guessing that’s not what you had in mind?”

“I was hoping to get the money quickly so I can at least start on the upgrades.”

“That’s not how this works.” Alice keeps delivering the bad news. “I’m sorry.”

Think.

Think.

Think.

I hated the financial ruin my ex had left me in, but it forced me to start thinking out of the box. Right now, I need to step outside the lines.

“How long does it take for a personal loan?”

“Maybe a couple days…if everything checks out.”

It’s not the route I wanted to go, but I’m thinking if I can get a little more money to make the updates, then by the time the business loan finalizes, I can pay off the personal loan and tackle the bigger issues.

“Then let’s do it.”

“Okay,” Alice agrees, reaching for the application I already started to work on. “Let me get you the correct paperwork.”

I slap my hand down on the paper. “I want to apply for both loans please.”

“You do?” Alice seems unsure about my decision.

“I do.”

“All right.” She hands me the personal loan application. “Let’s get this one filled out today. You can return the other at your convenience.”

“Perfect.” I race to finish the paperwork in record time. “How does it look?”

“I’m not a loan officer. They will review all your information and once the information is verified you shouldn’t have a problem.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Alice mirrors my excitement. “Let’s get it submitted and see what we can get you approved for.”

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