The Loan She Forced Me to Take

The moment my fiance, Isabella, returned from Vegas with her assistant, she announced a 30% raise for the entire tech departmentthe one I managed.

My team went wild. The office was buzzing.

Bella mustve hit a massive jackpot in Vegas! Why else would she suddenly approve a department-wide raise like this?

Every other department is green with envy.

Let them be. Our chief is her fianc, after all. Of course, shes going to look after us first!

Hey, chief, one of my guys asked, leaning over my desk, how much did she actually win?

I just frowned. Something felt off.

Just then, Isabella swept into our department, her assistant trailing behind her, a thick stack of documents in his arms.

She tossed them onto my desk with an air of casual authority. These need signing by your department. Youre the manager, Gordon. Lead by example.

I flipped open the top document. My eyes widened.

Personal Loan Agreement?

1

What the hell was this? Were we supposed to take out loans just to get paid?

My confusion was mirrored on the faces of my entire team.

Personal Loan Agreements? Whats going on? one of them blurted out.

We take out loans from a bank, and the company uses that money to pay our salaries?

This has to be a mistake, right?

Loan-to-work? Ive been in this industry for a decade and never heard of anything so insane!

So the 30% raise was just a lie to get us to take on debt for the company? Do they think were idiots?

As the murmurs of discontent grew into a wave of outrage, Isabella shot a look at her assistant, Vincent.

He slapped a hand on the table, his face a mask of stern disapproval. Everybody, quiet down. Dont run your mouths off about things you dont understand. Youll damage the companys reputation.

He pasted on a slick, reassuring smile. This is a special perk for the tech department. Other teams would kill for this opportunity.

One of my senior engineers snorted. A perk? First Ive ever heard of debt being a benefit.

Vincent ignored him, his voice dripping with false sincerity. While the loans are in your names, you wont be responsible for repayment. The company will handle everything. He spread his hands wide. Stratton Industries is expanding rapidly, and our capital is tied up in new ventures. Were just facing a temporary cash-flow issue.

Rest assured, he continued, his eyes sweeping over the skeptical faces, as soon as you sign, the company guarantees to pay off the bank loans within a year, max. After that, your salaries will see another boost. Stratton is doing this because youre a vital department, and also because your manager, Gordon, is Ms. Strattons fianc. Youre getting special treatment. An opportunity like this doesn't just fall into anyone's lap.

His words were smooth, but it was just empty promises wrapped in corporate jargon. The team wasnt buying it; their expressions were still a mixture of anger and disbelief.

Vincent turned his phony smile on me. Gordon, youre a reasonable man. They might not understand the companys vision, but surely you do. Bella is working herself to the bone for this companys future. If her own tech department cant handle a small request like this, how can she lead us forward? Come on, be a leader. Sign the papers.

Sign it? Id sooner break my own damn leg.

I didnt have to guess who cooked up this ridiculous, insulting scheme. It had Vincents fingerprints all over it. Ever since hed joined as Isabellas assistant, shed become completely dependent on his advice, taking him to every important meeting. Whispers had already started, people wondering if he was the real fianc, if I was just the guy she was stringing along.

Wed fought about him, about his influence, more times than I could count. Each argument ended in a bitter stalemate, chipping away at whatever was left between us. Our love, our partnership it had been worn thin by these constant battles.

I took a deep breath, ignoring Vincent completely, and looked directly at Isabella. Making employees sign loan agreements is unheard of, I said, my voice low and steady. This will crush morale. Its poison for the company culture. Whoever suggested this does not have your best interests at heart.

As I said it, I shot a cold glare at Vincent. The smile on his face tightened, and a flicker of malice flashed in his eyes.

Isabellas expression hardened. Gordon, enough with the drama, she snapped, her patience gone. Just sign the damn papers. I have other things to do.

It was like she hadnt heard a word I said.

Vincent, now looking smug, leaned in with a hint of a sneer. Dont hesitate, Gordon. I have to escort Bella to a banquet tonight. We dont have all day.

My team looked crushed, their anger turning to a quiet desperation. They all looked at me. Id built this department from the ground up, hired every single person in the room. They trusted me. I was their anchor.

I looked back at Isabella, and all I felt was a profound sense of disappointment. This wasnt the woman Id fallen in love with, the partner Id planned a future with. In just one year, shed become a stranger.

And in her eyes, I was no longer a partner, but just another disposable piece on her chessboard.

A deep weariness washed over me. For years, I had poured my heart and soul into helping her build Stratton Industries, asking for nothing but her trust in return.

Now I saw it all for what it was: a one-sided fantasy.

I let the loan agreement slip from my fingers and onto the desk. Anyone who signs this, I said, my voice clear and final, is a fool.

2

Isabellas face flushed with fury. She clearly hadnt expected me to defy her so publicly.

Gordon, she seethed, her eyes blazing, say that again. I dare you.

I met her gaze without flinching. I will not sign this loan agreement. Period.

My declaration was like a signal. The rest of the tech team erupted.

Hes right! Theyre playing us for fools!

All that hype about a 30% raise what a joke. We got excited for nothing.

The chiefs right! Whoever signs this is an idiot.

Were tech guys. We might not be the smoothest talkers, but were not stupid.

The company will pay it back? Yeah, right. Even a five-year-old wouldnt fall for that lie.

They want to sell us down the river and expect us to thank them for it? This is disgusting.

The room was filled with the righteous anger of my team.

Vincent, trying to reassert control, puffed out his chest. Whats all this noise? I told you, its a company perk! Dont be so ungrateful! he yelled over the din. Let me make this clear: anyone who doesnt sign today can clear out their desk tomorrow. You think this company cant function without you? Youre all spoiled. Dont forget who signs your paychecks. This company is named Stratton, and it belongs to her.

He shot me a pointed, triumphant look. The jab was meant for me.

Isabella glared at me, her face a thundercloud. Gordon, my office. Now.

Without waiting for a reply, she spun on her heel and stormed off.

I followed her into her office. The moment I was inside, she slammed the door shut, the sound echoing the violence of her anger.

Are you out of your mind, Gordon? she screamed, whirling on me. I asked your department to sign a simple loan agreement, and you undermined me in front of everyone! Do you even see me as your fiance anymore? Do you have any idea how bad you just made me look?

I sighed, the fight draining out of me. This was Vincents idea, wasnt it? I asked quietly. Have you thought about what happens when word of this gets out? What people will think of Stratton Industries? That guy

Vincent is looking out for me! For the company! she cut me off, her voice shrill. Our cash flow is tight. Its just a one-year loan, Im not asking them to sell their souls! Once our capital frees up, Ill compensate them handsomely

I held up a hand to stop her. The company is short on cash? My brows knitted together. How is that possible? We just had two major project payments come in last month. The company has been profitable every single quarter. Theres no reason for us to be in a financial crunch.

A flicker of panic crossed Isabellas face. She avoided my eyes, her answer vague and evasive.

A cold dread began to creep up my spine. Isabella, I said, my voice dropping, how much did you lose in Vegas?

If I hadnt figured it out by now, I really would be an idiot.

My question seemed to push her over the edge from defensive to furious. How much I lost is none of your business! she shot back. Even when were married, you dont get to control my private life. Stratton Industries is my familys company. If I want to run it into the ground, thats my decision, and it has nothing to do with you!

I let out another heavy sigh. How much could you even get from the teams loans? It wouldnt be nearly enough to solve a serious cash-flow problem, I reasoned, trying one last time. If things are really that bad, we can use the money from our savings account to tide the company over.

When we first got together, wed opened a joint account. It was for our futureour wedding, our first home, our kids. Over the years, Id deposited most of my salary, bonuses, and dividends into it. My contributions alone totaled over a million dollars. It should have been more than enough to cover a temporary shortfall.

But as I said it, Isabella went silent, a guilty expression washing over her face.

I stared at her in disbelief. Dont tell me, I whispered, the words catching in my throat. You didnt you didnt touch that account, did you? You blew through that, too?

She had always called that account our safety net, our last resort. If the company ever failed, that money was supposed to be the foundation we would rebuild our lives on.

And now, she had torched it.

Faced with my shocked expression, her guilt morphed back into anger. My luck was just bad, okay! she yelled. Once the company is stable, I swear Ill win it all back! Stop fixating on this. The priority right now is to keep the company afloat.

She took a breath, her eyes regaining a manic intensity. Vincent and I have already worked it out. If we get your entire tech team to sign the loan agreements, we can leverage them with a private finance company. Well get way more than we would from a bank. It will solve everything!

I almost laughed. It was such a brazenly monstrous plan.

She and Vincent werent just asking for a loan. They were leading my entire team to the slaughterhouse.

3

I dont know what kind of poison Vincent had been feeding Isabella, but she was completely under his spell.

She hadnt just gambled away company funds; shed drained our shared future, and now she was coming for the livelihoods of my entire team. Had she given any thought to the consequences?

She had become utterly unreasonable.

I stopped trying to reason with her. It was pointless. No matter what you say, I wont sign that contract, I stated flatly. And the people in my department arent stupid. They wont let you sell them off like cattle.

If the company needs money, there are other ways. We can apply for a corporate loan. We can ask our business partners for a short-term bridge loan

No! she snapped, her eyes wide with panic. No one outside this company can know were in trouble. I would be humiliated. Her gaze hardened into an ultimatum. Gordon, Im saying this for the last time. You will lead your team in signing those agreements, or else

Before she could finish her threat, a commotion erupted from outside the officeangry shouts mixed with Vincents pained, pathetic yelps.

Isabellas face went pale. She wrenched the door open.

In the main office area, Vincent was on the floor, being swarmed by the tech team. They were kicking and hitting him, even the normally mild-mannered women on my team landing a few furious kicks. It was a testament to just how much he was hated.

Stop it! Isabella shrieked, rushing forward to shield him with her own body. She glared at the team, a lioness protecting her cub. How dare you! Assaulting someone in my company!

The team fell back, breathing heavily. Before they could explain, Vincent, clutching his side, put on a masterful show of victimhood. Bella, theyre insane! he whimpered. I was just trying to reason with them, to get them to think about the company, and they attacked me! Im your assistant! By attacking me, theyre attacking you!

He pointed a shaking finger at the team. Theyre arrogant. In their eyes, Gordon is their only boss. You mean nothing to them compared to him.

Hearing Vincents twisted version of events, the teams anger flared again, and a few of them looked ready to lunge at him once more.

I knew my people. They wouldn't have laid a hand on him without extreme provocation. He must have said something truly vile.

But Isabella, blinded by her trust in him, didnt give them a chance to speak.

This is my company, not Gordons! she yelled, her voice cracking with rage. You dare attack my assistant? Is this a rebellion? You think because you have a few technical skills you can disrespect everyone? Fine! Half of your salaries this month are gone! And you can forget about your quarterly and annual bonuses! Thats your punishment. Anyone who doesn't like it can quit right now. Ill approve your resignation on the spot!

My teams faces were flushed with indignation. They were professionals, here to do a job, not indentured servants. Isabella was acting like a feudal lord punishing her serfs. Did she really think they couldnt find work elsewhere?

Before anyone could respond, she turned her fury back on me. And you, she spat, her voice dripping with contempt, if you dont sign that contract, you can get the hell out too!

I looked at her, the last embers of our shared history dying in that moment.

Fine, I said calmly. Im gone.

4

The news that Stratton Industries had fired its entire tech department sent shockwaves through the company and even made a few ripples online.

Internet forums were buzzing with confusion.

Whats Stratton doing? Firing their whole tech team right before the holidays? Thats corporate suicide.

Gordon wasnt just their Head of Tech, he was Isabella Strattons fianc! Now shes kicked him out too? What happened?

I heard she publicly tore into him and called off the wedding.

But they seemed so solid. Stratton Industries wouldnt be where it is today without him. How did it all fall apart so fast?

As speculation mounted, a flood of negative stories suddenly appeared online. They were hit pieces, filled with slander and fabricated rumors designed to ruin the reputations of everyone on my former team. The articles about me were particularly vicious, quickly pushed to the top of trending topics.

My team and I ignored the noise.

The moment word got out that Isabella and I were done, my phone started ringing off the hook. Headhunters from major corporations were calling, and several prominent business leaders reached out directly with offers.

Now, we were all gathered in a high-end restaurant, dining with one of those leaders.

Mr. Wallace was a man of action. He was so impressed with our team that hed set up an entirely new subsidiary just to partner with us. Everyone on my team got their salary doubled, with bonuses and benefits that blew Stratton Industries out of the water.

I raised my glass to him. Mr. Wallace, I dont know how to thank you for this opportunity. We wont let you down.

Wallace waved a dismissive hand. This is a partnership, Gordon, mutually beneficial. No need for thanks. Ive had my eye on you for a while. If it werent for your engagement to Isabella Stratton, I would have poached you years ago.

He chuckled. Frankly, I have no idea what got into her, firing a team like yours right before year-end. The next time I see her, I ought to thank her. If she hadnt made such a colossal blunder, I never would have gotten the chance to work with you.

I didnt want to talk about Isabella, but Wallace suddenly leaned forward, his expression turning serious. Gordon, after you left, she did something incredibly foolish. I dont think Stratton Industries is going to last much longer.

What did she do? I asked, curious despite myself.

With a mysterious smile, Wallace took out his phone and sent me a video.