"Not good enough. Who knows what you people are scheming? You'll probably freeze my son's accounts first thing tomorrow morning, and we won't see a dime. Then who do we complain to?"
"Your family's far too clever for that."
I watched my parents scramble, foreheads slick with sweat.
The baby's cries from the swaddling blanket were growing weaker.
A sharp pain twisted through my chest. I turned to look at my husband.
Fighting back tears, my voice cracking, I asked:
"Jim Fox. I'm only going to ask you once. Are you absolutely sure you need this million dollars?"
"If we can't come up with it tonight, what are you going to do? Just stand there and watch your mother hold our child's life over our heads?!"
His gaze darted away. He was silent for a long time before he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Honey... don't you have shares in the company?"
"Maybe you could transfer them to me."
"Think of it as covering that last hundred thousand..."
A ringing filled my ears.
"What did you just say?"
Amelia's eyes lit up and she jumped in immediately.
"Yes! Shares work too!"
"Since you have shares, hurry up and transfer them to my son."
Dad's expression darkened. He shot to his feet.
"Absolutely not! The company doesn't go to outsiders!"
"We can pay the money! Double! Will double do?!"
"Just give us three more hours. Three hours!"
"Past midnight, the money hits the account. Guaranteed!"
"Put the baby down first!"
Amelia wasn't listening.
"Transfer them now! I'm counting down from five. If you don't, I jump!"
The room erupted into chaos.
I swallowed every ounce of pain inside me. Tears brimming, I looked at Jim.
"You're sure this is what you want?"
I drew a deep breath, wrenched the ring off my finger, and hurled it onto the table.
My voice broke as I cried out:
"Mom, Dad! Call the lawyer. Have him draw up the agreement."
