"Not a chance!" I growled in a mix of anger and disbelief.
"Those are my terms. If you want to keep your house, you've no other choice."
It all started 14 months earlier when my employer had been forced to make cut backs and "reluctantly" let me go. Despite having solid qualifications, I'd had a real hard time finding work, and with our savings and redundancy money long gone, the mortgage repayments had started to stack up. Inevitably, after months of missing payment, my wife and I received a strongly worded letter insisting that we meet a senior mortgage advisor to discuss the prospect of foreclosure.
As the day of the meeting arrived, I tried to reassure Jess that, regardless of what was about to happen, we'd come out of this situation stronger as a couple. Looking back now, I'm not sure who I was trying to convince more, her or me, but despite my efforts we both entered the room knowing that the conversation we were about to have could change our lives forever. Unfortunately neither of us realised how right we would be.
Despite impossible assurances that I'd be back in work soon enough, the mortgage advisor told us in no uncertain terms that if full payment wasn't received within the next few weeks, court proceedings would begin and my wife and I would lose the house we'd worked so hard to buy just 4 years earlier. As the advisor packed up his papers and Jess sobbed in to the sleeve of her coat, I became overwhelmed with the feeling that I'd hit rock bottom. Although my beautiful wife knew just how hard I'd been trying to find a solution to our problems, I felt for all the world that I'd failed her.
After an agonising drive home in which the only sound I could hear was the heart-breaking noise of Jess sniffing back her tears, we sat down at the dining room table to begin discussing our options. We knew that the bank wouldn't go near us now that our credit ratings had taken a battering, and we also knew that neither of our families had any money that they could afford to give. So, after racking our brains for alternatives, we eventually realised that we were left with no other option than to turn to our friends.
Given the amount of money involved, we knew that we only had a handful of friends who would realistically consider lending us such a large amount of cash, and so we drew up a shortlist of 3 names. Unfortunately, even as we were writing the names down, it was clear that only one would possibly have the type of money needed to help us out, and so our hopes lay solely with Jess' best friend Beth.
Although I felt that we should explain our situation to Beth face to face, Jess was adamant that she wouldn't be able to cope with telling her that way, and convinced me that she would find it easier if she could tell her over the phone. Having received my reluctant agreement, Jess spent the next few minutes composing herself, before picking up the phone and having one of the most difficult conversations she'd ever have with her lifelong best friend.
Despite her best efforts, as soon as Jess begun explaining our situation, she once again burst in to tears, causing Beth to instantly panic at what might have happened. After a hard struggle, Jess finally forced our story out of her mouth, and explained why she was calling. There was a short silence before Beth, who had also begun to cry, told Jess that she'd recently invested all of her savings in to a new business with her brother and no longer had the kind of money we needed. It seemed all hope was lost until, sniffing back the tears, Beth suggested that her brother may still have some money left, and would call us back once she'd spoken to him. After a short thank you, Jess hung up and we both sat there waiting anxiously by the phone.
After what seemed like an eternity, the phone rung and Jess answered nervously.
"Jess," Beth said trying to keep a calm voice, "I've just finished speaking to Tim. I explained your situation to him, and although he'd been planning on using the money to place a deposit on a house, I managed to convince him that yours and John's needs are greater than his. He's agreed to give you the money!"
Both Beth and Jess began screaming with delight, and the earlier tears of despair were replaced by the welcome tears of happiness. Beth explained that Tim was free to meet and discuss the finer details the following evening, but she had a date arranged. She offered to cancel, but Jess told her that she should go, so long as she promised to call her afterwards and let her know all the details. Beth made sure that Jess really was fine for her not to come along before arranging a time for Tim to meet at our house.
I'd only met Tim a few times and, although I found him a bit calculated, I always thought he seemed like an alright guy. However, Jess assured me that he could be a real dick; apparently when Beth and Jess were growing up they'd often noticed him treating his girlfriends like trash and acting really disrespectful towards them. This surprised me a little, but Jess had grown up around him, so who was I to question her.
Despite having the best night's sleep either of us had had in a few months, Jess and I gradually grew more and more nervous as the evening grew closer. Although Tim had already agreed to lend us the money, we decided we should try hard to make a good impression, and so I went to the local shop to get some wine while Jess prepared dinner. Despite having a tight budget, I found a couple of good quality bottles on sale, and soon made my way home with a smile on my face.
Just before Tim was due to arrive, I laid the table and we both quickly got changed in to some clothes that we hoped wouldn't look too formal. I wore a fitted white shirt with a pair of smart jeans and brown shoes, while Jess put on her favourite black dress and did her make up. She always looked amazing in that dress; the jet black contrasted perfectly with her flawlessly creamy skin, something which was accentuated by the dark mascara framing her eyes, and the red lipstick she had delicately painted on to her lips. I looked at my wife as she put the final touches to her outfit and reminded myself how lucky I was that, at 32, Jess still looked as good as the day I met her.
Almost as soon as we'd finished getting ready, Tim pulled up in his Audi and I opened the door to greet him. As he stepped out of his car I instantly grew conscious that perhaps we had gone too formal after all. Tim had dressed casual with a maroon cable knit jumper that gripped his trim physique, some ripped jeans, and some smart but worn trainers. As he reached the door we shook hands before I showed him through the hallway and in to the dining room where I poured him a glass of wine.
At first there were quite a few awkward silences, but once we'd all finished our first glass of wine, the mood began to relax. By the time we'd finished our meal, we were all laughing and enjoying ourselves, almost forgetting the reason why we'd invited Tim in the first place. Inevitably though, after another 20 minutes of general chat, Tim asked us exactly how much we needed.
I explained the situation to Tim, and told him that we needed to cover what was owed, plus enough for the next 6 months, by which time I was confident I'd be back in work. A moment of concern hit us as Tim sat there quiet for a bit, causing Jess and I to look at each other anxiously.
"The problem is you see, there's this house that I've wanted for ages, and if I give you this money then I'm going to miss out on it."
Jess shifted in her seat, trying not to get emotional. "But Beth said that you'd agreed to help us out..."
"I told Beth that I'd agree to meet and discuss it, not that I'd definitely do it," Tim replied, no longer displaying any of the earlier warmth.
Inside I was furious. Why come here and build our hopes if you're not going to help us? I wanted to tell him to get the fuck out of my house, but all the while he hadn't flat out refused to help, I realised I needed to stay calm. After all, if we couldn't persuade him to give us the money, soon I may have no house to chuck him (or anyone else) out of.
Jess began frantically pleading with Tim before, after a minute or two, he held his finger up to silence her. After another short pause he turned to me and said, "Ok. I'll lend you the money..."Jess and I both stood up in relief and went to thank him, but he quickly continued, "but only if you let me fuck Jess any way I want, right here, right now." Jess and I looked at each other with a mix of stunned confusion and shock.
"Wh... what!?" I managed to stutter.
"You heard. Those are my terms. After all, I should be compensated for losing out on my own dream home."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing! "Not a chance!" I retorted.
"Those are my terms. If you want to keep your house, you've no other choice," he said as he stood up. "I need the bathroom. You have until I'm back to make your minds up, or I'm leaving... along with any chance you have of getting the money you need to keep your house." With that he turned and left the room.
Jess and I sat there in stunned silence until eventually Jess softly spoke, "There must be another way of getting the money."
"There isn't..." I said, shaking my head, half in answer to her question, and half because I still couldn't believe what Tim had just said to us, "but I'm not going to let another man fuck you! Jesus!"
