Chapter 5

"I would advise you don't listen to my mother," Keith said, they were packed inside Lindsey’s compound. 

Lindsey didn't say anything as her eyes were focused on a black highlander packed beside her Audi A4.

"Did you hear me?" Keith asked, but still didn't receive any response, he followed her eyes and they landed on the car. 

"Your boyfriend is here," Lindsey blinked her eyes turning towards him. 

"Thanks for the ride Mr. Winslow and just so you know, I have no interest in you so I would appreciate it if your family call off the engagement as soon as possible, Goodbye," Lindsey said and immediately alighted from the car. 

Keith was stunned, was she being proud and feeling full of herself because of Georgina’s request? 

He rolled his eyes driving out of the compound, he never want to be caught in another picture with her. 

Lindsey opened her door only to meet Leen together with Chace. "I'm getting a lot of uninvited guests lately" Lindsey commented closing her door behind her. 

"Now I see why you haven't been receiving my call, was it because you were hooking up with Keith?" Chace asked now standing up.

She chuckled dropping her bag on the couch. 

"The last time I checked Chace, we were done, so I believe that whatever it is I choose to do with my life is none of your business" Lindsey said. 

Chace stared at her coming closer but Lindsey took a few steps back "Can't you see I'm trying to make us work, you can't leave me for that rich asshole who thinks he's better than everyone else, I love you, you know that Lindsey and you should also know that, that man doesn't love you"  Chace said and Lindsey burst into laugher slumping into the couch. 

"My life is a joke" she commented in-between waves of laughter looking towards Chace. "You do have some nerves Chace don't you?" Lindsey maintained a serious face which changed the atmosphere. 

"Showing up at my house uninvited to blab about how much you love who?, Do I look like a joke to you huh," Lindsey asked. "Lindsey, I know I have hurt you, but I'm trying my best to make amends, can't you see it?" Chace asked trying to touch her but Lindsey slaps him angrily. 

"You should take your dumb love to Donna, she needs it more than I do, we are over Chace it's been two years now, can't you leave me alone for goodness sake" Lindsey yelled getting up. 

"I don't love Donna, Lindsey it's you that I love"

"Get Out" Lindsey ordered. 

"Can you just allow me_"

"Do you want me to call the cops on you, you wouldn't want to get into a scandal with the young mistress of the Winslow family, Get out now" Lindsey fired. 

She thought using the Winslow family name would get Chace scared and make him leave her house and she was right. Chace stared at her for a while, he had a lot of unspoken words he had planned on saying but Lindsey didn't give him any opportunity to say anything. 

"I will come back Lindsey, I'm not losing you to that pumpkin" Chace said walking out. 

"Don't let me see you in my house, you wouldn’t like my reaction trust me on that" Lindsey said after him. 

"I'm sorry, I tried to send him away, but he insisted on waiting for you, he even has your house key" Leen said sitting close to Lindsey. 

"Holy crab, I will get that changed as soon as possible" Lindsey said. 

"So, how was the meeting with the Winslow family, I'm going to be your maid of honor," Leen said excitedly. 

"There won't be any wedding Leen, I turned down the offer," Lindsey said going through her phone. 

"You did what?, Are you crazy?, Your loan is due, how are you going to pay that?" Leen asked  

"I'm going to find a way for sure but I can't marry Keith, Aside from him not being interested, that family is dangerous and I can't imagine myself mixing up in the family drama" Lindsey said. 

Leen didn't say any other word, she just sat there staring at her friend wondering what was wrong with her, who would get such a big offer and toss it aside as if it's nothing, well Lindsey would. 

"Don't give me that look, Leen, I know what I'm avoiding" Lindsey said removing her boot. 

"I'm sure you know what you are doing, but I just hope you won't end up regretting it," Leen said. 

"I won't, instead I would be grateful I did" she stood up heading to her room. 

"I need to go to work now Leen, don't you have any other thing doing today?" Lindsey asked. 

"I called in sick, everyone at the company knows you are my friend so I'm not ready to answer their questions," Leen said. 

A few minutes later, Lindsey came out putting on casual clothing, a simple blue sweater and a pair of jean trousers, and then black sneakers and a cross bag.

"You should dress more like the Winslow potential wife Lindsey, the world doesn't know you turned down the marriage proposal," Leen said. 

"Oh please, I will drop you off," Lindsey said and they headed out. 

Lindsey dropped Leen at her apartment before driving to her company. 

All her employee's stared at her murmuring under their breath, none of them could ask her anything since she was their boss. 

"Good Morning ma'am, I have been calling your phone since morning" Ashley said. Lindsey know what she was referring to the engagement so she didn't bother replying her. 

"Representatives from Trust corp financials

 are here to see you, the loan is due today," Ashley said and Lindsey stopped, turning to her. 

"I thought it wasn't due till next month," Lindsey asked surprised. 

"No ma'am, next month is for Citadel bank, we took loans from two different cooperation," Ashley said. 

Lindsey closed her eyes, exhaling before she reopened them. "Where are they?"

"At the conference room, your sister Ms Nancy, is in your office, she asked to meet you concerning her marriage_"

"I do not want to meet her, why didn't you take her to Jessica’s office" Lindsey sneered but Ashley didn't say a word. 

She yanked her office door open and saw Nancy going around it as if she was looking for something. 

"Lindsey" Nancy turned to the sound of the door. 

Lindsey flashed her a smile, walking to her desk to sit down."I have a meeting in five minutes so please, make it snappy," Lindsey said. 

Nancy scoffed staring at her "I see you are a lot busy now, Mrs. Winslow" Nancy looked at her hand and then gasps noticing the missing ring. 

"I knew it was a lie, or perhaps a mistake, where is your ring darling, the Winslow family must have regained their senses immediately after the proposal" Nancy mocked making Lindsey chuckle. 

"Your mother called me, congratulations, and thank you for choosing Lindsey events, we give a 10% discount but I would give you 20%,"Lindsey said. 

"Thanks for your generosity but my man isn't poor, you have a lot of debt to settle and I doubt if the Winslow family would help you so I would pay in full" Nancy said. "That would be great, you can discuss it with Jessica, head of the design department, I have some more important things to handle Nancy" Lindsey said standing up. 

Nancy was stunned, she came herself to anger Lindsey, everyone knew about her anger issues and her difficulties to manage them. "Did you attend therapy for your condition?" Nancy asked, she wanted to be sure why Lindsey didn't get upset, throw tantrums and hurt herself like she always do.

Lindsey turned to her and smiled before walking out of the room. She had better things to worry about other than the fake engagement, she made a lot of money from, why worry her head? 

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting, I forgot we had this meeting scheduled" Lindsey apologized immediately she entered her conference room. 

There were three representatives seated already waiting for her and she was very familiar with them."We already spoke to your PA," Mr. Pascal said. 

"I believe we don't need to tell you the reason for this meeting" Ms. Zeoy, the only female amongst them asked. "Not at all, Ms. Zoey, I would be making another deposit of $100,000 and_"

"That isn't enough Mrs. Winslow," Mr. Paul said. "Just call me, Ms. Roach please," Lindsey said getting uncomfortable. "Ms. Roach, it's been five years since you took your second loan of $3.5million adding it to your first loan of $1.5million which you have managed to pay off $ 1 million it would be $ 4 million, paying $100,000 is going to leave us with $3.9million which is still a huge dept" Mr. Pascal explained. 

"I know but paying the debt at once is going to shake my company and I still have to pay part to citadel bank, just a little more patience, I'm trying my best," Lindsey said. "It's been approximately ten years if not more than that, we have been patient enough, you haven't paid the loan actual amount, how would you manage to pay the accumulated profit?" Mr. Paul asked. 

Lindsey was quiet, she didn't know what to say, she had taken a lot of loans to start up her business, buy a car and a house, and also settle her mum's debt ten years ago when she was just nineteen years, she had thought she would pay up in a few years but things didn't work out as she had imagined and planned. 

"We spoke with the citadel bank president a few days ago and we reached an agreement," Mr. Pascal said. "That is a breach of contract Mr. Pascal, I know I owe you a lot of money but contacting a third party that has nothing to do with the contract is against the law," Lindsey said. "Ms. Roach, it's also against the law to exceed the require payment date, we could sue you for that" Mr. Pascal said shutting Lindsey up. 

"We reached an agreement which is either you pay up before the citadel bank due date which is on the 7th of next month or you lose the company and all your properties, the house, the car, and your bank cheque," Mr. Paul said. "You can't do that, that's rude, you are taking everything from me," Lindsey said looking at them.

"You left us with no choice, we will sell the things we took from you and settle the debts," Mr. Pascal said. "I suggest you talk to your fiance about this, the Winslow conglomerate is spread all over the world and they make billions every day so paying off your debt would be nothing to them," Ms. Zoey said. 

"We would take our leave now, do have a nice day Ms. Roach," Ms. Zoey said and they walked out even before Lindsey could say any other thing.