“You?” she said, looking up at me, her eyes wide with confusion. “You don’t have this kind of money. You are a secretary.”

“I am the sole shareholder of Oakwood Asset Management,” I said, keeping my voice calm and level. “And as of nine o’clock this morning, I am your primary creditor.”

Gloria stumbled back a step, her heel catching on the edge of the vinyl chair.

She gripped the backrest to steady herself.

“This is a joke,” she said, her voice cracking. “Graham’s money… you stole this from Graham.”

“Graham doesn’t have any money left, Gloria,” I said. “Surely you know that by now. That bridge loan you took out? You did it to cover his failed commercial development in north Dallas.”

Gloria’s face went pale.

The arrogant posture she had walked in with was beginning to crumble.

“He is your husband,” she stammered. “He is the father of your children. You cannot do this to us.”

“The terms of the default are quite clear,” I said, pointing to the letter she had brought in. “The outstanding balance of four point two million dollars is due in full. I will not be accepting any partial payments.”